Mordecai was a devout Jew who had been taken captive by the Babylonians. His heritage was the same as that of the first king of Israel; a Benjamite from the family of Kish, king Saul’s father. The honorable character of Mordecai is a clear reminder that we must be careful attributing the characteristics of a famous ancestor to the generations that follow them.
Stuart
The beginning of the Het stanza, verse 57, should be the foundation of our faith. The LORD is all that I want. That is what led Abram from his home land. That is what inspired Joseph during his imprisonment. It is what secured David's throne. It is what stayed Daniel before the lions. And when know that Jesus' passion for closeness with the father is what led him to the surrender on the cross. Seek only God.
Stuart
Chapter 13 tells three stories of how the returned exiles had disregarded their covenant relationship and what Nehemiah did to stop the sinning and promote godly order. In verses 4-13 he described the neglect of the tithe offerings. Quite possibly the people were neglecting all the regular offerings. These offerings where intended to perpetuate to worship of God. Nehemiah corrected the problem by changing the leadership. In verses 15-22 he describes the desecration of the sabbath by Jews and foreigners. A reprimand of the leaders and the practice of closing the city gates for the sabbath corrected that. The last problem was addressed in verses 23-28. Once again the covenant people were marrying people whom they chose rather than people whom God approved. Nehemiah rebuked those guilty of this sin and persuaded them to vow not to repeat this transgression of the Law.
Stuart
The second part of verse 37 sounds like a reminder to God: "You promised, so be good to me." When I consider this wording what comes to my mind is a reminder to myself. When there is abundance; it is from God. When I have the necessary strength; it is from God. Each time I travel safely; it is from God. When the Bible opens new meaning to me; it is from God. When hope appears in tragedy; it is from God. When laughter erupts in sorrow; it is from God. Anything that is good; it is from God.
Stuart
The Manhattan Declaration is a manmade document designed for this generation of believers to display their faith within their culture. It is not intended to be a substitute for scripture, or even claim to be equal with the inspired text of the Bible. It is the words of Christians to their culture, and those around them, that they will no longer compromise. The Manhattan Declaration is a human document whose signers affirm to truths and morals that God has established in his word and their agreement to abide by God’s Word as revealed in the Bible. The agreement in Nehemiah’s day (Nehemiah 10:28-39) gives us a scriptural precedent upon which the Manhattan Declaration can rest. Nehemiah did the exact same thing that the leaders of the church in America have done in our day.
Stuart
God had given Nehemiah a passion to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. The emperor had given Nehemiah his approval to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. The faithful returning from exile had given Nehemiah their devotion to his purpose. But not everything was positive from Nehemiah’s perspective. There were those who wished to keep Jerusalem in a state of disrepair. They mocked Nehemiah and the people working on the wall. They belittled the people’s efforts. They threatened the people working on the wall. They started rumors about Nehemiah hoping that the emperor would buy their fabrication regarding a planned rebellion. Finally they sought to trap Nehemiah so that they could get rid of him. Nehemiah held on to his faith that it was God who had given him a passion to rebuild the wall. That God had brought him to that point. All the things that sought to move him from his passion were not the workings of God. They were selfish people stepping in front of Nehemiah seeking to stop him from completing God’s will for his life. In all of those difficulties God helped Nehemiah to overcome. It was because of Nehemiah’s faith that the wall around Jerusalem was rebuilt.
Stuart
God's commands are not focused on exclusions. Verse 24 says they are to be our guides. How can they guide us? Considering verse 23 as the beginning of the thought God's commands will guide us out of the death traps that our enemies set for us. When we add the circumstances in verse 22 we can see how God's commands will liberate us from the need to retaliate for insults and scorn we receive. We see God's Law guiding Jesus out of the devil's traps in Matthew 4:1-11. Knowing God's revelation is not a form of imprisonment. Just like the exodus it is a liberation.
Stuart
Everyone in and around Jerusalem were enlisted by Nehemiah to rebuild the city wall. It didn’t matter how they made their livelihood. The only thing that matter was their willingness to work. God had been gracious in Nehemiah’s life by allowing him to leave the king’s service and strike out on this divine adventure. Not only did he return to his ancestor’s home but he returned with a purpose. What I don’t understand is the value that the people saw in the wall around the city. What message would a completed wall display? They were not going to rebel against the king of Persia. Nehemiah was not intent in raising up an army to re-establish the kingdom of Israel. He did not have a passion to work on the completion of the temple. I wonder what message a walled cities would say to God of the devotion of the returning exiles?
Stuart
The first two stanzas of the psalm present the commandments of God's Law as the focal point of a life of faith. Purity is defined by the proximity to obedience. This is a standard that has not faded under the covenant of grace. Obedience was a key point in Jesus' teaching, in his final commission, and in his recorded revelation of the New Testament. So should it continued to be a vital part of our discipleship.
Stuart
As a modern believers the solution for the sin of intermarriage to which Ezra and the people of Israel agreed rubs me the wrong way. Yes the people under the law were excluded from marrying those who were not in covenant. Yes this was the same first compromise that Solomon had made that led to the corruption and downfall of Judah. But can the wrong of divorce make this sin right? But isn’t this a picture of what Jesus said in Luke 24:26 – If you don’t hate your wife you cannot follow me. I wonder if there was a way for the wives to surrender their idolatrous faith and enter covenant with the God of Israel? Rahab and Ruth had both make such a move. Their faith was set forth as an example to future generations of believers.
Stuart
When the way to the temple is made clear (vs 19) the proper response to this act of grace is acceptance and thanksgiving.
Stuart
This psalm seems completely out of place in a Jewish song book. It is a call to all the nations to gather around Israel's God and offer him praise. But on this side of the cross the tone fits perfectly with God's offer of eternal grace to all peoples of the earth. No one is forbidden anymore. Everyone is eligible to walk in God's grace through a life of faith. All people are invited to call out to the God most high in praise of who he is.
Stuart
I wonder what it was like when the first Passover lamb was killed by those who returned from exile at the newly built temple. Was that when God's ability to provide for his people really began to sink in? Did the people finally comprehend that their God of justice was also the God of second chances? What lessons did that generation learn from their ancestors which they faithfully passed on to their children?
Stuart
Verse 15 of this psalm speaks of the pain God experiences when a saint dies. That doesn't make sense. We know that a saint is happy when they die because God's promised reward will meet them. And Jesus describe paradise to the thief on the other cross as their meeting place. Doesn't the joy of an eternal reunion nullify any sorrow of death? Maybe. But the death of a saint could still hurt God because of his empathy for the struggle they face in death. It could also be a painful reminder of the lost fellowship because of sin. The pain could also flow from the reminder of all those unbelievers who refuse to taste eternity with God. Surely God feels the pain of that loss more than we can imagine.
Stuart
The returning exiles are a picture of those who return to following God. Chapter 3 reminds us that their first order of business was to rebuild the altar so that the separation of sin could be removed. All through the 70 years of exile they had no means of atonement. With the completion of the altar they celebrated the holiday to remember Israel's wandering. A celebration that surely took on new meaning after their exile.
Stuart
Where does your deity dwell? In the time that this psalm was written most people kept their "gods" behind locked door or on display on a shelf. Israel's God could neither be locked up or paraded around like a trophy. He ruled from his heavenly throne. What about today's deities? Many modern objects of worship are lock away in a bank or some other safe place. Some stock certificates are displayed on a wall. But more often the idol is either lived in, traveled on, or shown off in an attempt to impress other people. The Christian's God can neither be locked up or paraded around like a trophy. He still rules the world from his heavenly throne.
Stuart
By what standard do we evaluate our progress? With whom do we compare our accomplishments? We will always face the temptations to compare ourselves to other people. But God doesn’t do that. Those outside of faith in Jesus are compared to the life that he lived and are always found falling short of God’s glory. But for those of us who are living in faith in Jesus we are granted Jesus’ righteousness. When God looks at us he compares us with Jesus and we match up with his life on every point. Paul had room to boast about his earthly inheritance as a basis for his relationship with God. But Paul focused instead on his weaknesses, his inabilities, his frailty. We should do the same.
Stuart
What would we think of a farmer who build huge grain bins and stored his harvest there, but never took the seed out to sell or plant? We would think that he was a very poor farmer. We also know that to stubbornly hold to such a position would eventually “cost him the farm.” There is no way anyone can call themselves a farmer if they are stingy with the seed they plant. A man with 1,000 acres worth of seed who only plants 1 acre of seed is indeed a bad farmer. That is the message that Paul shared with the believers in Corinth, and through the preservation of his letter he shared with us as well, in 2 Corinthians 9:6. The specifics of the context make it clear that Paul is talking about a monetary gift to help believers in need, at the time, in Judea. But I believe the principle applies to every way in which we are lead to help our fellow believers.
Stuart
What causes waters to part? God.
What sends mountains running? God.
What cause the earth to quake? God.
What causes cliffs to become running streams? God.
Why do we not respond the same way?
Stuart
This psalm makes it clear that Christians do not submit to the whims of some distant deity. Our God does not stand off, demanding from us with no concern for those who follow him. Though his dwelling is higher than we can imagine verse 6 tells us that our God bends down. He draws close. He comes near. He rubs shoulders with his people and is attentive to even their whispers. Kings may over look the poor but God lifts them us. A husband may despise a wife who bears him no children, but God addresses her ignored griefs and grants her a child. Our God seeks intimacy with us.
Stuart
Some people, even Christians, tend to boast about a person’s outward impressions. Paul says, in 5:12, that what really matters is the character of a person. Because it is the character of a person that most accurately reflects the changes that Jesus had made in that life. Because of sin our character naturally develops into expressions of self-centeredness. When we encounter Jesus that character has to change. There is no neutrality after meeting Jesus. We will either conform to his mold or rebel against his firm hand set to shape us in his image.
Stuart
I like the encouraging message of verse 4; light shines on good men. There may be darkness all around me but God's light will illuminate my heart if not my circumstances. That is a wonderful message of hope to share with this world.
Stuart
We know that the respect of the LORD is the starting point of wisdom. This psalm ends with the thought that obedience of God's commands is the initial act of good judgment for the life of any believer. If that thought is carried to its logical conclusion the longer we obey God the more sound our judgments will become. But a rebellious Christian will act like a fool through their poor decision making processes.
Stuart
In 2:5-11 Paul offers guidance for the early believers on forgiveness. When someone in the assembly is living in sin the goal of the community is forgiveness. That reflects God's goal as well. Granting forgiveness implies that the sinner wants forgiveness. To desire forgiveness require a change of heart regarding the offense. The sinner must call their actions sin. That is the first step in receiving forgiveness.
Stuart
God was not pleased with the historical rebellion of the people of Judah. For generation they had been walking away from God. Little by little they substituted man-made rules for divine revelation. So God sent Babylon to punish Judah. But God did not send Edom to execute his judgment on Judah. So when the people of Edom took advantage of Judah's exposure they followed Judah's pattern of substituting their standards for God's. In verses 10 through14 God list nine transgressions that Edom committed against the people of Judah. Sins that not only violated God's law but human sensibilities; which are a reflection of God's nature. Edom's judgment was earned by their actions of selfish rebellion.
Stuart
Unless David is speaking of himself in the third person the opening line of this psalm appears to have been written by David before king Saul turned from following God. Yet David received an unusual promise from God; to be a priest in the manner of Melchizedek (vs 4). The full meaning of that promise is not evident in scriptures until the Hebrew writer explained it. God always works out hIs plans on his time table.
Stuart
This closing chapter is a sad summary of the final four kings of Judah and the destruction of the temple. The remembrances end with the proclamation of Cyrus for the people of Israel to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. A call for repentance and revival. It is a reminder that God never gives up on his people.
Stuart
Josiah was a wonderfully faithful ruler. He obeyed God’s command and server no other god. Though his rule began when he was 8 years old the good that he did for 31 years out weighted the good of the previous two kings. Yet it is amazing that he completed much of his reform while in ignorance of God’s Word. From the age of 8 to 26 the Bible doesn’t reveal what motivated Josiah’ pious actions. The book of the Law was read to him during the eighteenth year of his reign. When he heard the Law and realized how terribly Judah had sinned he was overwhelmed with sorrow and grief (34:26-27). Did one of the priest tutor Josiah during those early years of his reign? Was he influenced by the writings of Isaiah, or David, or some other prophet? Maybe Zephaniah taught the young king how to follow God. His heart was receptive but how did he learn about the God of Israel instead of lord Baal? What we can see in the life of Josiah is a boy and a man who connected with God and never let go, just like his ancestor king David. He did not hide behind the excuse that he had a terrible example in his father and grandfather. Josiah forsook everything, and everyone, else in order to follow God.
Stuart
David's youth is pretty well unknown, with one exception; he herded sheep for his father much of his youth. The words of this psalm sound like a complaint based upon Saul's condemnation of David. Which was motivated by his insane jealousy and carried out in a ruthless campaign to kill David. Since Peter uses verse 8 to connect David's enemy to Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:20) I wonder if the other attributes of David's enemy were evident in Judas' life? If they were we would find in Judas Iscariot a man consumed with selfish anger. Anger that he poured out on Jesus.
Stuart
This psalm is attributed to king David but there is little evidence as to when he wrote it. David was born after the time of judges. He never knew Israel without a king. But the lines speak of times when foreign raiders were not unknown and political stability was an empty dream. But in the last two verses is a message of hope for God's faithful people. The human help is worthless. It is the godly who will win. Now is a time when our culture seems to be picking up the war cry of the individualistic humanist. Against God's will such plans are meaningless. But what will God's victory look like in our culture? If humiliation of the arrogant is to be the punishment, how far down the establishment ladder will God's punishment fall?
Stuart
The end of Hezekiah's reign and the beginning of Manasseh show the danger of taking ourselves too seriously. And that seems to happen frequently. We get so focused on what we are doing that we forget that God is the one doing all the work. Humiliation can develop a heart of anger or a heart of humility. God always seeks to create in us humility.
Stuart
Stuart
"Then in their trouble they called to the LORD, and he saved them from their distress." Four times through this psalm this phrase is repeated (vss 6, 13, 19, & 28). This followed a description of their circumstances in their exile. In each case God responded to their pleas in ways that satisfied their needs while strengthening their faith. His actions answered their prayers; not only provided delivery but also giving them the opportunity to give God thanks; for his wonderful deeds and his constant love.
Stuart
Both Amaziah and Uzziah fell into the trap that faces every leader; self-sufficiency. Once their confidence was established their sin nature sought more control. They rejected God's authority in their lives and sought their own way in living. Both received humiliatIon from God because of these attitudes.
Stuart
When king Joash turned against God's Law God gave Zechariah the priest a message for all of Judah. He called out the Judah would abandon the practices of the idol worship and return to following God's Law. But the king convinced the people to stone Zechariah in the temple court. As the prophet/priest was knocked down and dying he called out with one loud call,"May the LORD see what you are doing and punish you!" As I read that my mind jumped ahead in the history of Israel to another prophet who charged the leaders of Israel with disobedience; Stephen the Christian servant. His last words were very different for those leaders,"Lord! Do not remember this sin against them!" What a difference Jesus made in the life of a believer.
Stuart
God is indescribable. Not because we lack the desire to describe him but because we lack the ability to do so. He is so much more than we can imagine that our words faIl us. So the psalmist asks those two questions in verse 2; can anyone recount all of God's deeds or offer "enough" praise? The answers will always be No.
Stuart
The saying "My enemy's enemy is my ally" seems to be what motivated the rulers of Edom, Moab, and Ammon to join together in a battle against Judah. Yet that alliance was no match for the work of God on their corrupt and rebellious spirits. When the people of faith were approaching the battle line they began to sing of God's greatness. In response God destroyed the alliance among Edom, Moab, and Ammon. I wonder how the fight started? Was it three generals arguing over who would lead the charge? Were some proud warriors bragging about who would gather the most spoils? Regardless of the trigger God turned the sinful pride of the kingdoms' armies into a weapon of self destruction. And through that act of providence God gave Judah a great vIctory.
Stuart
This psalm focuses on all the amazing things God did to build Israel into the nation that entered the promised land. I feel like we focus a lot of attention on the amazing acts of power and miracles that God worked. But we neglect the second part of verse 6: God's judgments. His judgments are always right and they bring forth the truth. HIs judgments also reveal the depths of God's nature; his holy aversion toward sin and his rejection of those who persist in living against him. God's judgments are not flashy but they are eternal.
Stuart
I think that I can related to Jehoshaphat as he dealt with Ahab. The king of Judah was very strong in his convictions but he held them very close to himself, not imposing his faith upon others. As Ahab began to show how little faith he had in God Jehoshaphat should have know not to align himself with the king of Israel. But something kept him from changing his course. When Ahab didn’t invite any prophet who spoke for the true God of Israel Jehoshaphat should have taken notice. When Ahab explained how the LORD’s prophet net spoke good about him, Jehoshaphat should have questioned his own motives. Even when Ahab explained how he was setting up Jehoshaphat as a target the king of Judah should have seen the writing on the wall; God is not pleased with Ahab or those who support him. Even after Micaiah’s words came true concerning Ahab’s death in battle Jehoshaphat failed to see that his alliance with this godless ruler was rebellion toward God. That is what the prophet said to the king in 19:1-3. Which is the same truth that James explains in his letter (4:4): “You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”
Stuart
Of Rehoboam's many sons he chose Abijah to succeed him as king. From the outside Abijah seemed to resemble his father in many ways. He had 14 wives and numerous sons and daughters. The writer of 1 Kings also groups with Rehobam in rebellion. But when he met Jeroboam's army in battle Abijah relied on God was saw a great victory. We may question his faithfulness because he only ruled Judah for three years. Why would God allow such a good king such a short reign? The cause of his death is not mentioned, but his legacy of faith, no matter how brief, had a positive impact on his son Asa when he began to rule.
Stuart
King Rehoboam rallied what remained of Solomon's army; the rebellion must be stopped. He ignored his arrogant answer to the people. He assumed that they would follow him because he was God's chosen king, just like Solomon. Rehoboam mounted his horse to lead the battle charge and saw a single man in front of him; the prophet Shemaiah. With hope in his heart he might have thought that God had given the prophet a message of blessing for the battle that would soon begin. But Shemaiah's words were just the opposite from what the foolish king had expected. "Go home!" Shemaiah said to the army, God's will was completed in the division of Israel. The king must have swallowed hard. This was quite a bitter pill to swallow. His dreams of following in his father's steps were dashed to the ground. There would be no joy in Rehoboam's reign. I wonder if this moment created a bitterness in the king that soured him on serving God faithfully like David did?
Stuart
How can we understand God's love? The height of the sky above the earth is a picture of the difference between our understand to God's. He is able to separate our sins from our account as the east is separate from the west. But those are just the beginnings of the pictures of his love. A love that he freely and abundantly pours out on us.
Stuart
Twice in this passage God interrupted the prescribed rituals of worship in the newly dedicated temple.
5:14 - the cloud of God's glory kept the priests from continuing their ministry of worship.
7:2 - the dazzling light kept the priests from entering the temple.
Through the guidance of the Law Israel was learning the principles of what God required from those who seek to follow him. Because of his greatness he deserves the best of our attitudes, the finest of our "harvests", and the choice of our time. But I think in these passages God paused in receiving what Israel had done and was doing in order that he could give back to his faithful people. I believe God stopped the planned activities so that all present would know that God was pleased with their efforts.
Stuart
