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- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Neh. 11-13
Evil is diligent in its efforts. Sadly, God’s people were not. When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem after some time away, the entire structure he had helped to reorganize had fallen apart. The thing that really got me is that the very people who opposed all the Jews efforts from the start were now living among them and uniting with the people through marriage. Evil is diligent!
This is a good reminder for me to always be on guard, not just individually, but as part of the greater body of Christ. I think of Balaam, who showed us Satan’s tactics. He knew that the only way to curse God’s people was from within; to intermingle with them and turn them away so that they brought God’s curse down on their own heads. Sanballat and Tobiah did the same thing. And we can still see those tactics at work in the Church and in our own lives today.
Ps. 126
This Psalm describes the joy we read about in Ezra and Nehemiah. It is the joy of restoration from God. It is the same joy He gives us through the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. Why do we, the blessed of God, repeatedly turn away from such joy?