Nov 26, 2016
NEHEMIAH 12-13:
In
yesterday’s chapters in Nehemiah, we heard the names of the various
religious and civil leaders who signed the statement of commitment
to follow Moses’ Law, which was almost certainly penned by Ezra.
Then there was a listing of the various leaders and clans that
volunteered or were chosen by lot to live in Jerusalem.
12:26 These people lived during the time of Joiakim, the son of Joshua and grandson of Jehozadak, and [during my time as//the time of Nehemiah the] governor, and the time of Ezra, the priest who was a scholar of the Law.
ISAIAH 40a:
I am
always very disappointed with Hezekiah when he does not pray and
ask the Lord to not allow Jerusalem to be conquered by Babylon and
not to allow his sons to become eunuchs in Babylon’s palace. God
had already responded amazingly to him in answering his prayers.
The New Testament teaches us to be alert in prayer, and I think
that includes being alert to what to pray for.
Today we start the glorious final section of Isaiah, with favorite words set to music in Handel’s Messiah.
Our resurrection to a new life because of being one with Christ, is not just being raised from death to live again on this earth. We get raised right to heaven. Our true spiritual life is found in our unity with Christ who is in heaven at God’s side. Literally Paul expressed this as ‘your life is hidden with Christ in (unity with) God’. The picture continues with our bodies and evil desires being pictured like clothes. We put off the old life like old clothes and put on the new life like new clothes.
Yesterday’s chapter ended with instructions for wives, husbands, children, fathers, and slaves. Today’s chapter continues with the instruction to masters.
12 Greetings from Epaphras, another member of your group and a servant of Christ Jesus. He always prays fervently for you, asking God to make you stand firm, as mature and fully convinced [believers//Christians], in complete obedience to God's will.