Journal Through the Bible: Week 103 Friday

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Nehemiah chapter 5

In this chapter it is brought to Nehemiah's attention that the rich had been preying upon the poor. And these were not foreigners. These were other Jews. It made him very angry.

Nehemiah was appointed governor of the province at this time. Nehemiah set a good example by not making the people pay taxes for his own upkeep. And yet Nehemiah was able to set food before 150 people each day because God provided for him.

Does God issue any commands?

• No, but God had given specific directions concerning the care of the poor within the nation. The rulers, noblemen, and priests were grievously ignoring these directions.

Does God make any promises?

• Nehemiah told those who were extorting the lands, crops, and money from their brethren that God would shake them out of His house if they did not keep their promise to restore to each  man his possessions.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Although Jesus did not come to earth to be the champion of the poor, it was mainly the poor that flocked to Him because He taught about all being equal before God. Everyone needs a Savior because no one has enough material goods to buy their way to Heaven. As God, Jesus is the Author of the commands given to Moses concerning the welfare (or workfare system) that was to be instituted within the nation for the care of the poor, the elderly, the widows, orphans, and travelers. All aid was to be given without interest.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• The riches of God's storehouse seemed to be at Nehemiah's disposal and he was able to feed at least 150 people each day without depending upon the people to pay taxes for his upkeep. We have access to the provisions of God now, too, but especially will this be so in the Millennial and eternal kingdoms.

TAKE TIME August 3-8, 2015 Schedule

Introduction:  Nehemiah saw the building of the wall through to completion but there was more work to be done. The people needed to be prepared to enter into the covenant relationship with the LORD once more.

 Assignment:

• Monday - Nehemiah 7:1-38
• Tuesday - Nehemiah 7:39-73
• Wednesday - Nehemiah chapter 8
• Thursday - Nehemiah chapter 9
• Friday - Nehemiah chapter 10
• Saturday - Nehemiah chapter 11

Memory Verse

 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground. Nehemiah 8:6


Prayer Journal (ACTS)

• Adoration - Praise God for being the Covenant Keeper. We have read over and over again that He allowed the people of Israel to return multiple times to a covenant relationship with Him in spite of the fact that they kept breaking it. (He has made a covenant with us, too, sealed by the Holy Spirit through the blood of Jesus Christ. He keeps the Covenant even when we are unfaithful.)
• Confession - Ask God to reveal hidden sin in your life and then confess it.
• Thanksgiving - Thank God for any answers to your prayers.
• Supplication - What are your prayer requests this week? List them for future reference so that you can see how God answers.

Search the Scriptures

Look for references for each of the following:

• Promises that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?
• References that either refer to or infer something about future events.
• What does this passage teach about Jesus?
• Commandments that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?

Putting the Word into Action
After the work on the wall was complete God put it into Nehemiah's heart to purge the ranks by checking everyone's credentials, in the case of the Jewish priests and nobles it was their genealogies. Although we cannot look upon the hearts of men, women, boys, and girls, to see if their professions of faith are real there should be some evidence that they have the proper "credentials" attesting to a new birth. Take time this week to begin to disciple a new convert. The work is not done when someone says they believe. The next step is to teach them just as Jesus said to do in the Great Commission. (And this is not just a one-week assignment either! It takes time to properly train a disciple.)

Journal Through the Bible: Week 103 Thursday

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Nehemiah chapter 4

Does God issue any commands?

• God did not speak.

Does God make any promises?

• God did not speak, but it will be interesting to see how He answers the prayer that Nehemiah prayed in verses 4-5! After all, Nehemiah claimed that these who mocked the work of the Jews who were building the wall of Jerusalem were actually provoking God to anger.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Nehemiah set a watch and he also prayed. Jesus told His followers to watch and pray also. We are to be busy about His work while being aware of what is going on around us, but we are to pray without ceasing also.
• Just as Nehemiah told the working people not to be afraid of their enemies, Jesus has told His workers not to fear the enemies round about, too. 
• Nehemiah armed the people with weapons of warfare that they were to use right along with their tools for building. Jesus gives us spiritual armor to prepare us for battle while we labor to build churches pleasing to Him.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Nehemiah had his messenger beside him in order to be ready to sound the trumpet whenever Nehemiah said. According to Revelation a messenger is ready to sound the trumpet when the Lord tells him to do so.
• When the trumpet sounded the people were to come to the place where it sounded. Then they were to watch and see God fight for them. When we hear the trumpet sound we will go to where the Captain is awaiting us and we will see God fight the battle for us.
• Nehemiah kept the people always at the ready! They only put off their clothing long enough to wash. We are to be well-washed, have our garments ready, and be watching, too. We should be clothed in the spotless robes of righteousness provided through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and we should be prepared for the time when He comes for us because we know not the moment when we will be called to Him.