The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Nehemiah 7:3,
"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."
Nehemiah was instrumental in reestablishing the security of Jerusalem as he provided leadership for the Jewish captives who were allowed to return from Babylon to the homeland. Following the rebuilding of the walls and gates in Jerusalem, Nehemiah appointed various people for various tasks. This directive given by Nehemiah to Hanani and Hananiah had as its purpose to insure the defense of the city: protect it from those who would harm it - at all times and particularly at those times when it might be most vulnerable.
This portion of Scripture reminds me of the defense of another city... actually not a city, but another place where the people of God reside: the church. Where the church is not vulnerable in the physical sense that Jerusalem was as her people returned, the church remains vulnerable to spiritual attacks, to the propagation of false teaching and to division. All these kinds of things render the church less virile, strong, and aggressive in carrying out God's agenda of building his kingdom.
The writer of Hebrews tells us, "Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings." Hebrews 13:9. Paul told Timothy, "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." 1 Timothy 4:16. Paul also warned him, "For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." 2 Timothy 4:3.
Paul spoke to Titus about the important responsibility of an elder within the church, "He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it." Titus 1:9. Paul's directive to him was, "You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine." Titus 2:1.
"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."
Nehemiah was instrumental in reestablishing the security of Jerusalem as he provided leadership for the Jewish captives who were allowed to return from Babylon to the homeland. Following the rebuilding of the walls and gates in Jerusalem, Nehemiah appointed various people for various tasks. This directive given by Nehemiah to Hanani and Hananiah had as its purpose to insure the defense of the city: protect it from those who would harm it - at all times and particularly at those times when it might be most vulnerable.
This portion of Scripture reminds me of the defense of another city... actually not a city, but another place where the people of God reside: the church. Where the church is not vulnerable in the physical sense that Jerusalem was as her people returned, the church remains vulnerable to spiritual attacks, to the propagation of false teaching and to division. All these kinds of things render the church less virile, strong, and aggressive in carrying out God's agenda of building his kingdom.
The writer of Hebrews tells us, "Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings." Hebrews 13:9. Paul told Timothy, "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." 1 Timothy 4:16. Paul also warned him, "For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." 2 Timothy 4:3.
Paul spoke to Titus about the important responsibility of an elder within the church, "He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it." Titus 1:9. Paul's directive to him was, "You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine." Titus 2:1.
The Lord has his agenda of building his kingdom and it is imperative his people guard against the false teaching of today and the spiritual attacks from "Team Cain" to insure we are productive and useful to him in carrying out the things he has for us to do. We don't want to find ourselves vulnerable in such a way we are sidetracked as we pursue that agenda - just as Nehemiah insured the security of Jerusalem in his day.
How wonderful are those brothers and sisters the Lord has raised up who keep the rest of us secure from the attacks that are sure to come from the dark side of the spiritual realm, just as Nehemiah, Hanani and Hananiah did for Jerusalem as the city was being readied for God's purposes!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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