You Are the LORD

1 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. 2 And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. 3 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. 4 On the stairs of the Levites stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani; and they cried with a loud voice to the Lord their God. 5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless the Lord your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

6 “You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you. 7 You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham. 8 You found his heart faithful before you, and made with him the covenant to give to his offspring the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite. And you have kept your promise, for you are righteous.

9 “And you saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea, 10 and performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people of his land, for you knew that they acted arrogantly against our fathers. And you made a name for yourself, as it is to this day. 11 And you divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on dry land, and you cast their pursuers into the depths, as a stone into mighty waters. 12 By a pillar of cloud you led them in the day, and by a pillar of fire in the night to light for them the way in which they should go. 13 You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven and gave them right rules and true laws, good statutes and commandments, 14 and you made known to them your holy Sabbath and commanded them commandments and statutes and a law by Moses your servant. 15 You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger and brought water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and you told them to go in to possess the land that you had sworn to give them. – Nehemiah 9:1-15 ESV

Despite all the festivities, the people remained somber and sorrowful because of their awakened awareness of their sinful state. Ezra’s reading of the Mosaic Law left them without any doubt as to their guilt. They had clearly broken God’s commands and were deserving of His judgment. Those who tried to explain the meaning of the laws to the people tried to manage their sense of shame by stating, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God” (Nehemiah 8:9 NLT). Nehemiah added, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10 NLT).

But just days after celebrating the Feast of Booths when the people gathered together for a second solemn assembly they were in a mournful state.

…the people assembled again, and this time they fasted and dressed in burlap and sprinkled dust on their heads. – Nehemiah 9:1 NLT

Some had taken steps to remedy their problem by separating themselves from their foreign relationships. They now understood that, as God’s chosen people, He had called them to live set-apart lives that would maintain their distinctiveness. But over time, they had compromised their convictions and determined to coexist with the nations around them. Their interactions with non-Jews had left them spiritually contaminated and morally compromised. After hearing God’s law read the people became aware of their complicity in the nation’s many concessions of convenience.

When the LORD your God hands these nations over to you and you conquer them, you must completely destroy them. Make no treaties with them and show them no mercy. You must not intermarry with them. Do not let your daughters and sons marry their sons and daughters, for they will lead your children away from me to worship other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and he will quickly destroy you. – Deuteronomy 7:2-4 NLT

Having purged the foreigners from their midst, the Israelites stood for six hours, listening to the reading of the law and confessing their sins before Yahweh. This six-hour-long ceremony was a worship service in which the people reunited with their God. It was a painful and gut-wrenching experience that exposed the extent of their wickedness but also reminded them of the grace and mercy of God. He took His Law seriously but He was also a covenant-keeping God. The reason they were able to stand inside the recently rebuilt walls of Jerusalem and hear the Mosaic Law being read within earshot of the newly restored Temple was because God had kept His word.  He had fulfilled His promise to end their 70 years of captivity and return them to the Land of Promise.

“You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:10-11 NLT

The walls were intended to provide the people with protection. The Law would be a reminder of God’s moral and ethical code of conduct and their violation of it. The Temple would be a constant source of forgiveness and atonement for the sins they ultimately committed. All of this was God’s doing and the Levites encouraged the people to “Stand up and praise the Lord your God, for he lives from everlasting to everlasting!” (Nehemiah 9:5 NLT).

Over the last few days, the people had experienced a revival, a renewal of their relationship with Yahweh that had produced a strange mixture of emotions. They experienced joy, sorrow, delight, despair, peace, fear, and an overwhelming sense of God’s power and presence. This was a watershed moment in the lives of the people of Judah. They were back in the land and their work on the walls was complete. But with the reading of the Law, they realized their toughest challenge was ahead of them. Now they had to live as God’s chosen people. By now, they understood that the walls and the Temple could not protect them from God’s wrath. If they disobeyed His commands and refused to submit to His authority as the one true God, they would face the same consequences as their ancestors. But these newly invigorated citizens of Judah embraced the challenge enthusiastically, shouting, “Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise” (Nehemiah 9:5 ESV). They were ready to obey and offered a corporate prayer of confession and commitment to the LORD.

They opened their prayer with an admission of Yahweh’s unparalleled status as the incomparable and unrivaled God of the universe.

“You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.” – Nehemiah 9:6 ESV

He has no equals. There are no alternative gods or competing deities worthy of sharing the limelight with Yahweh. He alone is the one true God who revealed Himself to their ancient patriarch.

“You are the Lord God, who chose Abram and brought him from Ur of the Chaldeans and renamed him Abraham.” – Nehemiah 9:7 NLT

From among all the people on earth, the Creator-God chose this undeserving pagan idol worshiper and called him to become His servant. He promised to produce a great nation from this elderly man and his barren wife. Not only that, God assured Abram that his many descendants would have a land in which to live. And the people of Judah, standing within the recently rebuilt walls of Jerusalem, knew that God had kept His word.

“…you made a covenant with him to give him and his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites. And you have done what you promised, for you are always true to your word.” – Nehemiah 9:8 NLT

But they recalled the days when Jacob and his small family had been forced to seek shelter in the land of Egypt because of a famine in the land of Canaan. What was intended to be a short-term sojourn in the land of the Pharaohs stretched into four centuries and culminated with the people of Israel living as slaves to their Egyptian overlords. But Yahweh stepped in again.

“You saw the misery of our ancestors in Egypt, and you heard their cries from beside the Red Sea. You displayed miraculous signs and wonders against Pharaoh, his officials, and all his people, for you knew how arrogantly they were treating our ancestors. You have a glorious reputation that has never been forgotten.” – Nehemiah 9:9-10 NLT

The stories of God’s past deliverance rang in their ears. The plagues, the Passover, and the crossing of the Red Sea came to mind as they worshiped the greatness of Yahweh. The entire Exodus story took on a whole new meaning as they stood within the walls of Jerusalem and considered their own deliverance from bondage in Babylon. They too had experienced God’s gracious and miraculous hand, just like the Israelites in the wilderness. In a way, their solemn assembly was not unlike the appearance of God on Mount Sinai. It was there that God first gave Moses the Law. He appeared on the mountaintop accompanied by smoke, fire, thunder, and lightning. His presence shook the ground and struck fear into the people of Israel.

Now, centuries later, the people of Judah stood in awe and fear as that same Law was read and they recognized the power and presence of God in their midst.

“You came down at Mount Sinai and spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and instructions that were just, and decrees and commands that were good. You instructed them concerning your holy Sabbath. And you commanded them, through Moses your servant, to obey all your commands, decrees, and instructions.” – Nehemiah 9:13-14 NLT

God’s laws had not changed and neither had He. Yahweh remained steadfast and true, faithful and forgiving. But He also remained firmly committed to His call for absolute allegiance and unwavering obedience to His commands. The people of Judah knew from personal experience that God punishes the disobedient. Their 70-year tenure in Babylon was ample proof that failure to obey comes with serious consequences.

Their ancestors had chosen to break God’s commands repeatedly and without remorse, and they did this despite God’s ongoing care and compassion for them. He had proven His faithfulness time and time again. He had showered them with love that took practical form and met real-world needs.

“You gave them bread from heaven when they were hungry and water from the rock when they were thirsty. You commanded them to go and take possession of the land you had sworn to give them.” – Nehemiah 9:15 NLT

This entire first section of their corporate prayer is a resounding declaration of God’s goodness and grace. They could look back and see Yahweh’s track record of faithfulness and lovingkindness. He was the deliverer, redeemer, provider, protector, Law-giver, and guide who never left them or turned His back on them. Yet, as the rest of their prayer will reveal, the people of Israel proved to be less than grateful and far from reciprocal in their love and faithfulness.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Cause to Celebrate

1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

13 On the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. 14 And they found it written in the Law that the Lord had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, 15 and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.” 16 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. 17 And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing. 18 And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule. – Nehemiah 8:1-18 ESV

The walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt – in just 52 days. The temple had already been restored under the leadership of Ezra. But the city was a virtual ghost town. Most of the people who had returned to the land lived in towns and villages outside the city’s walls. So, Nehemiah knew that his work was incomplete. While he had accomplished his primary objective of rebuilding the walls, he chose not to return to Susa as he had promised King Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 2:6). Instead, he stayed because he knew that rebuilt walls did not make a city; it had to be repopulated and its citizens needed to be made right with God.

With the construction work completed, Nehemiah shifted roles from project manager to pastor. He assembled the congregation of Judah and arranged for Ezra to read from the Book of the Law. This could have been the entire Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, or just the book of Deuteronomy along with portions of Leviticus. But whatever it was that Ezra read, it took hours for him to do so, and the people stood the entire time. This was in keeping with the command Moses gave the people just prior to their entrance into the land of Canaan.

And Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths, when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.” – Deuteronomy 31:10-13 ESV

It seems that the completion of the walls coincided with the celebration of the Feast of Booths which inspired Nehemiah to call for this holy convocation. He enlisted the aid of Ezra who was a scribe and priest. The law was read and explained in detail so the people could understand it. This lengthy recitation of God’s laws had the desired effect, convicting the people of their sins. They wept and mourned as they heard how they had violated the commands of God. But Nehemiah told them, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep” (Nehemiah 8:9 ESV). Instead, he encouraged them to focus their attention on God.

“Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” – Nehemiah 8:10 NLT

While the law had reminded them of their sin, he wanted them to remember their gracious, merciful God. It was time to celebrate because God was their strength. He had provided a means for them to receive forgiveness for their sins. These events took place in the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. Part of what was read to them out of the law was God’s command to keep the annual festivals. They were to celebrate the Feast of Trumpets, the Feast of Booths, and the Day of Atonement. These festivals were intended to remind them of all that God had done for them in the past. They were to culminate with the once-a-year sacrifice made on their behalf by the high priest. On the Day of Atonement, he would enter into the Holy of Holies and make atonement for the unintentional sins they had committed that year. This sacrifice was to culminate in a celebration. While their sins alienated them from God, He graciously provided a means of receiving forgiveness and pardon.

When God gave the people of Israel His plans for the Tabernacle and His commands for observing the sacrificial system, it foreshadowed greater things to come. It was an earthly picture of a heavenly reality but was designed to be temporary and incomplete. The author of Hebrews says, “They serve as a copy and shadow of heavenly things” (Hebrews 8:5 ESV). The Mosaic Law, associated with the Old Covenant, was not intended to be a permanent solution to man's persistent sin problem.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. – Hebrews 8:7 ESV

God told the people of Israel, “Behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah” (Hebrews 8:8 ESV). He had a plan for a new and improved covenant that would be permanent and complete. Everything that the people of Israel had done in association with the Tabernacle and the temple had pointed toward something greater to come. Under the Loaw, one of the key elements involved in man's atonement was the shedding of blood.

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. – Hebrews 9:22 ESV

Every year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest had to offer a sacrifice for his own sins before he could intercede for the people because he was a sinner just like those to whom he ministered. Once his sins were atoned for, he had to offer another sacrifice and mis the blood with water and, using scarlet wool and hyssop, he sprinkled it on the Book of the Law and the people, declaring, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you” (Hebrews 9:20 ESV).

With that action, the covenant between God and His people was ratified and renewed. But again, it was just a foreshadowing of things to come. That event had to take place every year because their atonement was temporary and incomplete. The Book of Hebrews goes on to state, “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4 ESV). Complete and permanent forgiveness of sins could never happen through the sacrifice of bulls and goats. But God had a better solution.

Our sin is an ever-present reality that follows us wherever we go. It is a permanent part of our experience as fallen human beings. When we read God's Word, we are reminded of our sinfulness. It convicts us by revealing our unfaithfulness and consistent rebellion against a faithful, loving God. But rather than weep and mourn over our sins, we must learn to rejoice in the gift of our Savior. God has provided a solution to our sin problem, one that is far better than the one the Israelites had.

For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. – Hebrews 9:24 ESV

Christ didn't enter into an earthly Tabernacle or Temple. As our high priest, He presented His sacrifice before God the Father, once and for all.

But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. – Hebrew 9:26 ESV

He gave His life as a sacrifice for our sins and, unlike the animal sacrifices under the Old Covenant, His sacrifice was a permanent solution to man's sin problem. His death provided complete atonement for the sins of mankind – past, present, and future. He secured an “eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12 ESV).

So what should our reaction be to this news? We should rejoice and celebrate. We should recognize that the joy of the Lord is our strength because He has provided for our salvation. He has made a way for us to be restored to a right relationship with Him that is not based on human effort. God has done for us what we could never have done for ourselves.

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. – 1 John 4:9 NLT

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. – Romans 5:8 NLT

That is cause for celebration and ample reason for rejoicing. Our God is great, His love is unimaginable, and His grace is immeasurable. Yes, our sin is real but so is our salvation. Those of us who have placed our faith and hope in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross can celebrate because our redemption is eternal and our atonement is complete. The truly great news is, “Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:28 NLT).

Celebration is the proper response to God’s goodness and grace. So, when the Law had been read, and the people understood their guilt and God’s grace, they were prepared to celebrate. With the Feast of Booths at hand, they “went out and cut branches and used them to build shelters on the roofs of their houses, in their courtyards, in the courtyards of God’s Temple, or in the squares just inside the Water Gate and the Ephraim Gate” (Nehemiah 8:16 NLT). This feast was to serve as an annual reminder of God’s provision during Israel’s years of wandering in the wilderness. When their ancestors had refused to enter the Promised Land, God banned that generation of Israelites from ever entering His “rest,” condemning them to spend their lives outside the borders of Canaan until they died off. But during those days, and despite their disobedience, He graciously provided them with food and shelter. He met their needs and ensured that their descendants were the recipients of His covenant promises.

This celebration of the Feast of Booths was the first one to be held in nearly 150 years. It is unlikely that they celebrated the feasts during their exile in Babylon and there is no indication that the feasts had been reinstituted since the first exiles had returned. So, Nehemiah records that this celebration was an especially joyous occasion.

So everyone who had returned from captivity lived in these shelters during the festival, and they were all filled with great joy! The Israelites had not celebrated like this since the days of Joshua son of Nun. – Nehemiah 8:17 NLT

God had been gracious and good. His people had wandered away into the wilderness of Babylon, but He had graciously returned them to the land. He was a loving and forgiving God who kept His covenant promises. And that was cause for celebration.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Move-In Day

1 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, 2 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. 3 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.” 4 The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt.

5 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:

6 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. 7 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah.

The number of the men of the people of Israel: 8 the sons of Parosh, 2,172. 9 The sons of Shephatiah, 372. 10 The sons of Arah, 652. 11 The sons of Pahath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,818. 12 The sons of Elam, 1,254. 13 The sons of Zattu, 845. 14 The sons of Zaccai, 760. 15 The sons of Binnui, 648. 16 The sons of Bebai, 628. 17 The sons of Azgad, 2,322. 18 The sons of Adonikam, 667. 19 The sons of Bigvai, 2,067. 20 The sons of Adin, 655. 21 The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, 98. 22 The sons of Hashum, 328. 23 The sons of Bezai, 324. 24 The sons of Hariph, 112. 25 The sons of Gibeon, 95. 26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188. 27 The men of Anathoth, 128. 28 The men of Beth-azmaveth, 42. 29 The men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743. 30 The men of Ramah and Geba, 621. 31 The men of Michmas, 122. 32 The men of Bethel and Ai, 123. 33 The men of the other Nebo, 52. 34 The sons of the other Elam, 1,254. 35 The sons of Harim, 320. 36 The sons of Jericho, 345. 37 The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721. 38 The sons of Senaah, 3,930.

39 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, namely the house of Jeshua, 973. 40 The sons of Immer, 1,052. 41 The sons of Pashhur, 1,247. 42 The sons of Harim, 1,017.

43 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua, namely of Kadmiel of the sons of Hodevah, 74. 44 The singers: the sons of Asaph, 148. 45 The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, 138.

46 The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, 47 the sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon, 48 the sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Shalmai, 49 the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, 50 the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, 51 the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, 52 the sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephushesim, 53 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, 54 the sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, 55 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah, 56 the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha.

57 The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida, 58 the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, 59 the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of Amon.

60 All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon's servants were 392.

61 The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove their fathers' houses nor their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: 62 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, 642. 63 Also, of the priests: the sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name). 64 These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but it was not found there, so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 65 The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food until a priest with Urim and Thummim should arise.

66 The whole assembly together was 42,360, 67 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337. And they had 245 singers, male and female. 68 Their horses were 736, their mules 245, 69 their camels 435, and their donkeys 6,720.

70 Now some of the heads of fathers' houses gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 basins, 30 priests' garments and 500 minas of silver. 71 And some of the heads of fathers' houses gave into the treasury of the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver. 72 And what the rest of the people gave was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver, and 67 priests' garments.

73 So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel, lived in their towns.

And when the seventh month had come, the people of Israel were in their towns. – Nehemiah 7:1-73 ESV

The wall was completed and the gates were hung, bringing the nearly two-month-long construction project to a close. The next thing on Nehemiah’s agenda was securing the Temple infrastructure so that the sacrificial system could be properly maintained. The whole purpose behind rebuilding the walls was to provide a safe and secure environment for the worship of Yahweh. At this point, the Temple was the primary focal point of the city because little work had been done on the rest of the civic buildings and homes. Nehemiah alludes to the fact that the city was virtually unoccupied.

At that time the city was large and spacious, but the population was small, and none of the houses had been rebuilt. – Nehemiah 7:4 NLT

Without walls, the city of Jerusalem would have been an unsafe environment, so most of the returning exiles took up residence in the smaller villages and communities outside the walls. In 537 B.C., a large contingent of exiles made the trip back to Judah under the leadership of Zerubabbel. These individuals had been required to provide proof of citizenship and their legal status as heirs to property within the land of Judah. Some of them would have been the descendants of those who owned homes within the walls of Jerusalem, but to date, none of them had bothered to rebuild or reoccupy those homes. This state of affairs led Nehemiah to take on yet another project. He determined to repopulate the city of Jerusalem to ensure its vitality and future as a thriving urban center. He knew the city could not survive without citizens.

Nehemiah had discovered “the genealogical record of those who had first returned to Judah” (Nehemiah 7:5 NLT). This is the very same list that Zerubbabel compiled nearly 100 years earlier to determine who could provide proof of citizenship and heirship to property rights. The list found in verses 6-67 is virtually identical to that of Ezra 2. In his official capacity as governor, Nehemiah had come across this list and must have questioned why no one had bothered to avail themselves of their rights to property within Jerusalem. The homes remained in ruins and unoccupied. Nearly 50,000 people had made the long journey from Babylon to Judah, but only a fraction of them had settled within the city of Jerusalem.

Now that the walls were complete, Nehemiah hoped to persuade these reluctant settlers to transform the empty city into a bustling metropolis again. God had promised to restore and repopulate the city and Nehemiah was doing his part to see that God’s will was accomplished.

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Once again old men and women will walk Jerusalem’s streets with their canes and will sit together in the city squares. And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls at play.

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: All this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God’s people. But is it impossible for me? says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” – Zechariah 8:4-6 NLT

The Book of Jeremiah contains another promise from God concerning the future fate of the land of Judah.

Long ago the Lord said to Israel:
“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.
    With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.
I will rebuild you, my virgin Israel.
    You will again be happy
    and dance merrily with your tambourines.
Again you will plant your vineyards on the mountains of Samaria
    and eat from your own gardens there.
The day will come when watchmen will shout
    from the hill country of Ephraim,
‘Come, let us go up to Jerusalem
    to worship the Lord our God.’” – Jeremiah 31:3-6 NLT

God describes a day when He will restore the fortunes of His people and shower His favor on the city of Jerusalem once again.

“The day will come when watchmen will shout
    from the hill country of Ephraim,
‘Come, let us go up to Jerusalem
    to worship the Lord our God.’”

7 Now this is what the Lord says:
“Sing with joy for Israel.
    Shout for the greatest of nations!
Shout out with praise and joy:
‘Save your people, O Lord,
    the remnant of Israel!’
For I will bring them from the north
    and from the distant corners of the earth.
I will not forget the blind and lame,
    the expectant mothers and women in labor.
    A great company will return!” – Jeremiah 31:6-8 NLT

This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “When I bring them back from captivity, the people of Judah and its towns will again say, ‘The Lord bless you, O righteous home, O holy mountain!’ Townspeople and farmers and shepherds alike will live together in peace and happiness. For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.” – Jeremiah 31:23-25 NLT

Nehemiah longed to see the vacant city reoccupied and God’s promises fulfilled. So, he set out to encourage the people to do the right thing and begin rebuilding and reoccupying the homes in Jerusalem. God had brought them back, now it was up to them to bring the city back to life.

Once again, God had foretold of the people’s restoration and Jerusalem’s revitalization.

“‘Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I have returned to show mercy to Jerusalem. My Temple will be rebuilt, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and measurements will be taken for the reconstruction of Jerusalem.’

“Say this also: ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The towns of Israel will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem as his own.’” – Zechariah 1:16-17 NLT

God had done His part, now it was their turn.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

To God Be the Glory

1 Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. 3 And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” 4 And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner. 5 In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king. 7 And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.” 8 Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” 9 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

10 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.” 11 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.” 12 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. 13 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. 14 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.

15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 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. 17 Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah's letters came to them. 18 For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as his wife. 19 Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid. – Nehemiah 6:1-19 ESV

After nearly two months of back-breaking, round-the-clock effort, the citizens of Jerusalem could see the fruits of all their hard work. The walls were nearing completion and the next step was to hang the gates on their hinges. Nehemiah must have experienced a deep sense of relief and satisfaction as he considered the magnitude of what they had accomplished. The last 52 days had been difficult and filled with setbacks, threats of violence, bitter infighting, and moments of doubt and despair. But despite the odds and with the help of God, the people remained focused, committed to their cause, and completed the project in record time.

This rag-tag group of returned exiles accomplished a project of herculean proportions, a job that should have taken years even under the best of circumstances. But their joy at having completed this massive defensive structure would be shortlived. Even when the gates were hung and everyone was snuggled safely inside the walls, their enemies would remain relentless in their attacks. No swords were drawn and no blood was spilled, but the animus of their enemies never dissipated. In fact, it only increased and took on a more clever and clandestine form.

As the last stones were placed on the wall, the enemies of Judah became more frightened and demoralized than ever, but why? Because they sensed that this project had been divinely ordained. Yahweh, the God of Judah was somehow involved; there was no other explanation. They had done everything in their power to stop the work, but it continued unabated. They had tried to discourage Nehemiah and the people from finishing their work but had failed. Their conclusion? The deity of Judah had somehow been involved. They could recognize that the completion of the wall in just 52 days was the result of divine intervention. This had been no ordinary construction project.

Desperate to forestall the hanging of the gates which would finalize the project, Sanballat and Geshem the Arab sent a message to Nehemiah requesting a meeting at an off-site location. These men were desperate to put an end to Nehemiah’s efforts and devised a plan to lure him out of Jerusalem under the guise of a peaceful parley. The invited him to join them at a small village in the plain of Ono located about 25 miles northwest of Jerusalem, close to the border of Samaria.

Nehemiah saw through their ploy and turned down their invitation, stating, “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?” (Nehemiah 6:3 NLT). He knew their intentions were evil so he refused their deceptive request for a “peaceful” conclave. But these men refused to take no for an answer and sent four additional requests that produced the same results. Finally, they sent a servant with a handwritten message intended to frighten Nehemiah.

“There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king. He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, ‘Look! There is a king in Judah!’

“You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me.” – Nehemiah 6:6-7 NLT

Sanballat tried to portray himself as a concerned subject of the king and a well-meaning friend who was trying to inform Nehemiah of a potential problem. According to Sanballat, a vicious rumor was going around that accused Nehemiah of fostering insurrection and fomenting rebellion among the Jews. Sanballat suggests that he doubts the accusations but will have to share them with the king unless Nehemiah agrees to meet with him. This was a form of blackmail plain and simple. These trumped-up charges are completely fabricated but they are dangerous nonetheless.

But Nehemiah is unphased by Sanballat’s poorly veiled ploy. He matter-of-factly responded, “There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing” (Nehemiah 6:8 NLT). Although the rumors were lies, Nehemiah knew these men would not hesitate to follow through with their threat and present these slanderous accusations about him to the king. But he refused to be intimidated or deterred and continued to encourage the people to complete the project “with even greater determination” (Nehemiah 6:9 NLT).

But Sanballat and his co-conspirators would not give up. They enlisted the aid of a local citizen of Judah named Shemaiah. This man was confined to his home for some undisclosed reason. It could have been for the fulfillment of a vow or ceremonial uncleanness. Perhaps he had sustained injury while working on the wall. But whatever the case, he invited Nehemiah to come to his home where he shared a “prophecy” he had received. This man claims to have received a word from God that Nehemiah’s life is in danger and he must seek shelter in the Temple.

“Let us meet together inside the Temple of God and bolt the doors shut. Your enemies are coming to kill you tonight.” – Nehemiah 6:10 NLT

Nehemiah knew Shemaiah well and had no reason to doubt his sincerity and concern. But Shemaiah’s “prophecy” made no sense. His recommendation for Nehemiah to seek shelter in the Temple directly violated the Mosaic Law. No one but the Levitical priests was allowed access to the inner recesses of the Temple, upon penalty of death (Numbers 1:51; 3:10; 18:7). Shemaiah’s solution to the supposed assassination attempt on Nehemiah’s life was non-sensical. To escape death, Nehemiah would come under a death sentence from God. This ploy was the handiwork of Sanballat and his friends. They were hoping to induce Nehemiah to seek shelter in the Temple and violate the laws of his God.

It seems that Sanballat was attempting to discredit Nehemiah among the Jews by getting him to violate the Mosaic Law. If Nehemiah had taken Shemaiah’s advice, he would have shown that his life was more important than God’s commands. This would have tarnished his reputation among the people and given credence to the rumor that he was a self-centered and self-promoting aspirant to the throne of Judah.

But Nehemiah recognized Shemaiah as a pawn in their thinly veiled plot to discredit him.

They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me. – Nehemiah 6:13 NLT

Sanballat and his companions were pulling out all the stops. They were using their financial resources to buy informants and grease the palms of greedy prophets who were willing to use their positions for personal gain. But their efforts failed.

After 52 days, the walls were completed and the gates were hung. But this didn’t prevent the letters, accusations, payoffs, and personal attacks on Nehemiah from continuing unabated. God’s work will always face opposition. The enemy will always attack and do everything in his power to thwart the will of God.

But the efforts of God’s people brought God glory.

When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God. – Nehemiah 6:14 NLT

On how many occasions does our work bring God glory? Do the projects we take on reflect the power of God or simply our own initiative and self-sufficiency? God wants to reveal His glory through His people. He wants to demonstrate His power despite our weakness. He wants to display His might through us as we accomplish His will.

God is not interested in seeing what we can do. He is not impressed with our strength and organizational abilities. That doesn't mean we don't have to do our part but we always have to remember, when all is said and done, God is the one who should receive the glory. The rebuilding of the wall was God's idea. He had predicted it long in advance through the words of Daniel (Daniel 9:25). God had arranged for the people to return to the land of Judah. He had led Nehemiah to request permission from King Artaxerxes to lead back a group of exiles to rebuild the walls. God had protected and provided for them all along the way and now the work was done.

Yes, the people had worked hard. They had sore muscles, aching backs, and blistered hands to prove it. But all their efforts would have been nothing without the help of God, and even their enemies knew it. Nehemiah had led the people well, orchestrated their work flawlessly, and encouraged their efforts successfully, but without God, none of it would have mattered.

We do the work. God gets the glory. That's the way it's intended to be.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Destruction from Within

1 Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers. 2 For there were those who said, “With our sons and our daughters, we are many. So let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive.” 3 There were also those who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine.” 4 And there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king's tax on our fields and our vineyards. 5 Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.”

6 I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. 7 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 8 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. 9 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? 10 Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest. 11 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.” 12 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. 13 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.

14 Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor. 15 The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God. 16 I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work. 17 Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. 18 Now what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people. 19 Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.” – Nehemiah 5:1-19 ESV

As the walls went up, the people’s morale plummeted. This unexpected outcome must have left Nememiah perplexed. Was it his plan for a division of the labor that had ended up dividing the laborers? Were the people frustrated with their job assignments or workload? Had they become disgruntled about their benefits package or lack of time off?

It seems that their discontentment had nothing to do with the work on the walls. There was a festering problem among the people of Judah of which Nehemiah was completely unaware. In his haste to rebuild the walls, he had overlooked a more pressing need that posed an even greater threat than Sanballat, Tobiah, and their companions. 

The people of Judah were divided. While they had managed to work side by side on the walls, they harbored long-standing resentment toward one another that stretched back long before Nehemiah’s arrival. The wall project had managed to unify them temporarily but it had also exacerbated a long-standing issue that threatened to undermine Nehemiah’s plans and all their hard work.

Since his arrival in Jerusalem, Nehemiah had made the rebuilding of the walls the highest priority. He had successfully organized the former exiles into work crews and provided them with the tools and motivation to get the job done. However, the intense work schedule forced many of them to neglect their own affairs. Fields went unplanted and harvests were neglected. The round-the-clock construction schedule made it difficult for parents to care for the well-being of their families. Household chores went undone. Sheep went unsheared. Flocks went unfed. And old resentments bubbled to the surface.

The complaints came in three forms. The first had to do with the division of food. Because everyone shared in the work, Nehemiah had arranged for everyone to get a fair share of the communal provisions. But it seems there were holes in his plan that allowed inequities to exist. Some of the larger families expressed frustration over their insufficient food allotments.

“We have such large families. We need more food to survive.” – Nehemiah 5:2 NLT

To make matters worse, a local famine had driven up food costs, forcing some to take drastic measures just to feed their families.

“We have mortgaged our fields, vineyards, and homes to get food during the famine.” – Nehemiah 5:3 NLT

A third group complained about the high taxes levied against them by King Artaxerxes. While they had labored long and hard on the walls, the king had not called off his tax collectors. This forced many of the Jews to take out high-interest loans using their property as collateral. Worse yet, some had become so desperate that they sold some of their children into slavery just so the rest could eat.

“We have had to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay our taxes. We belong to the same family as those who are wealthy, and our children are just like theirs. Yet we must sell our children into slavery just to get enough money to live. We have already sold some of our daughters, and we are helpless to do anything about it, for our fields and vineyards are already mortgaged to others.” – Nehemiah 5:4-5 NLT

What made this state of affairs even more shocking to Nehemiah was that Jews were taking advantage of their own. In other words, this was an in-house problem. The haves were abusing the have-nots. The wealthy were loaning money to their fellow Jews at high interest rates, in direct violation of God’s law.

“If one of your fellow Israelites falls into poverty and cannot support himself, support him as you would a foreigner or a temporary resident and allow him to live with you. Do not charge interest or make a profit at his expense. Instead, show your fear of God by letting him live with you as your relative. Remember, do not charge interest on money you lend him or make a profit on food you sell him. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.” – Leviticus 25:35-38 NLT

Abuse of this law had been going on for some time. Long before Nehemiah showed up, the more affluent Jews had been using their God-given resources to profit from the hardships of the less fortunate among them. This kind of behavior had been forbidden by God.

“If you lend money to any of my people who are in need, do not charge interest as a money lender would.” – Exodus 22:25 NLT

Nehemiah became incensed when he discovered what was going on and gathered the Jewish nobles together so he could read them the riot act.

“You are hurting your own relatives by charging interest when they borrow money!” – Nehemiah 5:7 NLT

Their behavior was unlawful and unacceptable, and it had to stop. It seems that Nehemiah and others had used their personal resources to purchase the freedom of Jews who had become enslaved to Persian masters. These recently redeemed individuals had returned to Judah with Nehemiah and helped in the construction of the walls. Nehemiah never expected to hear that his fellow Jews were selling one another out just to line their own pockets. In his mind, this was far worse than anything Sanballat or Tobiah could have come up with. The Jews were actually destroying themselves from within.

Like a good leader, Nehemiah took action and demanded that reparations be made. He knew the walls couldn’t protect against this kind of self-destruction. It was Jesus who said, “If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand” (Mark 3:25 ESV). The Proverbs put it this way: “Greed brings grief to the whole family, but those who hate bribes will live” (Proverbs 15:27 NLT).

The prophet Micah also wrote about his pressing problem.

What sorrow awaits you who lie awake at night,
    thinking up evil plans.
You rise at dawn and hurry to carry them out,
    simply because you have the power to do so.
When you want a piece of land,
    you find a way to seize it.
When you want someone’s house,
    you take it by fraud and violence.
You cheat a man of his property,
    stealing his family’s inheritance. – Micah 2:1-2 NLT

And Micah went on to share God’s prescribed judgment for those who do such things.

“I will reward your evil with evil;
    you won’t be able to pull your neck out of the noose.
You will no longer walk around proudly,
    for it will be a terrible time.” – Micah 2:3 NLT

And Nehemiah pulled no punches either, unapologetically calling out all the guilty parties and demanding immediate restitution.

“What you are doing is not right! Should you not walk in the fear of our God in order to avoid being mocked by enemy nations? I myself, as well as my brothers and my workers, have been lending the people money and grain, but now let us stop this business of charging interest. You must restore their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and homes to them this very day. And repay the interest you charged when you lent them money, grain, new wine, and olive oil.” – Nehemiah 5:9-11 NLT

Surprisingly, the people were convicted and willing to comply with Nehemiah’s demands. They wholeheartedly agreed to make things right, at great personal cost. Confiscated land would need to be restored. All interest would need to be repaid. On top of all this, the people agreed to cease and desist from further abuse of God’s law. It all ended here.

The walls of Jerusalem were little more than a symbol of the spiritual state of Judah. The fallen stones represented the fallen condition of God’s chosen people. Their spiritual lives lay in ruins because they had chosen to disobey His commands. Nehemiah’s efforts to rebuild the physical walls of the city would accomplish little if the people continued to operate in a state of spiritual fallenness and mutual self-destruction. Judah’s enemies could simply stand back and watch as the nation destroyed itself from within.

Their actions exhibited a disregard for God's law and a flippancy toward God's justice. They had no fear of God's retribution. And yet Nehemiah was a living example of what God expected. He feared God and demonstrated it by his actions. Rather than live off the salary available to him as governor, he paid his own way. Not only that, he fed and provided for 150 people – out of his own pocket. As the king-appointed governor, he didn't sit in his palace overseeing the work of rebuilding the wall. He got his hands dirty. He worked alongside the people and put up with the daily threats of his enemies. He had to deny their vicious rumors and continue to encourage the people to remain strong and faithful to their God-given task. Despite this serious setback, Nehemiah’s efforts proved successful and the wall was completed in only 52 days.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Leading from the Knees

1 Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. 2 And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?” 3 Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!” 4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. 5 Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.

6 So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

7 But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. 8 And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. 9 And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.

10 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.” 11 And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” 12 At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.” 13 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. 14 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.”

15 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. 16 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, 17 who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. 18 And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. 19 And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. 20 In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”

21 So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out. 22 I also said to the people at that time, “Let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day.” 23 So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand. – Nehemiah 4:1-23 ESV

Leading others can be difficult even in the best of times. When things aren’t going well, it can become nearly impossible. Nehemiah was encountering the very real challenge of trying to motivate a workforce burdened with the overwhelming responsibility of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. This massive civic work project was overwhelming in both its scale and importance. It is estimated that the walls of Jerusalem were more than two miles in circumference and high enough to serve as a formidable barrier against enemy invasion. These walls had lain in ruins for nearly 150 years and Nehemiah was attempting to rebuild them using a civilian workforce comprised of priests, peasants, merchants, and government officials.

Despite the size and complexity of the task, progress was being made. The walls were going up and the gates were being installed. But while their hard work paid off, it had produced a growing resentment among their enemies. The local non-Jewish residents were incensed that Nehemiah had been successful in his efforts to rebuild the walls. Sanballat and his co-conspirators used sarcasm and ridicule to demoralize Nehemiah’s workforce.

“What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?” – Nememiah 4:2 NLT

But while their childish taunts failed to halt the rebuilding efforts, they did have an effect. The Jews began to question the validity of their work. Were they wasting their time? Was their labor in vain? Weary from the back-breaking work of rebuilding the walls, they were susceptible to doubt and despair. Nehemiah could sense that the people were struggling and took the matter to the Lord.

“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! 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 4:4-5 NLT

He asked Yahweh to hold their enemies accountable for their actions. Nehemiah wasn’t interested in mercy; he wanted vengeance. There is no indication that God answered Nehemiah’s prayer, but He did provide protection so that the people were able to complete 50 percent of the project. 

Once again, their success only served to stoke the anger of Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites. The higher the wall went, the more intense the opposition became. No longer content to use words as weapons, the enemies of Israel began to plot physical violence. If they couldn’t demoralize the Jews with cutting words, they would cut them down with swords.

Nehemiah had his work cut out for him. He knew he had to keep the people working but the threat of armed opposition made his task even more difficult. So he prayed and took steps to prepare the people for the possibility of hand-to-hand combat. He “placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas” and “stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows” (Nehemiah 4:13 NLT).

Sensing the growing apprehension among his workers, Nehemiah tried to remind them of the nature of their cause and the presence of their God.

“Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” – Nehemiah 4:14 NLT

The people rallied to his charge and continued the work. While half labored on the walls, the rest served as armed guards and watchmen. But this division of labor didn’t come without its own set of problems. Nehemiah was learning that there was far more to leadership than he ever imagined.

He knew some of his workers felt they were getting the short end of the stick. As they worked, their companions stood around and “guarded” the walls. For one-half of the labor force, the work doubled. Real or perceived inequality and inequity make it extremely hard for people to want to follow. If they feel like they are getting the raw end of the deal, they will resist and sometimes even rebel. The construction project they were tasked with was seemingly insurmountable, requiring around-the-clock effort and robbing the people of much-needed rest. It wasn't long before they began to lose heart.

Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.” – Nehemiah 4:10 NLT

Nehemiah was charged with leading the people and ensuring that the construction of the wall continued, despite persistent opposition and the waning hopes of the people. Nehemiah prayed, organized, encouraged, prepared, and took steps to ensure that the work could continue and the people were safe. He relied on the grace of God, but he understood that God's grace is opposed to earning, but not effort. The steps he took to organize the people and defend the wall were not an attempt to earn favor with God, but to ensure that the work of God could continue uninterrupted. Nehemiah knew that the job they had to do was difficult and would require even more work on the part of the people. He knew their enemies were real and the threats they were making were not imaginary. So he did what what was necessary to see that the people were safe and the work could continue. They worked in shifts. Some built, while others guarded. They all carried weapons and were prepared to fight at a moments notice. But Nehemiah also knew that they would not be fighting alone. "Then our God will fight for us!" (Nehemiah 4:20b NLT).

As if their enemies were not enough, Nehemiah also found himself dealing with some significant problems within his own camp. The bickering began over inequities taking place. Some people were mortgaging everything they had just to buy food. Others had been forced to sell their own children into slavery just to pay their taxes. The sad thing was that the culprits who profited from all this were the nobles and officials of Judah. The haves were taking advantage of the have-nots. So Nehemiah took charge once again and demanded that the greed, graft, and corruption come to an end. And all along the way, he set the example for godly leadership, never drawing his official food allowance, even though he was entitled to it. He worked as hard as anyone else, never claiming exemption from labor due to his role as governor. Nehemiah was a model of godly leadership. Why? Because he feared God. He had a reverence and respect for God that would not allow him to live in a way that brought shame or dishonor to the name of God through his actions. Nehemiah was motivated by his love for God and his belief that he worked for and was responsible to God for the people, the wall, and his own attitudes and actions. For Nehemiah, leadership was not about power, position, authority, or respect. He was not interested in lining his pockets or padding his resume. He simply wanted to use his God-given position to lead the people through exhortation and example. He would trust God for whatever reward God chose to give him for his efforts. He performed for an audience of one – God.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Constructive Faith

1 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. 2 And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built.

3 The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 4 And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired. 5 And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.

6 Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the Gate of Yeshanah. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 7 And next to them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, the seat of the governor of the province Beyond the River. 8 Next to them Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, repaired, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. 9 Next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired. 10 Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph repaired opposite his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah repaired. 11 Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. 12 Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters.

13 Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and repaired a thousand cubits of the wall, as far as the Dung Gate.

14 Malchijah the son of Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem, repaired the Dung Gate. He rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.

15 And Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it and covered it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. And he built the wall of the Pool of Shelah of the king's garden, as far as the stairs that go down from the city of David. 16 After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, ruler of half the district of Beth-zur, repaired to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool, and as far as the house of the mighty men. 17 After him the Levites repaired: Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, repaired for his district. 18 After him their brothers repaired: Bavvai the son of Henadad, ruler of half the district of Keilah. 19 Next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section opposite the ascent to the armory at the buttress. 20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai repaired another section from the buttress to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 21 After him Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired another section from the door of the house of Eliashib to the end of the house of Eliashib. 22 After him the priests, the men of the surrounding area, repaired. 23 After them Benjamin and Hasshub repaired opposite their house. After them Azariah the son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah repaired beside his own house. 24 After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah to the buttress and to the corner. 25 Palal the son of Uzai repaired opposite the buttress and the tower projecting from the upper house of the king at the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh 26 and the temple servants living on Ophel repaired to a point opposite the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower. 27 After him the Tekoites repaired another section opposite the great projecting tower as far as the wall of Ophel.

28 Above the Horse Gate the priests repaired, each one opposite his own house. 29 After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired opposite his own house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, repaired. 30 After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph repaired another section. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah repaired opposite his chamber. 31 After him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired as far as the house of the temple servants and of the merchants, opposite the Muster Gate, and to the upper chamber of the corner. 32 And between the upper chamber of the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and the merchants repaired. – Nehemiah 3:1-32 ESV

Nehemiah had a plan for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem but he would need manual labor to carry it out. This would be back-breaking work that required both strength and precision. Each work crew was assigned a gate to repair and, once the gate was completed, they were to construct the wall that led to the next gate. Their efforts needed to coordinate with the next team of builders so that the walls could be joined together seamlessly. This massive undertaking required brute force, keen engineering skills. craftsmanship, and a great deal of patience. But the people took on the project wholeheartedly and enthusiastically. Individuals from every walk of life joined in the effort, working side by side to see that the walls of their beloved city were rebuilt.

The work of rebuilding the walls began at the Sheep Gate at the northeastern corner near the Temple Mount. This section of the wall was repaired by the priests under the direction of Eliashib the high priest. He was the grandson of Jeshua, the former high priest, who had played a major role in rebuilding the altar of God so that the sacrificial system could be reinstituted.

Jeshua son of Jehozadak joined his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel with his family in rebuilding the altar of the God of Israel. They wanted to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as instructed in the Law of Moses, the man of God. Even though the people were afraid of the local residents, they rebuilt the altar at its old site. Then they began to sacrifice burnt offerings on the altar to the Lord each morning and evening. – Ezra 3:2-3 NLT

The Sheep Gate played an important part in the sacrificial system as well. Located near the Temple Mount, this gate provided easy access for the shepherds who tended the flocks used for the Temple sacrifices. The reconstruction of this gate became a high priority and was taken on by the priests themselves. Even the high priest rolled up his sleeves and joined in the work. Once they completed their gate, they consecrated it, setting it apart as holy to the LORD. This symbolic act was meant to remind the people that their work was to be done “as to the LORD” (Proverbs 16:3). The gates and walls were intended to provide protection, but they would also be a constant reminder of God’s presence, power, and provision.

It is interesting to note that the men of Jericho worked beside the priests. This brief reference would have struck a chord with the Jewish audience who read Nehemiah’s recounting of this momentous occasion. The mention of Jericho would have conjured up the stories they had been told as children. When the Israelites first crossed over the Jordan in their attempt to conquer the land of Canaan, they encountered the fortified city of Jericho. God gave Joshua the following instructions for taking this seemingly impenetrable city.

Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in. But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.” – Joshua 6:1-5 NLT

Just the day before, Joshua had encountered an unknown and well-armed soldier. When Joshua asked whether he was a friend or foe, the man said, “I am the commander of the Lord’s army” (Joshuah 5:14 NLT). This pronouncement caused Joshua to fall to the ground in fear and reverence. It was from this divine messenger that Joshua received his orders to take the city of Jericho. By following the LORD’s command, the Israelites enjoyed a surprisingly easy victory over their enemies.

When the people heard the sound of the rams’ horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it. They completely destroyed everything in it with their swords—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep, goats, and donkeys. – Joshua 6:20-21 NLT

The city of Jericho was eventually rebuilt and occupied by the Israelites. The walls that had fallen were restored, and the men who called this city their home came to assist in the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. Those who had the joy of living in the place where God gave the Israelites their first victory were more than happy to play a role in rebuilding the walls of their capital city.

Nehemiah goes on to chronicle the various groups that participated in the rebuilding process. While these names are unknown to modern readers, their inclusion gives the impression that people from every walk of life took part in this God-ordained project. The work was not done by peasants alone. Everyone from the high priest to the local government officials played their part. It was a community-wide effort. But there is one side note that reveals at least one group who chose to bow out of the proceedings.

…the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord. – Nehemiah 3:5 ESV

These elitist upper-class snobs deemed themselves too high and mighty to get their hands dirty. But Nehemiah paints a much more harsh reality. He describes them as unwilling to serve their Lord. They were too good to serve Yahweh.

Yet, their less affluent neighbors labored diligently and willingly to rebuild not just one section of wall, but two.

…the Tekoites repaired another section opposite the great projecting tower as far as the wall of Ophel. – Nehemiah 3:27 ESV

No indictment is leveled against these unnamed nobles, but the Proverbs have much to say about men like them.

A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor. – Proverbs 29:23 BSB

When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom. – Proverbs 11:2 BSB

Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. – Proverbs 18:12 BSB

Despite the pompous attitude of the nobles of Tekoah, the work continued. Others pitched in and, over time, the gates were rebuilt and the walls were restored. This communal project was a testament to Nehemiah’s organizational skills and his powers of persuasion. He had successfully convinced the people of Judah to pool their efforts and accomplish a seemingly impossible task under less-than-ideal circumstances. They labored side by side for months on end, enduring harsh weather conditions and putting up with constant harassment from their enemies. Nehemiah’s description of their efforts makes it sound like everything went off without a hitch. He describes no injuries, setbacks, mishaps, or arguments. This was a do-it-yourself project of epic proportions that would have featured endless opportunities for frustration and confrontation. Mismeasured blocks would have needed to be repaired or replaced. Pulled muscles and broken limbs would have sidelined many, slowing down the work and increasing the workload of others. 

And as the following chapter will reveal, the entire project was met with increasing hostility from the local inhabitants. Sanballat and Tobiah were relentless in their attacks, mocking the people of Judah for Don Quixote-like quest to do the impossible.

“What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?” – Nehemiah 4:2 NLT

“That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!” – Nehemiah 4:3 NLT

But the work went on and the walls went up. Perseverance and patience were necessary. Faith was a non-negotiable requirement. Determination and cooperation were indispensable. And the people would need to constantly remember that they had Yahweh on their side. The words of Nehemiah needed to ring in their ears as they hammered, hauled, chiseled, and chipped their way to completion.

“The God of heaven will help us succeed. We, his servants, will start rebuilding this wall.” – Nehemiah 2:20 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

God of the Impossible

9 Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.

11 So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. 13 I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass. 15 Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. 16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.

17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 20 Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.” – Nehemiah 2:9-20 ESV

The time came for Nehemiah to leave behind his comfortable life in Persia and begin the 800-mile journey to Jerusalem. Nehemiah was accompanied by a contingent of royal guards who provided protection for the traveling party, which appears to have been small in number. Once they crossed the Euphrates River and entered “the province Beyond the River” (Nehemiah 2:7), Nehemiah presented the governors of the region with the letters of safe passage Artaxerxes provided.

Once Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, two local officials, Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite, disclosed their displeasure.

…they were very displeased that someone had come to help the people of Israel. - Nehemiah 2:10 NLT

When these two men became aware of Nehemiah’s intentions to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, they couldn’t hide their anger. As Nehemiah’s building plans progressed, they would be joined by a third governor, Geshem the Arab, who assisted them in mocking the Jews.

But when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab heard of our plan, they scoffed contemptuously. “What are you doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” they asked. – Nehemiah 2:19 NLT

These disgruntled governors were hoping to demoralize the Jews by accusing them of insurrection. They were hoping to turn the local Jewish population against Nehemiah by questioning the wisdom of his actions. If they could raise doubt concerning the viability of Nehemiah’s plans, he would lose his labor force. This intense pressure to intimidate and discourage the Jews was relentless. Chapter Four reveals that Sanballat and his fellow governors continued to ridicule Nehemiah and his grandiose plans.

Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?” – Nehemiah 4:1-2 NLT

Tobiah joined in the sarcasm-laced rhetoric, stating, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!” (Nehemiah 4:3 NLT). When their words failed to dissuade the Jews, they would begin to consider violence as their only other option.

…when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious. They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion. – Nehemiah 4:7-8 NLT

But just three days after his arrival, Nehemiah and a few companions made a late-night inspection tour of the city’s walls. He had not yet disclosed his plans to anyone, including the local Jewish leaders, so this excursion was a fact-finding mission designed to determine the scope of the project. As he carefully navigated the rubble-strewn passage around the long-fallen walls, he could have become discouraged at the extent of the damage. At one point, the debris field was so dense that his donkey was unable to pass through. But despite the abysmal condition of the walls, Nehemiah did not lose heart. Upon completing his inspection, he gathered “the priests, the nobles, the officials, or anyone else in the administration” (Nehemiah 2:16 NLT) and presented them with an unexpected and unprecedented challenge.

“You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!” – Nehemiah 2:17 NLT

For these men, Nehemiah’s words must have sounded like madness. What Nehemiah was suggesting was impossible. Had the darkness prevented him from seeing the full extent of the situation? Did he really believe he could do what no one else had done for nearly 150 years? The walls of Jerusalem had lain in ruins since 586 B.C. when Nebuchadnezzar’s forces leveled them as part of their long-standing siege and eventual takeover of the city.

…on January 15, during the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon led his entire army against Jerusalem. They surrounded the city and built siege ramps against its walls. Jerusalem was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah’s reign. – 2 Kings 25:1-2 NLT

On August 14 of that year, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard and an official of the Babylonian king, arrived in Jerusalem. He burned down the Temple of the Lord, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem. He destroyed all the important buildings in the city. Then he supervised the entire Babylonian army as they tore down the walls of Jerusalem on every side. – 2 Kings 25:8-10 NLT

It had been 142 years since the walls fell and during that time, no attempt had been made to rebuild them. It was a project of such epic proportions that no one ever dared to take it on – until Nehemiah showed up on the scene.

This newcomer brought with him a renewed sense of hope and expectation. He told the people about his plans but made sure to disclose God’s role in it all. He wanted them to know that he was on a mission sanctioned by Yahweh Himself. The sovereign LORD had even moved the heart of King Artaxerxes to put the full weight of his royal authority behind the project. Nehemiah’s words had an immediate impact on his audience, causing them to declare, “Let us rise up and build” (Nehemiah 2:18 ESV). They were pumped and ready to begin. Nehemiah’s pep talk had left them so enthused that they conveniently overlooked the sheer size of the project and the relentless determination of their enemies.

But as verse 19 reveals, the enthusiastic Jews were soon reminded that their efforts would not come without opposition. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem launched an immediate public relationship campaign designed to discourage and dissuade the Jews from accomplishing their God-ordained task. Yet, Nehemiah countered their attacks with a reminder of God’s presence and power.

“The God of heaven will help us succeed. We, his servants, will start rebuilding this wall. But you have no share, legal right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.” – Nehemiah 2:20 NLT

Nehemiah saw Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem as what they were – enemies of God who had no right to question God's people and no claim on the land that He had given to the Israelites as their inheritance. These men weren’t just opposing the efforts of Nehemiah and his fellow Jews, they were directly violating the will of God Almighty.

Sanballat was probably a Moabite from Horonaim, a city of Moab. Tobiah was an Ammonite. Geshem was an Arab who governed over the region south of Judah. It is interesting to note that these three men represent three distinct people groups that had a love-hate relationship with Israel. The Moabites were descendants of Moab, the son born to Lot as a result of his incestuous relationship with his eldest daughter (Genesis 19:37). The Ammonites were descendants of Ben-ammi, the son born to Lot through his incestuous relationship with his younger daughter (Genesis 19:38). The “Arabs” mentioned in this passage is likely a reference to the Edomites who controlled an area east of the Arabah, from the Zered to the Gulf of Aqaba. They were the descendants of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob. So each of these nations was made up of people who were blood relatives of the Jews but they were not heirs of the promise God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

As Nehemiah makes clear, they had “no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem” (Nehemiah 2:20 ESV). These nations had long ago compromised their spiritual standards and comingled with the pagan nations that lived in and around Canaan. They were idolatrous and polytheistic. During Israel’s 70-year exile in Babylon, each of these groups had taken advantage of the situation by claiming Israelite land as their own, and for the last 142 years, they had done everything in their power to oppose the Israelite’s repatriation of the land.

But Nehemiah had come to set things straight. The walls would be rebuilt and the security of Jerusalem would be restored. Despite the odds, Nehemiah knew they had Yahweh on their side.

“The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build…” – Nememiah 2:20 ESV

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

The Good Hand of God

1 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. 2 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. 3 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?” 4 Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 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.” 6 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. 7 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, 8 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

Chapter Two begins with another date that provides an important marker. First, it establishes that Nehemiah spent four months praying and fasting before approaching King Artaxerxes. In the opening chapter, Nehemiah does not disclose what he intends to ask Artaxerxes but simply asks God to prepare the king’s heart.

“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.” – Nehemiah 1:11 ESV

As Nehemiah prayed and waited, he continued to serve as the king’s cup-bearer. In this role, Nehemiah enjoyed regular access to the throne room because it was his responsibility to taste-test the king’s food and wine. In a real sense, Nehemiah served as a royal bodyguard, preventing any attempts to assassinate the king by poisoning his food. 

““From varied sources it may be assumed that Nehemiah as a royal cupbearer would probably have had the following traits: 1. He would have been well trained in court etiquette (cf. Dan. 1:4-5). 2. He was probably a handsome individual (cf. Dan. 1:4, 13, 14). 3. He would certainly know how to select the wines to set before the king. . . . 4. He would have to be a convivial companion to the king with a willingness to lend an ear at all times. . . . 5. He would be a man of great influence as one with the closest access to the king, and one who could well determine who could see the king. 6. Above all, Nehemiah had to be an individual who enjoyed the unreserved confidence of the king.”” – Edwin M. Yamauchi, “The Archaeological Background of Nehemiah,” Bibliotheca Sacra 137:548 (October-December 1980):296-97

During his four months of prayer and fasting, Nehemiah’s countenance must have changed dramatically as the effects of food deprivation and sorrow over the state of affairs in Judah took their toll on his body. Nehemiah attempted to disguise his sadness whenever he was in the king’s presence but, in time, the king noticed that something was off. Much to Nehemiah’s dismay, Artaxerxes confronted him about his downcast demeanor. 

“Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.” – Nehemiah 2:2 NLT

Nehemiah admits that the king’s question left him “very much afraid” (Nehemiah 2:3 ESV). As the king’s cup-bearer, Nehemiah was a trusted servant who held the king’s life in his hands. He knew his downcast countenance could be misconstrued and taken as a sign of guilt. It would have been easy for Artaxerxes to become concerned that Nehemiah’s change in character was evidence of something more sinister. So, before the king could reach the wrong conclusion, Nehemiah broke protocol and told the truth. He literally blurted out his answer to the king.

“Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” – Nehemiah 2:3 NLT

Nehemiah wanted to quickly dispel any thoughts that he was part of a clandestine assassination plot against the king. His sadness was not a sign of remorse or regret over his role in planning the king’s demise; it reflected his concern for the state of his native home.  

Much to his surprise, the king responded by asking for clarification. “What are you requesting?” he inquired. Nehemiah immediately recognized this as the answer to his prayer. He had pleaded with God to give him favor with the king and God had answered that prayer in a big way. Sensing the divine nature of this encounter, Nehemiah offered up a short, silent prayer to God and then disclosed his request to the king.

“If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.” – Nehemiah 2:5 NLT

Nehemiah’s quick prayer must have come with an equally speedy response because he wasted no time in telling the king what was on his mind. The words that came out of his mouth were bold and audacious. Though he enjoyed a long-standing and intimate relationship with Artaxerxes, Nehemiah was asking a lot. Not only was he asking for an extended leave of absence from his role as the king’s cup-bearer, but he was also requesting permission to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. What makes this request so remarkable is that Artaxerxes is the same king who earlier decreed that all construction on Jerusalem was to come to a halt.

The Book of Ezra records the details behind Artaxerxes earlier decision. He had received a letter from the non-Jewish residents of Judah that warned of possible insurrection if the Hebrews were allowed to continue their rebuilding efforts. 

“We declare to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the province west of the Euphrates River will be lost to you.” – Ezra 4:16 NLT

They encouraged Artaxerxes to search the royal archives and learn about Judah’s long-standing history of rebellion and insurrection. Rightfully concerned, the king took their advice.

“I ordered a search of the records and have found that Jerusalem has indeed been a hotbed of insurrection against many kings. In fact, rebellion and revolt are normal there! Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem and the entire province west of the Euphrates River, receiving tribute, customs, and tolls. Therefore, issue orders to have these men stop their work. That city must not be rebuilt except at my express command. Be diligent, and don’t neglect this matter, for we must not permit the situation to harm the king’s interests.” – Ezra 4:19-22 NLT

So, it took a lot for Nehemiah to ask Artaxerxes for permission to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls. It was a risky proposition that could have turned out poorly. But rather than questioning Nehemiah’s loyalty or debating the allegiance of the Jews back in Judah, Artaxerxes simply asked, “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” (Nehemiah 2:6 ESV).

All he asked for was a timeline that revealed Nehemiah’s return date. Artaxerxes was willing to let Nehemiah go as long as he promised to come back. Surprised by the king’s amenable disposition, Nehemiah decided to lay all his cards on the table. He sensed that God had answered his prayer to soften the king’s heart, so he ventured out in faith and made the big ask.

“If it please the king, let me have letters addressed to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, instructing them to let me travel safely through their territories on my way to Judah. And please give me a letter addressed to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.” – Nehemiah 2:7-8 NLT

Nehemiah reveals his strong belief that God had sovereignly ordained every facet of his encounter with the king.

…the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me. – Nememiah 2:8 NLT

Everything he asked for was provided, from the letters guaranteeing safe travel to the lumber needed to build the walls, gates, and a house for him to live in. This last request indicates that Nehemiah knew his stay in Jerusalem would not be temporary. Little did he know that it would be 12 years before he returned to the court of Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 5:14). God had miraculously intervened and prepared the heart of the pagan king to willfully sponsor Nehemiah’s return to Judah. Once again, Yahweh sovereignly moved in the life of a foreign king, prompting him to use his power to benefit the people of God. Time and time again, God utilized men like Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes to accomplish His will for His chosen people. These powerful kings were no match for God Almighty. They were instruments in His sovereign hands and fully under His control at all times. As the Proverb so succinctly puts it, “The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases” (Proverbs 21:1 NLT).

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

The Story Continues

1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.

Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”

4 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. 5 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, 6 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. 7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 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.’ 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 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 1:1-11 ESV

After a 15-year gap, the Book of Nehemiah picks up where the Book of Ezra ended, carrying on the story of the rebuilding and repopulating of Jerusalem by the returned exiles. It has been nearly 150 years since the Babylonians destroyed the city and forced some of its citizens to return with them as slaves. Over the next 70 years, these captives would acclimate to their new surroundings, with some of them turning their backs on Yahweh and worshiping the false gods of the Babylonians. A remnant of Jews would retain their faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, attempting to maintain their spiritual heritage under difficult circumstances. Their Temple had been destroyed, so they had no way of retaining the sacrificial system God had given them. Many of the Levites and priests who had been captured abandoned their God-given duties as the spiritual leaders of the people. It was a dark time for the people of God, but one that He had warned them about long before it happened.

“‘Even now, if you quit your evil ways, I will let you stay in your own land. But don’t be fooled by those who promise you safety simply because the Lord’s Temple is here. They chant, “The Lord’s Temple is here! The Lord’s Temple is here!” But I will be merciful only if you stop your evil thoughts and deeds and start treating each other with justice; only if you stop exploiting foreigners, orphans, and widows; only if you stop your murdering; and only if you stop harming yourselves by worshiping idols. Then I will let you stay in this land that I gave to your ancestors to keep forever.” – Jeremiah 7:3-7 NLT

The people of Judah had a long track record of disobedience. For centuries, they had displayed a strong propensity for unfaithfulness marked by spiritual adultery and moral laxity. Confident in their status as God’s chosen people, they believed they were immune from disaster. After all, their capital city contained the Temple of Yahweh. They viewed this magnificent structure built by Solomon as a virtual talisman that protected them from their enemies. But God had warned them that the Temple could not guarantee their safety.

“So just as I destroyed Shiloh, I will now destroy this Temple that bears my name, this Temple that you trust in for help, this place that I gave to you and your ancestors.And I will send you out of my sight into exile, just as I did your relatives, the people of Israel.” – Jeremiah 7:14-15 NLT

Hundreds of years earlier, God had destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel, sending the Assyrians to invade and destroy their capital city of Samaria and taking its residents as captives. The people of Judah witnessed the destruction of their northern kinsmen but made no attempt to change their ways. They continued to disobey God, ignoring the many prophets He sent who warned of judgment to come unless they repented. Eventually, God ran out of patience and carried out His plan for their judgment.

“And now the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Because you have not listened to me, I will gather together all the armies of the north under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, whom I have appointed as my deputy. I will bring them all against this land and its people and against the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy you and make you an object of horror and contempt and a ruin forever. I will take away your happy singing and laughter. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will no longer be heard. Your millstones will fall silent, and the lights in your homes will go out.This entire land will become a desolate wasteland. Israel and her neighboring lands will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.” – Jeremiah 25:8-11 NLT

Yet, Judah’s covenant-keeping God revealed His plan for their future deliverance and return to the land. After the fall of Jerusalem and the captives were taken to Babylon, God commissioned Jeremiah to send them a letter with the following message:

“You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”– Jeremiah 29:10-14 NLT

God had kept His word and returned a remnant of the exiles to Judah. Over the decades, they rebuilt the Temple and restored much of the city of Jerusalem. Under Ezra’s direction, they had re-established the integrity of the priesthood and revitalized the people’s knowledge of God’s law.

But the Book of Nehemiah opens with bad news. It has been 150 years since the fall of Jerusalem and despite all the achievements of the returned exiles, the walls of the city remain just as the Babylonians had left them. Nehemiah receives news from recent visitors to the city of Jerusalem, who inform him of the surprising state of affairs.

“Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”– Nehemiah 1:3 NLT

The year is 445 B.C. (the twentieth year of Artaxerxes’ reign) and the walls of Jerusalem have been in shambles since 586 B.C. This news surprises Nehemiah, who happens to serve as the cup-bearer to King Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 1:11). This Jewish exile has risen to a position of prominence in the royal court and has access to the Persian king; a fact that will prove beneficial as the story unfolds.

But upon hearing the news of Jerusalem’s disheveled outer defenses, Nehemiah “mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4 NLT). Saddened by what he heard, Nehemiah took the matter to Yahweh. First, he acknowledges God’s covenant-keeping faithfulness and unwavering love. Then he confesses his own unfaithfulness and that of the people of Judah. Nehemiah admits that they have been inconsistent in their worship of Yahweh. During their extended stay in Babylon, they have failed to obey God’s laws and have allowed their spiritual disciplines to languish. But he reminds Yahweh of His covenant promises.

“Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’” – Nehemiah 1:8-9 NLT

What makes this prayer so interesting is that God has already fulfilled this promise. Several waves of exiles have already returned to the land of Judah. Nehemiah seems to be indicating that there were still faithful Jews living in Babylon who longed to return home. Yes, they had sinned but had also repented and were trying to obey God’s commands. Nehemiah was pleading with God to send more exiles back to Jerusalem to help with the rebuilding efforts. To him, it was a matter of numbers. There weren’t enough men to do the work.

Nehemiah had a plan and he asked God to bless it. He had come up with a strategy for solving the problem back home and was prepared to use his access to the king to make it happen. But he knew he would need God’s permission and help. Nehemiah was concerned about the state of affairs back home and ready to do something about it. He was not willing to sit back and do nothing. His royal position likely afforded him great comfort and convenience. He lacked for nothing. But Nehemiah was unwilling to live in luxury while his homeland lay in ruins. He seems to have understood that his position in the royal court was God-ordained and afforded him the perfect opportunity to appeal for the king’s help, even if it cost him his job or his life. He knew the risks involved and asked God to give him favor.

“Put it into his heart to be kind to me.” – Nehemiah 1:11 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

His Righteousness Endures Forever

18 Now there were found some of the sons of the priests who had married foreign women: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah, some of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers. 19 They pledged themselves to put away their wives, and their guilt offering was a ram of the flock for their guilt. 20 Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah. 21 Of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah. 22 Of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

23 Of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. 24 Of the singers: Eliashib. Of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.

25 And of Israel: of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Hashabiah, and Benaiah. 26 Of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah. 27 Of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza. 28 Of the sons of Bebai were Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai. 29 Of the sons of Bani were Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth. 30 Of the sons of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh. 31 Of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah. 33 Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei. 34 Of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, 35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi, 36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasu. 38 Of the sons of Binnui: Shimei, 39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph. 43 Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah. 44 All these had married foreign women, and some of the women had even borne children. – Ezra 10:18-44 ESV

The Book of Ezra ends on a rather down note with what appears to be a comprehensive list of all the priests who violated God’s law by marrying foreign wives. These spiritual leaders of Israel were forced to “put away” or divorce their non-Hebrew wives. Sadly, the children born into these mixed-race marriages became the innocent victims of their fathers’ indiscretions and disobedience to God’s command. Like all children who unwillingly suffer the consequences of a divorce for which they were not responsible, these boys and girls found their lives upended and their futures destroyed. 

This sad state of affairs had begun among the community’s spiritual leaders. Ezra lists the names of 111 men who served as priests, Levites, and Temple servants and “had married foreign women, and some of the women had even borne children” (Ezra 10:44 ESV). These members of Judah’s spiritual elite had failed to observe one of God’s cardinal commands. Yahweh had set them apart from the rest of the nation of Israel and designated them as His servants. They were to be holy in all their actions and serve as role models for the people of God. But these descendants of Aaron had dropped the ball and set a dangerous precedence that influenced and infected the flock under their care. God would later issue a stinging indictment to His flawed and unfaithful priests.

“Listen, you priests—this command is for you! Listen to me and make up your minds to honor my name,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “or I will bring a terrible curse against you. I will curse even the blessings you receive. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you have not taken my warning to heart. I will punish your descendants and splatter your faces with the manure from your festival sacrifices, and I will throw you on the manure pile. Then at last you will know it was I who sent you this warning so that my covenant with the Levites can continue,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

“The purpose of my covenant with the Levites was to bring life and peace, and that is what I gave them. This required reverence from them, and they greatly revered me and stood in awe of my name. They passed on to the people the truth of the instructions they received from me. They did not lie or cheat; they walked with me, living good and righteous lives, and they turned many from lives of sin.

“The words of a priest’s lips should preserve knowledge of God, and people should go to him for instruction, for the priest is the messenger of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. But you priests have left God’s paths. Your instructions have caused many to stumble into sin. You have corrupted the covenant I made with the Levites,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So I have made you despised and humiliated in the eyes of all the people. For you have not obeyed me but have shown favoritism in the way you carry out my instructions.” – Malachi 2:1-9 NLT

As God’s hand-picked servants, these men were held to a higher standard. Yahweh had commissioned them to serve and protect His chosen people. As His undershepherds, they were obligated to feed and care for His flock. But, instead, they abandoned God’s law and sought to place their selfish desires above those of the people. The priests of Judah had unwittingly followed in the footsteps of their counterparts in the northern kingdom of Israel. God expressed His divine outrage with those unfaithful shepherds in the Book of Hosea.

“My people are being destroyed
    because they don’t know me.
Since you priests refuse to know me,
    I refuse to recognize you as my priests.
Since you have forgotten the laws of your God,
    I will forget to bless your children.
The more priests there are,
    the more they sin against me.
They have exchanged the glory of God
    for the shame of idols.” – Hosea 4:6-7 NLT

God went on to summarize the devastating impact of their failure to serve as spiritual role models for the people.

“‘…what the priests do, the people also do.’
    So now I will punish both priests and people
    for their wicked deeds.” – Hosea 4:9 NLT

This was the case in Judah as Ezra chronicled the names of the guilty. His list was a who’s who of Judah’s spiritual leadership, containing the names of more than 100 men who, as the sons of Levitical priests, were responsible for the nation’s spiritual well-being. But Ezra was forced to begin his purging of the ranks by dealing with the very men who should have prevented any of this from happening in the first place.

Ezra provides no details as to how the dissolution of these marriages took place. But it is safe to assume that this was a very dark day in the lives of all those involved. Husbands and wives were permanently separated. Family units were broken up. Women and children walked away facing bleak and uncertain futures. It was anything but a happy occasion.

Ezra spares his audience from having to read the dismal details of the nationwide purging that Judah had to endure. Once the religious leaders put away their pagan wives and children, the rest of the people had to follow suit. There is no way of knowing how long this process took but its impact on the nation would have been profound and long-lasting.

Thirteen years will pass before Ezra’s name is mentioned again in the pages of Scripture. He appears in the latter portion of the Book of Nehemiah after the reconstruction of the city’s walls is complete. In celebration of this momentous occasion, Nehemiah assembled the people together and called on Ezra to read the Mosaic Law out loud.

…all the people assembled with a unified purpose at the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given for Israel to obey.

So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the Book of the Law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand. He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law.

Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform that had been made for the occasion. – Nehemiah 8:1-4 NLT

As Ezra stood up to read, he was surrounded by a host of priests and Levites who spread out among the people to ensure that everything he said was understood.

They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage. – Nehemiah 8:8 NLT

The people were emotionally overwhelmed as they considered the many ways in which they had violated God’s law. Their tears flowed as their guilt consumed them. But the priests encouraged them to express joy rather than sadness.

“Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” – Nehemiah 8:9 NLT

“Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” – Nehemiah 8:10 NLT

“Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day.” – Nehemiah 8:11 NLT

This was a day of joy because the Temple had been restored, the city had been rebuilt, and the walls had been completed. But even more significant than that, the law had been declared, explained, and understood.

So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them. – Nehemiah 8:12 NLT

Despite their disobedience and apostasy, God had kept His promises. Though they had repeatedly violated His law, He faithfully fulfilled His covenant commitments. Even as Ezra and the people of Judah suffered through the aftermath of the breakup of so many marriages and families, God was not done with them. Their work would continue. The repopulating of Judah would carry on and the rebuilding of the city of David would one day be complete.

But what about all those recently abandoned women and children? What became of them? While Ezra gave no details, the Scriptures provide a powerful clue. Throughout God’s Word, He is portrayed as the champion of the downcast and downtrodden.

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
    this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
God places the lonely in families;
    he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. – Psalm 68:5-6 NLT

“For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing.” – Deuteronomy 10:17-18 NLT

The story of Hagar and Ishmael provides a powerful reminder of God’s compassion for the defenseless and disenfranchised. The Book of Genesis records the plight of this Egyptian slave who served as the handmaid to Abraham’s wife Sarah. Frustrated by her ongoing infertility, Sarah convinced Abraham to take Hagar as a wife and bear a son through her. When her plan proved successful, Sarah became jealous of Hagar. Then, when God opened Sarah’s womb and she bore Isaac, she demanded that Abraham cast out Hagar and Ishmael.

“Get rid of that slave woman and her son. He is not going to share the inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won’t have it!” – Genesis 21:10 NLT

While Abraham was grieved by his wife’s demands, he was given an assurance from God that all would go well with Ishmael.

“Do not be upset over the boy and your servant. Do whatever Sarah tells you, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted. But I will also make a nation of the descendants of Hagar’s son because he is your son, too.” – Genesis 21:12-13 NLT

The story takes a dark turn when Abraham fulfills his wife’s demands and casts out Hagar and his son. Abandoned and alone, Hagar wanders around the wilderness until she runs out of water and prepares to watch her son die in front of her eyes. But God had something else in store for her and Ishmael. He sent an angel to encourage her.

“Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.”

Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.

And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness. He became a skillful archer, and he settled in the wilderness of Paran. His mother arranged for him to marry a woman from the land of Egypt. – Genesis 21:17-21 NLT

Abraham and Sarah had tried to take matters into their own hands, attempting to solve the problem of her barrenness through a plan that was unsanctioned by God. Their sin resulted in Ishmael’s birth, which produced in Sarah a hatred for Hagar and the boy she thought would be their hope. But God was not going to let Sarah’s anger produce further suffering for the innocent and undeserving. He stepped in and rescued Hagar and her child, assuring her that He could and would provide for them both – for years to come.

We are not told what happened to the women and children who were cast out of Judah but it is safe to say that God’s love for the widow and orphan did not diminish because of the sins of the men of Judah. Their selfish actions had produced sin that resulted in devastating consequences for their wives and children. But their unfaithfulness could not alter God’s care and concern for the defenseless. Man’s wickedness cannot diminish God’s goodness. His character remains unchanged even when men prove unfaithful. “His righteousness endures forever” (Psalm 112:3 ESV).

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Drastic Measures Required

1 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. 2 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. 3 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. 4 Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it.” 5 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.

6 Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib, where he spent the night, neither eating bread nor drinking water, for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles. 7 And a proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the returned exiles that they should assemble at Jerusalem, 8 and that if anyone did not come within three days, by order of the officials and the elders all his property should be forfeited, and he himself banned from the congregation of the exiles.

9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. And all the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain. 10 And Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have broken faith and married foreign women, and so increased the guilt of Israel. 11 Now then make confession to the Lord, the God of your fathers and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives.” 12 Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, “It is so; we must do as you have said. 13 But the people are many, and it is a time of heavy rain; we cannot stand in the open. Nor is this a task for one day or for two, for we have greatly transgressed in this matter. 14 Let our officials stand for the whole assembly. Let all in our cities who have taken foreign wives come at appointed times, and with them the elders and judges of every city, until the fierce wrath of our God over this matter is turned away from us.” 15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supported them.

16 Then the returned exiles did so. Ezra the priest selected men, heads of fathers' houses, according to their fathers' houses, each of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to examine the matter; 17 and by the first day of the first month they had come to the end of all the men who had married foreign women. – Ezra 10:1-17 ESV

Shortly after his return to Judah, Ezra discovered that the first wave of returned exiles were guilty of violating God’s law. For the last 80 years, they had been compromising their set-apart status as God’s chosen people by intermarrying with the land’s foreign occupants.

“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.” – Ezra 9:1-2 ESV

Ezra was shaken to the core by this disturbing news and driven to his knees before Yahweh. He knew the people’s behavior was deserving of judgment because they had violated God’s long-standing prohibition against marriage with outsiders. As a scribe and an expert in the Mosaic Law, Ezra was highly familiar with the details of this divine decree and recited it back to God as part of his prayer.

“The land you are entering to possess is totally defiled by the detestable practices of the people living there. From one end to the other, the land is filled with corruption. Don’t let your daughters marry their sons! Don’t take their daughters as wives for your sons. Don’t ever promote the peace and prosperity of those nations.” – Ezra 9:11-12 NLT

This law was not a statement about interracial marriage but a call to holiness and moral purity. The nations that inhabited the land of Canaan were not followers of Yahweh. They had their own gods and utilized a range of “detestable” rites and rituals to worship these false deities. Chapter 18 of the Book of Leviticus contains a list of practices that were off-limits to the people of God. It includes such sins as incest, child sacrifice, homosexuality, and bestiality. And God made it clear that these sins were

“Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, for the people I am driving out before you have defiled themselves in all these ways. Because the entire land has become defiled, I am punishing the people who live there.” – Leviticus 18:24-25 NLT

“You must not commit any of these detestable sins.” – Leviticus 18:26 NLT

“So obey my instructions, and do not defile yourselves by committing any of these detestable practices that were committed by the people who lived in the land before you. I am the Lord your God.” – Leviticus 18:30 NLT

God was not condemning the Canaanites as an inferior race; He was warning against the threat of religious compromise that accompanies cohabitation with non-Yahweh followers. Marriage involves the comingling of the lives of a man and a woman as they become “one flesh.” They share everything in common, including their sexual desires and spiritual beliefs and practices. That is why God warned the people of Israel to abstain from intermarriage.

“You must not intermarry with them. Do not let your daughters and sons marry their sons and daughters, for they will lead your children away from me to worship other gods.” – Deuteronomy 7:3-4 NLT

It was always about spiritual fidelity and faithfulness. That is why Paul provided the believers in Corinth with a powerful warning about the risk of spiritual compromise that happens when believers become “unequally yoked” with unbelievers.

Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. – 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 NLT

Ezra was faced with a dilemma. He confessed the people’s guilt but knew that God would be just and right if He decided to pour out His wrath.

“O Lord, the God of Israel, you are just, for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our guilt, for none can stand before you because of this.” – Ezra 9:15 ESV

It’s important to note that Ezra became aware of the people’s transgression after offering sacrifices to God at the Temple.

Then the exiles who had come out of captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel. They presented twelve bulls for all the people of Israel, as well as ninety-six rams and seventy-seven male lambs. They also offered twelve male goats as a sin offering. All this was given as a burnt offering to the Lord. – Ezra 8:35 NLT

The sin offers had been meant to provide atonement for the sins of the people. But now Ezra knew that the people were unrepentant and unwilling to give up their unsanctioned marriages and unholy alliances with their false gods. Despite all the sacrifices offered in His name, God could not overlook their blatant disregard for His Law.

As Ezra prayed, wept, and mourned the sorry state of affairs in Judah, he was joined by a large group of men, women, and children. They had heard Ezra’s confession of guilt and were convicted of their guilt and their need for repentance.

“We have been unfaithful to our God, for we have married these pagan women of the land. But in spite of this there is hope for Israel. Let us now make a covenant with our God to divorce our pagan wives and to send them away with their children. We will follow the advice given by you and by the others who respect the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law of God.” – Ezra 10:2-3 NLT

They knew that confession was not enough. God required a change in their behavior. So, to appease God, they came up with a plan that required drastic measures and a corporate commitment on the part of the people. Every single marriage that was in violation of God’s Law was to be annulled. All foreign wives and their children were to be “put away,” an act of permanent separation that was intended to restore the purity of the people of God.

“This proposal is harsh in the light of modern Christian conceptions. Why should innocent children be punished? We must remember that the religious influence of the mothers on their children was regarded as the stumbling block. To keep the religion of the Lord pure was the one and only aim of Ezra and the returned exiles. As a small minority group, the repatriates lived in the Holy Land among a large population of influential people who were followers of various polytheistic religions. Against such larger numbers they had to defend themselves and their religious identity. Thus the drastic measures are understandable.” – F. Charles Fensham, The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah. New International Commentary on the Old Testament series

Ezra gave his approval to the plan and ordered its immediate ratification by “the leaders of the priests and the Levites and all the people of Israel” (Ezra 10:5 NLT). He then spent the night praying and fasting to prepare himself for the difficult days that lie ahead. He knew this was going to be a formidable undertaking for the people of Judah. Their sin was grievous and the corrective measures were going to be painful and gut-wrenching for all involved. Husbands and wives would be permanently separated. Fathers would never see their children again. Ezra found no joy in issuing the order to break up these homes but he knew it was necessary. The next morning, he addressed the people of Judah, ordering them to carry out the covenant they had made.

“You have committed a terrible sin. By marrying pagan women, you have increased Israel’s guilt. So now confess your sin to the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do what he demands. Separate yourselves from the people of the land and from these pagan women.” – Ezra 10:10-11 NLT

Despite the devastating consequences of Ezra’s command, the people agreed to obey it. But they begged for time to carry it out. Their request for additional time points to the magnitude and scope of the problem. This was a widespread problem that stretched to the far corners of the land of Judah, so they begged Ezra for more time to fulfill their commitment.

“This isn’t something that can be done in a day or two, for many of us are involved in this extremely sinful affair. And this is the rainy season, so we cannot stay out here much longer.” – Ezra 10:13 NLT

To dissolve these marriages would require a certificate of divorce and authorization by the priesthood. This would take time. So, a plan was established to set up local courts throughout Judah where the people could come to have their marriages legally annulled. But as will become clear in the closing verses of this chapter, the priests and leaders of Judah had set the precedence for this debacle. They had paved the way for the people’s transgression by validating intermarriage through their own lives. It had started at the top and trickled down to those below. The shepherds had failed the sheep and God was not pleased. 

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

The High Cost of Compromise

1 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. 2 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.” 3 As soon as I heard this, I tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled. 4 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. 5 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, 6 saying:

“O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. 7 From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt. And for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as it is today. 8 But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant and to give us a secure hold within his holy place, that our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our slavery. 9 For we are slaves. Yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us protection in Judea and Jerusalem.

10 “And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments, 11 which you commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land that you are entering, to take possession of it, is a land impure with the impurity of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations that have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness. 12 Therefore do not give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters for your sons, and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.’ 13 And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, seeing that you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a remnant as this, 14 shall we break your commandments again and intermarry with the peoples who practice these abominations? Would you not be angry with us until you consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? 15 O Lord, the God of Israel, you are just, for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our guilt, for none can stand before you because of this.” – Ezra 9:1-15 ESV

It had been 80 years since the first wave of Israelites returned to the land of Judah under the aegis of King Cyrus of Persia. These former exiles had been given permission to return to their homeland so that they might restore the city of Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple of Solomon. This generation of Israelites had been born in Babylon during the 70 years of exile that God had ordained as punishment for their parents' failure to keep their covenant commitment to Him.

Sixty-six years before the Babylonians invaded Judah and captured the city of Jerusalem, God foretold of the coming destruction. He spoke through His prophet Jeremiah, who delivered His warning of pending judgment to the stubbornly rebellious people of Judah.

“But you would not listen to me,” says the Lord. “You made me furious by worshiping idols you made with your own hands, bringing on yourselves all the disasters you now suffer. And now the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Because you have not listened to me, I will gather together all the armies of the north under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, whom I have appointed as my deputy. I will bring them all against this land and its people and against the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy you and make you an object of horror and contempt and a ruin forever. I will take away your happy singing and laughter. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will no longer be heard. Your millstones will fall silent, and the lights in your homes will go out. This entire land will become a desolate wasteland. Israel and her neighboring lands will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.” – Jeremiah 25:7-11 NLT

Everything happened just as God said it would. In 539 B.C., the Babylonians ended a years-long siege, breaching the walls of Jerusalem and wreaking destruction upon the city and its citizens. Those who did not die by the sword were taken captive and transported to Babylon. But God had also placed a time limit on their season of suffering. Long before the Babylonians invaded Judah, God declared that their subjugation of His people would last seven decades.

“Then, after the seventy years of captivity are over, I will punish the king of Babylon and his people for their sins,” says the Lord. “I will make the country of the Babylonians a wasteland forever.” – Jeremiah 25:12 NLT

Once the Babylonian conquest of Judah had taken place and the exiles were trying to acclimate to their new surroundings in a foreign land, God sent another message through His prophet Jeremiah.

This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.” – Jeremiah 29:10-14 NLT

God kept His word. When 70 years had passed, He motivated King Cyrus to issue a decree authorizing the release and repatriation of the people of Judah. A remnant of Jews returned to Judah under the leadership of Sheshbazzar and Zerubbabel. Upon their arrival, they began the formidable task of rebuilding the Temple and were immediately met with stiff opposition from the local inhabitants. During the 70 years of exile, the once-vacant cities and homes of the Judahites had been taken over by foreigners. The king of Assyria had relocated some of his foreign captives to Judah, authorizing them to claim the land as their own. In time, these immigrants intermarried with the Israelites who had been left behind after the Babylonian invasion. These mixed-race occupants of the land became known as Samaritans. 

By the time Ezra arrived some 80 years later, he discovered that the Babylonians exiles who returned under Zerubbabel’s leadership had also been intermarrying with the locals.

“…the Jewish leaders came to me and said, “Many of the people of Israel, and even some of the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the other peoples living in the land. They have taken up the detestable practices of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. For the men of Israel have married women from these people and have taken them as wives for their sons.” – Ezra 9:1-2 NLT

Ezra’s whole purpose for returning to Judah was to instruct the people in the laws of God. He had brought a contingent of Levitical priests to assist him in his efforts. But he soon discovered that he had his work cut out for him. The people of Judah were living in direct violation of one of God’s primary prohibitions. Centuries earlier, God had forbidden His chosen people from intermarrying with the nations living in Canaan.

“When the Lord your God hands these nations over to you and you conquer them, you must completely destroy them. Make no treaties with them and show them no mercy. You must not intermarry with them. Do not let your daughters and sons marry their sons and daughters, for they will lead your children away from me to worship other gods. Then the anger of the Lord will burn against you, and he will quickly destroy you.” – Deuteronomy 7:2-4 NLT

For hundreds of years, God’s people had violated His laws. This is the reason He sent the Babylonians to defeat and enslave them. But even after 70 years of forced exile, the people of Judah had failed to learn their lesson. They repeated the sins of their forefathers and intermarried with the idolatrous nations that had occupied the land in their absence. The returned people of God grew complacent about their faith and compromised their convictions. 

Ezra was appalled by what he heard.

“…the holy race has become polluted by these mixed marriages. Worse yet, the leaders and officials have led the way in this outrage.” – Ezra 9:2 NLT

Those who knew better had promoted this behavior. The leaders of Judah, including the Levites and priests, were responsible for this sad spiritual state of affairs.

Ezra’s reaction reveals a lot about his character. He immediately went into mourning over the news of the people’s apostasy. Then he took the matter to Yahweh. Personally ashamed of their conduct, Ezra took it upon himself to confess the corporate sins of the people, declaring himself to be complicit in their act of rebellion.

“O my God, I am utterly ashamed; I blush to lift up my face to you. For our sins are piled higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached to the heavens.” – Ezra 9:6 NLT

As a scribe and an expert in the Mosaic law, Ezra knew that what they were doing was in direct violation of God's commands and that God would not take their disobedience lightly. It shocked Ezra that the people would behave in this way despite God's amazing grace and mercy. God had shown them favor by allowing a remnant of them to return to the land, rebuild the Temple, and restore the city of Jerusalem. He had not forsaken them but had fulfilled His promise to end their 70 years of captivity and send them home.

The people of God had not earned or deserved God’s gracious treatment of them. Even their time living as slaves in Babylon had been marked by continued rebellion against God. They had regularly worshiped false gods and rejected and rebelled against the one true God. Yet, He had kept His word and fulfilled His promise.

Ezra did not take God's grace lightly. He was shocked that the people could so easily snub their noses at God and blatantly live in open rebellion to His commands. Their lives were marked by compromise. Rather than separate themselves from the other nations that had taken up residence in the land during their absence, they gladly coexisted with them, marrying off their sons and daughters to them. Not only that, they compromised their allegiance to God by taking on the false gods of their neighbors, diluting their faith, and offending the very One who had rescued them from captivity.

This parallels the experience of so many of us as believers. God has redeemed us from slavery to sin. He has made it possible for us to be restored to a right relationship with Him. Yet we find ourselves comingling with the world around us. Rather than remaining separate and set apart, we determine to blend in and, in the process, end up compromising our convictions. Many of us, having been set free by God, find ourselves enslaved to the world. We seek our self-worth and satisfaction from what the world offers. We long to be accepted by the world. So, we seek to blend in and slowly, steadily, we begin to make compromises and concessions. We rationalize our behavior and excuse our actions. We refuse to accept Jesus' warning that the world will hate us just as it hated Him.

Instead of living as strangers and sojourners in this land and recognizing that we are citizens of another kingdom, we choose to get too cozy and comfortable with this world. We gladly adopt their ways and accept their standards as our own. The convictions of the culture around us slowly begin to influence and infect us, and we begin to lose our distinctiveness. Chosen and set apart by God, we find ourselves looking more and more like the world around us. Our distinction as Christians becomes more a label than a lifestyle. That was the problem Ezra encountered when he arrived in Judah. The saints had lost their saltiness. The intensity of their light had diminished and they were close to being overwhelmed by the surrounding darkness.

And yet, God still showed them favor. He continued to extend mercy. It was He who sent Ezra back with the sole task of reestablishing His law in the land. God had allowed them to rebuild the temple and He would eventually send back Nehemiah with another wave of exiles to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem. God was not done and He is not done today. Despite all we see happening around us and the feeling that the darkness is overwhelming, God remains on His throne. He is still in charge. But He is looking for a remnant of His people who will boldly stand apart from the crowd and speak up for the truth. He is calling His people to come back to Him, reject the ways of this world, and renew their commitment to live in holiness.

For the believer, compromise is deadly, and the temptation to do so is greater than it has ever been before. The world wants to silence our voices, stifle our faith, compromise our convictions, and distract us from our devotion to God. But we must never forget that God has redeemed us from the world. We can live in it and yet not become part of it. We have been called to make a difference, not blend in. We have been saved so that we might tell others of the truth regarding man's sin and God's plan of salvation. Some of us have compromised our faith. Others of us have allowed ourselves to succumb to defeat and despair. We live as if all hope is lost and the enemy is winning. But our God reigns. He wins in the end. His victory is assured. We must live like we believe it. All is not lost. But it is time for the called out to stand up and to live out their faith.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Back to the Future

24 Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests: Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their kinsmen with them. 25 And I weighed out to them the silver and the gold and the vessels, the offering for the house of our God that the king and his counselors and his lords and all Israel there present had offered. 26 I weighed out into their hand 650 talents of silver, and silver vessels worth 200 talents, and 100 talents of gold, 27 20 bowls of gold worth 1,000 darics, and two vessels of fine bright bronze as precious as gold. 28 And I said to them, “You are holy to the Lord, and the vessels are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the Lord, the God of your fathers. 29 Guard them and keep them until you weigh them before the chief priests and the Levites and the heads of fathers' houses in Israel at Jerusalem, within the chambers of the house of the Lord.” 30 So the priests and the Levites took over the weight of the silver and the gold and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem, to the house of our God.

31 Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way. 32 We came to Jerusalem, and there we remained three days. 33 On the fourth day, within the house of our God, the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed into the hands of Meremoth the priest, son of Uriah, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them were the Levites, Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui. 34 The whole was counted and weighed, and the weight of everything was recorded.

35 At that time those who had come from captivity, the returned exiles, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and as a sin offering twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord. 36 They also delivered the king's commissions to the king's satraps and to the governors of the province Beyond the River, and they aided the people and the house of God. – Ezra 8:24-36 ESV

Having successfully recruited the additional Levitical priests and temple servants he required, Ezra led the returning exiles in a time of fasting and prayer (vs 21-23). This brief worship service was intended to seek God’s protection and provision for their journey and remind all involved of the holiness of their mission. They were on a divinely ordained assignment from Yahweh to return the sacred vessels to the Temple in Jerusalem. Among the returning exiles was a sizeable contingent of Levitical priests to assist Ezra in teaching God’s Law to the people of Judah. The journey ahead would be long and fraught with danger. It didn’t help that they would carry vast amounts of silver and gold and the priceless sacred vessels stored in the Babylonian treasury for 80 years.

In a display of wise leadership, Ezra delegated responsibility for the treasure to 12 hand-picked priests. It has been estimated that the total weight of the silver and gold was as much as 28 tons. The value of this precious cargo was inestimable but not just because of its financial worth. The gold and silver represented the offerings of Artaxerxes and the people of Judah who remained behind in Babylon. These donations were gifts to Yahweh and were to be considered holy. As Ezra distributed the treasure among the priestly leaders, he conveyed to them the seriousness of their assignment and the sacredness of their cargo.

“You and these treasures have been set apart as holy to the Lord. This silver and gold is a voluntary offering to the Lord, the God of our ancestors. Guard these treasures well until you present them to the leading priests, the Levites, and the leaders of Israel, who will weigh them at the storerooms of the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem.” – Ezra 8:28-29 NLT

Ezra wanted these men to know they were “holy” (qōḏeš). As Levitical priests, they had been consecrated to God and served at His pleasure. They belonged to Him. Even though they had spent their lives living in exile in Babylon, nothing had changed their set-apart status as God’s servants. Now they were returning to Jerusalem and would be reinstated to their role as the caretakers of the Temple and the mediators between Yahweh and the people. Ezra wanted them to embrace their priestly responsibilities and take seriously the consecrated nature of their heritage. As Levites, they were descendants of Aaron the first high priest, and were expected to carry on the legacy of spiritual leadership that God had graciously bestowed on their tribe.

Centuries earlier, God had chosen the Levites as His own, setting them apart as His servants, the caretakers of His house, and the teachers of His Law.

“Of all the people of Israel, the Levites are reserved for me. I have claimed them for myself in place of all the firstborn sons of the Israelites; I have taken the Levites as their substitutes. For all the firstborn males among the people of Israel are mine, both of people and of animals. I set them apart for myself on the day I struck down all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians. Yes, I have claimed the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons of Israel. And of all the Israelites, I have assigned the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They will serve in the Tabernacle on behalf of the Israelites and make sacrifices to purify the people so no plague will strike them when they approach the sanctuary.” – Num ber 8:16-19 NLT

After a lengthy trip, Ezra and his entourage arrived safely in Jerusalem. Their request for God’s protection had been answered and Ezra gratefully acknowledged Yahweh’s providential role behind it all.

…the gracious hand of our God protected us and saved us from enemies and bandits along the way. – Ezra 8:31 NLT

No travelers were lost, no gold or silver was stolen, and no Temple treasures were misplaced or missing. 

Everything was accounted for by number and weight, and the total weight was officially recorded. – Ezra 8:34 NLT

After four days of rest, the people gathered at the Temple for a sacred assembly at which they offered sacrifices to Yahweh. This must have been an emotional occasion for these recently returned exiled. Most, if not all of them, were too young to remember the former glory of Jerusalem and the Temple that Solomon had built. These people had been born and raised in Babylon, the descendants of those who had been taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar decades earlier. This was a new generation of Judahites who received a crash course in the worship of Yahweh and the intricacies of the sacrificial system. It must have been a sensory overload as they witnessed the sacrifices of 12 bulls, 96 rams, 77 male lambs, and 12 male goats. They would have never experienced anything like this during their days in Babylon.

As the people watched, their unblemished bulls, rams, lambs, and goats were ceremoniously sacrificed by the Levitical priests and offered as atonement for their sins. There was deep and meaningful symbolism behind every action. The blood of the animals was spilled and sprinkled on the altar.

“If the animal you present as a burnt offering is from the herd, it must be a male with no defects. Bring it to the entrance of the Tabernacle so you may be accepted by the Lord. Lay your hand on the animal’s head, and the Lord will accept its death in your place to purify you, making you right with him. Then slaughter the young bull in the Lord’s presence, and Aaron’s sons, the priests, will present the animal’s blood by splattering it against all sides of the altar that stands at the entrance to the Tabernacle. Then skin the animal and cut it into pieces. The sons of Aaron the priest will build a wood fire on the altar. They will arrange the pieces of the offering, including the head and fat, on the wood burning on the altar. But the internal organs and the legs must first be washed with water. Then the priest will burn the entire sacrifice on the altar as a burnt offering. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.” – Leviticus 1:3-9 NLT

This was a participatory event. No spectators or uninvolved observers were permitted. This religious ritual was intended to remind God’s people of their sinfulness and their need for atonement. The author of Hebrews points out the significance of the sacrificial system when he writes, “…according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22 NLT).

Centuries earlier, God had told the people of Israel, “…the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible” (Leviticus 17:11 NLT). As the recently returned remnant looked on, copious amounts of blood flowed as hundreds of innocent animals were slaughtered by the priests. This gruesome spectacle must have been difficult to watch and even harder to reconcile. They had no precedent for understanding what they were observing. None of them had ever offered a sacrifice at the Temple before. This was a new experience for each of them and it's likely that Ezra, as an expert in the Mosaic Law, had to explain all that was taking place. Even the Levitical priests found themselves in the difficult spot of having to perform sacred duties with which they were totally unfamiliar. This entire event was literally a baptism by fire as the participants rekindled their devotion to Yahweh and received unmerited atonement for their sins.

They were back in the land and because of their sacrifices, they were back in right standing with Yahweh. Their sacrifices had been accepted and their sins atoned for. Now the real work would begin as Ezra attempted to teach the people the code of conduct God had ordained for them. He and his priestly assistants face the formidable task of instructing the people about God’s expectations of them.

Despite their 70-year exile in Babylon, God’s view of the Israelites had not changed. He still held them to a higher standard. When He delivered them out of their captivity in Egypt, God had declared His non-negotiable requirements as His chosen people.

“For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.

“The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the Lord rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. But he does not hesitate to punish and destroy those who reject him. Therefore, you must obey all these commands, decrees, and regulations I am giving you today.” – Deuteronomy 7:6-11 NLT

God’s Law had not been altered or amended. His expectations of them had not changed. Their ancestors had disobeyed and been punished. Now it was their turn to hear God’s Laws and decide whether they were willing to keep them. God had proven Himself faithful. But would they?

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

The Good Hand of Our Great God

1 These are the heads of their fathers' houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylonia, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king: 2 Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush. 3 Of the sons of Shecaniah, who was of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah, with whom were registered 150 men. 4 Of the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him 200 men. 5 Of the sons of Zattu, Shecaniah the son of Jahaziel, and with him 300 men. 6 Of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him 50 men. 7 Of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men. 8 Of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him 80 men. 9 Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him 218 men. 10 Of the sons of Bani, Shelomith the son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 men. 11 Of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah, the son of Bebai, and with him 28 men. 12 Of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men. 13 Of the sons of Adonikam, those who came later, their names being Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men. 14 Of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zaccur, and with them 70 men.

15 I gathered them to the river that runs to Ahava, and there we camped three days. As I reviewed the people and the priests, I found there none of the sons of Levi. 16 Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, leading men, and for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of insight, 17 and sent them to Iddo, the leading man at the place Casiphia, telling them what to say to Iddo and his brothers andTeh the temple servants at the place Casiphia, namely, to send us ministers for the house of our God. 18 And by the good hand of our God on us, they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli the son of Levi, son of Israel, namely Sherebiah with his sons and kinsmen, 18; 19 also Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, with his kinsmen and their sons, 20; 20 besides 220 of the temple servants, whom David and his officials had set apart to attend the Levites. These were all mentioned by name.

21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. 22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty. – Ezra 8:1-23 ESV

The opening verses of chapter 8 provide a more detailed account of the summary in chapter 7, verses 7-9. In this chapter, Ezra recounts his preparations to lead a second wave of exiles back to the promised land. It had been nearly 80 years since King Cyrus had issued his decree authorizing the return of Judah's captured citizens and underwriting their rebuilding of Jerusalem and its Temple. Zerubbabel, the grandson of King Jehoiachin and a descendant of King David, led a relatively small contingent of Judahites who could prove they were the rightful claimants to the land of their forefathers. Upon their return, this initial group of repatriated citizens found the atmosphere in Jerusalem to be anything but welcoming. They were met with opposition and faced with the formidable task of rebuilding a city that had been decimated by the Babylonians 70 years earlier. The long-abandoned city had become a home to squatters who occupied any still-standing structures. The walls lay in ruins and the once-magnificent Temple had been reduced to rubble. But over the next eight decades, despite relentless opposition and oppressive conditions, the people labored to rebuild, restore, and reclaim the City of David as their own.

A series of kings had ruled the vast Persian Empire with Artaxerxes being the latest. He had authorized Ezra’s request to return to Judah with a contingent of exiles comprised of “priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Temple servants” (Ezra 7:7 NLT). These men would assist Ezra in his quest to reeducate the people of Judah in the ways of Yahweh. Nearly 150 years had passed since the nation of Judah had fallen to the Babylonians and during that time, the people had long ago abandoned their worship of Yahweh. Their Temple had been destroyed, leaving them with no sacrificial system or a means of receiving forgiveness or atonement. During their days of exile, the Mosaic Law had become an afterthought. With no Temple in which to perform their priestly duties, the Levites faded into obscurity. Yet, God had given these men explicit orders to teach the people of Israel His laws.

“You must distinguish between what is sacred and what is common, between what is ceremonially unclean and what is clean. And you must teach the Israelites all the decrees that the Lord has given them through Moses.” – Leviticus 10:10-11 NLT

Moses outlined the two main job descriptions of the Levites.

“They teach your regulations to Jacob;
    they give your instructions to Israel.
They present incense before you
    and offer whole burnt offerings on the altar.” – Deuteronomy 33:10 NLT

Teaching and sacrifice. Those were the two primary responsibilities of the Levites and, though the Temple had been destroyed, their commission to teach the Law to the people had never been revoked.

Chapter Seven revealed that the main focus behind Ezra’s return was to reacquaint God’s people with His Law.

Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel. – Ezra 7:10 NLT

To accomplish this task, Ezra would need the assistance of qualified men, so he set out to recruit worthy candidates from among the remaining exiles. Verses 1-14 of Chapter Eight contain a partial list of those he found. It appears that this list includes the names of the descendants of the priestly and royal families along with those whose relatives had made the trip 80 years earlier.

After assembling all those who had volunteered to make the arduous trip back to Judah, Ezra reviewed his trip manifest and made a disconcerting discovery.

“I went over the lists of the people and the priests who had arrived. I found that not one Levite had volunteered to come along.” – Ezra 8:15 NLT

This news left Ezra with no choice but to delay his departure so he could launch a recruitment effort to find and enlist additional Levites. It is clear from Chapter Six that there was a contingent of Levites already in Jerusalem. 

…the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. And they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their divisions, for the service of God at Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses. – Ezra 6:16-18 ESV

But Ezra knew that he would need additional Levites if he was to accomplish his goal of teaching the Law to the people of Judah. Knowing that his recruitment efforts would be met with resistance, Ezra chose nine qualified leaders to relay his invitation. Two additional men joined the expedition who were known for their discernment and wisdom. With the help of Yahweh (Ezra 8:18), Ezra’s recruitment team proved successful and returned with 38 Levites and 220 temple servants.

With his list completed, Ezra prepared to begin the long trek to Judah. But before starting, he called on Yahweh for divine provision and protection.

“I gave orders for all of us to fast and humble ourselves before our God. We prayed that he would give us a safe journey and protect us, our children, and our goods as we traveled.” – Ezra 8:21 NLT

Ezra knew they would need God’s assistance because it would be a long and potentially dangerous trip. His call for a fast was partially motivated by his knowledge that there would be no royal military escort to accompany them on their way. It seems that King Artaxerxes had offered the services of his troops but Ezra was too embarrassed to make the request. He had boldly told the king, “Our God’s hand of protection is on all who worship him, but his fierce anger rages against those who abandon him” (Ezra 8:22 NLT). This left him with no option but to trust God; a potentially frightening but providential place to be. Ezra confidently states, “we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer” (Ezra 8:23 NLT).

It’s difficult to tell whether this statement reflects Ezra’s faith and confidence at the moment they prayed or if was written in hindsight after Ezra and his fellow travelers arrived in Judah safely. But, either way, Ezra believed in the power and provision of Yahweh. He trusted that his call to return to Judah was of God. He had faith to believe that their trip would be providentially overseen by God. He was confident that their mission to teach the Law of God to the people of God would be successfully carried out by the power of God.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

The Law of the Land

11 This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a man learned in matters of the commandments of the Lord and his statutes for Israel: 12 “Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven. Peace. And now 13 I make a decree that anyone of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom, who freely offers to go to Jerusalem, may go with you. 14 For you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to make inquiries about Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God, which is in your hand, 15 and also to carry the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16 with all the silver and gold that you shall find in the whole province of Babylonia, and with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests, vowed willingly for the house of their God that is in Jerusalem. 17 With this money, then, you shall with all diligence buy bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and you shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God that is in Jerusalem. 18 Whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do, according to the will of your God. 19 The vessels that have been given you for the service of the house of your God, you shall deliver before the God of Jerusalem. 20 And whatever else is required for the house of your God, which it falls to you to provide, you may provide it out of the king's treasury.

21 “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, 22 up to 100 talents of silver, 100 cors of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. 23 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. 24 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.

25 “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. 26 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.”

27 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, 28 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 7:11-28 ESV

God had miraculously arranged for the people to be given a royal decree, allowing them to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple and restore Jerusalem and ensuring they had the resources necessary to complete the task. They had all the material needed to build and the manpower to do the work. God had even taken care of their constant harassment by their enemies. But one thing was missing. They had plenty of people, gold, silver, wood, and hours in the day to accomplish the work. But God knew that without His Law, they would end up in the same spiritual condition that resulted in their captivity in the first place. So God raised up Ezra, "a scribe who was well-versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel, had given to the people of Israel" (Ezra 7:6 NLT).

As a Scribe, Ezra was intimately familiar with the Law God had given through Moses to the people of Israel on Mount Sinai. A span of nearly 60 years takes place after the events recorded in chapter six end and Ezra arrives in Jerusalem from Babylon in chapter seven. It has been 80 years since the first wave of exiles returned to Judah. God has been watching and waiting. He has been preparing the right man to bring the one ingredient the nation needed most: His Law. Ezra would not have even been born when the first exiles returned but he was a direct descendant of Aaron, the high priest. He had a spiritual heritage and a godly upbringing that made him perfect for the job God had prepared for him.

The Persian king, Artaxerxes, issued a royal decree commissioning Ezra to go to Jerusalem and conduct an official inquiry into the situation "based on your God's law, which is in your hand" (Ezra 7:14 NLT). This pagan king officially ordered Ezra to use his knowledge of God’s law to assist the people of Judah in their rebuilding efforts.

"…use the wisdom your God has given you to appoint magistrates and judges who know your God's laws to given all the people of in the province west of the Euphrates River. Teach the law to anyone who does not know it. Anyone who refuses to obey the law of your God and the law of the king will be punished immediately, either by death, banishment, confiscation or goods, or imprisonment." – Ezra 7:26 NLT

As a king, Artaxerxes knew that the rule of law was essential to maintaining peace and security in his kingdom. As a polytheist, he also understood the need to foster obedience to the many gods his people worshiped. The same would be true for the people of Judah and their God, Yahweh. Once again, God sovereignly ordained His will to be done through the power and position of an ungodly king. This monarch effectively gave Ezra the authority to conduct a spiritual revival in the land of Israel.

Knowing he was being sent by God didn't prevent Ezra from praying for God's hand of mercy and protection as they made the journey home. He called a fast and ordered the people to humble themselves before God, praying for a safe journey and for God’s protection as they traveled. They carried large amounts of gold and silver and would travel a very long distance through potentially dangerous conditions. Their retinue included women and children, but Ezra refused to request an armed escort from the king, choosing instead to trust God. So after prayerful preparation, they set off. It took four months for them to make the long and arduous trek to Jerusalem, but they arrived unharmed with every ounce of silver and gold accounted for.

Ezra acknowledged that it was God who had protected them along the way. They celebrated their safe arrival with sacrifices. Then the real work began. The law of God had to be given and then applied. It was not going to be easy, but it was necessary.

God had graciously provided all that the people of Judah needed to rebuild and restore Jerusalem. But there was one missing ingredient: His holy Law. The Mosaic Law, God’s written code of conduct, was an essential ingredient for the people’s success. Without it, they would fail to understand His holy standards and end up violating His will for their lives. The Law provided non-negotiable guidelines that were designed to set the people of Judah apart from the surrounding nations. Obedience to God’s laws was the key to experiencing God’s blessings, and ignorance of His laws was not an excuse. So, God sovereignly arranged for Ezra to receive a royal appointment and an all-expenses-paid trip back to Judah with full authority to teach the Mosaic Law to his people.

It is amazing how often we leave out the key ingredient for our own success. We take on responsibilities and tackle all kinds of tasks without consulting God’s Word or asking about His will in the matter. The people of Judah had been doing the will of God but had neglected the law of God. During their 70 years in captivity, the people of Judah had neglected God’s Law and allowed it to fall out of favor. Without the sacrificial system to provide atonement and forgiveness for breaking the Law, the people of Israel became lax in their obedience to God’s commands.

Now that they were back in the land of promise and had successfully completed the reconstruction of God’s house, they would be tempted to believe they had earned God's favor. But without a knowledge of the Law, they would never live up to His righteous requirements. As a result, they were attempting to do God-ordained tasks while living in open disobedience to His Law. They had a recently completed Temple and had reinstituted the sacrificial system and the annual feasts, but they were ignorant of God’s Laws. But God knew what they needed and arranged for a pagan Persian king to pass a law that ensured the Law of God was once again the law of the land of Judah. 

The Book of Nehemiah records what happened when Ezra reached the land of Judah and began to teach God’s Law to God’s people. It was a momentous and life-changing day in the history of the people of Judah.

Ezra stood on the platform in full view of all the people. When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet.

Then Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people chanted, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—then instructed the people in the Law while everyone remained in their places. They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage.

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. – Nehemiah 8:5-9 NLT

They were convicted by what they heard because they understood their disobedience. But Nehemiah told them, “Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10 NLT). The Law was simply doing what it was meant to do, exposing their disobedience and sin. But awareness of sin led to confession and, ultimately, atonement. Forgiveness was available through the sacrificial system. That is why the Levites quieted the people by saying, “Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day” (Nehemiah 8:11 NLT).

God had given the people of Judah His Law but over the decades they had allowed it to pass from their collective conscience. Now He had arranged to have their knowledge of the Law restored so their joy could be renewed.

So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them. – Nehemiah 8:12 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

The Good Hand of God

1 Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, 2 son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, 3 son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, 4 son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, 5 son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest— 6 this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.

7 And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants. 8 And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9 For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. 10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel. – Ezra 7:1-10 ESV

In the New Living Translation, verse 1 reads, “Many years later, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, there was a man named Ezra.” Roughly 60 years span the gap between the events recorded in chapter 6 and those found in chapter 7. The first six chapters of the Book of Ezra cover the years from 538-515 B.C. During this time, the following kings reigned over the Persian Empire: Cyrus, Cambyses, Smerdis, Darius I, and Xerxes (Ahasuerus). Xerxes is the king whose life is chronicled in the Book of Esther. The second half of the Book of Ezra covers the reign of Artaxerxes, who ruled from  464-424 B.C. This would put Ezra’s arrival in Judah sometime around 458 B.C.

Though this book bears his name, Ezra was a late arrival to Judah. He was not part of the original remnant of Jews who returned during the reign of Cyrus. It was not until the completion of the Temple and the reign of Artaxerxes, that Ezra would lead another wave of Israelites on the 900-mile, four-month-long journey from the land of Babylon to Jerusalem. This scribe and descendant of Aaron the first high priest knew God was behind this endeavor because he had seen God bring it all about. King Artaxerxes had decreed that Ezra would lead a group of Jews back to the land of promise and provided funding for the trip. Ezra's response was, “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 kings mighty officers” (Ezra 7:27-28 ESV).

Ezra was encouraged by what he had seen God do. He knew the hand of God was on him, so he gathered the people together and planned the trip that God had ordained. It would be hard, long, and dangerous. So he called the people to fast and pray, seeking God's divine protection and “a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods” (Ezra 8:21 ESV). God heard their prayers and He answered. Four months after leaving Babylon, they arrived in Jerusalem, tired but thankful to God for His hand in making their trip possible.

The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way… – Ezra 8:31-32 ESV

But not everyone made the trip. Not every Jew was willing to leave the safety of Babylon to make the long, arduous trip back to Jerusalem. Many had grown comfortable with their lifestyle in captivity. A great many of the Jews had been born in Babylon and had never set foot in the land of Judah. So they were reluctant to make the trip. Ezra even had a difficult time finding enough Levites to return with him. This was the tribe God had appointed to serve in the Temple. They were the spiritual leaders of the people of Israel and, yet, when Ezra gathered all the people to prepare for the trip to Jerusalem, he said, “I found there none of the sons of Levi” (Ezra 8:15 ESV). Not everyone shared Ezra's enthusiasm and optimism for returning to the land, even though it was in direct fulfillment of God's promises.

God was orchestrating all the events so that His divine will would be fulfilled just as He had planned. He once again used a pagan king to accomplish His will. King Artaxerxes' fear of divine retribution motivated him to send the people of God back to the land. Artaxerxes would write, “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” (Ezra 7:23 ESV).

This powerful king feared God and his actions were motivated by self-protection. We don't know how God communicated His divine will to Artaxerxes, but it is clear that this man was not willing to anger God through disobedience. Yet, there would be countless Jews who would refuse to return to the land. They would choose to remain in captivity, even though God was providing them with a miraculous opportunity to return to the land He had given them many years earlier. God was faithfully keeping His promise to return them to the land, but many of them would refuse to go. The people of God would reject His offer of divine protection, provision, and peace. After decades in captivity, He offered them the chance to experience His rest and peace, but they refused.      

Yet Ezra and his small band of faithful followers made the trip. They took God up on His offer and walked the 900 miles back to Jerusalem. They were willing to suffer the dangers and difficulties all along the way, with their kids in tow, the treasures given to them by King Artaxerxes hidden among them, and their sights set on their final destination. The writer of Hebrews addresses another group of God's people, the believing Jews who were living out their faith during difficult days, facing intense opposition and surrounded by enemies. These Christian Jews found it difficult to remain faithful to God's call on their lives. They were being tempted to give up and give in to the pressures to compromise their faith. So the author provided them with a word of encouragement.

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.  For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. – Hebrews 4:1-2 ESV

He uses the history of their own people to remind them of the need to remain true to their calling. Their ancestors, who had made the trip from Egypt to the land of promise under the direction of Moses, had failed to enter the land the first time. When they arrived at the edge of the land, they discovered it was filled with “giants.” So rather than trust God and enter, they gave in to their fears and turned away. That entire generation of Jews died off in the wilderness as they wandered for the next 40 years. The author uses this historic event as a warning.

Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he appoints a certain day, ‘Today,’ saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. – Hebrews 4:6-7 ESV

He strongly encouraged them to remain obedient and faithful, and to “strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience” (Hebrews 11:11 ESV).

The rest spoken of in this passage is a future rest. It has to do with the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises of eternal life. He is speaking of our final inheritance, set aside for us by God, and made available to us by our relationship with Jesus Christ. Peter reminds us of the nature of this inheritance.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. – 1 Peter 1:3-5 NLT

In this life, we are to live with our hopes set on what is to come. This world is not our home. The things of this earth are a mere shadow of what is to come. Our expectations of greater things to come should motivate us to remain faithful in this life – regardless of the difficulties we may face along the way. Peter goes on to say:

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. – 1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT

Like Ezra and his fellow travelers, we must keep our eyes on the prize. They had a long journey ahead of them, but they knew that Jerusalem was their final destination and the thought of seeing the Temple of God was all the motivation they needed. Even as they journeyed, they could find strength in the hope of their future rest. One day, we too will enter the rest that awaits us. But in the meantime, we must stay focused and faithful. We must keep walking and continue to trust in the promises of God.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Sovereign Over All

13 Then, according to the word sent by Darius the king, Tattenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates did with all diligence what Darius the king had ordered. 14 And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia; 15 and this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

16 And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. 17 They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 And they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their divisions, for the service of God at Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses.

19 On the fourteenth day of the first month, the returned exiles kept the Passover. 20 For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were clean. So they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves. 21 It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by every one who had joined them and separated himself from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to worship the Lord, the God of Israel. 22 And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel. – Ezra 6:13-22 ESV

When reading a story like this, it is easy to see the machinations of men as they plot and scheme their way to a chosen outcome. Local governors and high officials pose questions, cast dispersions, and sow seeds of doubt. Disgruntled citizens write letters of protest containing a list of their grievances and demanding immediate redress. Kings examine royal records, deliberate with learned men, and issue binding and irrevocable decrees. But behind all men's intrigues and self-interested strategies lies God's sovereignty. He controls the narrative and orchestrates events so that His will is accomplished.  

It was God who moved Cyrus to issue the original decree giving the people of Judah permission to return to Judah and rebuild their capital city and its once-glorious Temple.

In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom… – Ezra 1:1 NLT

This pagan king of the Persian Empire made the fateful decision to end the 70-year exile of the people of Judah and allow them to return home. But he also acknowledged that Yahweh, the God of the Jews, had commissioned him with the task of rebuilding the Temple.

“The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you!” – Ezra 1:2-3 NLT

His decision and ultimate decree were the result of God’s leading. He would not have done what he did had God not intervened and moved his idolatrous heart to fulfill a divine decree issued 70 years earlier. God had orchestrated Judah’s fall to Babylon but had also promised their eventual return.

“This entire land will become a desolate wasteland. Israel and her neighboring lands will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.

“Then, after the seventy years of captivity are over, I will punish the king of Babylon and his people for their sins,” says the Lord.” – Jeremiah 25:11-12 NLT

“You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:10-11 NLT

God had raised up Cyrus and the Persian Empire to defeat the Babylonians. This fulfilled God’s promise of judgment against the Babylonians for their role in Judah’s demise. But it also set the stage for the next phase of God’s plan: the return of His people to the land of their inheritance. He had promised they would return and was providentially ensuring that it happened on time and in keeping with His will.

Yet, the remnant who returned to Jerusalem found a city in disarray and a Temple that was nothing but a pile of rubble. The city’s walls had been destroyed and many of the surrounding towns and villages had been claimed by displaced immigrants sent to Judah by the king of Assyria. In the intervening decades, these foreigners had intermarried with the Jews who had been left behind, creating a new mixed-race people group that came to be known as Samaritans. Having settled in the land that once belonged to Judah, the Samaritans were not thrilled with the arrival of the returning Jews. They opposed the plans to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. They plotted against the Jews and tried to curtail all construction efforts through verbal attacks and acts of subterfuge. At times, their strategies proved to be effective. As despair set in, the people of Judah set aside their trowels and shovels. They lost sight of God’s plan and gave up hope of seeing their work completed.

But God was not done. He used three different Persian kings to ensure His plan was carried out. Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes each played a significant role in fulfilling God’s will for His chosen people. These pagan and idolatrous kings were instruments in the hands of Yahweh, motivated by His Spirit and obedient to His divine will – each in their own way and at just the right time. And as God moved in the lives of these Persian potentates, He also spoke to and through His prophets; men like Haggai and Zechariah who, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, penned His messages to the people of Judah. It was Haggai who wrote a letter to Zerubbabel and Jehozadak the high priest, commanding that the people restart construction on the Temple.

When they heard the words of the prophet Haggai, whom the Lord their God had sent, the people feared the Lord. Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave the people this message from the Lord: “I am with you, says the Lord!” – Haggai 1:12-13 NLT

Regardless of their circumstances or the efforts of their enemies, God was with them and He always had been. The promises God had made to Zechariah would be fulfilled.

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Once again old men and women will walk Jerusalem’s streets with their canes and will sit together in the city squares. And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls at play.

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: All this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God’s people. But is it impossible for me? says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” – Zechariah 8:4-6 NLT

God had plans for them but He also had the power to bring those plans about. What seemed impossible to them was no problem for Yahweh. He could and would accomplish all that He had promised to do. But the people needed to remain firm in their faith and determined to carry out God’s will, even in the face of opposition. That is exactly the message God delivered to His dispirited people through Zechariah.

“Be strong and finish the task! Ever since the laying of the foundation of the Temple of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, you have heard what the prophets have been saying about completing the building. Before the work on the Temple began, there were no jobs and no money to hire people or animals. No traveler was safe from the enemy, for there were enemies on all sides. I had turned everyone against each other.

“But now I will not treat the remnant of my people as I treated them before, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. For I am planting seeds of peace and prosperity among you. The grapevines will be heavy with fruit. The earth will produce its crops, and the heavens will release the dew. Once more I will cause the remnant in Judah and Israel to inherit these blessings. Among the other nations, Judah and Israel became symbols of a cursed nation. But no longer! Now I will rescue you and make you both a symbol and a source of blessing. So don’t be afraid. Be strong, and get on with rebuilding the Temple!” – Zechariah 8:9-13 NLT

Ezra reveals that the people heeded the words of God’s prophets and accomplished the task at hand.

…the Jewish elders continued their work, and they were greatly encouraged by the preaching of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo. The Temple was finally finished, as had been commanded by the God of Israel and decreed by Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, the kings of Persia. – Ezra 6:14 NLT

The Temple was completed on March 12, during the sixth year of King Darius’s reign. This momentous occasion was accompanied by feasting and sacrifices. The work was done and the worship began. The Levites renewed their role as God’s priests, offering sacrifices on behalf of the people and atoning for the sins of the nation through the shedding of the innocent blood of an unblemished lamb. Forgiveness was made available and a right standing with God was made possible – for the first time in a very long time. This is an important point because, during their 70 years in exile, the Israelites had no Temple in which to offer sacrifices. No atonement was available because there was no Holy of Holies or Mercy Seat. In fact, even after the newly constructed Temple was finished, the Holy of Holies remained empty because the Ark of the Covenant had been pillaged by the Babylonians, never to be returned. It was once a year on the Day of Atonement that the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies and sprinkle the atoning blood on the Mercy Seat located on the top of the Ark of the Covenant. The Temple was restored, but things would never be quite the same.

Just over a month later, the people celebrated the Passover together. This ancient annual festival was a celebration and commemoration of God’s miraculous deliverance of His chosen people when the death angel passed over the nation of Egypt. All firstborn males living in the homes where the blood of the Passover lamb was sprinkled on the doorpost and lintel were spared (Exodus 12). This night of divine deliverance was to be celebrated every year without fail for perpetuity. There is no indication that the Jews were able to keep the Passover during their seven decades in captivity. So, this day was especially significant for the remnant who returned. It was a reminder of God’s deliverance of Israel from their captivity in Egypt and a celebration of His more recent deliverance from captivity in Babylon.

The final celebration was the seven-day-long Feast of Unleavened Bread which followed Passover. Leaven, which symbolized sin and impurity, was to be avoided during this week-long celebration. The people of Israel were to set aside all leaven, thus setting themselves apart as holy to God. This symbolic act was meant to illustrate their unique status as God’s chosen people. They had been set apart by God and provided with a distinctive relationship with Him based on a covenant and marked by a one-of-a-kind standard of conduct.

“Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.” – Exodus 19:5-6 NLT

They were back in the land. The Temple had been rebuilt. Atonement had been made. Forgiveness had been given. Now it was time for them to live up to their original calling as God’s chosen people. This was a joyous occasion marked by relief and a sense of hope for the future. But while the people could rejoice over the work they had accomplished, there was more to be done. Something was missing. During their 70 years of captivity, the people had lost their knowledge of God. They could reinstitute the sacrificial system and keep the annual feasts and festivals, but none of it would matter if they failed to know and understand the One behind it all: The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Out of Sight But Never Out of Control

1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in Babylonia, in the house of the archives where the documents were stored. 2 And in Ecbatana, the citadel that is in the province of Media, a scroll was found on which this was written: “A record. 3 In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king issued a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt, the place where sacrifices were offered, and let its foundations be retained. Its height shall be sixty cubits and its breadth sixty cubits, 4 with three layers of great stones and one layer of timber. Let the cost be paid from the royal treasury. 5 And also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that is in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought back to the temple that is in Jerusalem, each to its place. You shall put them in the house of God.”

6 “Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and your associates the governors who are in the province Beyond the River, keep away. 7 Let the work on this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site. 8 Moreover, I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God. The cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province from Beyond the River. 9 And whatever is needed—bulls, rams, or sheep for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, or oil, as the priests at Jerusalem require—let that be given to them day by day without fail, 10 that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons. 11 Also I make a decree that if anyone alters this edict, a beam shall be pulled out of his house, and he shall be impaled on it, and his house shall be made a dunghill. 12 May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who shall put out a hand to alter this, or to destroy this house of God that is in Jerusalem. I Darius make a decree; let it be done with all diligence.” – Ezra 6:1-12 ESV

The letter was sent and received, prompting King Darius to order a search of the royal archives for any record of a decree issued by his predecessor, King Cyrus. Much to the surprise of Tattenai and Shethar-bozenai, a scroll was found in Ecbatana, the citadel that is in the province of Media. This long-forgotten document contained the following statement from King Cyrus:

“In the first year of King Cyrus’s reign, a decree was sent out concerning the Temple of God at Jerusalem.

“Let the Temple be rebuilt on the site where Jews used to offer their sacrifices, using the original foundations. Its height will be ninety feet, and its width will be ninety feet. Every three layers of specially prepared stones will be topped by a layer of timber. All expenses will be paid by the royal treasury. Furthermore, the gold and silver cups, which were taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar from the Temple of God in Jerusalem, must be returned to Jerusalem and put back where they belong. Let them be taken back to the Temple of God.” – Ezra 6:3-5 NLT

Tattenai and Shethar-bozenai had assumed that the Jews’ claim of having an official edict from King Cyrus was a figment of their imagination. They believed that the Jews had fabricated this official decree to justify their return to the land and their rebuilding efforts. But there it was in black and white, written on an official document and stored in the royal archives. The Jews had not been lying.

The discovery of Cyrus’ decree left King Darius with no choice but to ensure its enforcement. He was obligated by what was known as “the law of the Medes and Persians” (Daniel 6:8 ESV). This ancient law code stated that edicts authorized by the king were irrevocable and unchangeable. Not even a future king had the authority to countermand a previous edict. In their estimation, the king was the law, and the law could not contradict itself. Darius himself had fallen prey to the binding nature of this legal code when he passed a law that prohibited the worship of anyone or anything but himself for a period of 30 days. His high officials and straps had given him the idea and convinced him to carry it out.

“Long live King Darius! We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions. And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” – Daniel 6:6-8 NLT

In signing his name to the document, Darius made the law official and irrevocable, which proved to be a problem when he discovered the intentions of his royal counselors. Their motives had been self-serving and designed to entrap another of the king’s royal counselors. Daniel was a young Jewish boy who had been taken captive when the Babylonians invaded Judah and destroyed Jerusalem. Through a series of divinely-orchestrated events, Daniel had risen to prominence in the administration of King Nebuchadnezzar. Now, he served as a high official in the court of King Darius. But his fellow administrative companions were jealous of his success and less than enthusiastic about his worship of the Hebrew God. So, they devised a trap which the king inadvertently signed into law. When Daniel violated the king’s edict, he was forced to face the consequences. He was thrown to the lions and there was nothing Darius could do to save him. But God intervened and Daniel was miraculously spared.

When this very same Darius discovered the edict of Cyrus, he knew he was obligated to enforce it, which he did. He even added a word of warning to Tattenai, Shethar-bozenai, and all the local administrative officials in Judah.

“…stay away from there! Do not disturb the construction of the Temple of God. Let it be rebuilt on its original site, and do not hinder the governor of Judah and the elders of the Jews in their work.” – Ezra 6:6-7 NLT

The very same men who had sent the letter to King Darius were given an order to cease and desist. They were to avoid any and all contact with the Jews, allowing them to carry out the decree of Cyrus with no interference or harassment. He also ordered them to use the royal treasury to fund the construction work and the king’s herds to supply animals for their sacrifices. The governor and his companions must have been stunned by this unexpected turn of events. This was not what they had expected. But they were not alone. Even the Jews must have stood by in wide-eyed wonder as they heard the content of the king’s letter.

Ever since their return to Judah, they had faced ongoing opposition, leaving them to wonder if God was really with them. There are times when it appears as if God is not around. Because of our circumstances, we assume that He must be busy somewhere else or is simply unaware of what is happening in our lives. But that is not the God of the Bible. He is never distracted, disinterested, or distant. He is always there, always watching, and always completely aware of what is going on – every moment of every day.

The people of God who returned to build the Temple and restore Jerusalem would learn that truth from personal experience. Things had not gone well for them upon their return. They faced opposition and constant threats. At one point they were forced to halt construction because of a royal edict. When they started back up again, their enemies relaunched their attacks and did everything in their power to demotivate and distract God’s people from their task.

It would have been easy for them to assume that God was unaware of their plight or disinterested. But nothing could have been further from the truth. We can’t judge the faithfulness or nearness of God based on our circumstances. We read in verse five that "their God was watching over them." He had not taken His eyes off of them. He had not removed His hand of protection from them. From their limited perspective, it looked as if God had abandoned them. But He was there and He cared. He was still in control. And despite the attempts of their enemies to stir up trouble, God had other plans.

When Tattenai and Shethar-bozenai wrote their letter to King Darius, they had expected a royal decree commanding the Jews to cease and desist in their rebuilding efforts. But to their shock and surprise, the message from Darius contained an official edict to "let the Temple be rebuilt" (Ezra 6:3). Not only that, the very men who had attempted to thwart the efforts of the Jews to rebuild the Temple and reconstruct the walls of Jerusalem, were commanded to provide assistance.

What a God we serve. He was not only aware of what was going on, but He used the plans of the enemies of Israel to accomplish His will. He turned what they meant for evil into good. The Jews received unexpected funding and assistance from an unlikely source, the very people who had been trying to put a stop to their efforts.

It would have been natural for them to take a look at their circumstances and assume that God had abandoned them, or that He was somehow punishing them. But they would have been wrong. God was working behind the scenes in ways they could never have imagined. Assuming God's absence or indifference is a dangerous thing to do. When we do, we doubt the faithfulness of God and reject the promises found in His Word. God is constantly faithful and ever-present. His love endures forever. We must judge God based on His Word and His character, not our circumstances. What is visible is not always an accurate indicator of what is going on. God’s efforts are not always visible to our eyes or apparent to our senses, but that doesn’t mean He is attentive or active. Our God is always watching out for us and working on behalf of us, whether we see it or believe it. No matter what difficulty we face, He is always there and He is always working on our behalf.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

The Constant Danger of Unbelief

1 Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. 2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.

3 At the same time Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus: “Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?” 4 They also asked them this: “What are the names of the men who are building this building?” 5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report should reach Darius and then an answer be returned by letter concerning it.

6 This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and his associates, the governors who were in the province Beyond the River, sent to Darius the king. 7 They sent him a report, in which was written as follows: “To Darius the king, all peace. 8 Be it known to the king that we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is being built with huge stones, and timber is laid in the walls. This work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands. 9 Then we asked those elders and spoke to them thus: ‘Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?’ 10 We also asked them their names, for your information, that we might write down the names of their leaders. 11 And this was their reply to us: ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished. 12 But because our fathers had angered the God of heaven, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried away the people to Babylonia. 13 However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree that this house of God should be rebuilt. 14 And the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, these Cyrus the king took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; 15 and he said to him, “Take these vessels, go and put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its site.” 16 Then this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been in building, and it is not yet finished.’ 17 Therefore, if it seems good to the king, let search be made in the royal archives there in Babylon, to see whether a decree was issued by Cyrus the king for the rebuilding of this house of God in Jerusalem. And let the king send us his pleasure in this matter.” – Ezra 5:1-17 ESV

Unbelief is a constant reality – even for the believer. But how can you be a believer and yet not believe? It's simple. Belief is a state of mind that must always be accompanied by action. In other words, belief must be visibly tied to faith. During the days of Ezra, the returned exiles were attempting to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, according to the decree issued by Cyrus the Persian king. But because of local opposition, the Jews abandoned their efforts “all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia” (Ezra 4:5 ESV. For 16 years, all construction activity on the Temple stopped, even though God had miraculously arranged their return to the land and even prompted King Cyrus to fund their efforts.

What happened? The people stopped believing. Rather than stepping out in faith and trusting that God would protect them, they simply gave in and shut down all construction until the prophets of God intervened. God prompted Haggai and Zechariah to write letters to the Jews in Judah encouraging them to stop fearing and take action.

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord. You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses.” – Haggai 1:7-9 NLT

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Be strong and finish the task! Ever since the laying of the foundation of the Temple of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, you have heard what the prophets have been saying about completing the building. Before the work on the Temple began, there were no jobs and no money to hire people or animals. No traveler was safe from the enemy, for there were enemies on all sides. I had turned everyone against each other.

“But no longer! Now I will rescue you and make you both a symbol and a source of blessing. So don’t be afraid. Be strong, and get on with rebuilding the Temple!” – Zechariah 1:9-10, 12 NLT

These words of encouragement had a powerful impact on the defeated and disillusioned remnant in Judah.

Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of God’s people began to obey the message from the Lord their God. When they heard the words of the prophet Haggai, whom the Lord their God had sent, the people feared the Lord. Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave the people this message from the Lord: “I am with you, says the Lord!” – Haggai 1:12-13 NLT

Under the leadership of Zerubbabel, the grandson of King Jehoiachin, the people put their faith in action and began to build once again, despite the opposition. Yet, they were immediately confronted by their enemies who questioned where they had received the authority to restart the construction. Tattenai, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates tried to frighten the Jews but, rather than giving in to the pressure, the workers continued to believe and build.

Unhappy with the renewed building efforts, the local authorities sent a letter to the king requesting that he search the royal archives for evidence of any past decrees authorizing the construction of the Temple. Their letter opened with a first-hand description of the revitalized and energetic actions of the returned exiles.

“The king should know that we went to the construction site of the Temple of the great God in the province of Judah. It is being rebuilt with specially prepared stones, and timber is being laid in its walls. The work is going forward with great energy and success.” – Ezra 5:8 NLT

The letter also outlined the interrogation of Judah’s leadership, who explained their actions as being ordained by God and authorized by King Cyrus.

“We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the Temple that was built here many years ago by a great king of Israel.” – Ezra 5:11 NLT

“King Cyrus of Babylon, during the first year of his reign, issued a decree that the Temple of God should be rebuilt.” – Ezra 5:13 NLT

Tattenai, the Persian-appointed governor of the province was unconvinced that the Jews were telling the truth, which prompted the letter to the king. He was hoping that the Jews would be proven to be liars and that the king would take action against them. 

But in the meantime, the people of God needed to believe in their God. He had told them to rebuild and provided everything they needed to make it happen, including the assistance of a pagan king. The problem came when the people started facing opposition. Doubt began to creep in and doubt almost always leads to disbelief. Then disbelief leads to disobedience. And disobedience inevitably results in a lack of God's rest.

Throughout the history of the Hebrew nation, God kept trying to prove to His people just how trustworthy He was. He bailed them out time and time again. He provided miracle after miracle. He defeated their enemies for them. He clothed and fed them. He made them a mighty nation. But they continually struggled with unbelief. They lacked faith. They could claim to believe in God, but their actions proved otherwise. And yet, God still wanted to prove His trustworthiness to them.

When Haggai and Zechariah encouraged the people to keep on building and they obeyed, despite the opposition, it was an act of faith. They had no idea how the king would respond to the letter. They had no guarantee that the king would act favorably. But faith doesn't dwell on possibilities. It focuses on the God of the impossible. Jesus said of His Heavenly Father, “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26 ESV). When faced with a test of his faith, Moses was reminded by God, “Is the LORD’s hand shortened? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not” (Numbers 11:23 ESV). The prophet Isaiah told the people of Israel, “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1 ESV).

God is the God of the impossible, but we must not only believe it cognitively; we must put shoe leather to our belief and act on it in faith.     

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson