#627 Plaster and Paint

After these things, when the anger of King Ahasuerus had abated, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what had been decreed against her. 2 Then the king's young men who attended him said, “Let beautiful young virgins be sought out for the king. 3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom to gather all the beautiful young virgins to the harem in Susa the citadel, under custody of Hegai, the king's eunuch, who is in charge of the women. Let their cosmetics be given them. 4 And let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This pleased the king, and he did so.

5 Now there was a Jew in Susa the citadel whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite, 6 who had been carried away from Jerusalem among the captives carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away. 7 He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter. 8 So when the king's order and his edict were proclaimed, and when many young women were gathered in Susa the citadel in custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken into the king's palace and put in custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women. 9 And the young woman pleased him and won his favor. And he quickly provided her with her cosmetics and her portion of food, and with seven chosen young women from the king's palace, and advanced her and her young women to the best place in the harem. 10 Esther had not made known her people or kindred, for Mordecai had commanded her not to make it known. 11 And every day Mordecai walked in front of the court of the harem to learn how Esther was and what was happening to her.

12 Now when the turn came for each young woman to go in to King Ahasuerus, after being twelve months under the regulations for the women, since this was the regular period of their beautifying, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and ointments for women—13 when the young woman went in to the king in this way, she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the harem to the king's palace. 14 In the evening she would go in, and in the morning she would return to the second harem in custody of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch, who was in charge of the concubines. She would not go in to the king again, unless the king delighted in her and she was summoned by name.

15 When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king's eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her. 16 And when Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign, 17 the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 Then the king gave a great feast for all his officials and servants; it was Esther's feast. He also granted a remission of taxes to the provinces and gave gifts with royal generosity.

Mordecai Discovers a Plot

19 Now when the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate. 20 Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him. 21 In those days, as Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 22 And this came to the knowledge of Mordecai, and he told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai. 23 When the affair was investigated and found to be so, the men were both hanged on the gallows. And it was recorded in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king. Esther 2

So let's have a pageant across the land, and some think that this is following a failed attack on Greece. He remembers the insult to his ego and what must be done against Vashti, but this will also be prescribed to cheer him up. It is like that horrid show the Bachelor, only Josephus thinks there to be about 400 women in the finale. They are to be put in custody of a eunuch, for they have been made trustworthy in this sense, geldings that go about their master's business, without the equipment to act against their master's harem.  

There was a man named Mordecai who had taken in the daughter of his dead uncle. Her name was Hadassah which means Myrtle, but the Persians would call her Esther which means Star. She was of rare beauty, the Hebrew usage meaning of form and appearance. Esther was taken into the custody of Hegai, who found her so pleasing that he advanced her to a more prominent seat. She was his first choice, what he found to be the greatest chance at a "best in show." They are given beauty treatments, which I looked up and take to mean extensive scrubbing, plucking of hair, the application of ointments and a sort of make up that removes blemishes in the skin. They were all competing to be trophy wives, but with out the boob jobs or butt implants that we have access to today. These were all beautiful women but apparently not in their natural state or without a lot of work. There was an image they needed to conform to in this culture, but lost was the image of God. The whole of this process took a year and some writers think it in part to go through each and also to make certain that they were not already pregnant before they got here. If the king slept with them and was impressed then they might receive a call back for an encore performance, otherwise they were left in the harem, a state of perpetual widowhood, as property, married yet not made one. It is a far fall from the Creations original design, where He made them male and female, the two becoming one flesh. 

Mordecai has also told her to remain silent about her heritage, and this is not for our shame, not for us to lie when asked, but rather not to give ammunition to those who it would matter to. There are some things as an employer that will be kept from you upon hiring. Some things cannot be hid, but we speak against those who would discriminate against another's birth, handicap, age, sex or color, unless these things pertain specifically to the job. I know it's shocking and I bring up a relatively new idea when I say this, but not everyone has your best interest at heart. 

Esther is made queen, and some time after this, now this is important to the rest of the story, that Mordecai discovers a plot against the king, and get's word through Esther. Mordecai is not a Persian, but he is captive and yet treated well, so that he has a place and job in this land. He could think to care less about someone who is of no relation, and if the Septuagint is correct, married to the one he was raising to be his own wife, making him still a better man. He does not leave the king to his own, does not wish ill against this foreigner, but rather protects him from assassination. He works for this government, lives in this place, so does his duty as a citizen. Think about it in retrospect from here to David walking past a sleeping Saul, and also in the New Testament where we are told to pray for those who have rule. Much can be seen that is the result of a fallen nature, but that is true of all man kind. The Jews that were here are there because they wanted to live like the rest of the world, not as set apart or humble before God. God in His mercy has brought Vashti down and lifted Esther up, in the midst of their trouble He has yet provided a way, a deliverer. 

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you[a] of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. 1 Peter 3:1-7

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#626 Vashti

Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, 2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel, 3 in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him,4 while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days. 5 And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of the garden of the king's palace. 6 There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods[a] and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones. 7 Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king.8 And drinking was according to this edict: “There is no compulsion.” For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired. 9 Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the palace that belonged to King Ahasuerus.

Queen Vashti's Refusal

10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown,[b] in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him.

13 Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for this was the king's procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment,14 the men next to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom): 15 “According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?”16 Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, “Not only against the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but also against all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For the queen's behavior will be made known to all women, causing them to look at their husbands with contempt,[c] since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.’ 18 This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's behavior will say the same to all the king's officials, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty. 19 If it please the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. 20 So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, for it is vast, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low alike.” 21 This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed. 22 He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, that every man be master in his own household and speak according to the language of his people. Esther 1 ESV

This is a vast empire, and this king is like the Federalist leader entertaining his 127 local level dignitaries, along with their families and wives. It is a display of power, possession, who has the bigger set of horns. It says that there was drinking, but it was at each man's discretion, you were not forced to drink. The setting for the women is different in at least that it was not there; they had their own feast elsewhere. By the seventh day of this the king was drunk and what occurs seems to go along with all else that is on display, his horses, buildings, table, ability to sustain such an affair, all of his extravagances, except his most prized possession.

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise. 2The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.…Proverbs 20:1-2

It is not for kings, Lemuel—

it is not for kings to drink wine,

not for rulers to crave beer,

5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,

and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

6 Let beer be for those who are perishing,

wine for those who are in anguish!

7 Let them drink and forget their poverty

and remember their misery no more.

8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,

for the rights of all who are destitute.

9 Speak up and judge fairly;

defend the rights of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:4-9

Wisdom was not forbidden to the men to exercise, to use good judgment whether by abstinence or restraint, but the king was obviously out of his right mind. Now it was time to call his wife, maybe on a dare, but obviously to display her as a trophy.  A lot of women would oblige such a request, for this is their value even in their own mind, and modesty stands in the way of such recognition, admiration. Vashti seems to be vilified here for her lack of consent, that she would rather not be paraded before this group of drunks. It reminds me of one of the many paradoxes in our present culture, "respect women yet objectify women, protect women yet parade them before depraved eyes and defective hearts." It is hard to know all of what is occurring here, the culture, the full weight of the request, but if you do refuse the king, then you must be prepared to do so at great risk, for this drunk has a lot of power. What power may be used against you though, cannot rival one's conscience towards God, God is always the higher authority. I am not sure of the source of Vashti's  conviction, but whatever it is, she stands firm, and since it is public it becomes the greater concern.   

The king takes counsel on how to deal with her refusal, and I think this is difficult for him, for she is a great source of pride and probably some earthly ideal of affection. His ego is injured before his fellows though, and his fellows are frightened that this may give rise to a women's liberation movement. Unfortunately, this is not so much a matter of disrespect as it is a desire for respect without question. Those that would have admiration and loyalty by power and force, will not accept dissent even if it is with love and reason. The Bible says a man who would have friends must show himself friendly, and so I think to be respected for real, one must also be respectable. God is sovereign though and this is all working together for His good, and in the departure of Vashti, He is making a way for His people. This becomes the call of Esther.

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#625 Sum of the Comforter, Nehemiah

I tease my wife that she was the first woman to ever have a baby. Our world can be rather small at times, limited in it's view. We had 15 books on pregnancy, my wife personally diagnosed Lily with autism because of the way she kicked inside the belly and then pronounced her dead when she didn't think she felt her kick. We rushed to the hospital where a sonogram revealed a very active baby. While Meegan was in recovery I went to pick some things up for her from our house and my godmother's house. I was exhausted and I have epilepsy so my godmother thought it would be good for me to take a nap, since I had been up for two days. I passed out on the couch and meant to take only a nap, but I stayed out for 6 hours. When I got back to the hospital my wife was crying and told me that she now understood that she was a single mother and it was just her and Lily in this world. Ah red heads, they truly are nuts, but all of us can become self absorbed. Nehemiah was probably a very busy man, a man in the middle of much of the affairs of the state, even if his title only says "cup bearer". He was around important people everyday, and he had access to the king, but he still had a heart towards Jerusalem and God's people. He was truly interested in their affairs and not just asking to be polite. When he found out the true nature of their predicament he started to pray.

This remains consistent with Nehemiah, his life is a conversation to God, seeking the will of God, desiring to do that will, always surrounded and strengthened by prayer. 

Nehemiah uses his station, his influence, to help others. He takes their situation upon himself in genuine concern for their well being. He prays, but then when God opens the door, he walks through. He is a doer of the word and not a hearer only, not a talker either. Nehemiah plans and therefore can present well to the king his proposition. We should research things, lay them out, consider the cost and have a wise answer for the hope that is in us. He knew what he would like to do, and if it was laid upon his heart, he would use those resources of his position as best he could, knowing that if God was in it He would also go before him, preparing the way. 

He was brilliant with resources, a man gifted in the ways of stewardship, and he employed everyone in the work of securing their city. He did not go uncontested, his way was not easy to the eye, for their were issues both without and within. It is the nature of our world that we will have enemies to good work, but also that we ourselves may be the worst of all our foes. 

They needed a wall to protect their freedom and a way of life that their enemies would happily destroy. Nehemiah responded to this and incorporated the hands of every man, woman and child that was willing. Some of his biggest opponents to the wall and this work were those that governed in the area. They were sell outs to their relationships around them, they were fleecing their own people, putting a high tax upon them while catering to foreign business men and diplomats. Money was an idol here and while those that are part of the church or government should be there so dedicated and able to draw a salary, there are also times and places where it is better to be a tent maker, and therefore Nehemiah refrained from the governor's tax and the people stopped their loan sharking and selling of their brethren. 

We learn from the book of Nehemiah that the building of the rebuilding of the temple was not the end, for it needed a wall to protect it. The building of the wall was not the end for it needed men at intervals to watch it. There are pastors, elders, deacons, Sunday School teachers and music ministers. It was not just the structure that declared the sovereignty, but the continual worship of those that stood watch, that met and that walked along it's length. 

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!


3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;[a]
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.


4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!


5 For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100 

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#624 Of The Lord

On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, 2 for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 As soon as the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent.

4 Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was related to Tobiah,5 prepared for Tobiah a large chamber where they had previously put the grain offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests. 6 While this was taking place, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king. And after some time I asked leave of the king 7 and came to Jerusalem, and I then discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. 8 And I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9 Then I gave orders, and they cleansed the chambers, and I brought back there the vessels of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.

10 I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each to his field. 11 So I confronted the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their stations. 12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses. 13 And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and as their assistant Hanan the son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, for they were considered reliable, and their duty was to distribute to their brothers. 14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service.

15 In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys, and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them on the day when they sold food. 16 Tyrians also, who lived in the city, brought in fish and all kinds of goods and sold them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah, in Jerusalem itself! 17 Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day? 18 Did not your fathers act in this way, and did not our God bring all this disaster[a] on us and on this city? Now you are bringing more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”

19 As soon as it began to grow dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. And I stationed some of my servants at the gates, that no load might be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. 21 But I warned them and said to them, “Why do you lodge outside the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath.22 Then I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.

23 In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people. 25 And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them take an oath in the name of God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. 26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin. 27 Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?”

28 And one of the sons of Jehoiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I chased him from me. 29 Remember them, O my God, because they have desecrated the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

30 Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work; 31 and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits.

Remember me, O my God, for good. Nehemiah 13 ESV


The people read the law, compared their present state to the law, were convicted of the law and set out to separate themselves accordingly. Now lest we think this a point to feed our own worldly predispositions towards hate, racism and the like, this is not a racial divide or segregation. How do I know that, or am I just trying to appease the present culture? Well, I don't want to rabbit trail too much, but I really have no desire at appeasing a culture where those who claim racism are in fact the most guilty. The way we find the intent of this passage is in it's context and by taking the whole counsel of God, for those who are searching out the truth. They were told not to intermarry with the Moabites which was for the sake of religious purity not racial. When a false prophet, Balaam, could not curse Israel, because of God's restraint, but still wanted to be revered and paid by the king, he taught them how to break Israel from within. It is the sin of Samson, David, Solomon and others, to be unequally yoked with unbelievers.

Link to Midianite and sin of Balaam

Rahab

Nehemiah has been gone from his original post as governor for what most commentators estimate to be a period of 10 to 12 years. This was after his first term where we saw the building of the wall, and reform to the extent that the people made a covenant with God to abstain from romantic unions that would lead to idolatry. They were not going to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. The people promised to abstain from greed, for it would lead them to dishonor the Sabbath. The Sabbath laws forbid work or commerce on that day, not because business itself was immoral, but because the people would forsake a higher call and cause others to as well. Lastly, they promised to see to the care of the temple and the Levites. The Lord's work is important and we should find ourselves privileged to be a part of it. What does Nehemiah find on his return?

• Tobiah, his enemy, one of those who along with Sanballat, tried to obstruct the building of the wall, had now been given room to set up office in the temple. It is an abomination that Eliashib, the priest, would give such permission. The wolf waited for the shepherd to leave, and then snuck in another way, but upon Nehemiah's return, Tobiah is kicked out. There are a lot of churches like this today that will let anyone in the pulpit who smiles or claims to have a word. 
• While this was going on, the portions had not been paid to the Levites, causing them to seek other forms of work. It is noted in commentaries that this was probably the reason it was so hard to convince the Levites to leave the land of Babylon in the first place. They had no holdings here of their own according to the law, they were set apart to the work of God. Nehemiah sets out to correct this right away by finding more reliable, trustworthy men. 
• Merchants were there on the Sabbath selling their wares and the Jews were buying. Nehemiah's reaction is much like our Lord's when He overturned the tables of the money chambers. He locks the merchants out and then threatens to lay hands on them. This is God's house, this is the city of God. 
• The people were found to have married into the cultures that were forbidden. Their children could not even speak Hebrew, for they were already more like their unbelieving mothers. The role of mother is much like gate keeper to the wall, she is the guard of the home, and here you have hired a thief. How will she guard righteousness and Godliness when she worships idols? How can you serve God when she is an idol living in your house, a sign of your disobedience. The people had great precedence in their priests as well, for one of them was married to the daughter of Sanballat, another enemy to true worship. Nehemiah kicks this apostate priest out as well, and it is held in some Jewish traditions that Sanballat makes him a priest in Samaria. 

This sin was found most grievous, and whereas Ezra pulled out his own hair and separated these families in the past, Nehemiah pulls out the hair of these men to shame them and calls them to do it no more. There is never any one sermon that retires the rest of our lives. It is every day that we must deny ourselves, taking up our cross, reading the word, confessing our sin, praying without ceasing. They had a wonderful revival, but some 10 years later they have gone back upon every promise of their covenant. It is the same with the Christian life, as we read we see, as we see we find conviction, and as we are convicted we cry out, "have mercy", and He is faithful to see us down this long road of sanctification. It all comes down to a matter of the heart, not the emotions of a moment but the ongoing work of Christ's spirit in us. It is not a racial divide, for even a priest was thrown out. Rahab was from Jericho but she sided with the only true God, she is in the line of David. Ruth was a Moabite, who became a proselyte, and married Boaz to also become a grandmother in the line of David, the line of Judah, the line of Christ. Don't put your trust in birth, lineage or circumcision, but in Christ, for there it is that we are all one body.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave[a] nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

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#623 Dedication of the Wall

These are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, 5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brothers in the days of Jeshua.

8 And the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who with his brothers was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. 9 And Bakbukiah and Unni and their brothers stood opposite them in the service. 10 And Jeshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim the father of Eliashib, Eliashib the father of Joiada, 11 Joiada the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan the father of Jaddua.

12 And in the days of Joiakim were priests, heads of fathers' houses: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; 13 of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; 14 of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;15 of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 16 of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; 17 of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai; 18 of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; 19 of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; 20 of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; 21 of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.

22 In the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, the Levites were recorded as heads of fathers' houses; so too were the priests in the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 As for the sons of Levi, their heads of fathers' houses were written in the Book of the Chronicles until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib. 24 And the chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers who stood opposite them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch by watch. 25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers standing guard at the storehouses of the gates.26 These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra, the priest and scribe.

Dedication of the Wall

27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres. 28 And the sons of the singers gathered together from the district surrounding Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites; 29 also from Beth-gilgal and from the region of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem. 30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and they purified the people and the gates and the wall.

31 Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall and appointed two great choirs that gave thanks. One went to the south on the wall to the Dung Gate. 32 And after them went Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah, 33 and Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah, 35 and certain of the priests' sons with trumpets: Zechariah the son of Jonathan, son of Shemaiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micaiah, son of Zaccur, son of Asaph; 36 and his relatives, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God. And Ezra the scribe went before them. 37 At the Fountain Gate they went up straight before them by the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above the house of David, to the Water Gate on the east.

38 The other choir of those who gave thanks went to the north, and I followed them with half of the people, on the wall, above the Tower of the Ovens, to the Broad Wall, 39 and above the Gate of Ephraim, and by the Gate of Yeshanah,[a] and by the Fish Gate and the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate; and they came to a halt at the Gate of the Guard. 40 So both choirs of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and I and half of the officials with me; 41 and the priests Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; 42 and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang with Jezrahiah as their leader. 43 And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.

Service at the Temple

44 On that day men were appointed over the storerooms, the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the Law for the priests and for the Levites according to the fields of the towns, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered. 45 And they performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the command of David and his son Solomon. 46 For long ago in the days of David and Asaph there were directors of the singers, and there were songs[b] of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron. Nehemiah 12 ESV

So we cover a lot the role of the priest, and in our day the preachers, those that minister through the teaching of the word. It is important to know that they are not there for our entertainment, but like MacArthur points out, to be waiters, to serve, always in an effort towards the Author's intent. Worship is important too, it is a message that is easily watered down as well. I don't have to be able to sing well in order to worship, but those that lead should, and those that play instruments should also play well, for this is their gift, a part of their call. But now, just like the pastor who adjusts his sermon to the number of empty seats, tries to develop a style that invokes the emotion, so many a church music ministry can be filled with entertainers, but empty of those that worship in spirit and in truth. Does the sermon that points you to the pastor, a system or anything other than Christ, glorify God? Is it the end when we find a good orator, a funny story teller, a charismatic speaker? I think the next chapter will answer this clearly, and all of Scripture including those letters to the early church. Should those that minister in music be under some lesser call? Is this the world or set apart from it? What of those who would not lead in praise with an eye unto God, toward their Savior, but what if they were attempting some sort of theft, that they saw themselves as the object of such worship? Well, the short of it is that it is impossible to steal from God, but the attempt of it shows your true state, delusion. God is sovereign, and while you may lie to men, stand up every Wednesday and Sunday to lead in the worship of God, yet remain unrepentant of your sin, God's spirit searches the heart. You may be a great talent, but God gave you this, you could not even birth yourself. You may sing like an angel, but like Lucifer, if you exalt yourself then you will be brought down. There may be no one in this whole world that plays instruments as well as you, but it will all be for not if you are not humbled by the things you could not have spoken into existence from the realm of all eternity, a place you had to be told about. The way you play and sing may cause tears to flow, skin to tingle and invoke a kind of awe and wonder, that men do not know how properly to respond, so point to Christ, admit the truth. You are dust and a sinner just like them, but God, Who has made and gifted you, has also provided you with something far greater, that you would give up your every talent and very life to find, Jesus.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. Hebrews 4:12-13

3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully. Psalm 24:3-4

It's sad how many of these stories I have and please don't think I am without fault or a hero in any of them. I thought I was the more innocent because I learned to shun the position of leadership, to turn down what I was not qualified for, but never once did the things that made me unqualified bother me. A long time ago I visited a church, and I was there for a girl, but to be sure any girl who was a part of the body of Christ, whose eyes were truly set upon Him, would be unequally yoked with me at that time. I was not there to honor God, just to get the girl, so let's be clear there before I move on to talk about the music minister. He was a talented man, married to a beautiful girl there at this church. He could play instruments well, had a wonderful singing voice, as did his wife, and he was very friendly. This is where he worked, his title was the minister of music and he had the physical resume to back it up, he was talented with music. He had been to seminary and was also a teacher to the youth. One night after clubbing and drinking in Athens with a buddy, we came back to his house where we received a call from a girl who wanted to stop by and hang out. She was with some other people who had some stuff I might be interested in. When she got there, she was accompanied by some other girls, one of the older drug dealers in the town and low and behold, the minister of music I had met a couple of weeks before. He was pretty lit, but kept starring at me and asked me why I looked so familiar. I brought up the church, and said, "aren't you the music minister?" He was cutting lines on the coffee table and came across right in my face and said, "I don't do drugs, you got that?" He stared at me for a bit and then snorted his lines. Was this the call of God upon a young man's life? Is it just a job, a pay check? He was mad at me for being there, for seeing both worlds that he thought he belonged to, but God is not mocked, by either one of us. I didn't want God to be real anymore, and I hoped that I could prove that the Bible wasn't the Word of some infinite Creator, yet I was a little scared that I might be wrong. I was, and I hope that man has found the truth, repented of his sin, and realized that it doesn't matter what he thinks he can hide from men, everything is laid open before God. 

It says the priest and the Levites purified themselves and the people. The Bible tells us that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. It is a call to righteousness as well, and it is all found in Christ righteousness, which will produce that same fruit in those who truly believe. What did you believe? Feelings, emotions, a pretty song, a singer who became your idol, a preacher who became your hope, is that the call?

Have we like Saul experienced the road to Damascus, or are we as Ananias and Sapphira content with the eyes of men?

Lord forgive me, I am a proud and ridiculous man. I have chased the meat that does not fill and the drink that does not quench. You alone are worthy and there is no other happiness as that which comes completely and utterly broken unto you. My hands are up, my head is down, I beg you, please Lord, just like I confess my sin, please forgive and cleanse me of it. You alone be praised, no matter what the gift, the work or the rest, to thine be the glory, the honor, forever and ever, Amen. 

                        

“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.


23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.


24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:21-24

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#622 The Lot

Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine out of ten[a] remained in the other towns. 2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.

3 These are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the towns of Judah everyone lived on his property in their towns: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon's servants. 4 And in Jerusalem lived certain of the sons of Judah and of the sons of Benjamin. Of the sons of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez; 5 and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, son of Col-hozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, son of the Shilonite. 6 All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 valiant men.

7 And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah, 8 and his brothers, men of valor, 928.[b] 9 Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second over the city.

10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin, 11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, ruler of the house of God, 12 and their brothers who did the work of the house, 822; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah, 13 and his brothers, heads of fathers' houses, 242; and Amashsai, the son of Azarel, son of Ahzai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer, 14 and their brothers, mighty men of valor, 128; their overseer was Zabdiel the son of Haggedolim.

15 And of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni; 16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who were over the outside work of the house of God;17 and Mattaniah the son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, who was the leader of the praise,[c] who gave thanks, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers; and Abda the son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun. 18 All the Levites in the holy city were 284.

19 The gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon and their brothers, who kept watch at the gates, were 172. 20 And the rest of Israel, and of the priests and the Levites, were in all the towns of Judah, every one in his inheritance.21 But the temple servants lived on Ophel; and Ziha and Gishpa were over the temple servants.

22 The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the work of the house of God. 23 For there was a command from the king concerning them, and a fixed provision for the singers, as every day required. 24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's side[d] in all matters concerning the people.

Villages Outside Jerusalem

25 And as for the villages, with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba and its villages, and in Dibon and its villages, and in Jekabzeel and its villages, 26 and in Jeshua and in Moladah and Beth-pelet, 27 in Hazar-shual, in Beersheba and its villages, 28 in Ziklag, in Meconah and its villages, 29 in En-rimmon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth,30 Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and Azekah and its villages. So they encamped from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom. 31 The people of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash, Aija, Bethel and its villages, 32 Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. 36 And certain divisions of the Levites in Judah were assigned to Benjamin. Nehemiah 11 ESV

You have this city that was in ruin, but now you have a wall and need for commerce to begin again. It could be rebuilt, the storefronts, the apartments, restaurants, government buildings and so on, but all volunteered in spirit, yet were cast by lot. It was truly starting from the ground up and this may not appeal to everyone especially those who have interest outside of Jerusalem. It makes everyone a bit more close, but if the wall is to stand then there must be a watch, there must be a defense and so there must also be people. It is not the life for everyone, but there is a reward for coming out of shells, our hiding places. 

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2I saw theholy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven fromGod, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.…Revelation 21:1-3

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#621 Who Could Pass

“On the seals are the names of Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, Zedekiah, 2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 3 Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, 4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, 5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, 7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, 8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah; these are the priests. 9 And the Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel; 10 and their brothers, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, 11 Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, 12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 13 Hodiah, Bani, Beninu.14 The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, 17 Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,18 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, 19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, 20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, 21 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, 22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, 24 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, 26 Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, 27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

The Obligations of the Covenant

28 “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, 29 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. 30 We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons. 31 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.

32 “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: 33 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. 34 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. 35 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; 36 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;37 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. 38 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. 39 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.” Nehemiah 10 ESV

Seal the covenant, and these are the names of the men, their emblem, signature, declaration. These are the leaders of this people, the representation. What is a covenant though? Well here we see that it is both a curse and an oath. But lets look further back to the Abrahamic covenant, where we have a unilateral promise given to Abraham by God. This covenant is marked with blood and also by death, God has Abram sever animals, and then it is unilateral in that while God causes a deep sleep to fall upon Abram, where normally both parties would pass between the pieces of flesh, God passes through alone. The sign of this covenant for the children of Abraham was the circumcision, removal of the foreskin of the flesh. Abram becomes Abraham, the old things have passed away, God has made Himself known to this man, ignorance is no longer complete for this candle has been lit. Marriage is more similar in this way to a covenant than a simple contract, for again something dies, the self, it is one of the more higher institutes of religion and the loss of autonomy is used often in comparison to the Christian walk. The two become one flesh, and if anyone would follow Christ, he must first deny himself.

So back to this text, who entered into this curse, this oath? It says, "all who have knowledge and understanding." These practices are symbolic, but of themselves they are less than shadows if not explained. If I baptize my child without explanation then I have given her a bath. Circumcision, genealogy, sacrifices, the feast, communion, all nothing without remembrance. These people have been receiving the spoken and explained word, the history of their nation and the knowledge of being set apart unto God. This covenant is in response to a change of heart in many, a great awakening, a true revival.

How has this knowledge affected them? They see where they have failed in the pass. Marriage was placed before their first and truest love, the One Who had been faithful to them. The institute became no longer the Godly shadow or mirror of communion, it lost both it's spirit and it's truth by way of lust and greed. Men divided themselves among many women, and took to themselves trophies and idols from those surrounding nations, who did not follow the true God. They did not put God first in marriage, and at the time it was a decision of the parents, who literally sold their children into disobedience, using them to make alliances with those who hated God. They also put commerce before the Sabbath. It is so easy for us to justify this, look how unfair it is that my neighbor makes 52 more days of profit. Just think of how much more I could give to the Lord, like we would. We miss the point that we are already robbing Him of our time. You can see this in marriage, with families not taking time for each other, for the things of eternal consequence. How is your relationship with God? I should probably ask Him that, I would not trust myself.  

They enter into this covenant, no longer wanting to rob God of what He has blessed them with, but rather wanting to be humble and grateful, setting themselves up to do good. 

Tax of First Born

Covenant

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God! 15Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternalinheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from thetransgressions committed under the first covenant. 16In the case of a will, it is necessary to establish the death of the one who made it,…Hebrews 9:14-16

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#620 And All That Is Within Me

Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads.2 And the Israelites[a] separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. 3 And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the Lord their God. 4 On the stairs of the Levites stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani; and they cried with a loud voice to the Lord their God.5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless the Lord your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

6 [b] “You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you. 7 You are the Lord, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham. 8 You found his heart faithful before you, and made with him the covenant to give to his offspring the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite. And you have kept your promise, for you are righteous.

9 “And you saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea, 10 and performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people of his land, for you knew that they acted arrogantly against our fathers. And you made a name for yourself, as it is to this day. 11 And you divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on dry land, and you cast their pursuers into the depths, as a stone into mighty waters. 12 By a pillar of cloud you led them in the day, and by a pillar of fire in the night to light for them the way in which they should go. 13 You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven and gave them right rules and true laws, good statutes and commandments, 14 and you made known to them your holy Sabbath and commanded them commandments and statutes and a law by Moses your servant. 15 You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger and brought water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and you told them to go in to possess the land that you had sworn to give them.

16 “But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments. 17 They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt.[c] But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. 18 Even when they had made for themselves a golden[d]calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed great blasphemies, 19 you in your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud to lead them in the way did not depart from them by day, nor the pillar of fire by night to light for them the way by which they should go. 20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst. 21 Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.

22 “And you gave them kingdoms and peoples and allotted to them every corner. So they took possession of the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and the land of Og king of Bashan. 23 You multiplied their children as the stars of heaven, and you brought them into the land that you had told their fathers to enter and possess. 24 So the descendants went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hand, with their kings and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would. 25 And they captured fortified cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses full of all good things, cisterns already hewn, vineyards, olive orchards and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness.

26 “Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies. 27 Therefore you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. And in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies. 28 But after they had rest they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies. 29 And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules, which if a person does them, he shall live by them, and they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey. 30 Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.31 Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.

32 “Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day. 33 Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly. 34 Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law or paid attention to your commandments and your warnings that you gave them. 35 Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works. 36 Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. 37 And its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please, and we are in great distress.

38 [e] “Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of[f] our princes, our Levites, and our priests. Nehemiah 9 ESV

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, we are but dust and our sin, Oh God, who has a right to stand before you? If you are fasting without understanding then you are making a work, an idol of a work. There is food both physical and spiritual, there is one unto now that you can go a time without, but there is that which is unto eternity that you cannot even exist without. God, I cry out, if my table were full it is not enough, if I die fat it does me no good. You, by your Spirit, through Your Word have called us up from dust. I humble myself before You, and unashamedly before men, because they are but dust themselves. I separate myself from the world and it's system of self fulfillment. There is no case for me to plead before you, but that which is your own love that you have professed and shown to me. They confess their sin before God, that to which I can my own self relate, that everyday, in every hour of the day there is at least a thought, one thought, that seems small to me in the dark, but here in the light of God's truth it is truly atomic, enough to destroy the whole world. As your faith grows, as you hold the light of Scripture up to your life, the more glaring and foul your sin becomes. 

. “Repentance grows as faith grows. Do not make any mistake about it; repentance is not a thing of days and weeks, a temporary penance to be got over as fast as possible! No it is the grace of a lifetime, like faith itself. Repentance is the inseparable companion of faith.” (Spurgeon)

The prayer that follows is history, praise, it is to God's glory and it is the gospel. 

• Lord, You are the Creator. The heavens and the earth exist because You called them in to being. 
• The angels worship you.
• You chose Abraham out of all those living at that time, and You called him out of Ur, the land that is now Persia.
• You made a covenant, You held it up and You have kept Your promise.
• You purchased us out of Egypt, by Your mighty hand, through great wonders, against the hardest heart you worked until the Pharaoh sent our fathers away.
• You did all these wonders and led them with a cloud by day to shield them and a fire by night to shed light upon their way ans you kept their enemies at bay. All these things You did, and that was enough to know that there was none like You.
• You gave Your law, enlightening them to their state, the condition, sin. 
• You kept them fed and watered in a desert. In a place that can barely sustain a few, you fed hundreds of thousands for 40 years. Where there is no grain You brought down the bread of heaven, and where there is no water You made a spring. 
• You gave us land and moved out those before us, and You told us very clearly not to walk in the ways of the people of this land. 
• You provided, but we rebelled. The people in the land were worthy of your judgment for walking in the ways of a fallen nature, in a fallen world that stood against Your Holiness. It belonged to You and it is Yours to judge, or to make right and save.
• We are worse than the people in the land, for we were shown, You provided our food by no way of mistaking the source, our water, and to us you explained the breech, the wages of sin being death. 
• We were hardened in our sin, defined ourselves proudly by our sins, envied wicked men, praised violent men, took prostitutes, whoring out our own children, raised up gold and images of gold, wood, the works of human hands, hands that are but dust. 
• You have been faithful and brought us back here to see Jerusalem again, to have hope, even in the slavery that we deserve. God, we are in great distress, please have mercy upon us.

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:24-25

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