Prayer – Page 6 – Pot of Manna

Rebuilding with Nehemiah, Chapter 6, Day 1

Monday

Text: 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages[a] on the plain of Ono.”
But they were scheming to harm me; (Nehemiah 6:2, NIV)

Teach: On the surface this could be seen as an opportunity to mend the relationship between disagreeing factions. It could be a pleasant offer from one leader to another of a brief and refreshing break from exhausting physical labor and the stresses of leading people. But it wasn’t.

Take: Jesus warned his followers that they needed to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves (see Matthew 10:16). We are to be discerning so we will not be deceived. Nehemiah stayed on top of the schemes that would come his way by keep the communication lines open between himself and God.

Task: Satan doesn’t come to us in his ugliness. He knows our weakest points, our triggers, the ways he can wiggle into our thoughts. Our job is to be ready. Let’s make extra effort this week to be mindful of the times and ways of Satan’s attacks. Consider and commit to ways to God’s means of protection. God will keep you from all harm.

Rebuilding with Nehemiah, Chapter 5, Day 6

Saturday: Nehemiah, The Sharing Leader

Text: Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. 18 Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people. (Nehemiah 5:17-18, NIV)

Teach: The world is looking for leaders with the integrity to live what they believe. It would have been easy for Nehemiah to tell others what to do, after all, he was the governor. He came with the endorsement of the king. All too often we see that power results in corruption. Nehemiah was different. He was the kind of leader who set the example. He asks no more of his people than he was willing to give.

Take: Timothy was a young pastor of an influential church. It would have been easy to be intimidated. Paul encouraged his young friend by reminding him: Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. (1 Timothy 4:12) In essence, don’t be swayed, be the example.

Task: Paul was aware of the pressure to conform to the world. He told the Romans that they weren’t to let the world squeeze them into its mold, but instead be transformed by the renewing of their minds (see Romans 12:1). Seek God’s guidance to be the kind of believer who sets the example of godliness.

Rebuilding with Nehemiah, Chapter 5, Day 5

Friday: Keeping Our Promise

Text: At this the whole assembly said, “Amen,” and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised. (Nehemiah 5:13b, NIV)

Teach: It is one thing to promise, but it means nothing without follow through. Nehemiah chastised the people for their behavior. It could have easily become a divisive matter. Instead this confrontation turned into a worship service. They agreed and broke into praise.

Take: Jesus reminded his followers of the former teaching that required the keeping of one’s vows. He was referring to Numbers 30:2, “When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.” Whether we keep our vows or not speaks to our integrity and our relationship with God.

Task: Jesus, and later his brother James, remind us that we need to let our yes be yes, and our no be no. Vows and promises are powerful things. Do not be hasty to make a vow or promise that you will not be able to keep. Consider some of the promises you have made and how God helps you keep them. Give thanks for his strengthening power that makes you able.

Rebuilding with Nehemiah, Chapter 5, Day 4

Thursday: Accepting Responsibility

Text: 11 Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the interest you are charging them—one percent of the money, grain, new wine and olive oil.”
12 “We will give it back,” they said. “And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.” (Nehemiah 5:11-12, NIV)

Teach: Nehemiah was a man of action. He required that the lenders stop charging interest and return a portion of what was taken. This was major. Nehemiah didn’t just shame them for their actions, he called them to make things right. It wouldn’t solve all their problems, but it was a huge step in the right direction.

Take: We live in a time when very few people accept responsibility for their actions. We blame everyone else. The reaction of the people to comply with Nehemiah’s instruction was commendable and an excellent example for us today.

Task: Accepting responsibility when we’re wrong can cost us—just as it did the lenders in Nehemiah’s day. Ask God to help you bring what you do in line with what you believe even when the cost is great.

Rebuilding with Nehemiah, Chapter 5, Day 3

Wednesday: Walking Without Fear or Reproach

Text: So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? (Nehemiah 5:9, NIV)

Teach: What were they doing? While it was not illegal or wrong to loan money, charging excessive usury or interest is. It is wrong to gain financially of someone’s need.

Take: Nehemiah was concerned not only with the negative effects of the unfair loan practices were having on the people, but also with the impact their actions was having on those outside watching.

Task: Jesus told his followers they were salt and light and how they lived would either draw people to God or drive them away. As you reflect on the text today, ask God to reveal whether your witness is a light that leads others to him.

Rebuilding with Nehemiah, Chapter 5, Day 2

Tuesday: What To Do With Anger

Text: When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. 7 I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, “You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large meeting to deal with them. (Nehemiah 5: 6-7, NIV)

Teach: It isn’t wrong to get angry. Jesus saw what was going on in the Temple and in the gospels we find him overturning the money changers tables and kicking everybody out. Paul warns the Ephesians that they are to be angry but not give into sin (Eph. 5:26). Anger at injustice that moves us to action demonstrates our love for God.

Take: Some translations say that Nehemiah “consulted himself.” As he pondered what was going on and how that made him feel and what he needed to do about it, Nehemiah put his head and heart together and sought God’s solutions to the situation.

Task: Have you been moved by injustice around you? Have you pondered what God would have you do? The building of the wall didn’t create the problems as much as it revealed them. What has God been revealing to you?

Rebuilding with Nehemiah, Chapter 4, Day 7

Sunday: Lines of Communication

Text: 18 All the builders had a sword belted to their side. The trumpeter stayed with me to sound the alarm.
19 Then I explained to the nobles and officials and all the people, “The work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!” (Nehemiah 4:18-20, NLT)

Nehemiah knew the importance of prayer, of remembering, and of being ready. But all those things can be done by individuals.

Today’s word reminds us that we are in this together.

We understand Nehemiah’s concern that we, like the workers on the wall, are widely separated from each other. We live in a time when the opportunities for connection abound, but we have never been more alone.

Just as the people needed to listen for the blast of the trumpet, we need to listen and come together.

We were created for relationship, with God and others. From one end of the Bible to the other we read that we are to be devoted to one another, and care for one another. The writer of Hebrews even admonishes the believers to not give up meeting together as some were in the habit of doing (see Hebrews 10:25).

We need to take advantage of the opportunities to worship and play, fellowship and study together, so that we will also be ready to do battle for and with one another.

Rebuilding with Nehemiah: Chapter 4, Day 4

Thursday: Prayer and Preparation

Text: 9 But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves. (Nehemiah 4:9, NLT)

They prayed and kept on working.

Prayer does not negate our participation.

No one got up from prayer and said, “Okay, catch you guys later. This one’s on God and I’m going home until he comes through.”

Nope. They prayed and then they guarded the city, day and night.

This is what it means to pray without ceasing, and to join God where he’s working.

Put hands and feet to your prayers. Trust God and keep working.

Nehemiah Devotions Chapter 4, Day 3

Wednesday: Enthusiastic Workers
Text: 6 At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm. (Nehemiah 4:6, NLT)

Nehemiah prayed and the people worked and the wall was progressing.

What was it that changed?

It certainly wasn’t Sanballat and his cronies.

And it wasn’t God.

I remember learning early on in my faith journey that prayer changes the one who prays.

So what did Nehemiah’s prayer accomplish?

The people who were being beaten down by Sanballat’s ridicule and mocking found the courage to get the task done. They learned that God was still in control, that he had a plan, and summoned up the enthusiasm and energy needed to finish the wall.

Feeling a little short on enthusiasm, courage, and energy? Take God at his word and you’ll find what you need to accomplish what he needs you to do.

Nehemiah Devotions Chapter 4, Day 2

Tuesday: Nehemiah’s Prayer
Text: 4 Then I prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! 5 Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of the builders.” (Nehemiah 3:4-5, NLT)

Is it just me, or does this seem like a pretty harsh prayer?

We’re not used to praying like this. We’re used to being more politically correct, nice, and benevolent.

It might be helpful for us to realize that the type of prayer we have here is similar to the imprecatory psalms. These psalms vigorously call for the judgment of the enemies of God.

Nehemiah’s major concern is the honor and glory of God and the vindication of his people.

You can find other examples of this type of prayer in Psalms 5, 10, 17, 35, 58, 59, 69, 70, 79, 83, 109, 129, 137, 140.

When I consider the vigorous nature of Nehemiah’s prayers, I wonder how intense my prayers are towards those who dishonor God and wound his people.

PRAYER: O God, move me and motivate me to deeper concern and prayer. Amen.