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: Friday, September 27, 2024
Chapters: Nehemiah Chapters 5-7
Message: God Will Provide
Hello My Friend,
As I was reading the chapters for today it reminds me of the hardship that I am facing today and how God has humbled me in so many ways, including seeking assistance from the state to help my mom with added expenses from medical bills. While God does indeed give us these helps to assist us when hardships come, they are never meant to be a permanent crutch, He still wants us to trust Him with our provisions. Jesus, said it this way, [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.]
When the Jews who were in Babylon willingly left the comforts they had come to know in Babylon and returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, they really did not anticipate all the opposition and struggles they would face. When forced to stop for a time they overcame adversity by uniting and with the help of Ezra, Zechariah, and Haggai, were able to complete it. However, the wall surrounding Jerusalem had not been repaired, they became content with just living their lives in the world and were not even concerned about the temple or Jerusalem. We learned yesterday how Nehemiah, and a group of volunteers united once again to repair the wall. As we continue in the reading of Nehemiah, we learn of the great oppression they were facing, nit from the world, but their fellow Jews.
[Nehemiah 5:1-6 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. 6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.]
[we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants,] Does any of this sound familiar? I believe this happened in Egypt, they sold their lands and everything they owned to the king for food and became slaves. However, this time the richer Jews were making slaves of their very own people. In fact, Nehemiah, goes on to rebuke them for doing the same thing the heathens did to enslave them.
[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:]
[I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them] Nehemiah, and those who volunteered to help them agreed to not take any payment for their services for the sake of easing their burden. I am all for capitalism, but we need to do it the right way and understand that it takes people working together to prosper. None of us get where we are alone, it takes a group of preachers, teachers, lawyers, construction workers, plumbers, farm workers, only to mention a few, for us to prosper. Above all, it takes our being united as one nation under God, [Psalms 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.]
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 to provide for him.
[Nehemiah 5:13-15,18-19 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise. 14 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.]
[former governors that had been before me were chargeable] 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, [Psalms 20:6-8 Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. 8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.]
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 6:1-5,9 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. 5 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; 9 For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.]
[But they thought to do me mischief.] They will not tell you this, but the biggest threat to 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, and by then, He truly will be KING over all. 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 6:10-12,15-16 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee. 11 And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. 12 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. 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.]
[I came unto the house of Shemaiah…who was shut up;] Shemiah, was a person Nehemiah had a good opinion of and came to him on the letters sent to him, to consult with him, and the rest, since they had suggested that he had appointed prophets to speak of him as a king, but learned that he too was a conspirator. Sometimes the very people we trusted turn out to be conspirators, and that is something very hard to overcome, but with a lot of prayer, meditating on God’s Word, and actually becoming a blessing to others will help us through.
[Psalms 55:12-14,17-19 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. 17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. 18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me. 19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not 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.]
Although the walls surrounding Jerusalem were completed in fifty-two days, the city was huge and still needed a lot of work, but 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.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Nehemiah 6:3 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?]
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
Do You Know Jesus?: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/ready-to-follow-jesus/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Read Previous Devotions: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Read The Bible: http://kingjamesbible.imfollowingjesus.com/
Visit I’m Following Jesus: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/welcome/
Like I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2024 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.