What Are the Signs? - Pt 4

 

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.” Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail. (Revelation 11:15–19 ESV).

 

The third sign is the environmental crisis. On May 13, 2021, the world’s largest iceberg was formed when it broke off the Ronne Ice Shelf in Antarctica. “A-76,” as it was named, is a whopping 1,670 square miles. To give you some comparison it is nearly the size of Delaware, larger than the state of Rhode Island, and over 70 times larger than Manhattan Island.

 

No doubt, the earth is changing. While science attributes the environmental crisis to such factors as global warming, loss of biodiversity, or pollution, the Bible explains the root of the problem as another sign of the end. In his vision of the final judgment, the prophet Isaiah recorded, “The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell in it are desolate” (Isaiah 24:5, 6). Furthermore, in his vision of the end times, the apostle John heard proclaimed from heaven that God would “destroy those who destroy the earth” (Revelation 11:18). The earth is breaking down because humanity has persistently broken God’s law. There may well come a day when the devil will twist this reasoning to convince the majority of the globe to follow a counterfeit law of God.

 

In 2015, Pope Francis published his second encyclical, entitled Laudato si’, widely considered to be the pontiff’s opus on environmental protection. The issue has, in fact, been called the “cornerstone of his pontificate.” Francis has been instrumental in propelling climate change into a global movement, largely in his efforts to unite church and state under its banner. At no other time in Earth’s history has a church been so impassioned about environmentalism.

 

Though we are not given license to treat our planet like trash, there is danger in making environmentalism your gospel. The fact of the matter is that we cannot save the world with solar panels, wind turbines, or hybrid cars. “The day of the Lord [the Second Coming] will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). It is Christ who saves the world. Ultimately, the Savior will “create new heavens and a new earth” (Isaiah 65:17), restoring the earth to perfection. That time may be much sooner than many realize!

 

What Are the Signs? - Pt. 3

 

[Jesus said] “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:6–14 ESV).

 

The second sign of the End of the Age is the spread of the Gospel throughout the world. In 2014, in what I believe to have been an incredible miracle from God, Amazing Facts became one of the only Christian ministries given permission to hold a full public evangelistic series in China since 1949, when missionaries were expelled. At 1.4 billion, the communist country has the world’s largest population. At the end of the meetings, hundreds were baptized to the glory of God and DVDs of the meetings began to proliferate around the country.

 

And it’s not just Amazing Facts; missionary-minded ministries everywhere have taken up the great commission. This is also true in other parts of the world. South America is seeing a great resurgence in evangelism; the 10/40 Window, which holds two-thirds of the world’s population, is also seeing a great response to the Gospel; and, colleges and universities in the United States are seeing hundreds of students respond to the gospel.

 

Interestingly enough, this sign of the end has been contingent upon another: the rise of technology. There are those whose only opportunity to learn about the gospel comes from a website. Satellites can now beam the light of God’s truths into individual homes. Through the internet, television, satellite, radio, publishing, and word of mouth, the message is reaching into virtually every corner of the globe.

 

This is actually a sign that triggers the Second Coming. The Bible tells us that when every living person has had the opportunity to hear the gospel, when “this gospel of the kingdom [is] preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, … then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

 

What Are the Signs? - Pt 2

 

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. [6] For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. (2 Timothy 3:1–9 ESV).

 

The first sign of the End of the Age is the rise of technology. Do you realize that radio, television, computers, and the internet were all developed in the 20th century? In only a century and a half, we’ve gone from the invention of the telephone to having a smartphone in the palms of 83 percent of the global population. Some of you are old enough to remember the first televisions. I certainly am. It was a big event when my dad brought home our first TV. It was similar to the one pictured here. They were more of a cabinet than a screen. We connected the input to portable antennas called “rabbit ears” because of their shape. We were fortunate enough to live close enough to Houston which gave us a choice of three different channels, if we were able to get the antenna positioned just right! That technology has certainly come a long way in the last 75 years!

 

Or take the travel industry. For six thousand years, the fastest mode of public transportation was a horse. Today, travelers can jet around the world in mere days. In a matter of decades, the world saw the invention of the commercial railway, the mass-produced automobile, and commercial aircraft. Private citizens have even flown into space!

 

And it’s not just physical ease; information is readily accessible at our fingertips. “Google” is a verb in the dictionary. The dawn of technology resulted in the consumer getting what he wanted when he wanted it; it normalized instant gratification. And it’s showing no signs of stopping. Now the public is careening down the black holes of virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrency.

 

The important question is whether you using the technology, or is the technology using you? Do we see in this sign an indication of Paul’s description of those living in the last days: “men … without self-control” (vv. 2-3), “led away by various lusts” (v. 6)? We also see the prophecy of these things 2,500 years ago: “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” during “the time of the end” (Daniel 12:4). Don’t be lulled to sleep by the truth that there has been a rise in technology before. After all, the Renaissance (c. 14th–17th century) was a fervent period of European cultural, artistic, political, and scientific "rebirth" following the Middle Ages. Originating in Italy and spreading across Europe, it emphasized humanism, classical learning, and innovation in art, science, and literature, transitioning society toward modern times.

 

Our call is to recognize that Jesus’ return is imminent. This must lead us to preparation and ministry.

 

What Are the Signs? - Pt. 1

 

Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” (Matthew 24:1-8 ESV).

 

On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens, an active volcano in the state of Washington, erupted, taking the lives of a record-breaking 57 people. One of the more tragic accounts tells of one Harry R. Truman (no relation to the former president), who notoriously refused to evacuate his nearby home, instead stubbornly dismissing the many ominous warning signs. In April of 1980, the 83-year-old had made clear to family members, reporters, and even local law enforcement that he was staying put at his Mount St. Helens Lodge on Spirit Lake, despite the volcanic eruption that was expected to come. Truman was last seen at about 6 p.m. on May 17 at his lodge, “just riding her out.” The mountain erupted the next day, northward toward his longtime home.

 

Lest we make the same mistake as Harry R. Truman, the Lord has gifted us with His prophetic Word. In the last days of Jesus’ life on the earth, His disciples asked, “What will be the sign of Your coming?” (v. 3). Jesus then proceeded to list those signs that would herald His return at “the end of the age.” We will look at each of these in the coming days, though I would caution you to realize that no one can “name the date.” I won’t attempt that; however, we can test the times and understand the importance of being ready. Truman refused to believe that the mountain he loved could destroy him and all he loved. Yet, in his disregard for the warnings, it did just that. Later in the chapter from which our reading is taken, Jesus said:

 

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (Matthew 24:36–44 ESV).

 

Let’s be ready, equipped with the wisdom and knowledge the Scripture gives us!

 

The Feast of Trumpets

 

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work, and you shall present a food offering to the LORD.” (Leviticus 23:23–25 ESV).

 

I hope you have enjoyed Ezra and Nehemiah. Today I will begin to examine some of the passages that determine our theology surrounding the end of time and the final coming of Jesus. It may seem a bit strange to begin with our reading today which is from Leviticus. That is certainly not one of the “go-to” writings for most people; however, this passage describes the establishment of the Feast of Trumpets. The Feast of Trumpets, known as Rosh Hashanah, holds deep significance in both Jewish and Christian traditions. It’s a time of remembrance and prophetic expectation.

 

As believers in Jesus, we know there is more to this feast than recalling ancient events. The Feast of Trumpets points prophetically to the return of Jesus. Matthew writes: “He [Jesus] will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather His elect” (Matthew 24:31).  The trumpet sound that once echoed from Sinai will resound again, this time announcing the coming of the Messiah. This becomes a time when we not only remember what God did for Israel, but we also look forward to what He will do for all believers. The Apostle Paul wrote, “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). The Feast of Trumpets was designed to reawaken God’s people to the beauty of his presence among them.

 

The Feast of Trumpets occurred toward the end of the agricultural year. For months the people labored under a hot sun to grow food—tilling, planting, pruning, and finally harvesting. But through long days, heavy demands, and the uncertainties of their daily work, it could be easy to lose sight of the God who had come to live among his people. The Feast of Trumpets marked the beginning of the religious year. On this first day of a new year, trumpets blasted throughout the community of God’s people, announcing the nearness of God. The unmistakable sound of the ram’s horn called Israel to revival and renewal.

 

One day we too will hear the unmistakable sound of a trumpet, announcing that Jesus is returning to make his kingdom complete! Amid the busyness of our work, our schooling, or the worries and cares of this world, we can lose sight of the certainty of Jesus’ return. But we are called to be ready for that day! Let us live each day eagerly awaiting and preparing for the clear, triumphant note of the Lord’s trumpet call.

 

As we look at some of the passages that deal with the Second Coming, my hope and prayer is that you will be strengthened in these difficult days by the knowledge that the trumpet will sound for the last time and Jesus will come to make all things right. I am convinced we are closer to that moment than many would acknowledge. Take comfort in knowing He will return!

 

God Remembers Us

 

[Nehemiah said] I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each to his field. So I confronted the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their stations. Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses. And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and as their assistant Hanan the son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, for they were considered reliable, and their duty was to distribute to their brothers. Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service. (Nehemiah 13:10–14 ESV).

 

There’s an old nursery rhyme about “an old woman who lived in a shoe” and who “had so many children, she didn’t know what to do.” I think Nehemiah might have felt like her. He had so many people to watch. When one group was doing well, another was behaving badly. He kept going to his knees and asking God to remember him.

 

Nehemiah was putting out fires all over Jerusalem. Each time he dealt with a new situation, he worked to make it better, and he prayed something like “Remember me for this, my God.” He could not stop people from sinning, but he could bring them before the Lord in prayer. Prayer is the only solution for many of the world’s problems.

 

By sending Jesus, who fulfilled the Old Testament law perfectly for all who believe in him, God showed that he kept his promise to make Israel a blessing to all other nations. Believing in Jesus, we can be assured that God forgives us for Jesus’ sake, crediting us with his righteousness (cf. Romans 3). That’s all we have when we think about it. So, we pray continually for his help, that in his strength we may honor God in all we do.

 

When we pray, we know that God controls the world, loves us, and promises to work in and through us. We trust that God will bring glory out of terrible situations, because he alone can do it. Daily, then, let’s remember the one true God, who holds the whole world in his hands and saves us!

 

Living in Jerusalem

 

Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine out of ten remained in the other towns. And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem. These are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the towns of Judah everyone lived on his property in their towns: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon’s servants. And in Jerusalem lived certain of the sons of Judah and of the sons of Benjamin. Of the sons of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez; and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, son of Colhozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, son of the Shilonite. All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 valiant men. (Nehemiah 11:1–6 ESV).

 

What do Fremont, California, Overland Park, Kansas, Irvine, California, Plano, Texas, and Seattle Washington, all have in common. According to Forbes Magazine, these cities were ranked the best place to raise a family in the U.S. in their 2024 report, citing strong economics, high family income, low poverty, and excellent education/health metrics. For the Jews, Jerusalem was the best place to live. There was no better location for a formerly exiled people to rebuild their lives than to take up residence near the house of God. Jerusalem is still one of my favorite places in the world, though I’ve never lived there and only visited on occasion.

 

Our reading today gives us the story of how Nehemiah would allot land to each of the Jews who returned to Judah from exile. Only one family out of ten could live in Jerusalem. The goal was to live, work, and worship God’s way. Each of the family lines populated Jerusalem with the kind of people who centered everything on being God’s witnesses to the surrounding nations.

 

To live in Jerusalem was a great honor, but also a challenge. The people chosen were honored to lead the kind of life that brought glory to the Lord. They would treat each other with justice. They would regularly engage in sincere worship. But it would be a challenge to be faithful and not cut corners in work and worship. Still, Jerusalem’s residents accepted the honor and challenge to make God’s city the best place to live.

 

We should examine how we attract people for God. We must take to heart Paul’s words: “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). The best place to live is in the will of our only Savior, Jesus.

 

Walking with God

 

Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads. And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the LORD their God. (Nehemiah 9:1–3 ESV).

 

Our reading today describes a solemn day of national assembly for the Israelites as they sought spiritual renewal following the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. Eugene Peterson writes in his book Answering God, “God works with words. He uses them to make a story of salvation. He pulls us into the story. When we believe, we become willing participants in the plot… We can do this recklessly or robustly, throwing ourselves into relationships and actions. When we do this, we pray.”

 

Israel got pulled into the story of reconciliation by confessing their sins through prayer. But they had to prepare themselves to enter God’s arena. First, Israel prepared an atmosphere of reconciliation. They gathered before the Lord, knowing that they and their ancestors had all blown it. Then they fasted, pushing out sinful desires and creating space for God. Next, they remembered their holy identity and separated themselves from the practices of other nations. And they told God their story of sins through prayer. There was a cycle of reading the Law, confessing their sins, and worship.

 

In their prayers, they gave honor and praise to God alone. They remembered that salvation was God’s idea, not theirs. Their prayers returned them to the story of God, who kept his promise to make something out of them despite their sins.

 

Jesus is God’s idea too. We are invited into a story we did not write. Jesus wrote us into the book of life by his great love for us, ushering us into the big story of God’s mercy and grace. That’s the story you and I get to tell!

 

Making a List and Checking It Twice

 

Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written in it: These were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his town. They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. (Nehemiah 7:5-7 ESV).

 

I know you are familiar with the phrase "Making a list and checking it twice." It refers to the classic Christmas song lyrics from "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town," where Santa keeps track of who's been "naughty or nice." However, it's also a common idiom for careful planning or double-checking tasks, reflecting a diligent, organized approach, often associated with Christmas preparation or general thoroughness. I must confess that I am such a list maker. I don’t make lists of people as much as I incessantly make lists of things to do. And I change my list only as absolutely necessary for convenience or accuracy.

 

But God is a God of accuracy. Nehemiah made a big deal about names and numbers. As the exiled people of God transformed from an unsettled people to a restored people, names and numbers were important. God cared about every family and each person’s life. There were lives and stories behind every name and number. No one is invisible in God’s family. The priests mattered because they helped with and conducted worship for the people. The singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants assisted the priests and Levites. In order to fill the city of God with right living and worship, Nehemiah needed to get the rules and numbers right. God cares deeply about every detail of his salvation plan.

 

Jesus cared about getting the details of salvation right. He healed a blind man and told him to go visit the local priest. He cleared the temple from being a place of commercial business that crowded out prayer. He submitted himself to death on a cross because it was the only way to redeem sinful humankind.

 

This ought to help us the next time we are tempted to cut corners in our walk with God. We ought to think about the details, because they matter to him.

 

A Person of Integrity

 

Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many. And I said to them, “Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their guard posts and some in front of their own homes.” The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt. (Nehemiah 7:1–4 ESV).

 

A person of integrity is someone who is honest, trustworthy, and acts with strong, consistent moral principles, doing the right thing even when difficult or unobserved, thereby building trust and respect through their ethical behavior, accountability, and authenticity. They align their actions with their values, demonstrating qualities like fairness, responsibility, and courage in all situations. We certainly don’t live in a culture that values such behavior. Regardless of your political leanings, surely you will agree that most news media do not merely report on events; the commentary is littered with opinion and information designed to sway those who read/listen to their beliefs. Often, the truth is lost somewhere in the oratory. Many of those in leadership, political and religious have been accused of various behaviors, often criminal in nature, further eroding a sense of trust.

 

Our reading today helps us to determine what real integrity ought to look like. Nehemiah knew some people that he could trust to do the right thing. He had observed Hananiah, for example, in his work as commander of the citadel. Nehemiah had seen Hananiah’s spiritual life in action, giving evidence of godly, discerning leadership and a heart willing to serve the Lord. Hananiah “feared God more than most people do.” In other words, his everyday life showed great respect for God as his King. He accepted that he was small and God was sovereign over his life. That’s what integrity looks like.

 

Jesus is our model of integrity. His life matched his character and being. Maybe that’s why people gathered around him; he was different from the teachers of the law and other religious leaders. Jesus was who he was, inside and out. Integrity, for Jesus, was to show what God was like—truth and grace wrapped into a human package.

 

Jesus wants us to be people of integrity. Commit yourself to being a person whose inner life is one of patience, goodness, and self-control that flow outward into deeds and words that bless others. Ask Jesus to fill your life with his holy character.

 

Sunsets and Endings

 

So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God. (Nehemiah 6:15–16 ESV).

 

Several years ago, while driving through Cade’s Cove Loop in the Smoky Mountains, Mary and I stopped to watch the sunset before exiting. We had spent the afternoon riding the loop, looking at the cabins and churches, walking a bit on some easy trails, and enjoying seeing all the wildlife. The picture I’ve attached is looking over a field where we had already seen several deer cross and I thought “what a great way to end the day!” Sunsets are God’s way of reminding us that a part of our journey is ending. Whether the day was filled with simple tasks and projects or hard experiences and circumstances, it has come to an end.

 

It’s a great feeling to finish a long and difficult project. Imagine how it felt for Nehemiah and the Jews to have completed their building project. They had worked under threats of attack and delays, under a cloud of tension day and night. Finally, after fifty-two days of nearly constant work, the wall of Jerusalem was finished. However, they knew their journey was not finished. Tensions with their enemies continued.

 

Nehemiah knew that opposition would not stop just because the work was finished. When the final touches around the doors and gates were complete, Israel’s enemies “were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of [Israel’s] God.” As a result, threats from their enemies kept coming. The people had to remember why they began the rebuilding in the first place—God had called them to be his people and to be a light for the other nations. Their enemies could not defeat God, but they would surely keep trying.

 

We should let every sunset remind us of this great truth: while the day may be ending, we have not finished. God has called you and will always be with you. Even if people are not celebrating God’s work in your life, you have a Savior who is always for you, not against you. You can trust him!

 

DEFCON 1

 

Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.” But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.” And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me. Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid. (Nehemiah 6:10–14 ESV).

 

DEFCON (Defense Readiness Condition) is the U.S. military's alert system with five levels (5 being lowest, 1 being highest threat) for national security, signaling readiness for conflict. The system, developed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ensures standardized communication of readiness, though the specific level is kept secret for security reasons. If we take this scale and apply it to the circumstances Nehemiah was facing in our reading today, he would have been at DEFCON 1. This was not because of a physical threat. It was more insidious than that. His enemies had gone to great lengths to discredit and tarnish Nehemiah’s reputation.

 

Nehemiah knew when people were trying to trick him. His enemies tried again and again to stop the work of rebuilding God’s city. They even sent Nehemiah a false message about a rumor of revolt against the king, hoping he would fall for it. But Nehemiah was aware of their plot and wouldn’t take the bait. So, the enemies tried a different tactic. They hired a prophet to try to trick him. But he prayed that the Lord would strengthen his hands and sharpen his mind, and he was able to resist. He said, “I realized that God had not sent [this prophet], but that … he had been hired to intimidate me.”

 

Jesus taught his disciples that he would be sending them out like sheep among wolves. He warned them to be “as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves”; he said, “Be on your guard” (Matthew 10:16-17). We also are called to be on high alert with people who wish to deter us from keeping our focus on serving God. In a world such as we live in today, we are certainly at DEFCON 1… stay alert!

 

Restoring Hope

 

I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, “You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” And I held a great assembly against them and said to them, “We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!” They were silent and could not find a word to say. So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies? Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest. Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.” Then they said, “We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say.” And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised. I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said “Amen” and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised. (Nehemiah 5:6–13 ESV).

 

In our reading today we find a very important message for our current culture. The entire chapter tells the story of how people were struggling to make ends meet and that many of their fellow Jews were taking advantage of them. It is important to note that Nehemiah was not silent. He addressed this matter of injustice with grace and firmness.

 

First, Nehemiah took seriously the cries of injustice. Rich nobles and officials were mistreating many of their poorer brothers and sisters, charging interest on debts and even selling their children into slavery for payment. Nehemiah heard their cries for justice.

 

Second, Nehemiah acted. Justice must be addressed with appropriate remedies. Nehemiah gathered the nobles and officials and pointed out that they were not acting in a God-fearing manner. Nehemiah told them to give back the fields and houses—and the interest they had charged. The rich nobles and officials took Nehemiah’s words to heart. They responded by giving back what had been taken from the poor people who cried out. Justice is an important value to God. Jesus came to bring justice into the world, and he calls us to follow his example. We are to work toward justice where it is in short supply. We must call people back to the will and purpose of God. That restores hope!

 

When Circumstances Are Tense

 

In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.” And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.” So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes. When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah. (Nehemiah 4:10-16 ESV).

 

Israel’s opponents mounted a fierce campaign against them. Sanballat and his friends tried to bully God’s people to stop the work of rebuilding. They ridiculed the people and threatened violence. And the people reacted in a very normal way. Their emotional strength began to falter. Tension began to rise as exhaustion set in and the fear of attack surfaced. Nehemiah handled this situation in a way that is a wonderful lesson for us when we find ourselves in circumstances that are tense.

 

With their enemies breathing down their necks, Nehemiah encouraged the people to keep up the work. He prayed for God’s protection. With hands lifted to heaven, he prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads.” In addition to prayer, he stationed people as guards. If an attack was evident, they were ready to fight. Nehemiah’s words and wisdom provided solace and strength to the people. He spoke into the tension by saying, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

 

Tension is a gift if we seize it as an opportunity to strengthen our faith in the Lord, who is strong and mighty. Jesus never ran away from tension. He embraced it as a gift that can be used to become courageous in the midst of fear. We don’t seek out tension, but it may be a gift we really need.

 

Being Next To...

 

Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel. And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built. (Nehemiah 3:1-2 ESV).

 

Our reading today is merely the first two verses of the third chapter in Nehemiah’s recounting of the rebuilding of the city walls, gates and the temple. I encourage you to read the entirety of the chapter, though for our purposes today these two verses are sufficient. You will notice there are many names in the chapter; and, to those unfamiliar with the Hebrew language, very difficult to pronounce. Because of that we tend to skip over these portions of Scripture. However, that’s a mistake. To Nehemiah, they were real people, with families and stories. The people who worked on the gates and walls mattered to God, and God mattered to them. They worked, prayed, worshiped, laughed, and cried next to each other.

 

The words “next to” are crucial. God takes seriously our capacity to serve together as a community in doing his work. This picture I’ve attached is from a mission trip in East Tennessee with other men from Maury Baptist Association when we deployed a team of men to repair/reconstruct a family’s roof. I did spend a great deal of time on the roof tearing off the old roof and replacing it with new tin panels, though in this picture you can see me “supervising” in the lower left of the photo. I was privileged to accompany these men on many such trips. It was essential that we work together. That is the concept of being “next to” in our reading today.

 

Nobody worked alone, trying to control the project. The repairs were made by people working side by side. Their love and care for each other must have caught the eye of people watching them. Their diversity worked in unity. That’s community development at its best. The apostle Paul knew the story of Nehemiah well. He wrote to explain to a newly formed group of Jesus followers, “A body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body” (1 Corinthians 12:12). When we work together in any of the many ministries of the church we show the unity of Christ. When we serve next to each other in a spirit of unity and grace, Jesus becomes contagious and winsome. It’s the church’s message that Christ is real in us. This brings success and victory!

 

The King's Cupbearer

 

In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid. I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.” And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time. And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me. (Nehemiah 2:1–8 ESV).

 

Remember from our reading yesterday that Nehemiah was a cupbearer to the king (cf. Nehemiah 1:11). This meant he was a high-ranking, trusted royal official in ancient courts, responsible for serving the king's drinks, tasting them first to guard against poison, and often becoming a confidant and influential advisor due to their constant proximity to the monarch. This role, exemplified by figures like Nehemiah in the Bible, demanded absolute loyalty, as it involved risking one's life and privy to state secrets, making it a position of significant power, not just menial service. 

 

As the king’s cupbearer, Nehemiah had a relationship with Artaxerxes that was built on trust. Nehemiah sensed that the Lord had called him to help his people. So he asked the king for permission to rebuild the ruins of Jerusalem. Then, with help from the king and building resources provided, he set out to do this God-honoring work.

 

Now, when we have determined, through discernment and prayer, to do the will of God, we can expect opposition. That soon happened to Nehemiah. Sanballat and Tobiah wanted to stop the rebuilding project. “They were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.” Notice that God doesn’t “wave a magic wand” to relieve the struggle. He just keeps working through kings, people, and circumstances. And Nehemiah trusts God to bring success. Despite the opposition, he knows the Lord is with him.

 

The Lord Jesus has called you and I to rebuild the broken places of our world. We can expect that our work will face trials and setbacks from people opposed to God’s plans. But be assured that the Holy Spirit is working on our behalf. “He who began a good work in [us] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). God is working through us. Let us rebuild the broken walls of society and bring glory to Jesus’ name.

 

Nehemiah

 

[Nehemiah wrote] As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king. (Nehemiah 1:4–11 ESV).

 

During the rest of this month we will study the book of Nehemiah, who became a community developer for God in Jerusalem. Before that, however, Nehemiah served as “cupbearer to the king” in Susa, one of the capital cities of Persia. He had to sample the king’s wine (and other foods) to protect the king from being poisoned by enemies. When some of Nehemiah’s people (the Jews) came to report about the troubles in Jerusalem, God called Nehemiah to a new job.

 

Nehemiah was an organizer. He knew how to pull teams together. He was knowledgeable about woods, metals, and surveying. But he didn’t begin by raising money or gathering workers; his work began with prayer. “LORD, the God of heaven … let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying.” Nehemiah realized his plans would be futile if the Lord wasn’t at the center of them from the start.

 

In the New Testament, Jesus spent hours in prayer before choosing his disciples. He spent much time with the Father before going to the cross. He taught his disciples how to pray. The renewing work of God begins on our knees—not with a tape measure or a smart phone. Is the Lord asking you to come to him in prayer before you begin work today? Renewal starts in our hearts before God.

 

The Blame Game

 

While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly. And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, addressed Ezra: “We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this. Therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the Law. Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it.” Then Ezra arose and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel take an oath that they would do as had been said. So they took the oath. (Ezra 10:1–5 ESV).

 

The "blame game" is a destructive cycle where individuals or groups point fingers and shift responsibility for mistakes or failures, avoiding accountability by refusing to admit their own role and instead blaming others or external factors to protect themselves from negative consequences, often leading to damaged relationships and stalled problem-solving. It's a common pattern in personal relationships, workplaces, and politics, characterized by finger-pointing and mutual recrimination rather than seeking constructive solutions, and it's driven by a fear of consequences and a desire to regain control in chaotic situations. 

 

Healing doesn’t begin until people who have done wrong take responsibility for their actions. The people of God wanted to be healed of their rebellion of intermarrying with other peoples and adopting their gods and detestable practices. Ezra prayed for God’s forgiveness, and the people needed to do their part in the reconciliation process.

 

The people gathered around and wept. They admitted they had rejected God’s command to remain holy. They confessed their sin to Ezra and to God. In the pouring rain, Ezra demanded that the Israelites get right with God. They took measures to confess their sins, separate from the foreign families and practices, and submit to doing God’s will. This was not without great pain. Families were ripped apart. But at this time in Israel’s history it was the way to make things right.

 

When we confess, God forgives us. Then change can begin. If we want change in our personal life, our family, our nation, it must begin with confession of our sin. The Scripture is very clear: “… if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV).

 

The Answer to Discouragement

After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.” As soon as I heard this, I tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled. Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered around me while I sat appalled until the evening sacrifice. And at the evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garment and my cloak torn, and fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God. (Ezra 9:1–5 ESV).

 

Discouragement is common, especially in our present culture. Evil disguises itself as good; lies are more common than truth; and hatred has replaced love. This is something of the context of our reading today. The leaders of Israel approached Ezra with bad news. While building God’s house, Israel was still following their own desires. Everyone was guilty. The leaders and officials led the way in unfaithful living. Discouraged, Ezra likely wanted to walk away after all the hard work he had done. But he chose a better way: He “fell on [his] knees … and prayed.”

 

First, Ezra admitted his sins and the sins of the people. Then he recounted the Lord’s faithfulness and confessed that the people had failed to apply God’s Word to their daily lives as holy people of the Lord. They had mixed with the people around them and accepted their “detestable practices”—that is, the worship of other gods and the immorality that went with it: perverse sexual relations, child sacrifice, occult practices, and more (cf. Leviticus 18-20; Deuteronomy 7:3-4; 18:9-13). Ezra also appealed to God’s character: “Lord, the God of Israel, you are righteous!” Ezra prayed that the Lord would not toss them aside but instead redeem them for his purposes.

 

When we confess our sins, Jesus doesn’t toss us aside or throw us out like trash. He is willing to forgive us and redeem us to live life on his terms and by his Spirit’s power. If you are feeling discouraged or hopeless read 2 Corinthians 4:1-18… this is the truth that will break the chains of helplessness!

  

Last Letters

“And I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers in the province Beyond the River: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, requires of you, let it be done with all diligence, up to 7,500 pounds of silver, 600 bushels of wheat, 600 gallons of wine, 600 gallons of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. Whatever is decreed by the God of heaven, let it be done in full for the house of the God of heaven, lest his wrath be against the realm of the king and his sons. We also notify you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll on anyone of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or other servants of this house of God. And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God. And those who do not know them, you shall teach. Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed on him, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of his goods or for imprisonment.” [Ezra said] Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem, and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the LORD my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.” (Ezra 7:21–28 ESV).

 

Recently I updated what I have called my “last letters.” I have been told I am a bit morbid in my practice of writing these “last letters” to my family. My intention is not to be morbid, but rather to exercise some wisdom in doing all I can to leave my loved ones with no doubt of my love for them. My hope is that it will be an encouragement to each of them. We have regular conversations, but death can come as such a surprise even during a prolonged illness. These are in no way a reflection of anything I’ve done, rather they are words of affirmation of who they are and who God is in their life. They are not an “obituary” but one more conversation to encourage them to live a life full of the joy and grace God desires for them.

 

We see that at times in the Scripture. The last words about the apostle Paul are extraordinary. Acts 28:31 declares, “He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!” Paul knew his authority came straight from Jesus. In a similar way, Ezra was authorized by King Artaxerxes to assess and reestablish the people of Israel according to the law of God. Our reading today describes how God worked through the king to bring God’s people into a new situation to serve him. In exile, the freedom of the Israelites was restricted. But Ezra reported to Israel that their freedom to worship was now wide open. They could renew the kind of worship that reflected how God had saved them, freed them, and thus called for their obedience. King Artaxerxes and Ezra both knew they were God’s instruments. They both carried out their God-given roles for his purposes. The king gave Ezra the full protection of his empire to reaffirm Israel’s identity in the one true God, who rules over the kings of the world.

 

By “the God of heaven,” you are authorized to live an unhindered life of boldness and freedom. You are a letter of God’s grace and mercy! You have the full backing of the Lord, who promises to “be with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28: 20). Live the unhindered life today!