Dr Paul Allen

“So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.” ( Nehemiah 4:6 ) The ambitious project of rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall, with all its gates and other structures, was completed in less than two months ( Nehemiah6:15 ), for all “the people had a mind to work.” This was in spite of the danger from the external enemies who wanted to delay the work if they could. The third chapter of Nehemiah has a remarkable list of the workmen on the wall. Men of all walks of life participated, each with an assigned portion of the work as organized by Nehemiah. The first verse of the chapter tells of the work done by Eliashib, the high priest, and all the other priests; the last verse lists the contribution of the goldsmiths and the merchants. There were the Nethinims (v. 26), apothecaries (v. 8), rulers (i.e., “mayors,” vv. 9, 12, 14-16), and various others. At least one man even had his daughters working (v. 12). Only the nobles o

Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “So the wall was finished. . . . 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 .” ( Nehemiah 6:15-16 ) There were many times in the history of God’s chosen nation of Israel when mighty victories were accomplished. In the events surrounding our text, a ragged band of exiles had returned from captivity in Babylon and were attempting to rebuild the broken-down walls of Jerusalem . The detractors were many, saying it couldn’t be done—but it had to be done! Satanically inspired opposition came through ridicule ( Nehemiah 2:19 ; 4:1-3); threats of invasion (vv. 7-9); discouragement (v. 10); fear of attack (vv. 11-23); internal friction (5:1-5); diplomatic treachery (6:1-8); and lying prophets (6:10-14). But in the face of each threat, Nehemiah was equal to

Dove of the Holy Spirit (ca. 1660, alabaster, Throne of St. Peter, St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." — Nehemiah 8:10 We are missing the mark about Christian victory and the life of joy in our Savior. We ought to be standing straight and praising our God ! I must agree with the psalmist that the joy of the Lord is the strength of His people. I do believe that the sad world is attracted to spiritual sunshine—the genuine thing, that is. Some churches train their greeters and ushers to smile, showing as many teeth as possible. But I can sense that kind of display, and when I am greeted by a person who is smiling because he or she has been trained to smile, I know I am shaking the flipper of a trained seal. When the warmth and joy of th

The Holy Spirit depicted as a dove, surrounded by angels, by Giaquinto, 1750s. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading." ( Nehemiah 8:8 ) Most people—even most Christians—devote very little time to the Scriptures, complaining that they are either too hard to understand or too uninteresting. Yet, when Ezra read "the book of the law of Moses " to the whole congregation of Israel , he read "from the morning until midday," even "one fourth part of the day," and "all the people stood up" as he read ( Nehemiah 8:1 , 3, 5; 9:3). Such a scenario is almost impossible to imagine today. Ezra's congregation evidently understood what he was reading and found it of vital interest. "For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law" ( Nehemiah 8:9 ). For "another fourth part |of the day| they confessed, and wo

Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.  Nehemiah 1:3-4 Countless people struggle with discerning what God has called them to do with their lives. This is true whether you’re in college and choosing a major, or in your mid-forties and wondering if you’re wasting your life on a job you barely want to wake up to, much less give your life to. If you’re ever in this position, ask this question to help yourself: What is the brokenness in the world that produces a brokenness inside of me? For Nehemiah, it was his people’s condition and the broken down walls of Jerusalem . What is it for you? Injustice? People who are far from God? Poverty? The state of the edu

English: Greek Orthodox Icon of Nehemiah, mounted on solid wood. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God , and set a watch against them day and night, because of them." ( Nehemiah 4:9 ) Prayer is a powerful weapon, but the wall-builders in Jerusalem also were careful to set a watch against their enemies "with their swords, their spears, and their bows" ( Nehemiah 4:13 ). They were ready to fight if necessary, but at the same time they were confident that "our God shall fight for us" ( Nehemiah 4:20 ). This is a sound biblical principle. God expects us to make appropriate use of whatever physical means are available for a needed ministry, rather than to rely simply on prayer and divine miracle. The Lord rebuked those who came asking Him to perform a miracle merely to test Him or to see something curious. "Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe" ( John 4:48 ). Neither does He condone prayer in lieu

We will not die apart from God’s gracious decree for his children. James 4:14-15 ; Matthew 10:29-30 ; Deuteronomy 32:39 Curses and divination do not hold sway against God’s people. Numbers 23:23 The plans of terrorists and hostile nations do not succeed apart from our gracious God. Psalm 33:10 ; Isaiah 8:9-10 Man cannot harm us beyond God’s gracious will for us. Psalm 118:6 ; Psalm 56:11 God promises to protect his own from all that is not finally good for them. Psalm 91:14 God promises to give us all we need to obey, enjoy, and honor him forever. Matthew 6:31 ; Philippians 4:19 God is never taken off guard. Psalm 121:4 God will be with us, help us, and uphold us in trouble. Isaiah 41:10 , 13 Terrors will come, some of us will die, but not a hair of our heads will perish. Luke 21:10–11 , 18 Nothing befalls God’s own but in its appointed hour. John 7:30 When God Almighty is your helper, none can harm you beyond what he decrees. Hebrews 13:6 ; Romans 8:31 God’s faithfulness is based on

Moses Comes Down from Mount Sinai (Ex. 19:25,20:1-17) Русский: Моисей сходит с горы Синай (Исх. 19:25,20:1-17) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) In God ’s revelation of himself to Moses on Mount Sinai , he says that he is “ slow to anger ” (Exodus 34:6). However, later in the Old Testament , in the prophecy about Christ in Psalm 2 , we are told to “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for  his wrath is quickly kindled “ (2:12). So which is it? Is God slow to anger or is he quick to wrath? It can’t be both, can it? It seems to me that the answer lies in understanding that there is a distinction between “getting angry” and “kindling wrath.” Getting angry refers to the attitude God has toward his creation. Kindling wrath refers to the ways in which he acts out that attitude. In this sense, we can affirm both: God is slow to become angry, as he tells Moses on Mount Sinai (and repeats throughout the rest of Scripture (see Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 86:15, etc.). Bu

Stained glass at St John the Baptist's Anglican Church http://www.stjohnsashfield.org.au, Ashfield, New South Wales. Illustrates Jesus' description of himself "I am the Good Shepherd" (from the Gospel of John, chapter 10, verse 11). This version of the image shows the detail of his face. The memorial window is also captioned: "To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of William Wright. Died 6th November, 1932. Aged 70 Yrs." (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." ( John 15:11 ) The word "fun" is never mentioned in the Bible , and "entertain" is used only in reference to being hospitable. Such activities as "reveling" and "playing" receive nothing except condemnation in the Scriptures (with the exception of little children at play). Yet there is growing emphasis today in many churches and parachurch organizations on

Image via Wikipedia Image via Wikipedia "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen . Praise ye the LORD." ( Psalm 106:48 )   Many is the speaker who, after he has made some point which he considers especially good, will then say: "And all the people said, 'Amen'" (meaning "that's right!").   It is interesting to note the biblical examples of such a demonstration. There are sixteen times in which this or a similar statement occurs in the Bible--all in the Old Testament . Twelve of these are found in  Deuteronomy 27:14-26  with the people so responding after the pronouncement of a "curse" on those who commit various sins. The last curse is as follows: " Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen" ( v. 26 ) in agreement with the judgment.   King David described his thanksgiving for the return of the Ark o

Image via Wikipedia The LORD is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake; He will exalt the law and make it honorable (Isa. 42:21). One of God ’s chief concerns in the deliverance of His people from Babylon was the re-establishment of His law in the nation. He made this point in verse 21, when Isaiah said, “The LORD is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake; He will exalt the law and make it honorable.” Until that time, the law of God had been mostly forgotten or forsaken. Isaiah said, “For they would not walk in His ways, nor were they obedient to His law.” The prophet was speaking not only of Nebuchadnezzar but of his own people, those who would suffer under war and famine because they had forsaken the Lord ’s ways. From this we can assume that God will punish not only His own for failing to follow His law, but pagan nations as well. His righteous standards are for all men because all people are made in the image of God and are to live according to His holiness. We see th

Image via Wikipedia Nehemiah served in a pagan government as a believer in God . He was humble and respectful to the king, but proper fear of his king did not stop him from acting to save his people.  He prayed to God and made a request of the king, asking for permission to go to Jerusalem to rebuild it. He also asked for letters that he might present to various governors for safe conduct , and even a grant for building materials . Not all the pagan governors were sanguine toward Nehemiah and his plans. Indeed, some were fiercely resistant to them.  When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite heard of his efforts, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of  Israel . When Nehemiah set about the task of rebuilding, his enemies laughed at him and despised him. Nehemiah, though, did not let his critics determine his agenda. Nehemiah’s temptation would have been to allow the pagans to alter the plans and engage in a joint venture o