To listen to the audio version, click here.
Friday, August 29
Nehemiah 10:28-39
“The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord and his rules and his statutes. We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons. And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. And we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.
“We also take on ourselves the obligation to give yearly a third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God: for the showbread, the regular grain offering, the regular burnt offering, the Sabbaths, the new moons, the appointed feasts, the holy things, and the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. We, the priests, the Levites, and the people, have likewise cast lots for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, according to our fathers' houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the Law. We obligate ourselves to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to the house of the Lord; also to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God, the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks; and to bring the first of our dough, and our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the wine and the oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and to bring to the Levites the tithes from our ground, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all our towns where we labor. And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive the tithes. And the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse. For the people of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of grain, wine, and oil to the chambers, where the vessels of the sanctuary are, as well as the priests who minister, and the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not neglect the house of our God.”
Nearly twenty years ago one of our ushers wanted to show me something after one of our worship services. I think he had participated in collecting and counting the offering that day and he thought I would be interested to see something he found in one of the offering plates.
He took me to the room where they counted the offering and showed me a small gold ring. Evidently someone had placed the ring in the offering plate that day instead of a check or cash.
It turned out that the ring didn’t have great monetary value, probably not much more than $5 or $10, but that’s not really the point, is it?
I have often thought about that little ring and what led the person to offer it as a gift to God. Was the person simply so moved during worship that, when the offering time came, he or she spontaneously slipped the ring off and dropped it into the plate? Did the person have nothing else of value, no cash or checking account, and so chose to give a piece of jewelry? Did the ring have some kind of symbolic or emotional value to the giver?
I don’t know what motivated the gift of the ring because I don’t know the giver. If I knew who gave the gift I would thank him or her for the beautiful demonstration of giving as an act of worship.
Notice the different kinds of offerings that Nehemiah encourages the people to bring to God.
“We also take on ourselves the obligation to give yearly a third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God: for the showbread, the regular grain offering, the regular burnt offering... We, the priests, the Levites, and the people, have likewise cast lots for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God...to burn on the altar of the Lord our God... We obligate ourselves to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to the house of the Lord; also to bring to the house of our God...the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle... and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks; and to bring the first of our dough, and our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the wine and the oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and to bring to the Levites the tithes from our ground... For the people of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of grain, wine, and oil to the chambers, where the vessels of the sanctuary are...
The people were to bring money (shekels), bread, grain, wood, fruit, cattle, dough, wine, oil...as a “tithe” to the Lord. Throughout the Old Testament the “tithe” is understood as the first tenth of one’s wealth, produce, herds or flocks. The tithe was given in obedience to God; in thanksgiving for all he had provided; and the tithe allowed the sacrifices of worship to continue to take place.
The tithes and offerings were both a response of obedience and an expression of worship. Remember that we give our worship to God because we believe he is worthy of our deepest devotion; we worship God because he is worth it.
Notice Nehemiah’s straightforward expression of commitment on behalf of the people he leads:
“We will not neglect the house of our God.”
He’s talking about both the worship of God and the tithe to God. Let’s finish this week with a direct question: Is there any way in your worship or in your generosity that you are neglecting the house of your God?
Pastor Brian Coffey
Thursday, August 28th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
Thursday, August 28
Nehemiah 10:28-39
“The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord and his rules and his statutes. We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons. And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. And we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.
Nehemiah is addressing two big issues here that we might miss because we don’t understand the ancient culture in which the story takes place.
First, he’s addressing the issue of economic injustice that he already dealt with in more detail back in chapter 5. Some had used their economic position to take advantage of others through lending money and grain at interest rates that were oppressive, and were taking land and even children as collateral. He is saying, in no uncertain terms, that those practices will stop and all those debts are to be forgiven!
Secondly, he’s dealing with the twin issues of poverty and hunger, which always go together. When he says, “And we will forego the crops of the seventh year...” he is recalling the command of God way back in the book of Exodus.
...but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what is left. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove. Exodus 23:10
This command to take a “sabbatical year” from planting and harvesting was completely unique to the people of Israel and their God! But many scholars see multiple benefits to what sounds, at first, like craziness. It emphasized complete dependence on God to provide; it encouraged a rebalancing of life around worship as well as work; it allowed the land to lie fallow and replenish itself for future seasons of growth; and, finally, it was a way to care for the poor who could reap whatever grew in the fields for their own use.
We understand that the “sabbatical law” of the Old Testament is no longer a requirement for us as God’s people, but there are a couple of spiritual principles that still do apply to our lives. First, there are things more important than our work. Work is good and God wants us to work to provide for our families, but our relationship with him and our relationships with our families are more important than what we do to earn a living. Second, we have a responsibility to care for others. Allowing the poor to use your fields every seven years was a form of compassion and generosity that reflects the character of God himself. We are to be people of both compassion and generosity.
But the deeper issue is a very simple one; complete trust in God’s word and the surrender of obedience.
And we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.
Nehemiah believed God was good and could be trusted; he believed that God’s word carried authority and should be obeyed.
Sometimes obedience sounds crazy.
Sometimes obedience costs us something.
But obedience to God’s word is always good.
Pastor Brian Coffey
Thursday, August 28
Nehemiah 10:28-39
“The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord and his rules and his statutes. We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons. And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. And we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.
Nehemiah is addressing two big issues here that we might miss because we don’t understand the ancient culture in which the story takes place.
First, he’s addressing the issue of economic injustice that he already dealt with in more detail back in chapter 5. Some had used their economic position to take advantage of others through lending money and grain at interest rates that were oppressive, and were taking land and even children as collateral. He is saying, in no uncertain terms, that those practices will stop and all those debts are to be forgiven!
Secondly, he’s dealing with the twin issues of poverty and hunger, which always go together. When he says, “And we will forego the crops of the seventh year...” he is recalling the command of God way back in the book of Exodus.
...but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what is left. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove. Exodus 23:10
This command to take a “sabbatical year” from planting and harvesting was completely unique to the people of Israel and their God! But many scholars see multiple benefits to what sounds, at first, like craziness. It emphasized complete dependence on God to provide; it encouraged a rebalancing of life around worship as well as work; it allowed the land to lie fallow and replenish itself for future seasons of growth; and, finally, it was a way to care for the poor who could reap whatever grew in the fields for their own use.
We understand that the “sabbatical law” of the Old Testament is no longer a requirement for us as God’s people, but there are a couple of spiritual principles that still do apply to our lives. First, there are things more important than our work. Work is good and God wants us to work to provide for our families, but our relationship with him and our relationships with our families are more important than what we do to earn a living. Second, we have a responsibility to care for others. Allowing the poor to use your fields every seven years was a form of compassion and generosity that reflects the character of God himself. We are to be people of both compassion and generosity.
But the deeper issue is a very simple one; complete trust in God’s word and the surrender of obedience.
And we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.
Nehemiah believed God was good and could be trusted; he believed that God’s word carried authority and should be obeyed.
Sometimes obedience sounds crazy.
Sometimes obedience costs us something.
But obedience to God’s word is always good.
Pastor Brian Coffey
Wednesday, August 27th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
Wednesday, August 27
Nehemiah 10:28-39
“The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord and his rules and his statutes. We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons. And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day.
Over the past decade or so pastors like me have noticed an interesting trend in their congregations. The simplest way to summarize the trend is that people are attending weekend worship services with less frequency than they did just a few years ago.
Just 10-15 years ago the average “church family” attended weekend worship just over twice a month. Now before you start to argue with me about that, remember that I am talking about attendance over a whole calendar year, including summers, spring break and Christmas vacation. The numbers were very consistent year after year. Another way to say it is, on any given weekend we had just over half of our total church family in attendance. If there were 4000 people worshiping over Easter weekend (Easter is a time when pretty much the whole church family shows up), the very next weekend that number would drop to right around 2000.
But just a few years ago we noticed the pattern starting to change. Now the average family attends a little less than twice a month; and on any given weekend we have only about 45% of our church family in attendance. So if Easter weekend saw worship attendance of 4000, the very next weekend would drop to about 1800 or so.
So one of the curious things happening at FBCG these days is that we are growing as a church family - we can tell through giving and a few other metrics - but our weekend worship attendance is flat or slightly declining.
What is going on?
While we don’t understand all the dynamics fully, the simplest explanation is that we live in a hyper-busy suburban subculture that no longer respects Sunday as a day reserved for rest and worship. Between work and kids sports there’s always something competing for time on weekends, so it is more and more difficult to make corporate worship a priority.
Another factor is that technology now allows us to watch sermons on line after the fact, or give our offerings at times other than Sunday morning; and with many mid-week ministry options available, we don’t feel like we miss very much by missing a weekend worship service.
So what do we make of all this; and what guidance can we get from God’s word?
Here we notice that Nehemiah is clearly calling people back to a commitment to observe the Sabbath day as a holy day.
And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day.
He is reminding the people of God’s commandment back in Exodus:
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 20:8-11
God wanted his people to know the importance of resting from their work to worship together and to experience the holiness and comfort of his presence.
Then Jesus further explains the purpose of the Sabbath in the New Testament when he says:
And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Mark 2:27
Jesus was teaching that God established the Sabbath for our benefit not just as a religious law to be kept. Sabbath is about refreshing and enriching our relationship with our God through worship, praise, celebration and rest.
Back to the trend of decreasing church attendance. I think Jesus would be concerned about that trend. But I don’t think he would be concerned because, as Christians, we are supposed to go to church! I don’t think he would throw the Sabbath commandment at us and say, “Hey, go to church because I said so!” That’s what legalism would say, but it’s not what Jesus would say.
I think Jesus would be concerned because he knows what the hectic pace of our culture does to our souls and our relationships. I think Jesus wants us to want to come to church! I think he would say something like, “What could be better than acknowledging the glory of God in the company of a worshiping church? What have you found to do with your weekends that is better than that?”
Is our busy suburban North American culture increasingly robbing us of our weekends? Yes, it is.
Can we worship God on Tuesday, by ourselves, while walking on a bike trail? Absolutely! Do we have to go to church in order to receive God’s grace and salvation? No.
So why is it important to gather with the body of Christ as often as we can to share worship together?
Perhaps Jesus said it best:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Pastor Brian Coffey
Wednesday, August 27
Nehemiah 10:28-39
“The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord and his rules and his statutes. We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons. And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day.
Over the past decade or so pastors like me have noticed an interesting trend in their congregations. The simplest way to summarize the trend is that people are attending weekend worship services with less frequency than they did just a few years ago.
Just 10-15 years ago the average “church family” attended weekend worship just over twice a month. Now before you start to argue with me about that, remember that I am talking about attendance over a whole calendar year, including summers, spring break and Christmas vacation. The numbers were very consistent year after year. Another way to say it is, on any given weekend we had just over half of our total church family in attendance. If there were 4000 people worshiping over Easter weekend (Easter is a time when pretty much the whole church family shows up), the very next weekend that number would drop to right around 2000.
But just a few years ago we noticed the pattern starting to change. Now the average family attends a little less than twice a month; and on any given weekend we have only about 45% of our church family in attendance. So if Easter weekend saw worship attendance of 4000, the very next weekend would drop to about 1800 or so.
So one of the curious things happening at FBCG these days is that we are growing as a church family - we can tell through giving and a few other metrics - but our weekend worship attendance is flat or slightly declining.
What is going on?
While we don’t understand all the dynamics fully, the simplest explanation is that we live in a hyper-busy suburban subculture that no longer respects Sunday as a day reserved for rest and worship. Between work and kids sports there’s always something competing for time on weekends, so it is more and more difficult to make corporate worship a priority.
Another factor is that technology now allows us to watch sermons on line after the fact, or give our offerings at times other than Sunday morning; and with many mid-week ministry options available, we don’t feel like we miss very much by missing a weekend worship service.
So what do we make of all this; and what guidance can we get from God’s word?
Here we notice that Nehemiah is clearly calling people back to a commitment to observe the Sabbath day as a holy day.
And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day.
He is reminding the people of God’s commandment back in Exodus:
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 20:8-11
God wanted his people to know the importance of resting from their work to worship together and to experience the holiness and comfort of his presence.
Then Jesus further explains the purpose of the Sabbath in the New Testament when he says:
And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Mark 2:27
Jesus was teaching that God established the Sabbath for our benefit not just as a religious law to be kept. Sabbath is about refreshing and enriching our relationship with our God through worship, praise, celebration and rest.
Back to the trend of decreasing church attendance. I think Jesus would be concerned about that trend. But I don’t think he would be concerned because, as Christians, we are supposed to go to church! I don’t think he would throw the Sabbath commandment at us and say, “Hey, go to church because I said so!” That’s what legalism would say, but it’s not what Jesus would say.
I think Jesus would be concerned because he knows what the hectic pace of our culture does to our souls and our relationships. I think Jesus wants us to want to come to church! I think he would say something like, “What could be better than acknowledging the glory of God in the company of a worshiping church? What have you found to do with your weekends that is better than that?”
Is our busy suburban North American culture increasingly robbing us of our weekends? Yes, it is.
Can we worship God on Tuesday, by ourselves, while walking on a bike trail? Absolutely! Do we have to go to church in order to receive God’s grace and salvation? No.
So why is it important to gather with the body of Christ as often as we can to share worship together?
Perhaps Jesus said it best:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Pastor Brian Coffey
Tuesday, August 26th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
Tuesday, August 26
Nehemiah 10:28-39
“The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord and his rules and his statutes. We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons.
Like most pastors, I have done my share of weddings over the years. While I haven’t kept a count I would put the number somewhere over 200. And in almost every wedding I have done there is a moment called “The giving of the bride.” This moment usually comes right after the bride is escorted by her father down the aisle while the guests stand and oooh and ahhh at her radiant beauty!
I say, “Since so-and-so and so-and-so have come before me to be married, I now ask, who gives this woman to be married to this man?”
At that point the father of the bride swallows hard and then croaks out his well-rehearsed answer, “Her mother and I.” Then, usually with tears in his eyes, he lifts his daughter’s veil, gives her a tender kiss, and then punches his future son-in-law as hard as he can in the arm and sits down. I’m just kidding about that last part, but I think that’s what most fathers of the bride really want to do!
I think if I could look into the heart of almost any father who stands at the front of a church to give away his little girl to another man, I would find a heart full of love, hope and fear. Love, because he loves his daughter with his very life; hope, because he hopes for her great happiness and joy; and fear, because he fears that the man he gives her to will not love her the way God wants her to be loved.
I think that’s what is behind the covenant Nehemiah is proclaiming to the people of Jerusalem.
We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons.
Nehemiah is acknowledging the importance of shared faith in marriage. The people groups living in the region of Jerusalem did not acknowledge, worship or serve the God of Israel. Most of the surrounding cultures were polytheistic or served pagan deities. Therefore they did not share the same values as the Israelites and Nehemiah is emphasizing the dangers inherent in marrying outside one’s own faith.
This danger has nothing to do with ethnic, educational or economic background, but rather with the importance of building the spiritual DNA of a family.
I have counseled many couples who did not consider a shared spiritual commitment to be important at the time of their marriage, only to discover the lack of a spiritual foundation to be the source of great conflict and pain later in their relationship, especially when they begin to raise children in their home.
Nehemiah is reminding the people that what they believe about their God matters! He’s reminding the people that holiness matters. He’s reminding them that they belong to God and are set apart for his purposes.
He’s also reminding them that families matter as well. A marriage that lacks a spiritual foundation is on shaky ground. Likewise, a family without a spiritual foundation is like a home without walls; everyone who lives there is vulnerable to all manner of threats from the outside.
If you are married, does your marriage have a spiritual foundation? If you are a parent, are you invested in establishing a spiritual foundation for your family? May we remember the words of Nehemiah:
We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land...
Pastor Brian Coffey
Tuesday, August 26
Nehemiah 10:28-39
“The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord and his rules and his statutes. We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons.
Like most pastors, I have done my share of weddings over the years. While I haven’t kept a count I would put the number somewhere over 200. And in almost every wedding I have done there is a moment called “The giving of the bride.” This moment usually comes right after the bride is escorted by her father down the aisle while the guests stand and oooh and ahhh at her radiant beauty!
I say, “Since so-and-so and so-and-so have come before me to be married, I now ask, who gives this woman to be married to this man?”
At that point the father of the bride swallows hard and then croaks out his well-rehearsed answer, “Her mother and I.” Then, usually with tears in his eyes, he lifts his daughter’s veil, gives her a tender kiss, and then punches his future son-in-law as hard as he can in the arm and sits down. I’m just kidding about that last part, but I think that’s what most fathers of the bride really want to do!
I think if I could look into the heart of almost any father who stands at the front of a church to give away his little girl to another man, I would find a heart full of love, hope and fear. Love, because he loves his daughter with his very life; hope, because he hopes for her great happiness and joy; and fear, because he fears that the man he gives her to will not love her the way God wants her to be loved.
I think that’s what is behind the covenant Nehemiah is proclaiming to the people of Jerusalem.
We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons.
Nehemiah is acknowledging the importance of shared faith in marriage. The people groups living in the region of Jerusalem did not acknowledge, worship or serve the God of Israel. Most of the surrounding cultures were polytheistic or served pagan deities. Therefore they did not share the same values as the Israelites and Nehemiah is emphasizing the dangers inherent in marrying outside one’s own faith.
This danger has nothing to do with ethnic, educational or economic background, but rather with the importance of building the spiritual DNA of a family.
I have counseled many couples who did not consider a shared spiritual commitment to be important at the time of their marriage, only to discover the lack of a spiritual foundation to be the source of great conflict and pain later in their relationship, especially when they begin to raise children in their home.
Nehemiah is reminding the people that what they believe about their God matters! He’s reminding the people that holiness matters. He’s reminding them that they belong to God and are set apart for his purposes.
He’s also reminding them that families matter as well. A marriage that lacks a spiritual foundation is on shaky ground. Likewise, a family without a spiritual foundation is like a home without walls; everyone who lives there is vulnerable to all manner of threats from the outside.
If you are married, does your marriage have a spiritual foundation? If you are a parent, are you invested in establishing a spiritual foundation for your family? May we remember the words of Nehemiah:
We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land...
Pastor Brian Coffey
Monday, August 25th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
Monday, August 25
Nehemiah 10:28-39
“The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord and his rules and his statutes.
A number of years ago FBCG’s East Campus was serving as a polling place for an election and the lobby was filled with people who weren’t part of our church family. At some point in the morning I stepped out of my office for a moment and was greeted by one of the election officials. I didn’t recognize him because he didn’t worship at FBCG, but I offered a polite “Hello,” and then was surprised when he kind of nodded back over his shoulder toward the sanctuary and said, “So what are you doing in there?”
I said, “Excuse me?”
He repeated, “What are you doing in there?” with the same nod toward the sanctuary. This time he followed up with a little more explanation of his question. He continued, “I drive by here on Sunday mornings and there are cars parked all over the place! So I’m just wondering what you are doing in there to get all these people to come to church?”
This time I understood his question, and responded the best I could on the spur of the moment. I said something like, “Well, we just do our best to worship God and preach his word.”
That’s where we are in the story of Nehemiah as well! Let’s recap the journey so far:
Nehemiah hears the walls of Jerusalem are still broken down and he grieves and prays to the God of heaven.
Nehemiah receives permission from the King to travel to Jerusalem for the purpose of rebuilding the wall.
He puts together a plan and inspires the people to join him.
He leads the people to rebuild the wall in 52 days, overcoming great opposition along the way.
He then seeks to repopulate the city with the descendants of the first exiles who had returned decades earlier.
Then Nehemiah leads the people in a re-reading of God’s word and a time of communal confession of sin.
Now he leads the people of Jerusalem in a public commitment to obey God’s word.
The rest of the people... all who have knowledge and understanding, join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord and his rules and his statutes.
Nehemiah knew it wasn’t enough for the people of God to have a restored wall and a restored Temple. He knew they needed to also be a people of God’s word!
Think of it this way.
Not many of us ever get so busy that we forget to eat; at least I rarely forget to eat! Yet, I think many of us use our busy lives as a kind of excuse for not spending more intentional time reading and thinking about God’s word.
The Bible itself teaches that God’s word is like food for our souls.
In 1 Peter 2:2 we read:
...like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation...
At FBCG we preach from God’s word in every worship service but hearing from God’s word once a week is like having one meal a week! If you are reading or listening to “10 Minutes with God” you are seeking to nourish your soul on a daily basis and I would simply encourage you to share these daily devotionals with someone else who may need such spiritual nourishment from God’s word.
Last year we did a whole series of messages from Psalm 119 and we memorized together the key verse from that series. I think there’s a good chance Nehemiah had this verse memorized as well!
I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Psalm 119:16
Just as we don’t neglect to nourish our bodies, may we not neglect the nourishment of our souls. May we, too, be a people of the word!
Pastor Brian Coffey
Monday, August 25
Nehemiah 10:28-39
“The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord and his rules and his statutes.
A number of years ago FBCG’s East Campus was serving as a polling place for an election and the lobby was filled with people who weren’t part of our church family. At some point in the morning I stepped out of my office for a moment and was greeted by one of the election officials. I didn’t recognize him because he didn’t worship at FBCG, but I offered a polite “Hello,” and then was surprised when he kind of nodded back over his shoulder toward the sanctuary and said, “So what are you doing in there?”
I said, “Excuse me?”
He repeated, “What are you doing in there?” with the same nod toward the sanctuary. This time he followed up with a little more explanation of his question. He continued, “I drive by here on Sunday mornings and there are cars parked all over the place! So I’m just wondering what you are doing in there to get all these people to come to church?”
This time I understood his question, and responded the best I could on the spur of the moment. I said something like, “Well, we just do our best to worship God and preach his word.”
That’s where we are in the story of Nehemiah as well! Let’s recap the journey so far:
Nehemiah hears the walls of Jerusalem are still broken down and he grieves and prays to the God of heaven.
Nehemiah receives permission from the King to travel to Jerusalem for the purpose of rebuilding the wall.
He puts together a plan and inspires the people to join him.
He leads the people to rebuild the wall in 52 days, overcoming great opposition along the way.
He then seeks to repopulate the city with the descendants of the first exiles who had returned decades earlier.
Then Nehemiah leads the people in a re-reading of God’s word and a time of communal confession of sin.
Now he leads the people of Jerusalem in a public commitment to obey God’s word.
The rest of the people... all who have knowledge and understanding, join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord and his rules and his statutes.
Nehemiah knew it wasn’t enough for the people of God to have a restored wall and a restored Temple. He knew they needed to also be a people of God’s word!
Think of it this way.
Not many of us ever get so busy that we forget to eat; at least I rarely forget to eat! Yet, I think many of us use our busy lives as a kind of excuse for not spending more intentional time reading and thinking about God’s word.
The Bible itself teaches that God’s word is like food for our souls.
In 1 Peter 2:2 we read:
...like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation...
At FBCG we preach from God’s word in every worship service but hearing from God’s word once a week is like having one meal a week! If you are reading or listening to “10 Minutes with God” you are seeking to nourish your soul on a daily basis and I would simply encourage you to share these daily devotionals with someone else who may need such spiritual nourishment from God’s word.
Last year we did a whole series of messages from Psalm 119 and we memorized together the key verse from that series. I think there’s a good chance Nehemiah had this verse memorized as well!
I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Psalm 119:16
Just as we don’t neglect to nourish our bodies, may we not neglect the nourishment of our souls. May we, too, be a people of the word!
Pastor Brian Coffey
Friday, August 22nd
To listen to the audio version, click here.
“You saw the suffering of our ancestors in Egypt; you heard their cry at the Red Sea. You sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his officials and all the people of his land, for you knew how arrogantly the Egyptians treated them. You made a name for yourself, which remains to this day. You divided the sea before them, so that they passed through it on dry ground, but you hurled their pursuers into the depths, like a stone into mighty waters. By day you led them with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light on the way they were to take.
“You came down on Mount Sinai; you spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and laws that are just and right, and decrees and commands that are good. You made known to them your holy Sabbath and gave them commands, decrees and laws through your servant Moses. In their hunger you gave them bread from heaven and in their thirst you brought them water from the rock; you told them to go in and take possession of the land you had sworn with uplifted hand to give them.
“You heard their cry” – For centuries God’s people cried out and wondered where God was. Why wasn’t he listening to their cry? Now, looking back, the Israelites realize that God was there all along. He was listening to their cries, and he responded in the most incredible way. Why did he wait as long as he did? How could he let his people suffer for so long? God was doing something in the life of his people. One could argue that God even rescued them too soon, as the people argued and complained, desiring to be back in Egypt living in punishment and enslavement. How often do we revert back to our old sinful ways, desiring to go back to our Egypt, thinking that it is better than what God desires or offers? The people would need another forty years of training before they were ready to truly follow God. Praise God for delivering us! Praise God for hearing us!
“You made a name for yourself” – It continues to amaze me that with such a pathetic following, God’s name is continually made great. His name continues to be praised, even though, we, his people, continue to screw things up for him. Rather than abandoning us completely, God is patient, and continues to work in us and through us. God does not need us to make him great. He already is great. He does not need us to make a name for him among the nations. He made a name for himself. Yet, God continues to allow us to partner with him in his work. What a gracious gift! What a weight that is lifted from us, knowing that even during our messiest times, God continues to make a name for himself!
“You led them” – it would have been enough if God had simply rescued his people, then left them alone to figure out how to live life now that they were free. It would have definitely been a lot less work for him! Sometimes, our minds deceive us into thinking this way. We cry out to God, begging him to save us from the mess we have made, then, once he rescues us, we go back to living life on our own, thinking that we will do better the next time around. Yet, God chooses to lead his people. He does not leave them hanging. He led them by day, and by night. He led them through the “bright” times, and through the “dark” times. God is still doing that for us today. Praise God for his activity in our lives, and for leading us each day! Praise God for the gift of his Holy Spirit who is leading and instructing us!
“You came down” – Stop. Read that again. “You” “Came” “Down” let that thought settle in your minds for a moment. God descended to his people. God’s people have always been dependent on this one act of God. We have never been able to reach the heights of God. If God did not come down to his people there would be no communicating with God. If God did not come down and visit his people we would not know what it means to be led. If God did not come down, how would we even truly know him? The greatest act of God is in the fact that He came down. He did it in the Old Testament on numerous occasions. Those are fun stories to read. He did it in the New Testament. He came down, and made a place for himself among his people. He spoke to people. He lived with his people. He walked the earth he created. He showed his people how to live. And then, he died, giving his people life. He did that, when he came down. Praise God, that he is not a far off God, but he is a God who is near to his people!
Pastor Jonathan Goble
“You saw the suffering of our ancestors in Egypt; you heard their cry at the Red Sea. You sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his officials and all the people of his land, for you knew how arrogantly the Egyptians treated them. You made a name for yourself, which remains to this day. You divided the sea before them, so that they passed through it on dry ground, but you hurled their pursuers into the depths, like a stone into mighty waters. By day you led them with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light on the way they were to take.
“You came down on Mount Sinai; you spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and laws that are just and right, and decrees and commands that are good. You made known to them your holy Sabbath and gave them commands, decrees and laws through your servant Moses. In their hunger you gave them bread from heaven and in their thirst you brought them water from the rock; you told them to go in and take possession of the land you had sworn with uplifted hand to give them.
“You heard their cry” – For centuries God’s people cried out and wondered where God was. Why wasn’t he listening to their cry? Now, looking back, the Israelites realize that God was there all along. He was listening to their cries, and he responded in the most incredible way. Why did he wait as long as he did? How could he let his people suffer for so long? God was doing something in the life of his people. One could argue that God even rescued them too soon, as the people argued and complained, desiring to be back in Egypt living in punishment and enslavement. How often do we revert back to our old sinful ways, desiring to go back to our Egypt, thinking that it is better than what God desires or offers? The people would need another forty years of training before they were ready to truly follow God. Praise God for delivering us! Praise God for hearing us!
“You made a name for yourself” – It continues to amaze me that with such a pathetic following, God’s name is continually made great. His name continues to be praised, even though, we, his people, continue to screw things up for him. Rather than abandoning us completely, God is patient, and continues to work in us and through us. God does not need us to make him great. He already is great. He does not need us to make a name for him among the nations. He made a name for himself. Yet, God continues to allow us to partner with him in his work. What a gracious gift! What a weight that is lifted from us, knowing that even during our messiest times, God continues to make a name for himself!
“You led them” – it would have been enough if God had simply rescued his people, then left them alone to figure out how to live life now that they were free. It would have definitely been a lot less work for him! Sometimes, our minds deceive us into thinking this way. We cry out to God, begging him to save us from the mess we have made, then, once he rescues us, we go back to living life on our own, thinking that we will do better the next time around. Yet, God chooses to lead his people. He does not leave them hanging. He led them by day, and by night. He led them through the “bright” times, and through the “dark” times. God is still doing that for us today. Praise God for his activity in our lives, and for leading us each day! Praise God for the gift of his Holy Spirit who is leading and instructing us!
“You came down” – Stop. Read that again. “You” “Came” “Down” let that thought settle in your minds for a moment. God descended to his people. God’s people have always been dependent on this one act of God. We have never been able to reach the heights of God. If God did not come down to his people there would be no communicating with God. If God did not come down and visit his people we would not know what it means to be led. If God did not come down, how would we even truly know him? The greatest act of God is in the fact that He came down. He did it in the Old Testament on numerous occasions. Those are fun stories to read. He did it in the New Testament. He came down, and made a place for himself among his people. He spoke to people. He lived with his people. He walked the earth he created. He showed his people how to live. And then, he died, giving his people life. He did that, when he came down. Praise God, that he is not a far off God, but he is a God who is near to his people!
Pastor Jonathan Goble
Thursday, August 21st
To listen to the audio version, click here.
“You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.”
“You are the Lord God, who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and named him Abraham. You found his heart faithful to you, and you made a covenant with him to give to his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites and Girgashites. You have kept your promise because you are righteous.”
“You alone are the Lord” – Just before the Levites remind the people of the Creation Narrative, they begin with the reminder that God is the one true God. There is no other. While he alone is God, we also know that this is a triune God, three in one. It is fascinating that in the creation narrative God is referred to as “Elohim” in each instance. This denotes that he is “God,” “Ruler,” “Judge,” “Creator” (Strong’s Lexicon” The word “Elohim” is the plural form for God. In this introduction to God as creator, we are also introduced to the plurality of God. How awesome is that?
“You made…” – Not only do the Israelites recognize God as the Creator of the universe, they also take note of the vastness of his creation. He has created all things far and near. Creating is his nature. Did you know that he is still creating today? Some day, he will create a new heaven and a new earth. He is continuing to create inside of you and me. David recognized that God was creating in him a clean heart. He continues to create as he makes all things new. God is always doing something new. What new thing has he been doing in your life? Praise him for his work in your life.
“You give life…” – One of my favorite images of God is the giver of life. When God created Adam, he picked up some dirt from the ground and breathed life into it. Sometimes I feel like that lump of dirt sitting in God’s hands. Then, at just right time, he breathes life into me. Have ever experienced God as the life giver? Praise him for this life!
In the New Testament we see Jesus “breathing life” on another occasion. The situation is not all that different. Jesus knows that his time on earth is drawing to an end, and he will soon breathe his last breath. Yet, before that happens, he takes his disciples aside and breathes on them the Holy Spirit. In this passage, Jesus gives Spiritual Life. Jesus breathes eternal life into his disciples! And this eternal life has also been given to you and to me! Praise him for this eternal life!
“Multitudes of heaven worship you” – He is Lord of Heaven. Think about that. He is Lord of the Highest of Heights. He is Lord over all natural and supernatural beings. He is the supreme being, of which none can compare. So great is He, that all of Heaven worships him! It is because of this that we can rest assured in Paul’s words:
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 7:38-39)
Praise Him, for no one and nothing can separate you from his Love!
“You have kept your promise” – What was God thinking when he made a covenant with his creation? Surely he knew that the Israelites would not be able to hold their end of the bargain. This covenant was made post “The Fall of Man.” If there was ever a bad time for God to make a covenant with his people, this was definitely it! There appears to be nothing good in this deal for God, and all things good available to the Israelites if they can somehow remain true to this covenant. Yet, time after time the Israelites failed. Still, we find God, remaining true to his word, never going back on his promise. The Israelites now recognize this, and they praise God for keeping his Promise. Praise God for his promises that remain true for us even today!
“You are righteous” – Because God is righteous, his commands are right and true. Because God is righteous, the sins of the people are now before them. Because God is righteous, he requires his people to live righteously. Where is the comfort in this?
“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” (1 John 2:1) Praise God that our salvation is not based upon our righteous living, but rather the righteousness of the one who was sent by God – Jesus!
Pastor Jonathan Goble
“You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.”
“You are the Lord God, who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and named him Abraham. You found his heart faithful to you, and you made a covenant with him to give to his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites and Girgashites. You have kept your promise because you are righteous.”
“You alone are the Lord” – Just before the Levites remind the people of the Creation Narrative, they begin with the reminder that God is the one true God. There is no other. While he alone is God, we also know that this is a triune God, three in one. It is fascinating that in the creation narrative God is referred to as “Elohim” in each instance. This denotes that he is “God,” “Ruler,” “Judge,” “Creator” (Strong’s Lexicon” The word “Elohim” is the plural form for God. In this introduction to God as creator, we are also introduced to the plurality of God. How awesome is that?
“You made…” – Not only do the Israelites recognize God as the Creator of the universe, they also take note of the vastness of his creation. He has created all things far and near. Creating is his nature. Did you know that he is still creating today? Some day, he will create a new heaven and a new earth. He is continuing to create inside of you and me. David recognized that God was creating in him a clean heart. He continues to create as he makes all things new. God is always doing something new. What new thing has he been doing in your life? Praise him for his work in your life.
“You give life…” – One of my favorite images of God is the giver of life. When God created Adam, he picked up some dirt from the ground and breathed life into it. Sometimes I feel like that lump of dirt sitting in God’s hands. Then, at just right time, he breathes life into me. Have ever experienced God as the life giver? Praise him for this life!
In the New Testament we see Jesus “breathing life” on another occasion. The situation is not all that different. Jesus knows that his time on earth is drawing to an end, and he will soon breathe his last breath. Yet, before that happens, he takes his disciples aside and breathes on them the Holy Spirit. In this passage, Jesus gives Spiritual Life. Jesus breathes eternal life into his disciples! And this eternal life has also been given to you and to me! Praise him for this eternal life!
“Multitudes of heaven worship you” – He is Lord of Heaven. Think about that. He is Lord of the Highest of Heights. He is Lord over all natural and supernatural beings. He is the supreme being, of which none can compare. So great is He, that all of Heaven worships him! It is because of this that we can rest assured in Paul’s words:
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 7:38-39)
Praise Him, for no one and nothing can separate you from his Love!
“You have kept your promise” – What was God thinking when he made a covenant with his creation? Surely he knew that the Israelites would not be able to hold their end of the bargain. This covenant was made post “The Fall of Man.” If there was ever a bad time for God to make a covenant with his people, this was definitely it! There appears to be nothing good in this deal for God, and all things good available to the Israelites if they can somehow remain true to this covenant. Yet, time after time the Israelites failed. Still, we find God, remaining true to his word, never going back on his promise. The Israelites now recognize this, and they praise God for keeping his Promise. Praise God for his promises that remain true for us even today!
“You are righteous” – Because God is righteous, his commands are right and true. Because God is righteous, the sins of the people are now before them. Because God is righteous, he requires his people to live righteously. Where is the comfort in this?
“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” (1 John 2:1) Praise God that our salvation is not based upon our righteous living, but rather the righteousness of the one who was sent by God – Jesus!
Pastor Jonathan Goble
Wednesday, August 20th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
“Stand up and praise the Lord your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting.” “Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise... Nehemiah 9:5-6)”
Have you ever needed a vacation? I mean, not just a time to get away and have fun, but a vacation from everything around you? A time to get away, to be alone, in silence and solitude?
A couple of year’s ago I took one of these vacations. I just needed to get away and spend time with the Lord. I had my whole week planned out, how I would spend each hour of each day. I arrived at my destination early on a Sunday evening, ready for a time of prayer. I pulled a comfortable chair out onto the deck of the cottage, got myself into position, closed my eyes…and nothing. I opened my eyes, looked around, closed them again, focused myself…but to no avail. My mind was completely blank. It was as if I had never prayed before. I could not think of anything to say. On top of that, I could not focus. I felt completely lost, not knowing where to begin.
Then, out of nowhere, I began saying the names of God as they appeared in my mind. One right after the other. God. Jesus. Holy Spirit. Lord of All. Almighty God. Lord of Heaven. Lord of Heaven’s Armies. God our Provider. God our Healer. God our Banner. The One True God. Holy One of Israel. The Great I AM. The Good Shepherd…They kept coming, and I continued to speak them. As I declared who God was, His praises I began to sing. The declarations turned to praise, the praise turned to worship, and the worship turned to confession. At the end of my time of prayer, God was in his rightful position, and I found my rightful place. Once I was in this place, the prayer and the praise seemed completely natural.
Jesus said, “This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”
Have you ever considered what it means to “hallow” God’s name? And what do we make of the fact that God actually has many, many names? To “hallow” is to make holy, to set apart, to revere. I used to think this was just another way of saying that I should not use God’s name in vain. However, I think there is so much more to it than that. When we “hallow” his name, we recognize that his name is far above every other name, because He is far above everyone and everything. When we “hallow” his name, we not only declare the greatness of our God, but we recognize who he is, and what he does. Two years ago, I discovered this truth, and it changed my week. It changed my prayer times, and it continues to transform my prayers to this day. Before I pray, I want to recognize who God is. And to worship him, for who he is, before I begin making requests of him.
The Israelites find themselves in a similar situation. For centuries they have been living apart from God. After worshipping and celebrating, they confess their sins before God. And now, we find them proclaiming who God is. What they discover, is that God has always been true to his name. His name proclaims his character, and God’s character never changes. As the Israelites confess their sins, and the sins of their ancestors they recognize God’s faithfulness, even when they were unfaithful. They recognize that God is the one true God, even though at times they chased after idols. They recognized that God has always kept his promises, even though they continually went back on their word. They recognized God and his righteousness, and this led to their repentance from their sinful behavior.
Before you spend time in prayer today, take some time to praise God for who he is and what he has done. Call out specific names of God. Consider how he has revealed himself to you by name, at specific times in your life. Praise him for each of those sweet moments.
Pastor Jonathan Goble
“Stand up and praise the Lord your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting.” “Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise... Nehemiah 9:5-6)”
Have you ever needed a vacation? I mean, not just a time to get away and have fun, but a vacation from everything around you? A time to get away, to be alone, in silence and solitude?
A couple of year’s ago I took one of these vacations. I just needed to get away and spend time with the Lord. I had my whole week planned out, how I would spend each hour of each day. I arrived at my destination early on a Sunday evening, ready for a time of prayer. I pulled a comfortable chair out onto the deck of the cottage, got myself into position, closed my eyes…and nothing. I opened my eyes, looked around, closed them again, focused myself…but to no avail. My mind was completely blank. It was as if I had never prayed before. I could not think of anything to say. On top of that, I could not focus. I felt completely lost, not knowing where to begin.
Then, out of nowhere, I began saying the names of God as they appeared in my mind. One right after the other. God. Jesus. Holy Spirit. Lord of All. Almighty God. Lord of Heaven. Lord of Heaven’s Armies. God our Provider. God our Healer. God our Banner. The One True God. Holy One of Israel. The Great I AM. The Good Shepherd…They kept coming, and I continued to speak them. As I declared who God was, His praises I began to sing. The declarations turned to praise, the praise turned to worship, and the worship turned to confession. At the end of my time of prayer, God was in his rightful position, and I found my rightful place. Once I was in this place, the prayer and the praise seemed completely natural.
Jesus said, “This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”
Have you ever considered what it means to “hallow” God’s name? And what do we make of the fact that God actually has many, many names? To “hallow” is to make holy, to set apart, to revere. I used to think this was just another way of saying that I should not use God’s name in vain. However, I think there is so much more to it than that. When we “hallow” his name, we recognize that his name is far above every other name, because He is far above everyone and everything. When we “hallow” his name, we not only declare the greatness of our God, but we recognize who he is, and what he does. Two years ago, I discovered this truth, and it changed my week. It changed my prayer times, and it continues to transform my prayers to this day. Before I pray, I want to recognize who God is. And to worship him, for who he is, before I begin making requests of him.
The Israelites find themselves in a similar situation. For centuries they have been living apart from God. After worshipping and celebrating, they confess their sins before God. And now, we find them proclaiming who God is. What they discover, is that God has always been true to his name. His name proclaims his character, and God’s character never changes. As the Israelites confess their sins, and the sins of their ancestors they recognize God’s faithfulness, even when they were unfaithful. They recognize that God is the one true God, even though at times they chased after idols. They recognized that God has always kept his promises, even though they continually went back on their word. They recognized God and his righteousness, and this led to their repentance from their sinful behavior.
Before you spend time in prayer today, take some time to praise God for who he is and what he has done. Call out specific names of God. Consider how he has revealed himself to you by name, at specific times in your life. Praise him for each of those sweet moments.
Pastor Jonathan Goble
Tuesday, August 19th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors. (Nehemiah 9: 2b)
From the Israelites point of view, it made sense to confess their sins before the Lord. They had not experienced the forgiveness that is available to us today because of the atoning work of Jesus on the Cross. It was custom for them to confess their sin, and to follow that up with an animal sacrifice depending on the occasion, or the context of the sin. Perhaps the greatest example of confession can be found in psalm 51. David confesses his sin to the Lord after committing murder and adultery. The word of the Lord is brought to David through the Prophet Nathan, and David’s sin is realized. Listen to his confession:
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb you taught me wisdom in that secret place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Psalm 51: 1-12)
What we see here is not only a beautiful example of a pure and authentic confession, but we also get insight into the mindset of God’s people before the Cross. David has a great desire to have the heart of God; pure and righteous. And he makes his request for that in his confession. But, there is more. David confesses his sin before the Lord because there is a legitimate fear that the Lord could remove his spirit from David. If this were to happen, David would never again experience life in the presence of his God. This is something David had grown accustomed to in his life. He could not imagine life outside of the presence of God. He had watched this happen with Saul, the king who preceded him. After God rejected Saul as King, God then proceeds to remove his Spirit from Saul (1 Samuel 16:14). David wants to avoid this at all cost. He has learned that this will not only lead to his demise as King, but it could ultimately lead to the collapse of the kingdom, and quite possibly the nation of which he is responsible for.
But what about those of us that are living on this side of the cross? We know that our sins have been forgiven once and for all. Christ died not only for our past sins, but also for those sins that we have not yet committed. We also do not need to live in fear of God removing his Spirit from us. So, is confession even necessary today? And, if so, why should we do it?
John writes, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1: 9)
Confession displays the attitude of our hearts. It is our hearts that the Lord is most concerned with. Confession reveals a desire to live a life of holiness. It creates a “clean heart” and a “right spirit” within us. It is an act of humility that allows room for the Spirit of God to remove the sinful desires that dwell within us. This is the process of sanctification. The removal of our old sinful self, replaced with a filling of God’s Spirit. In this process, God brings a spiritual cleansing and a spiritual healing to us.
Like David, we too know that a life left uncorrected, given over to specific sins, will lead to our downfall. For those of us with a spouse, or children under our care, we know that this is a price that is too steep for us to pay. For those of us in positions of leadership, be it a small group, a board member, a teacher, a care taker, or a discipler of others, we want our lives to be above reproach; A life that leads by example. For all of us in the body of Christ, we know that our greatest calling is to become more like our savior. Confession is a movement towards the finishing work of Christ in us.
Pastor Jonathan Goble![](\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/PxuL/~4/luEtogDMF0k\")
They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors. (Nehemiah 9: 2b)
From the Israelites point of view, it made sense to confess their sins before the Lord. They had not experienced the forgiveness that is available to us today because of the atoning work of Jesus on the Cross. It was custom for them to confess their sin, and to follow that up with an animal sacrifice depending on the occasion, or the context of the sin. Perhaps the greatest example of confession can be found in psalm 51. David confesses his sin to the Lord after committing murder and adultery. The word of the Lord is brought to David through the Prophet Nathan, and David’s sin is realized. Listen to his confession:
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb you taught me wisdom in that secret place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Psalm 51: 1-12)
What we see here is not only a beautiful example of a pure and authentic confession, but we also get insight into the mindset of God’s people before the Cross. David has a great desire to have the heart of God; pure and righteous. And he makes his request for that in his confession. But, there is more. David confesses his sin before the Lord because there is a legitimate fear that the Lord could remove his spirit from David. If this were to happen, David would never again experience life in the presence of his God. This is something David had grown accustomed to in his life. He could not imagine life outside of the presence of God. He had watched this happen with Saul, the king who preceded him. After God rejected Saul as King, God then proceeds to remove his Spirit from Saul (1 Samuel 16:14). David wants to avoid this at all cost. He has learned that this will not only lead to his demise as King, but it could ultimately lead to the collapse of the kingdom, and quite possibly the nation of which he is responsible for.
But what about those of us that are living on this side of the cross? We know that our sins have been forgiven once and for all. Christ died not only for our past sins, but also for those sins that we have not yet committed. We also do not need to live in fear of God removing his Spirit from us. So, is confession even necessary today? And, if so, why should we do it?
John writes, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1: 9)
Confession displays the attitude of our hearts. It is our hearts that the Lord is most concerned with. Confession reveals a desire to live a life of holiness. It creates a “clean heart” and a “right spirit” within us. It is an act of humility that allows room for the Spirit of God to remove the sinful desires that dwell within us. This is the process of sanctification. The removal of our old sinful self, replaced with a filling of God’s Spirit. In this process, God brings a spiritual cleansing and a spiritual healing to us.
Like David, we too know that a life left uncorrected, given over to specific sins, will lead to our downfall. For those of us with a spouse, or children under our care, we know that this is a price that is too steep for us to pay. For those of us in positions of leadership, be it a small group, a board member, a teacher, a care taker, or a discipler of others, we want our lives to be above reproach; A life that leads by example. For all of us in the body of Christ, we know that our greatest calling is to become more like our savior. Confession is a movement towards the finishing work of Christ in us.
Pastor Jonathan Goble
Monday, August 18th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads. Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors. They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God… They cried out with loud voices to the Lord their God (Nehemiah 9:1-4)
Confession is born out of a revelation of who God is. It is not until the people had the Book of the Law opened and read to them that the realization of their sin lies before them. They had been living in sin. Their parents had been living in sin. Most likely, they were teaching their children to live in sin. After all, people can only do and teach what they know. Yet, after a few hours of reading from the Book of the law everything changes. Imagine that! Generations of Sinful behavior wiped clean, as lives are transformed in only a few hours. Talk about Power! As the law is read, the holiness of God is revealed, and the people realize just how short they have fallen from the holiness of God. Therefore, “They cried out with loud voices to the Lord their God.”
We see the same thing happen in Isaiah, as the Lord reveals himself to Isaiah, before Isaiah’s ministry as a prophet begins:
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:1-5)
It is only when we have caught this revelation of the holiness of our God that we are able to realize “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). The Israelites caught this after spending a quarter of the day in God’s word.
It is only when we have caught this revelation of the holiness of our God that the weight of our sin is before us. A weight so great, that it causes us to fall down with our faces to the ground, before the one whose holiness is our standard. The Israelites caught this, and then began a fast, wearing sackcloth and placing dust on their heads to show their remorse and their repentance.
And, once we have caught this revelation, our response should be nothing less than to cry out with a loud voice before the Lord our God.
It may just be that our greatest need today, personally, as a church, and as a nation, is to once again receive a revelation of the holiness of God. Make this your prayer this week, as we continue to unpack this passage.
Pastor Jonathan Goble
On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads. Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors. They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God… They cried out with loud voices to the Lord their God (Nehemiah 9:1-4)
Confession is born out of a revelation of who God is. It is not until the people had the Book of the Law opened and read to them that the realization of their sin lies before them. They had been living in sin. Their parents had been living in sin. Most likely, they were teaching their children to live in sin. After all, people can only do and teach what they know. Yet, after a few hours of reading from the Book of the law everything changes. Imagine that! Generations of Sinful behavior wiped clean, as lives are transformed in only a few hours. Talk about Power! As the law is read, the holiness of God is revealed, and the people realize just how short they have fallen from the holiness of God. Therefore, “They cried out with loud voices to the Lord their God.”
We see the same thing happen in Isaiah, as the Lord reveals himself to Isaiah, before Isaiah’s ministry as a prophet begins:
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:1-5)
It is only when we have caught this revelation of the holiness of our God that we are able to realize “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). The Israelites caught this after spending a quarter of the day in God’s word.
It is only when we have caught this revelation of the holiness of our God that the weight of our sin is before us. A weight so great, that it causes us to fall down with our faces to the ground, before the one whose holiness is our standard. The Israelites caught this, and then began a fast, wearing sackcloth and placing dust on their heads to show their remorse and their repentance.
And, once we have caught this revelation, our response should be nothing less than to cry out with a loud voice before the Lord our God.
It may just be that our greatest need today, personally, as a church, and as a nation, is to once again receive a revelation of the holiness of God. Make this your prayer this week, as we continue to unpack this passage.
Pastor Jonathan Goble
Friday, August 15th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
Friday, August 15th: “Obedience”
Friday, August 15th: “Obedience”
“Still
other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or
thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear…the seed falling on
good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the
one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was
sown.” (Matthew 13: 8-9, 23)
It is easy to fall into the deception of religiosity. If I
go to church and sit under the teaching of the Word, then I will automatically
be changed. Or, if I go to God’s house, then he will be pleased with me, and
his favor will rest upon me. From the parable of the sower, we have seen that
it is not merely listening to the Word, but rather coming to hear with an open
and receptive heart, allowing the Word to take root within us, by laying aside
our worries and troubles so that God can be the sole possessor of our hearts.
But there is one more lesson in this for us.
James writes, “Do
not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who
looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and
immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect
law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have
heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” (James 1: 22-25)
If my
heart is truly receptive to the Word, then I will not only listen and
understand, but I will then be compelled to do what the Word says. Often, when
God speaks into our life through his word, there is something greater that he
is calling us to. He may call us into a deeper relationship. He may call us to
love someone that we don’t get along with. He may call us to serve his people in
a way that we had never thought of. He may ask us to give something up that we
have been holding on to. He may ask us to move, to leave everything behind, and
follow his leading. If I merely listen to his word, but then do not follow
through with what it says, I will find myself consciously disobeying the Word
of God. Therefore, I may find myself in a worse position than the person who
does not understand the Word of God. They disobey because they do not know,
while I choose to disobey even though I know better. I should not expect
blessing, but rather discipline. I should not expect to produce a crop of 100,
60, or even 30, times what was sown, but rather I will find a Word that has
been choked and is unfruitful.
But this
is a message of good news, and fortunately for the people of Israel, they
followed through in obedience according to the Word of God. Listen to what is
said about them:
“Then
all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate
with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known
to them...The whole company that had returned from exile built temporary
shelters and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day,
the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great.”
(Nehemiah 8: 12, 17)
The
people celebrated like never before. They did not allow the worries of the
famine to consume them. They did not allow the fear of a possible attack to
paralyze them. Instead, they worshipped and acted in obedience according to the
Word of God, and because they did this, their sorrow and mourning turned to
great joy! They reaped the blessing of the harvest. Where they were once weak,
now they stood strong. For, the joy of the Lord was their strength!
Pastor Jonathan Goble
Thursday, August 14th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
Ten Minutes with God
Ten Minutes with God
Thursday, August 14th: “Worries of Life”
“As he was scattering the seed…other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the
plants… The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears
the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke
the word, making it unfruitful.” (Matt. 13: 7, 22)
Few
passages are quoted amongst American believers more than that from Matthew
6:25-34. You may recognize this as the “Do Not Worry” passage. Don’t worry
about your life. Don’t worry about what you will eat or drink. Don’t worry
about what to wear. Do not worry about tomorrow…
If I had
not been forced to memorize the Ten Commandments at an early age, I would
probably assume that this one made the list.
If my generation were to “re-write” the Ten Commandments there is little
doubt that it would be at the very top. Most references to this passage are
appropriate. We are definitely a culture of worry. I can do my best not to
“worry” but the mortgage still needs to be paid. I can do my best not to
“worry” but the family still needs to eat. I can do my best not to “worry” but
college loans don’t just disappear after graduation. The list goes on and on.
Consider
our study subjects from Nehemiah Chapter 8:
“Then
Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites
who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord
your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they
listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and
sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is
holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. ”The
Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a holy day. Do
not grieve.”
I
can almost hear the Levites walking around, some whistling, and others singing
the lyrics to Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy!”
The
people have been cut deep by the Word of God. But they are not to worry about
that at the moment, instead, they should celebrate.
This
is the same group that just a couple chapters back were crying out to Nehemiah
because the famine was so severe that there was no food to eat. In order to eat
they had sold everything that they had, and some even sold their children into
slavery. But they are not to worry about the famine, as they have now been told
to enjoy choice food and sweet drinks.
Included
in this group are leaders that had heavily taxed the poor in order to selfishly
receive an even greater wealth for themselves.
This
is the same people that received threats from Sanballat and Tobiah, surrounded
by the entire Army of Samaria. Are they supposed to leave their post and expect
not to be threatened just because the wall is up? Or should they now expect something much
worse?
I
am amazed that this nation could even be sensitive enough to the word of God
that it would penetrate their hearts the way that it did. How did these worries
not “choke the word, making it unfruitful” as we read in Matthew chapter 13?
I
believe the answer to that question is found in the worship of the people. In
their times of worship, the people laid all of their worries aside, and made
God their sole focus. He received all their attention, and their devotion. In
that moment, nothing else mattered. Worshipping God has a way of doing that.
When we truly worship, everything else falls away, and the only thing left
standing is God.
We
should not expect anything less. “But seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt.7: 33)
Pastor Jonathan Goble
Wednesday, August 13th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
Ten Minutes with God
Wednesday, August 13th: “Trouble”
“As he was scattering seed…some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root…the seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. “
(Matt. 13: 5-6, 20-21)
How easily our hearts waiver due to the circumstances that surround us. How quickly our minds forget the instruction and the encouragement found in the Word of God. And, how swiftly is the joy stolen from us, replaced by trouble and fear. This is the great work of the enemy. It is something that we should constantly be on our guard against.
In Nehemiah chapter 8, we find a people ready to hear from the Word of God. But it was not always this way. According to Ezra 7:9, Ezra had gone to Jerusalem about thirteen years before Nehemiah, and had a weary time of fighting against the corruptions which had crept in among the returned captives. The arrival of Nehemiah would be hailed as bringing fresh, young enthusiasm, nonetheless welcome and powerful because it had the king’s authority entrusted to it. Evidently the two men thoroughly understood one another, and pulled together heartily (Expositions of Holy Scripture, Alexander MacLaren).
Just as Ezra and Nehemiah fought against the corruptions of the surrounding nations on behalf of the people of God, so too, must we be ready when trouble comes our way. 1 Peter 5:7-9 reads “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
Take heart. Be of courage. Do not lose faith. Hold fast to truth.
Pastor Jonathan Goble
Ten Minutes with God
Wednesday, August 13th: “Trouble”
“As he was scattering seed…some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root…the seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. “
(Matt. 13: 5-6, 20-21)
How easily our hearts waiver due to the circumstances that surround us. How quickly our minds forget the instruction and the encouragement found in the Word of God. And, how swiftly is the joy stolen from us, replaced by trouble and fear. This is the great work of the enemy. It is something that we should constantly be on our guard against.
In Nehemiah chapter 8, we find a people ready to hear from the Word of God. But it was not always this way. According to Ezra 7:9, Ezra had gone to Jerusalem about thirteen years before Nehemiah, and had a weary time of fighting against the corruptions which had crept in among the returned captives. The arrival of Nehemiah would be hailed as bringing fresh, young enthusiasm, nonetheless welcome and powerful because it had the king’s authority entrusted to it. Evidently the two men thoroughly understood one another, and pulled together heartily (Expositions of Holy Scripture, Alexander MacLaren).
Just as Ezra and Nehemiah fought against the corruptions of the surrounding nations on behalf of the people of God, so too, must we be ready when trouble comes our way. 1 Peter 5:7-9 reads “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
Take heart. Be of courage. Do not lose faith. Hold fast to truth.
Pastor Jonathan Goble
Tuesday, August 12th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
Ten Minutes with God Tuesday, August 12th: “Understanding”
“As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up… When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.” (Matt. 13:4, 19)
If we have learned to come with an open mind, and an open heart, and we have come with anticipation that God is going to speak, and yet, we receive nothing, our problem may not be one of desire, but rather, understanding. Have you trained yourself to listen and to know the voice of God? Jesus said, “his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”
Are we aware when God is trying to get our attention? Can we pick out his voice above our own desires, or the lies that are thrown at us from the world? Do we know when he is gently “nudging” us, or giving us his compassion for the Lost? Are we able to receive direction through the guidance of his Holy Spirit?
For quite possibly the first time in their lives, the Israelites, after gathering to hear the Law read, understood the Word of the Lord.
“The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.”
After hearing the Words of the Lord, the people waited from daybreak until noon so that they may receive understanding. How desperate are we for understanding? Are we willing, like the people of Israel, to wait upon the Lord to receive insight and understanding?
In Proverbs chapter 2 Solomon exhorts his children to seek understanding above all other things, to seek it out as if looking for Silver, to search for it as if looking for treasure.
May this be our desire.
Pastor Jonathan Goble
Ten Minutes with God Tuesday, August 12th: “Understanding”
“As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up… When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.” (Matt. 13:4, 19)
If we have learned to come with an open mind, and an open heart, and we have come with anticipation that God is going to speak, and yet, we receive nothing, our problem may not be one of desire, but rather, understanding. Have you trained yourself to listen and to know the voice of God? Jesus said, “his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”
Are we aware when God is trying to get our attention? Can we pick out his voice above our own desires, or the lies that are thrown at us from the world? Do we know when he is gently “nudging” us, or giving us his compassion for the Lost? Are we able to receive direction through the guidance of his Holy Spirit?
For quite possibly the first time in their lives, the Israelites, after gathering to hear the Law read, understood the Word of the Lord.
“The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.”
After hearing the Words of the Lord, the people waited from daybreak until noon so that they may receive understanding. How desperate are we for understanding? Are we willing, like the people of Israel, to wait upon the Lord to receive insight and understanding?
In Proverbs chapter 2 Solomon exhorts his children to seek understanding above all other things, to seek it out as if looking for Silver, to search for it as if looking for treasure.
May this be our desire.
Pastor Jonathan Goble
Monday, August 11th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
Ten Minutes with God
Monday, August 11th: “The Word Of God”
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. (Matthew 13:1-3)
People have been gathering to hear the words of God for centuries. Their reasons for gathering are as different as each person in the crowd. If Jesus were to point you out in the crowd and ask, “Why are you here?” how would you respond? Are you hungry and in need of spiritual food? Are you desperate and in need of hope? Are you lost and in need of guidance? Are you lonely and in need of company? Are you intrigued and searching for truth?
Regardless of your answer, one thing is for certain: God is speaking. He has been speaking since the beginning. His words find each one of us. Through his words, he meets with us, and we encounter God. “A farmer went out to sow his seed…” The message of Jesus fell on everyone within earshot. Some of them were not even looking to find God, but he found them anyway. Sure, they were in the crowd, but they were not seeking him. The further explanation of this parable tells us this.
In Nehemiah chapter eight, we find the Israelites gathering. They are about to hear from the Word of God. What we find with this crowd is that they are asking for Ezra to read from the Law. They are seeking God. While it is true that God is speaking whether people are seeking God or not, whether they are listening to him or not, the crowds reason for gathering is of utmost importance, and makes all the difference. When people gather, seeking God, expecting to hear from him, things happen. The hungry get fed. The lost get found. The desperate receive hope.
What has God been speaking into your life lately? What are specific examples of the power of God’s word in your life? How have his words changed you?
Pastor Jonathan Goble
Ten Minutes with God
Monday, August 11th: “The Word Of God”
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. (Matthew 13:1-3)
People have been gathering to hear the words of God for centuries. Their reasons for gathering are as different as each person in the crowd. If Jesus were to point you out in the crowd and ask, “Why are you here?” how would you respond? Are you hungry and in need of spiritual food? Are you desperate and in need of hope? Are you lost and in need of guidance? Are you lonely and in need of company? Are you intrigued and searching for truth?
Regardless of your answer, one thing is for certain: God is speaking. He has been speaking since the beginning. His words find each one of us. Through his words, he meets with us, and we encounter God. “A farmer went out to sow his seed…” The message of Jesus fell on everyone within earshot. Some of them were not even looking to find God, but he found them anyway. Sure, they were in the crowd, but they were not seeking him. The further explanation of this parable tells us this.
In Nehemiah chapter eight, we find the Israelites gathering. They are about to hear from the Word of God. What we find with this crowd is that they are asking for Ezra to read from the Law. They are seeking God. While it is true that God is speaking whether people are seeking God or not, whether they are listening to him or not, the crowds reason for gathering is of utmost importance, and makes all the difference. When people gather, seeking God, expecting to hear from him, things happen. The hungry get fed. The lost get found. The desperate receive hope.
What has God been speaking into your life lately? What are specific examples of the power of God’s word in your life? How have his words changed you?
Pastor Jonathan Goble
Friday, August 8th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
Friday, August 8
1 Peter 2:4-11 (ESV)
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
and
“A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God\'s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
FBCG was founded 120 years ago, in 1894, by a handful of Swedish immigrants who came to this country, in part, to find religious freedom. They worshiped together for 10 years before constructing their first simple church building. Over the next half-century or so that tiny church family sometimes struggled for survival but continued to worship, care for each other, and proclaim the gospel. Then as Geneva and the surrounding communities began to grow significantly in the 1970’s and 80’s the church also began to grow. Along the way facilities were expanded, property purchased, and more buildings added. Today FBCG is a church family of over 4,000 that gathers on two campuses and in six worship services every weekend, and we are expanding our facilities again through the “Growing to Serve” expansion project.
As I walk around the project watching it take shape, I often think about several things. First, it strikes me that even though FBCG has changed in so many ways over those 120 years, some things have not changed. We still worship with all our hearts; we still care for each other; and we are still called to proclaim the gospel with clarity and conviction. Second, as I watch concrete blocks and other construction materials being carefully put into place to form walls and floors and ceilings, it often hits me that every single brick or block or beam in both our campuses could represent a person or family that has gone before us. I have no idea how many thousands of men, women, students and children have worshiped, served and given generously so that FBCG could remain faithful to God’s call for 120 years; I just know that the church ultimately is not made of bricks and mortar, but of people who love and serve Jesus Christ. Peter writes:
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
I know we’ve left the ancient story of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem to jump into what Peter has to say about the church, but I want us to notice the parallels.
Just as the walls of Jerusalem needed to be built up with stones, the church is built up with “living stones”- or people. Just as Nehemiah longed to rebuild the wall because it symbolized the glory and blessing of God, so the church is to be a “spiritual house” that offers “spiritual sacrifices” to God.
Just as the exiles who had returned to Jerusalem regained their identity as the people of God with a restored wall, so we find our identity in and through the gospel, which in turn, builds and shapes the church.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God\'s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
This is what fills my heart as I walk around the Growing to Serve project! We get to do this! We are invited by the Lord Jesus himself to play our part in the great story of God’s love for the world! We get to play a part in building and being his church! We belong to him and we get to proclaim his “excellencies” to the world around us!
Just as those who have gone before us in faithful worship, service and generosity, we now get to take our place as “living stones” in the spiritual house called the church.
What an incredible privilege we have!
Pastor Brian Coffey
Friday, August 8
1 Peter 2:4-11 (ESV)
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
and
“A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God\'s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
FBCG was founded 120 years ago, in 1894, by a handful of Swedish immigrants who came to this country, in part, to find religious freedom. They worshiped together for 10 years before constructing their first simple church building. Over the next half-century or so that tiny church family sometimes struggled for survival but continued to worship, care for each other, and proclaim the gospel. Then as Geneva and the surrounding communities began to grow significantly in the 1970’s and 80’s the church also began to grow. Along the way facilities were expanded, property purchased, and more buildings added. Today FBCG is a church family of over 4,000 that gathers on two campuses and in six worship services every weekend, and we are expanding our facilities again through the “Growing to Serve” expansion project.
As I walk around the project watching it take shape, I often think about several things. First, it strikes me that even though FBCG has changed in so many ways over those 120 years, some things have not changed. We still worship with all our hearts; we still care for each other; and we are still called to proclaim the gospel with clarity and conviction. Second, as I watch concrete blocks and other construction materials being carefully put into place to form walls and floors and ceilings, it often hits me that every single brick or block or beam in both our campuses could represent a person or family that has gone before us. I have no idea how many thousands of men, women, students and children have worshiped, served and given generously so that FBCG could remain faithful to God’s call for 120 years; I just know that the church ultimately is not made of bricks and mortar, but of people who love and serve Jesus Christ. Peter writes:
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
I know we’ve left the ancient story of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem to jump into what Peter has to say about the church, but I want us to notice the parallels.
Just as the walls of Jerusalem needed to be built up with stones, the church is built up with “living stones”- or people. Just as Nehemiah longed to rebuild the wall because it symbolized the glory and blessing of God, so the church is to be a “spiritual house” that offers “spiritual sacrifices” to God.
Just as the exiles who had returned to Jerusalem regained their identity as the people of God with a restored wall, so we find our identity in and through the gospel, which in turn, builds and shapes the church.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God\'s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
This is what fills my heart as I walk around the Growing to Serve project! We get to do this! We are invited by the Lord Jesus himself to play our part in the great story of God’s love for the world! We get to play a part in building and being his church! We belong to him and we get to proclaim his “excellencies” to the world around us!
Just as those who have gone before us in faithful worship, service and generosity, we now get to take our place as “living stones” in the spiritual house called the church.
What an incredible privilege we have!
Pastor Brian Coffey
Thursday, August 7th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
Thursday, August 7
Nehemiah 7:66-73
The whole company numbered 42,360, besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 245 male and female singers. There were 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.
Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 bowls and 530 garments for priests. Some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver. The total given by the rest of the people was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver and 67 garments for priests.
The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the temple servants, along with certain of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns.
Have you noticed yet that Nehemiah was a pretty smart guy who paid attention to detail?
He paid attention to the plight of the exiles in Jerusalem even when his own life was comfortable.
He paid attention to God in prayer and knew what God wanted him to do.
He paid attention to the King and knew the right time to reveal his sadness to Artaxerxes.
He thought about the project in great detail and asked the King for everything he needed.
Once the wall was rebuilt we are told that he paid attention to the people who lived there; counting every single family and every single member of each family along with all their horses, camels and donkeys.
And now we are told he records their personal contributions to the great project.
Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 bowls and 530 garments for priests. Some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver. The total given by the rest of the people was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver and 67 garments for priests.
From the contributions listed it appears Nehemiah is now focused on furnishing the Temple, which had been under reconstruction since the return of the first exiles under Zerubbabel a decade or so earlier.
He is noting in some detail the generosity of those who made the work on the Temple possible.
Some gave gold; a “daric” was a Persian coin worth about $5, so a gift of 20,000 darics would have been something around $100,000.
Some gave silver; a “mina” was a pound of silver, worth around $300. So a gift of 2,200 minas of silver would have been over $600,000.
Some gave fine clothing or bowls that would have been necessary for the priests to conduct proper worship.
Just as Nehemiah listed the names of the people and families that contributed to the physical work of rebuilding the walls (see chapter 3), he also notes the gifts of gold, silver and other items that were given in order that the Temple be completed for worship. Notice that Nehemiah does not list the names of those who gave so generously, perhaps to protect them or to avoid shaming those who were not able to give in that way.
The point is, I think, that the work of rebuilding the city required everyone to do their part. It required visionary and competent leadership; tireless work by those who did the rebuilding; and generous giving by those who were blessed with resources of gold and silver.
The parallels to the church are obvious. The church needs people called and gifted to lead; people willing to serve; and people willing to be generous with their material wealth.
The sense you get when reading the story of Nehemiah is that everyone was expected to play their part in the project. Everyone was expected to contribute something.
Were there some who avoided getting their hands dirty with the work? Maybe. Were there some who kept their gold and silver for themselves? Probably. Were there some who just observed the work rather than sharing in it? Very likely. But if so, those who failed to participate did not share in the joy of the finished project, and did not have their names recorded in the great story of Nehemiah.
The question for us is, are we observers of the great story of God’s work in the world, or are we participants?
Pastor Brian Coffey
Thursday, August 7
Nehemiah 7:66-73
The whole company numbered 42,360, besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 245 male and female singers. There were 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.
Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 bowls and 530 garments for priests. Some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver. The total given by the rest of the people was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver and 67 garments for priests.
The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the temple servants, along with certain of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns.
Have you noticed yet that Nehemiah was a pretty smart guy who paid attention to detail?
He paid attention to the plight of the exiles in Jerusalem even when his own life was comfortable.
He paid attention to God in prayer and knew what God wanted him to do.
He paid attention to the King and knew the right time to reveal his sadness to Artaxerxes.
He thought about the project in great detail and asked the King for everything he needed.
Once the wall was rebuilt we are told that he paid attention to the people who lived there; counting every single family and every single member of each family along with all their horses, camels and donkeys.
And now we are told he records their personal contributions to the great project.
Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 bowls and 530 garments for priests. Some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver. The total given by the rest of the people was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver and 67 garments for priests.
From the contributions listed it appears Nehemiah is now focused on furnishing the Temple, which had been under reconstruction since the return of the first exiles under Zerubbabel a decade or so earlier.
He is noting in some detail the generosity of those who made the work on the Temple possible.
Some gave gold; a “daric” was a Persian coin worth about $5, so a gift of 20,000 darics would have been something around $100,000.
Some gave silver; a “mina” was a pound of silver, worth around $300. So a gift of 2,200 minas of silver would have been over $600,000.
Some gave fine clothing or bowls that would have been necessary for the priests to conduct proper worship.
Just as Nehemiah listed the names of the people and families that contributed to the physical work of rebuilding the walls (see chapter 3), he also notes the gifts of gold, silver and other items that were given in order that the Temple be completed for worship. Notice that Nehemiah does not list the names of those who gave so generously, perhaps to protect them or to avoid shaming those who were not able to give in that way.
The point is, I think, that the work of rebuilding the city required everyone to do their part. It required visionary and competent leadership; tireless work by those who did the rebuilding; and generous giving by those who were blessed with resources of gold and silver.
The parallels to the church are obvious. The church needs people called and gifted to lead; people willing to serve; and people willing to be generous with their material wealth.
The sense you get when reading the story of Nehemiah is that everyone was expected to play their part in the project. Everyone was expected to contribute something.
Were there some who avoided getting their hands dirty with the work? Maybe. Were there some who kept their gold and silver for themselves? Probably. Were there some who just observed the work rather than sharing in it? Very likely. But if so, those who failed to participate did not share in the joy of the finished project, and did not have their names recorded in the great story of Nehemiah.
The question for us is, are we observers of the great story of God’s work in the world, or are we participants?
Pastor Brian Coffey
Wednesday, August 6th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
Nehemiah 7:4-25 (ESV)
The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt.
Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written in it:
These were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his town. They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah.
The number of the men of the people of Israel: the sons of Parosh, 2,172. The sons of Shephatiah, 372. The sons of Arah, 652. The sons of Pahath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,818. The sons of Elam, 1,254. The sons of Zattu, 845. The sons of Zaccai, 760. The sons of Binnui, 648. The sons of Bebai, 628. The sons of Azgad, 2,322. The sons of Adonikam, 667. The sons of Bigvai, 2,067. The sons of Adin, 655. The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, 98. The sons of Hashum, 328. The sons of Bezai, 324. The sons of Hariph, 112. The sons of Gibeon, 95.
If you’re like me when you see lists of ancient names like this in the Bible you tend to “skim” just a bit! After all, the names are strange to us, hard to read, and harder to pronounce! Yet, there are a number of places in scripture where God gives us long lists of names like this. Sometimes the lists of names are genealogies; sometimes they are lists of people who were involved in a certain event; and sometimes, as in this case, they are a census of sorts. In fact, scholars tell us there are over 2,500 personal names in God’s word!
So why is this long list of tongue twisting names along with precise census numbers included in the story of Nehemiah? Why does God want us to read these names some 4000 years after the event? Wouldn’t the story be easier to read and just as significant without this list of names.
The answer is, of course, yes, it would be easier to read; but no, it not be as significant without this list of names. And here’s why!
Think of this part of chapter 7 as a kind of ancient Facebook page. Now, I know Facebook is a Pandora’s Box of the useless and trivial piled on top of photos of what your friends ate for supper last night, but hear me out. At some kind of fundamental level Facebook exists because people matter. We build our profiles, post our comments and share our photos because we believe we matter to someone and because we want to stay connected in some way to the people who matter to us.
I think that’s why the Bible includes so many names, and that’s why Nehemiah went through the painstaking process of taking a census of the people living in Jerusalem. He did it because people matter.
At FBCG we believe that people matter to God; not just people who look like us, dress like us or talk like us; but all people! Our “Serve the World” initiative includes local ministry partners like Emmanuel House that enables working families, many of them refugees from war-torn regions of the globe, to escape the cycle of poverty and purchase their own homes. We have global partners like “Stephen’s House” in Ukraine that will one day provide a compassionate ministry to young men with special needs, young men that are largely forgotten and cast away by their own society. Our “Growing to Serve” ministry expansion project includes new space dedicated to “Masterpiece Ministries”; a ministry for special needs kids and their families. We do these things simply because the Bible tells us that people matter to God.
So go ahead and try to read that list of names again! And when you come to names like Zattu, and Zaccai, and Binnui, ask God to help you pay attention to the people all around you who need to know that God knows their names!
Pastor Brian Coffey
Nehemiah 7:4-25 (ESV)
The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt.
Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written in it:
These were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his town. They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah.
The number of the men of the people of Israel: the sons of Parosh, 2,172. The sons of Shephatiah, 372. The sons of Arah, 652. The sons of Pahath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,818. The sons of Elam, 1,254. The sons of Zattu, 845. The sons of Zaccai, 760. The sons of Binnui, 648. The sons of Bebai, 628. The sons of Azgad, 2,322. The sons of Adonikam, 667. The sons of Bigvai, 2,067. The sons of Adin, 655. The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, 98. The sons of Hashum, 328. The sons of Bezai, 324. The sons of Hariph, 112. The sons of Gibeon, 95.
If you’re like me when you see lists of ancient names like this in the Bible you tend to “skim” just a bit! After all, the names are strange to us, hard to read, and harder to pronounce! Yet, there are a number of places in scripture where God gives us long lists of names like this. Sometimes the lists of names are genealogies; sometimes they are lists of people who were involved in a certain event; and sometimes, as in this case, they are a census of sorts. In fact, scholars tell us there are over 2,500 personal names in God’s word!
So why is this long list of tongue twisting names along with precise census numbers included in the story of Nehemiah? Why does God want us to read these names some 4000 years after the event? Wouldn’t the story be easier to read and just as significant without this list of names.
The answer is, of course, yes, it would be easier to read; but no, it not be as significant without this list of names. And here’s why!
Think of this part of chapter 7 as a kind of ancient Facebook page. Now, I know Facebook is a Pandora’s Box of the useless and trivial piled on top of photos of what your friends ate for supper last night, but hear me out. At some kind of fundamental level Facebook exists because people matter. We build our profiles, post our comments and share our photos because we believe we matter to someone and because we want to stay connected in some way to the people who matter to us.
I think that’s why the Bible includes so many names, and that’s why Nehemiah went through the painstaking process of taking a census of the people living in Jerusalem. He did it because people matter.
At FBCG we believe that people matter to God; not just people who look like us, dress like us or talk like us; but all people! Our “Serve the World” initiative includes local ministry partners like Emmanuel House that enables working families, many of them refugees from war-torn regions of the globe, to escape the cycle of poverty and purchase their own homes. We have global partners like “Stephen’s House” in Ukraine that will one day provide a compassionate ministry to young men with special needs, young men that are largely forgotten and cast away by their own society. Our “Growing to Serve” ministry expansion project includes new space dedicated to “Masterpiece Ministries”; a ministry for special needs kids and their families. We do these things simply because the Bible tells us that people matter to God.
So go ahead and try to read that list of names again! And when you come to names like Zattu, and Zaccai, and Binnui, ask God to help you pay attention to the people all around you who need to know that God knows their names!
Pastor Brian Coffey
Tuesday, August 5th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
Nehemiah 7:1-3
After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed. I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do. I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.”
A friend who coached one of my sons travel baseball teams years ago used to like to say to the boys when they were cleaning up the dugout after a game, “Leave it better than you found it!” What he meant, of course, was that he wanted the boys to not only clean up their own gear and pick up any empty Gatorade bottles they had tossed in the dugout, but also to scour the whole area for trash so that the next group would arrive and find a clean ball field.
“Leave it better than you found it.”
That’s a pretty good standard to apply to many situations when you think about it. And, in his own way, that’s what Nehemiah is doing here in chapter 7.
I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.”
It’s easy to miss what is going on here because we are so far removed from that time and culture. Historians tell us that the gates of an ancient city were usually opened early in the morning, to allow the day’s commerce to begin, and then closed at sunset, to keep the city safe. Here Nehemiah suggests the added security measures of opening the gates later and closing them earlier. He is simply taking extra precautions because he knows that even though the walls and gates have been rebuilt, their enemies have not gone away.
I think Nehemiah is making sure that he “leaves it better than he found it.” He is preparing to hand over leadership to Hanani and Hananiah and he wants to do everything he can to help them be successful in their task. He has rebuilt the wall of the city but he now focuses on leaving a leadership infrastructure that will ensure the long term survival of the people make Jerusalem their home.
I think there’s a lesson for us as the church in all of this. Our church family today is made up of roughly 4,000 men, women and children. But while we are the FBCG church family today, not one of us was here in 1894 when the church was founded! We have inherited this ministry from those who have gone before, and someday we will also pass it on to those who come after us.
The question is, will we leave it better than we found it? Like Nehemiah, will we long for God’s best for his people? Will we carefully inspect the walls and gates of the church to see where they may need to be strengthened? Will we each be willing to do our part to pray and serve and give so that, like ancient Jerusalem, the church will be able to stand against the enemy? And, when the time comes, will we hand the leadership baton to the next generation in a way that will encourage their future success?
Nehemiah left Jerusalem better than he found it; may we do the same!
Pastor Brian Coffey
Nehemiah 7:1-3
After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed. I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do. I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.”
A friend who coached one of my sons travel baseball teams years ago used to like to say to the boys when they were cleaning up the dugout after a game, “Leave it better than you found it!” What he meant, of course, was that he wanted the boys to not only clean up their own gear and pick up any empty Gatorade bottles they had tossed in the dugout, but also to scour the whole area for trash so that the next group would arrive and find a clean ball field.
“Leave it better than you found it.”
That’s a pretty good standard to apply to many situations when you think about it. And, in his own way, that’s what Nehemiah is doing here in chapter 7.
I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.”
It’s easy to miss what is going on here because we are so far removed from that time and culture. Historians tell us that the gates of an ancient city were usually opened early in the morning, to allow the day’s commerce to begin, and then closed at sunset, to keep the city safe. Here Nehemiah suggests the added security measures of opening the gates later and closing them earlier. He is simply taking extra precautions because he knows that even though the walls and gates have been rebuilt, their enemies have not gone away.
I think Nehemiah is making sure that he “leaves it better than he found it.” He is preparing to hand over leadership to Hanani and Hananiah and he wants to do everything he can to help them be successful in their task. He has rebuilt the wall of the city but he now focuses on leaving a leadership infrastructure that will ensure the long term survival of the people make Jerusalem their home.
I think there’s a lesson for us as the church in all of this. Our church family today is made up of roughly 4,000 men, women and children. But while we are the FBCG church family today, not one of us was here in 1894 when the church was founded! We have inherited this ministry from those who have gone before, and someday we will also pass it on to those who come after us.
The question is, will we leave it better than we found it? Like Nehemiah, will we long for God’s best for his people? Will we carefully inspect the walls and gates of the church to see where they may need to be strengthened? Will we each be willing to do our part to pray and serve and give so that, like ancient Jerusalem, the church will be able to stand against the enemy? And, when the time comes, will we hand the leadership baton to the next generation in a way that will encourage their future success?
Nehemiah left Jerusalem better than he found it; may we do the same!
Pastor Brian Coffey
Monday, August 4th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
Monday, August 4
Nehemiah 7:1-3
After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed. I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do. I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.”
After leading the colonies to victory in the Revolutionary War and serving two terms as the first President of the United States of America, George Washington refused to serve a third term even though his election was certain. He refused for two main reasons; he wanted to return to his plantation in Mount Vernon and he simply believed it was better for the future of the nation that leadership not be focused on one man.
In many ways Nehemiah was a leader much like George Washington. He led the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem which also served to rebuild a people. He inspired a rag-tag group of downtrodden people to not only rebuild the walls and gates of their city, but to courageously fight off enemies who sought their destruction. Then, when he had accomplished so much, and could easily have laid claim to an enormous amount of control and power in the city he had rebuilt, he decided to entrust leadership to
two men named Hanani and Hanahiah.
After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed. I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do.
In the first 6 chapters of the story we see Nehemiah’s extraordinary vision and leadership. In chapter 7 we see his extraordinary humility and wisdom. Think about it! Nehemiah is the one who risked his life and reputation by sharing his sadness over Jerusalem with King Artaxerxes. He is the one who put the entire plan together. He is the one who inspired the people with his vision of a restored Jerusalem. He is the one who endured the taunts and threats of a very real enemy. Now, just when you think he would be thinking about enjoying the position of respect and power that he would inevitably have had in a rebuilt Jerusalem, he hands leadership over to others.
He chooses Hanani because he was the one who brought the news of Jerusalem’s sad situation; and he chooses Hananiah because he is both a soldier and a man who fears God.
Then he gives them detailed instructions about how to keep the city safe now that the walls and gates have been rebuilt.
Why would Nehemiah choose to delegate authority and leadership instead of holding on to it as his right and privilege? We aren’t told Nehemiah’s reasons but I think we can make some guesses based on what we already know about the man.
We know that the whole project was never about Nehemiah; rather, it was always about God and his desire for his people. Nehemiah knew the city didn’t belong to him, but rather to God. We also know that Nehemiah’s vision was born in prayer before the God of heaven, so we can assume that just as he began the work in obedience to God, he also stepped back in that same obedience.
What can we learn from Nehemiah?
I think we can learn that it’s not about us! Whatever leadership role God has given you, whether it be as a parent, a Sunday School teacher or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, it’s not about you! God’s call on our lives is always about his will and the people he loves.
Pastor Brian Coffey
Monday, August 4
Nehemiah 7:1-3
After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed. I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do. I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.”
After leading the colonies to victory in the Revolutionary War and serving two terms as the first President of the United States of America, George Washington refused to serve a third term even though his election was certain. He refused for two main reasons; he wanted to return to his plantation in Mount Vernon and he simply believed it was better for the future of the nation that leadership not be focused on one man.
In many ways Nehemiah was a leader much like George Washington. He led the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem which also served to rebuild a people. He inspired a rag-tag group of downtrodden people to not only rebuild the walls and gates of their city, but to courageously fight off enemies who sought their destruction. Then, when he had accomplished so much, and could easily have laid claim to an enormous amount of control and power in the city he had rebuilt, he decided to entrust leadership to
two men named Hanani and Hanahiah.
After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed. I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do.
In the first 6 chapters of the story we see Nehemiah’s extraordinary vision and leadership. In chapter 7 we see his extraordinary humility and wisdom. Think about it! Nehemiah is the one who risked his life and reputation by sharing his sadness over Jerusalem with King Artaxerxes. He is the one who put the entire plan together. He is the one who inspired the people with his vision of a restored Jerusalem. He is the one who endured the taunts and threats of a very real enemy. Now, just when you think he would be thinking about enjoying the position of respect and power that he would inevitably have had in a rebuilt Jerusalem, he hands leadership over to others.
He chooses Hanani because he was the one who brought the news of Jerusalem’s sad situation; and he chooses Hananiah because he is both a soldier and a man who fears God.
Then he gives them detailed instructions about how to keep the city safe now that the walls and gates have been rebuilt.
Why would Nehemiah choose to delegate authority and leadership instead of holding on to it as his right and privilege? We aren’t told Nehemiah’s reasons but I think we can make some guesses based on what we already know about the man.
We know that the whole project was never about Nehemiah; rather, it was always about God and his desire for his people. Nehemiah knew the city didn’t belong to him, but rather to God. We also know that Nehemiah’s vision was born in prayer before the God of heaven, so we can assume that just as he began the work in obedience to God, he also stepped back in that same obedience.
What can we learn from Nehemiah?
I think we can learn that it’s not about us! Whatever leadership role God has given you, whether it be as a parent, a Sunday School teacher or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, it’s not about you! God’s call on our lives is always about his will and the people he loves.
Pastor Brian Coffey
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