King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Chapters: NEHEMIAH 5-7
Message: Overcoming Opposition With Christ
Hello My Friend,
I got my paycheck yesterday and was frankly disappointed when I realized how little I got, between taxes and insurance I might as well be paying them for me to work. We have our normal bills, but on top of that, my husband’s truck is in much need of repair while mine needs some minor repairs. Then my family decides they are all leaving the city and moving two hours away. While they do want us to go with them, there is still a lot to consider as neither they nor we are prepared for any of this. All of this is going on when things are finally starting to fall into place for us in regards to our finding a church home and him finding the job he loves. Well, is that not like the devil to throw some opposition into our lives when we start doing things for God? [Luke 22:31-32 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.]
When the Jews who were in Babylon willingly left the comforts they had come to know, and returned to Jerusalem to rebuild temple, they really did not anticipate all the opposition and struggles they would face. When they were forced to stop for a time they went on to build their own homes, but with the help of Ezra, Zechariah, and Haggai, they were able to get back to rebuilding it and finally had completed it. The problem was that the wall that kept them safe was down, and that meant that there was nothing stopping the enemy from getting in. We learned yesterday how Nehemiah, and his willing volunteers, come together to rebuild the wall, and had their own opposition to deal with. As we continue in the reading of Nehemiah, we learn of the great oppression that had taken place among the Jews themselves and now they want Nehemiah’s help.
[Nehemiah 5:1-5 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. 2 For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live. 3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. 4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. 5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.]
[that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.] Does this sound familiar? This is exactly what happened in Egypt centuries ago when the Jews went over there during the seven year famine for temporary relief only to sell themselves out to the government after a year, [Genesis 47:18-20 When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands: 19 Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate. 20 And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh’s.]
This was not the world oppressing them, these were their very own people, most likely it was the elites who wanted nothing to do with helping them rebuild the wall. Oppression, does not begin from the lack of food or money, it begins by not trusting God in the first place and looking to man for that temporary relief. In fact, Nehemiah tells them the very same thing.
[Nehemiah 5:8-11 And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer. 9 Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? 10 I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury. 11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.]
[ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God] How does it make us look as Christians, who are supposed to be trusting in God for everything, when we are selling ourselves out to each other? It certainly does not make the world want to come running to Jesus, in fact, it makes them want to run far from Him. We set the example to the world for the hope that Christ brings, [1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:]
So, here was their situation, they had mortgaged off their homes and lands, and had taken loans so they could provide for their families and pay taxes, but paying them off was the struggle. Their debts had become so huge that they were unable to pay them off and were forced into servitude. Nehemiah, rebuked the lenders for taking advantage of them during their hardship, then goes on to tell them why he never put his trust in the government.
[Nehemiah 5:14-15,18-19 Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor. 15 But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God. 18 Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. 19 Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.]
[were chargeable unto the people,] How quick are the poor to fall prey to them who do not trust God for their provisions? How quick are they willing to sell themselves out for a morsel of meat? How quick are the rich, who do not trust God, willing to sell themselves out for that same morsel? Rich or poor, those who do not fear God will never be satisfied with what they have because true riches do not come from what is in our bank accounts, it comes from Christ, [Matthew 6:19-20 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:]
[because the bondage was heavy upon this people.] There is always someone who has money willing to take advantage of those in desperate need of it. If we ever get caught up in a situation like that, the best thing we can do is pray, and ask God how to handle it. Once He shows us what to do, then we need to take the steps necessary to do it. Many times debt can be reduced or even expunged because it is really the interest that is uncontrollable. Let me tell you, we all need help sometimes, and there is nothing wrong with asking for it, but it is not man that we need to put our trust in, it is God, [Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.]
There are much bigger things that we need to be concerned about than what we are going to eat, wear, or live. Remember, we are in a spiritual battle here, we need to stick together because the enemy will sense our fear and use it against us. While they were taking care of all that debt business the wall was not being attended to, when it finally resumes here comes Sanballat once again to try hinder them.
[Nehemiah 6:1-4 Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) 2 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. 3 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? 4 Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.]
[and I answered them after the same manner.] We must never back down or waver in our faith or work, and we must always be consistent. They will not tell you this, but the biggest threat to the world is Jesus. The world knows that we see Jesus as our KING, and they will use it against us to try and intimidate us into stopping the work that we are doing. They did it when Jesus was here, and they will continue to do it until He returns, [John 15:20-22 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.]
This time Nehemiah, and his group of people were determined to get the wall built, and now they were attempting to stop them all together by their constant distractions. Nehemiah, caught on to what they were doing and called them out, and this time Sanballat knew that God was in this and nothing was stopping them.
[Nehemiah 6:12-16 And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me. 14 My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear. 15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days. 16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.]
[they were much cast down in their own eyes:] This is a great reminder that all who come against us will be hanging their heads down in shame, especially when they do stand before Jesus and He tells them every single thing they did to us as well as how blessed we are because we are with Him, [Luke 6:20-23 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. 22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.]
The walls surrounding Jerusalem were completed in fifty-two days, but the city was huge and still needed a lot of work, yet very few people lived in it. Armed guards stood at the only entrance into the city, the gates were open during the day, but once the gates were closed no one was allowed to go through unless their names were found written in the register book.
[Nehemiah 7:1-5 Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed, 2 That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many. 3 And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house. 4 Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded. 5 And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein,]
[but the people were few therein,] This reminds me of what Jesus said, [Matthew 9:37-38 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.] This is why there are so many Christians just living their lives, going to church occasionally, but never really doing very much for God. And since the laborers are few, we who are faithful are called to pick up the slack and work harder to get the work done. Well, Jesus does give us the ability, wisdom, and strength to do the work, and He actually protects us while doing so. And I am a great witness to this, God will always provide us with what we need, and then some, [Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.]
[that they might be reckoned by genealogy.] Genealogy is a little different when it comes to God’s people, they are not Jews or Gentiles, they are the souls that are saved through their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Saviour. The same way in which a person can enter through the gate in Jerusalem, is the same way a person can enter the Kingdom of God. Whether Jew or Gentile, we must have our names written in the register book, also called the Book of life, or we will not be able to enter, [Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.]
Today’s Prayer: God, From the time that I chose Your Son as my Saviour and dedicated my life to You, there has never been a day that You have not supplied my need. Thank You, for everything you provide for me, I know I sometimes ask amiss or not at all, looking at what is in front of me rather than looking to You. And I am sorry for that. Lord, lead me and guide me, keep me looking to You at all times, and not at my bank account. Let me not put my trust in my job or what work You give me so that I can eat, rather always trust that You will supply my every need. Keep me full of Your mercies, and grace, let me always turn to You in prayer for answers, and direction, and let me never stop doing the work that You call me to do so that I shall never lack. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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