A fairly blunt heading for today’s study – don’t you think?

Two areas stood out for me, the first is where Selwyn writes: “What greater distinction can anyone have than to guide a family into a closer and deeper relationship with the Lord? They gave willingly to the work of the Temple, and their generous giving set an example which others quickly followed.” I’ve sometimes heard parents say, “I won’t pressure my children about religion, I’ll let them grow up and then they can make their own decisions.” If they really understood the consequences of an eternity spent apart from the fellowship of God, they would realise the horrible cruelty of this attitude. Thankfully, God’s sovereignty is always at work and He intervenes and intrudes into the lives of all His ‘children’, even if neglected by their natural parents. Do you agree?

The second area, is Selwyn’s conclusion: “One of the precursors to spiritual blessing in a church is the congregation’s desire to show respect for the work of the ministry. I do not hesitate to say that if a congregation is not prepared to make sacrifices. God will withhold His blessing. ‘Give, and it will be given to you,’ Jesus promised (Luke 6:38). 

In a number of areas in the western world there has been a decline in church attendance and church ministry - do you think that one of the main reason is that the various congregations were not prepared to make sacrifices? [That is, to make sacrifices in terms of money, or time or traditions or wants or ... .]

Selwyn points out  in the verses set for reading and meditation (Nehemiah 7:39-69), that some priests could not demonstrate, from their family records, that they had descended from any of Israel’s tribes. The outcome was that they were dismissed from the priesthood.

At that time, it was essential that the priesthood was seen by all of the community to be legitimate; that all the priests had evidence from their family records to support their claim. The relationship of the Jewish nation to God had to be based on demonstrable truth – there could be no compromises.

Likewise, it’s a requirement of today’s Christian community; Christian leaders who cannot demonstrate their love for God (with all their heart, mind and soul) and cannot demonstrate their love for their neighbours – should resign from their leadership positions.  There is always a role for forgiveness and restoration as there is for humility, however, if I held a position and there were some doubts about my qualifications for the position. I would feel that I would have no other choice but to gladly resign my position, if God’s work (that I was involved in) risked being called into question. Our love for Jesus must come before our love of status and prestige related to any position we may hold. Do you agree?

As Selwyn says in his conclusion: “Only those who have experienced the saving grace of Jesus Christ can hope to minister that grace to others.” This is an obviously true statement to anyone who has experienced the free gift of grace from Jesus. It is sad that there are many so-called Christians, who have no idea of what it means to have a relationship with God, yet based on some form of theological studies they have undertaken - think they can work in God’s harvest field.  God may use them for His purposes but perhaps not in ways they expect! What do you think?

I liked Selwyn’s conclusion: “We need to know exactly what we have inherited in Jesus if we are to enter into it. And what have we inherited? Life, peace, power, joy – riches beyond compare. However, it is one thing to know of our inheritance. It is another to enter into it.”

Selwyn talks about Chapter 7 of the book of Nehemiah, as being a transition point from the first six chapters which describe the repair of the walls and gates, to the last six chapters which chronicle the ‘repair’ of the peoples’ character.

The census talked about in this chapter is to determine, and demonstrate to the people, their genealogical purity – which highlights their status as God’s chosen race of people. As Selwyn says: “Nehemiah knows they must be certain of their inheritance and their calling” by God to be set-apart from other nations.

Yet, the outstanding point for me, is captured in the words: ‘So my God put it into my heart … ‘. These words tell us that Nehemiah constantly talked to God (prayed); and, constantly listened to what God was saying to him. I think that too many times we pray to God with a shopping list in our hands – a list of outcomes that we want – and, as soon as we finish telling Him what’s on the list – we close the lines of communication. Often we don’t spend time, on waiting to hear, what God has put into our hearts! Do you agree?

Selwyn informs us today that the next seven chapters of the Book of Nehemiah ‘deal with the re-instruction of the people’. I think it’s interesting that although the walls have been repaired what is needed is a change in attitude of the people to give them confidence in their future; otherwise the walls and gates may not be maintained for very long.  

What did you think of Selwyn’s conclusion: “It is always a mistake to think that once spiritual objectives have been reached nothing more needs to be done. Gains must be guarded. Moments of great spiritual achievement can be as dangerous as moments of disappointment if they put us off our guard. Vigilance is required of us at all times.”?

Given our human nature, we tend to let down our guard once we build our walls and repair our gates and depend on them for security. Sooner or later our level of vigilance declines in regard to external threats as we divert our attention to our safe-inner world.  Yet, for me, this has been the history of the human race throughout the ages – what I do know is that Jesus never takes His eyes off us – He is always watching. If the walls again fall into disrepair then He will raise up another Nehemiah – He will do this – because He loves us.

Do you agree?

The verses set for reading and meditation Nehemiah 6:15-19, inform us that the initial repairs of the wall were completed in 52 days.  Selwyn writes: “When those who had opposed Nehemiah’s work hear of his success they lose some of their self-confidence because they realise that such a project could never have been accomplished without the help of the Lord.”

I think there are a number of areas we can think about, regarding today’s study. On the one hand ‘there was irrefutable evidence of the hand of God at work’, yet on the other, the enemies of God – those in rebellion appear to never understand just how active God is, in regard to everyday events. The goals of their rebellion can never succeed – and, some recognise that their evil ways are constantly frustrated yet that doesn’t persuade them to change their rebellious hearts. Another area of concern is that it is too easy for people doing God’s work to forget that God is in-charge when there are ‘remarkable accomplishments’; and start to think that it’s their personal abilities (alone) which has resulted in the successful outcomes. A number of ’modern’ church leaders come to mind as I write these words. What do you think about this issue?

I’m not too sure about Selwyn’s conclusion – still thinking about it: “… (we) see what a spiritual stalwart Nehemiah was. Despite all the pressures he was under, he still maintained his confidence in God. A man of lesser character and ability would have given up. … We must never forget that the foundation of spiritual success is our personal character. Whatever else we may have, if we don’t have character it amounts to little or nothing.”

My current thinking (regarding the words above, in italics) is along the lines that we all are somewhat less than perfect – and, it’s only through the power of God’s Spirit working in us that we can do anything meaningful for God. Even the weakest of us can do extraordinary things for Jesus, as a result of prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. What do you think about Selwyn’s comment on character?

(Did you notice that I changed the title of today’s study?)

I think the verses set for today’s reading and meditation are worth the time dwelling on for awhile.

(Nehemiah 6: 10b-13) “Shemaiah said, ‘Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you – by night they are coming to kill you.’

But I said, ‘Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!’ I realised that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me.”

As Nehemiah was a layman, he would have transgressed Jewish law if he had entered the house of God inside the temple. In addition, Nehemiah was not a coward – if he had hidden in the temple, he would have lost the respect of the people.

I think it’s an important point that Shemaiah was most likely a priest and so here is a religious person providing advice which was wrong. He proposed a course of action which was contrary to God’s law given to the Jewish nation – this identified him as a false prophet. A message we can learn from this –  is that we must examine any advice given to us by priests/ministers/pastors to test that it matches God’s word. If it does not then, after taking the issue to God in earnest prayer, we too must say – ‘I will not do it!’ Do you agree?

As Selwyn says in his conclusion: “Nehemiah knows that his life and reputation have been preserved not by breaking God’s laws but by keeping them. When we do what is right then we can safely leave all the consequences with God. “… ‘No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the hertiage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the Lord.” is the promise found in Isaiah 54:17.

Consequently, I think the prayer for today captures the main theme of today’s study: “O Father, thank You for reminding me that when I do right then I can safely leave all the consequences of my action with You. You are able to outmanoeuvre everybody and everything. My heart rejoices in You. Amen.”

Do you agree that we can learn a lot from the Books of the Old Testament on how we should live our lives while we are on this journey of life, following Jesus?

Selwyn writes about another tactic of the devil – to blacken a person’s character and undermine their influence by innuendo and gossip. It’s sad but very true that we all have this tendency to believe the worst about others. As Selwyn says today: “Think how quickly scandal becomes known in an office or even a church. Following the faintest hint of indiscreet behaviour, the person concerned is quickly labelled ‘guilty’. Have you noticed how often the news media will present a news item about a person which presumes ‘guilt’ before the person can present their case in the law courts?

I liked the point Selwyn makes that this type of tactic can only succeed when the person being targeted is prone to fear. Selwyn concludes: ”He (Nehemiah) was happy to leave his reputation and future to the One he served. That’s quiet confidence – the kind, if we know Nehemiah’s God, we too can have.”

Nehemiah’s public reply to Sanballat is a clear denial of the accusation and makes the source of the report clear to everyone: “I sent him this reply: ‘Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your own head.’ (Nehemiah 6: 8)” He goes on to record (verse 9): “They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, ‘Their hands will get too weak (lose motivation) for the work, and it will not be completed.’ But I prayed, ‘(Lord) now strengthen my hands.’” 

I’ve found that when ever such a situation arises the best response is to take the matter to Jesus in earnest prayer and then act on addressing the innuendo and gossip. 

How do you deal with gossip that may damage your reputation?