Nov 27, 2022
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.
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.
COLOSSIANS 4:
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.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.