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ehyeh-joshua · 4 years

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God of Dragons

@greater-than-the-sword - rather than dragging your post further off-topic, I decided to finally get around to writing this up.

If you honestly want to grapple with the Bible, it becomes essential to consider our ancient scaled friend/enemy the dragon. The Scriptures leave no alternative but to declare that man walked with dinosaurs.

The Hebrew word that we translate as “dragon” is Tannin, and like all ancient Hebrew thought, is not a specific species, but a genera – to us, we categorise things by qualities – we use “pencil” and “pen” and “quill” to describe specific classes of objects; to the mindset of Biblical Hebrew, they are all the same; you write with them.

What Tannin refers to is any large, dangerous reptile, whether on land, at sea or in the air, and while it would include them, it doesn't actually mean our modern understanding of dragon, which having being split from it's roots in historical creatures, is now mythical. (although such creatures are mentioned)

In the Septuagint – the Greek translation of the Old Testament that was considered the Old Testament for the Greek-speaking early church – the word Tannin is translated by “Drakkon” which is the root for our word “dragon”.

The word Tannin is used 23 times in Scripture:(note-all the citations are quoted in full at the end, truncated here for brevity)

Singular form:

Nehemiah 2:13; Psalm 91:13; Isaiah 27:1 and 51:9; Jeremiah 51:34; Ezekiel 29:3, Exodus 7:9, 7:10 and 7:12, and Genesis 1:21.

Plural form:

Deuteronomy 32:33, Job 7:12 and Job 30:29, Psalms 44:19, 74:13; and 148:7, Isaiah 13:22 Jeremiah 9:11, 10:22, 14:6, 49:33 and 51:37 and Ezekiel 32:2.

The second word we need to have in mind is Leviatan – this is the creature we think of when we think of dragon. This word is used five times in four verses: Job 41:1, Psalm 74:14 and 104:26, and twice in Isaiah 27:1. Like Tannin, Leviatan is translated in the Septuagint by “drakkon”.

Leviatan has the longest description, having nearly a whole chapter devoted to describing it at the end of Job – this is the strongest evidence, as this is God Himself describing this creature as an example of His own power.

One of the reasons I like Dragons so much is that God has set them as a testimony to Himself.

Sadly, this is perhaps the most mistranslated word in modern English Bibles; most English Bibles insert jackals into these verses wherever the Scriptures undeniably mean literal creatures, doing so because of the wrong belief that dragons are mythical.

The thing is, Hebrew has a word that actually means jackal; it is the same as that for “fox”, and for good reason, as they are known to be able to interbreed, and are therefore the same baramin. That word is “sha’ul”.

Nehemiah 4:3 for example; '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!”'

He’s trying to say that despite the fact that the fox/jackal is such a small and weak animal, it could crush the walls the Jews were building; he’s insulting them. By contrast, a dragon smashing down a wall is kind of what you would expect to happen, and throughout the Prophets, the threat of dragons overwhelming a city is used to express judgement.

Compiling all these references gives us a huge amount of information about these creatures, some of it (most of it in fact) directly from God describing what we would understand as a water drake.

Firstly, that the purpose of these creatures is to give glory to God.

Secondly, it tells us that these are huge reptiles that are very dangerous; enough that the mere threat of them is enough to put a city of people to fleeing for safety – a quarter of the times Tannin is used, it is referring to this terror.

If a city got overrun with jackals, a single person could chase them out; a decent thickness stick as a club, and they scatter. A host of people working together could do it easily. They are mildly dangerous, but they have absolutely nothing on levyatan, which the Scriptures equate to Tannin. A Dragon however? An armoured, fire breathing dragon?

That is dangerous; one dragon is enough to be a risk to an entire region, they are apex predators, there is absolutely no shortage of stories of the danger dragons possess.

Now, if you had an entire city overrun by dragons? You’re not going to reclaim that. Not on the Bronze/Iron age technology possessed by Ancient Israel. Roman Ballistae might have a chance, and a Macedonian Phalanx could make a melee fight in the open stick, but I wouldn’t want to try that kind of a battle without at least trebuchet, if not cannon. And this is from a guy who knows how to solo a T-Rex; T-Rex has one primary weapon, the bite. The solution is a fuck-off amount of three feet long spikes covering your whole body, that way it can’t bite you without facing it’s own mortal peril. You could probably win with a spear, but I’d rather have the spikes.

Dragons? Fire. The accounts of dragons possessing fire-breathing capability are nearly universal, and it is far more reasonable than you might think; using the Bombardier Beetle as a baseline, to breath fire a dragon needs the reaction of hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinone, catalysed by catalase and peroxidase; the reactants are ejected from separated storage areas into the front of the open mouth, where the reaction begins in conjunction with the rush of oxygen from heavy breathing out, causing both the reaction and the expellation of the reactants. Range could be comfortably over ten metres and still sufficient to cause burns and scalding on the victim.

Coincidentally, but rather obvious when you think about it, dragon stories generally stop after the invention of cannon, and by the 1800s, almost stop completely outside of Native American tribes.

It is therefore plain that reading the text and allowing the text to explain itself leads to the conclusion that Tannin/Levyatan are a race of immense and dangerous monsters, usually serpent-like but again not always, who’s presence is like the judgement of God, and which God Himself uses to say how awesome He is that He made them and controls their fates. Note also the contrast - the Babylonians had their gods being scared of these monsters, but right from the beginning God takes ownership of them.

The Bible tells us how these creatures lived, where they lived, their diet, their habitat, to an extent their way of life; and it exists as part of material from all over the world that shows that man and dinosaur coexisted. And if humans and dinosaurs coexisted, evolutionary beliefs about ages collapse.

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Nehemiah 2:13; “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.”- presumably, the Dragon spring was a well or spring that was named for a resident/visitor dragon.

Psalm 91:13; “You will tread on lion and viper; you will trample young lion and dragon.” - the point is to talk about the protection of God; the claim about jackals makes no sense, and using serpent instead has already been covered. Further, the Septuagint uses Drakkon here.

Isaiah 27:1; “In that day GOD will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent with His fierce, great, strong sword, Leviathan the twisted serpent! He will slay the dragon in the sea.” Again, entirely pointless unless it refers to either a real animal, or a mythologised version of a real animal.

Isaiah 51:9; “Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of GOD, awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not You who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon?” Again, a pointless exercise if not referring to an actual event.

Jeremiah 51:34; “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured me, crushed me, set me aside like an empty dish, swallowed me up like a dragon, filled his belly with my delicacies, rinsed me away.” Jackals cannot eat even a whole arm, and certainly cannot swallow a whole man as the similie depends on; whereas plenty of large carnivorous dinosaurs could.

Ezekiel 29:3, “Speak and say, thus says the LORD GOD: ‘Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh King of Egypt, the great dragon lying in his rivers, who says: “My Nile is my own—I made it for myself.” The idea is to convey that Egypt believes itself to be extremely powerful, before it is cast down in judgement.

Exodus 7:9, 7:10 and 7:12; “So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and did as Adonai had commanded. Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a dragon. Then Pharaoh called for the wise men and the sorcerers, and they too, the magicians of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts. For each man threw down his staff, and they became dragons. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.” Not much to say here, although the Septuagint again uses drakkon both times, instead of one of the words that means a snake.

Genesis 1:21; “And God created the great dragons and every living soul that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly after their nature, and every winged fowl after its nature; and God saw that it was good.” This is one of the few times the Septuagint uses keytos (whale) to translate Tannin, however, dragons are traditionally associated with the sea and sky, so it makes sense that they are created on day 5.

Plural form:

Deuteronomy 32:33: “Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.” This also informs us that some dragons were poisonous, a feature noted of certain dinosaurs, and never with jackals.

Job 7:12; “Am I a sea, or a dragon, that you set a watch over me?” Again linking dragons to the sea.

Job 30:29; “I am a brother to the dragons, & a companion to the ostriches.” By this, he is continuing his theme, and he means he is alone, ostracised from the community. Jackals however, operate in packs.

Psalms 44:19; “Though you have broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.” Doesn’t tell us much this one, as it’s relying on the nature of tanninim to convey the situation.

Psalms 74:13; “You split open the sea by your strength; You broke the heads of the dragons in the waters.” Possibly a reference to the Flood.

Psalms 148:7; “Praise the LORD from the earth, you dragons, and all deeps:” An intriguing statement, given extra-Biblical documentation of dragon intelligence, which some sources put as near-Human.

Isaiah 13:21; “But wild animals will lie down there, and their houses will be full of howling creatures; there ostriches will dwell, and there wild goats will dance.” while it doesn’t say dragon, it says howling creatures, Wycliffe was happy to write dragouns as his translation solely from the sound identified, and it has to be inquired why he did so if humans could not have encountered dragons to record the sound.

Isaiah 13:22; " And the wild beasts shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.” Given the reference is about animals being used as tools for judgement, it’s no surprise that dragons are mentioned.

Jeremiah 9:11; “I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a lair of dragons, and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.” Again, a judgement making the city uninhabitable.

Jeremiah 10:22; “Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons.“ again, dragons used as a symbol of judgement.

Jeremiah 14:6; 2and the wild asses stood in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes failed because there was no grass.“ This gives us information about how dragons breathed, which is something very difficult to know unless you either witnessed it or heard from someone who had.

Jeremiah 49:33; “And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, and a desolation for ever: there shall no man abide there, nor any son of man dwell in it.“ Again, using dragons as a symbol of judgement.

Jeremiah 51:37; “And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and a hissing, without an inhabitant.” Jeremiah again uses the presence of dragons as a judgement.

Ezekiel 32:2 “ “Son of man, raise a lamentation over Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him: “You consider yourself a lion of the nations, but you are like a dragon in the seas; you burst forth in your rivers, trouble the waters with your feet, and foul their rivers.”Not much to say here.

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updcbc · 6 years

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September 16, 2018 - “Delivering the Final Reforms” Nehemiah 13:1-31

Click KEEP READING to read the full sermon.

Introduction

As a covenant people of God, we ought to be men and women of honor who keep our word. We mean when we say “Yes.” And we mean when we say “No.” “Anything beyond this,” says Jesus Christ our Lord, “comes from the evil one” (Matt. 5:37). Jesus declared this truth in his Sermon on the Mount primarily addressed to the Hebrew people whose ancestors had made an oath in the name of the LORD their God. He reminded the Israelites, “Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord” (v. 33). And he gave them a clear command that they should be cautious not to swear at all either by the heaven above or by the earth below—or by the city of Jerusalem. All what Jesus required for the people was to honor their word. This instruction is for all of us.

Jesus made a serious teaching. Anything beyond “Yes” or “No” comes from the evil one. Satan does not have one word for he can appear as an angel of light but in reality he is the father of lies. This is in great contrast of the nature of God who is absolutely true and trustworthy.

“God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” (Num. 23:19)

Every Hebrew man and woman needs to treasure this divine revelation. This was the word of the LORD given to the prophet Balaam who had been hired by King Balak of the Moabites to bring curse upon Israel. At first, Balaam stood his word for God. Unfortunately, he changed his position in favor of the king because of a sumptuous bribe.

The Hebrew nation needs to understand one solid truth. Why is it that despite their stubbornness and rebellion they stand to this very day as the covenant people of God? Listen to the word of the wise: “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD” (Prov. 21:30). No human opinion and deceitful scheme could ever unsettle and destroy the Word of God. The LORD God of Israel is true to his word and trustworthy to his promise. And this is the same standard of truthfulness that God demands for every Jew and Gentile.

Unfortunately, in our fallen nature we are inclined to play with our word and break our promise. We make fool of ourselves when we say one thing and do the contrary. When we believe what is true yet deceitfully live in sin, take heed of this apostolic warning, “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him” (Titus 1:16a).

To say “Yes” or “No” is to make a moral stand. We make a deliberate choice for what is true or false and dwell in light or darkness. There is no middle ground. If we do not keep our word to make a decisive stand, we yield ourselves under the domain of the evil one. Should we repay the grace and goodness of the LORD with ingratitude and disobedience? Sad to say, Israel did not keep his covenant with God. And they pierced their hearts with misery and grief. Likewise, if we are careless in honoring our word, we do much damage and disgrace to our souls.

Israel was back to square one. When Nehemiah the governor of Judah returned to King Artaxerxes in Persia, Israel had fallen back to their former lifestyles and broke their covenant with God. They desecrated the holy temple (13:1-9). They neglected the house of God (13:10-14). They violated the Sabbath (13:15-22). And they committed unholy marriages (13:23-30). Nehemiah went back to Judah and instituted reforms.

Let us be careful not to condemn the Israelites. If we do, we, likewise, condemn ourselves. When we say, “Yes,” do we really mean it? And when we say, “No,” do we truly stand for it? We ask ourselves, “Where is the honor in keeping our word?” Our principled walls are breaking down and our moral values deteriorating before our very eyes. The virtue we need to redeem in our church and homeland is the sanctity of our word. In light of the moral Law of God written in the human conscience, we must learn as a people to say, “Yes” and “No.” “Yes” to what is righteous. “No” to what is evil. And there is no crossroad where the two can meet. The masterpiece of the evil one is compromise.

A. The Desecration of the Temple (13:1-9)

Israel defiled the temple. With the insidious permission of a Jewish priest, a sacred room in the holy temple became a secular storage room of an Ammonite. This evil thing happened when Nehemiah was back in Persia. Upon his return in Jerusalem, he consecrated the temple.

1. The Exclusion from Jewish Assembly

In the Law of Moses, Israel must safeguard their holy assembly.

“On that day the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people and there it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted into the assembly of God, because they had not met the Israelites with food and water but had hired Balaam to call a curse down on them. (Our God, however, turned the curse into a blessing.) When the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all who were of foreign descent.” (13:1-3)

In Deuteronomy 23:3-6, the Ammonites and Moabites were forbidden from Jewish assembly because of their animosity against Israel.

2. The Wickedness of Eliashib

A wicked thing was committed in Jerusalem.

“Before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was closely associated with Tobiah, and he had provided him with a large room formerly used to store the grain offerings and incense and temple articles, and also the tithes of grain, new wine and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers and gatekeepers, as well as the contributions for the priests.” (13:4-5)

Eliashib was not an ordinary priest. He was the high priest of Israel in Judah (13:8). Yet he was closely associated with Tobiah who was an Ammonite (2:10) and one of the primary enemies of the Jews (4:3; 6:12). The close association between the two was a result of the intermarriage between their families (13:8). What favor did Eliashib give to Tobiah? He reserved for Tobiah a large room in the temple exclusively used as storeroom for the Jews for temple worship. Eliashib committed this sacrilege in the absence of Nehemiah.

“But while all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Some time later I asked his permission and came back to Jerusalem. Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God.” (13:6-7)

Nehemiah came to Jerusalem on the 20th year of King Artaxerxes of Persia (2:1). On the 32nd year of the king, Nehemiah returned to the city of Susa (13:6). Within his twelve years of governor of Judah, the fear of God was restored among the Jewish people. When Nehemiah went back to Persia, Eliashib the high priest made an unholy alliance with Tobiah and desecrated the holy temple of God. Eliashib could have thought that Nehemiah would never come back to Jerusalem and he dared to abuse his religious authority and power for personal advantage. The wicked deed of Eliashib was an outright defiance against God and caused a moral breakdown amongst the Jews.

Nehemiah could have had stayed for several years in the city of Susa and resumed his royal task as the cupbearer of King Artaxerxes in Persia. It was during his absence in Judah that Eliashib defiled the temple. He gave Tobiah a room in the temple courts and the Ammonite was given access in joining the holy assembly of the Jews. This was the enemy of the Jews who made a laughing stock of the wall of Jerusalem and who hired Shemaiah the prophet to intimidate Nehemiah. When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem with the permission of the king, he learned about the evil deed of Eliashib.

3. The Consecration of the Temple

Nehemiah was outraged of the evil deed of Eliashib the high priest.

“I was greatly displeased and threw all Tobiah's household goods out of the room. I gave orders to purify the rooms, and then I put back into them the equipment of the house of God, with the grain offerings and the incense.” (13:8-9)

We could imagine the pagan gods of Tobiah among all his unclean household goods to have been stored and secured inside the room in the temple courts. In righteous indignation, the governor forcibly threw all the unclean belongings of the Ammonite from the sacred room. And Nehemiah ordered the Levite priests to purify the desecrated room and restored its use for worship in the temple.

B. The House of God Neglected (13:10-14)

The evil deed of Eliashib, we could understand, had a devastating repercussion among the Jewish community. He lost his divine authority to lead his people for godly worship. The grievous sin of the high priest despised the holiness of God and corrupted the spiritual life of the people. When the holy temple was desecrated, the Hebrew people were demoralized and neglected the house of God.

1. The Levites Neglected

The Levites were directly affected.

“I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and singers responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields.” (13:10)

When the holiness of God was despised and the temple was defiled, the spiritual life of the Hebrew people collapsed. The solidarity of the Jews who build the great wall of Jerusalem in 52 days was shattered. The Jews broke their covenant and neglected the house of God. The gravity of their sin as a people was disheartening. All the Levites were forced to earn for their living and abandoned their ministries in the temple!

2. The Officials Rebuked

It appeared that the officials of the land tolerated the sin of Eliashib.

“So I rebuked the officials and asked them, ‘Why is the house of God neglected?’ Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts.” (13:11)

The leaders of the land lost their moral ground to lead the people. The spiritual deterioration in the dark days of the judges had returned and the Hebrew people did their own thing for their selfish ends. Nehemiah sternly rebuked the government officials and commanded them to redeem their authority and power as public servants to lead the people to the LORD and observe their covenant with God.

3. The Offerings Restored

The officials of the land obeyed the word of Nehemiah. Not by coercion as an authoritarian ruler. They listened to him as the governor esteemed by the people because of his godly life and exemplary leadership.

“All Judah brought the tithes of grain, new wine and oil into the storerooms. I put Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and a Levite named Pedaiah in charge of the storerooms and made Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, their assistant, because these men were considered trustworthy. They were made responsible for distributing the supplies to their brothers.” (13:12-13)

The Israelites moved as one people and observed their covenant. They yielded themselves to the LORD and gave their tithes and offerings to God. And the Levites were back to their noble task in the house of God.

4. The Pleading of Nehemiah

Nehemiah knew the hidden pain of leading his wayward people. In instituting reforms, he firmly held onto the LORD who alone could change a sinful human being and rebuild a fallen nation.

“Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services.” (13:14)

In total dependence to the LORD, prayer was the lifeblood of Nehemiah. God alone could sustain him in all his troubles and could bless all his painstaking labors. Without God, his ultimate source of strength and encouragement, all his works for his people would be in vain.

C. The Sabbath Violated (13:15-22)

The temple was desecrated. The house of God was neglected. Nehemiah, who was back in Jerusalem, also learned that the Sabbath was violated by his own people and foreigners.

1. The Jewish Men Warned

Nehemiah discovered that the Sabbath day for rest and worship was used by Jewish men for business and trade.

“In those days I saw men in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, together with wine, grapes, figs and all other kinds of loads. And they were bringing all this into Jerusalem on the Sabbath. Therefore I warned them against selling food on that day.” (13:15)

In the Law of Moses, men and animals must rest on the Sabbath day. Nehemiah saw that the Hebrew men from different localities in Judah treaded in winepresses and loaded their all sorts of merchandize on donkeys and treated Jerusalem as a profitable marketplace during the Sabbath. Nehemiah warned his countrymen not to violate the Sabbath.

2. The Phoenician Men Warned

Nehemiah also warned the men from Phoenicia.

“Men from Tyre who lived in Jerusalem were bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them in Jerusalem on the Sabbath to the people of Judah.” (13:16)

If the Jews themselves violated the Sabbath, what could be expected from the foreigners? The people from Tyre, a principal seaport of the Phoenician coast in the Mediterranean, brought with them their most celebrated product of purple dye made from mollusks found on their sea shores besides their metal works and glassware. The Sabbath became a lucrative day of business. Nehemiah rebuked the Phoenicians.

3. The Jewish Nobles Rebuked

And the Jewish officials were not spared.

“I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them, ‘What is this wicked thing you are doing—desecrating the Sabbath day? Didn't your forefathers do the same things, so that our God brought all this calamity upon us and upon this city? Now you are stirring up more wrath against Israel by desecrating the Sabbath.’” (3:17-18)

The officials did not only tolerate the ongoing business during the day of rest and worship. They themselves were involved and had their own share in the profiteering business during the holy Sabbath. Nehemiah rebuked them affront. They were courting a national disaster as their forefathers in desecrating the Sabbath for the love of money.

4. The Gates Closed During the Sabbath

To stop the systemic trade during the day of rest and worship for the Hebrew people, Nehemiah closed the gates in Jerusalem during the Sabbath that ultimately discouraged the traders, Jews and Gentiles alike.

“When evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be shut and not opened until the Sabbath was over. I stationed some of my own men at the gates so that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day. Once or twice the merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem. But I warned them and said, ‘Why do you spend the night by the wall? If you do this again, I will lay hands on you.’ From that time on they no longer came on the Sabbath.” (13:19-21)

Nehemiah gave a strong warning to implement the ordinance. He made a clear directive to those who were insistent and spent the night by the wall in order to sell their products at daybreak when people would enter Jerusalem on the Sabbath. Nehemiah warned them once. Should they not listen and would come the next Sabbath, Nehemiah warned them: “I will lay hands on you.” The people knew Nehemiah meant his word. And they no longer came to do business in Jerusalem on the Sabbath.

To secure the gates of Jerusalem from importunate traders, Jews and Gentiles alike, Nehemiah committed to the LORD the Levites as gatekeepers on the Sabbath.

“Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and go and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this also, O my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.” (13:22)

D. The Unholy Marriages (13:23-30)

The holy temple was desecrated. The house of God was neglected. The Sabbath was violated. Nehemiah was disheartened to learn about the unholy marriages committed by his own people. He was shocked that the family of the high priest himself was involved. The final reform that Nehemiah undertook meant the painful tearing apart of intermarriage families between the Jews and Gentiles.

1. The Intermarriages of the Jews

When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem, he was confronted with a serious problem about forbidden intermarriages.

“Moreover, in those days I saw men of Judah who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab. Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples, and did not know how to speak the language of Judah.” (13:23-24)

The women whom the Jewish men intermarried came from idolatrous cities. Ashdod was the principal city in Canaan where the temple of Dagon was built. Dagon was the ancient chief god of the Philistines worshiped by the Canaanites long before Abraham entered Canaan. Ammon was the territory of the Ammonites who worshiped their national god Molech that involved child sacrifice. And Moab was the place of the Moabites who worshiped their national god Chemosh, like Molech, with sacrifice of children as burnt offerings.

What were the grievous effects of the intermarriage of the Jews with the pagan Gentiles? The children could not speak Hebrew the language of the Jews. The Jews who intermarried were acculturated with pagan culture and lost their identity as Hebrews. And this also meant that the Jews who intermarried embraced the idolatrous worship of the pagans.

2. The Indignation of Nehemiah

Nehemiah was outraged in righteous indignation.

“I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath in God's name and said: ‘You are not to give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor are you to take their daughters in marriage for your sons or for yourselves. Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women. Must we hear now that you too are doing all this terrible wickedness and are being unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women?’” (13:25-27)

This was the height of the governor’s anger. Nehemiah rebuked the men and cursed them. He beat some of them and pulled out their hair. He compelled them to make an oath not to give in their sons and daughters to marry their pagan neighbors. And he warned them not to follow the footsteps of King Solomon who married foreign women whom she loved and embraced their idols. The downfall of the Hebrew people could be traced in their idolatrous worship. The nightmare of Israel was again encroaching at the door. And the Jews seemed not to care!

3. The Consecration of the Priests

Nehemiah lost his temper when he discovered the evil deed of Eliashib.

“One of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. And I drove him away from me. ‘Remember them, O my God, because they defiled the priestly office and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.’ So I purified the priests and the Levites of everything foreign, and assigned them duties, each to his own task.” (13:28-30)

Eliashib desecrated the temple in conspiring with Tobiah. He also became the father-in-law of Sanballat’s daughter. Eliashib defied God and befriended the enemies of the Jews! And he was the high priest!

What more could Nehemiah say at the height of this wickedness? He was dumbfounded. All what he did was to act right there and then. He directly approached Eliashib and drove him away from his presence! Ironically, the name of Eliashib in Hebrew meant “God restores.” He did not live up to his sacred name and holy vocation. Definitely, Eliashib was removed from his office as the high priest. And Nehemiah purified and consecrated the holy ministry of the Levite priesthood. This was the most difficult reform the governor of Judah had ever encountered.

4. Provisions for the Temple

The holy temple was desecrated. The house of God was neglected. The Sabbath observance was violated. And the covenant marriage was defiled. Nehemiah consecrated the temple. He renewed the care for the house of God. He restored rest and worship on Sabbath. And he redeemed the sacredness of the Levites and priesthood.

Given all these reforms he secured the sufficient needs of the temple: “I also made provision for contributions of wood at designated times, and for the firstfruits” (13:31a). And Nehemiah pleaded, “Remember me with favor, O my God” (13:31b). Men could forget him and devalue his work. God would not and never will.

Nehemiah ended where he began. When he heard that the wall in Jerusalem was broken down and his people were in great trouble and disgrace, he prayed and fasted for the welfare of his countrymen. After the wall was rebuilt and his people were secured, they were again in great distress and disgrace but this time because of their sinfulness. Just as he restored the wall of Jerusalem for the security of his own people, so he instituted reforms to rebuild his fallen nation. As in the beginning so it was in end, he pleaded with God for the welfare of his own people. His pleading should be the cry of our hearts: “Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done.”

Conclusion

The wall of Jerusalem was restored but there was a moral breakdown of the principled walls of the Hebrew people. The temple was desecrated. The house of God was neglected. The Sabbath was violated. And they committed unholy marriages. Just as when Nehemiah first came to Jerusalem and restored the broken wall for the welfare of his people, so he came back to Jerusalem and instituted reforms to rebuild his fallen nation. What legacies can we bring home from Nehemiah’s reforms for his countrymen?

Sanctify our devotion to God. Nehemiah consecrated the temple when it was defiled. We are the living temples of God. We desecrate ourselves if we cherish any sin in our heart. We mourn how deceitful our hearts are and plead with God to cleanse us from the inside. Then we can worship the LORD in deep reverence and rest in his presence with great delight.

Nurture our solidarity in our covenant. Nehemiah confronted the people who neglected the house of God and they brought their offerings to the Levites. When we give ourselves first to the LORD, we offer our lives for one another and seek for our ultimate good. Our covenant bond is anchored upon the beauty of grace. Freely we receive. And freely we give with grateful heart.

Enrich the primacy of delightful worship. Nehemiah warned those who violated the Sabbath and restored the heart of worship on the day of rest. True worship observes the harmonious cycle of work and rest. We glorify God in the works of our hands and in the quietness of our souls.

Safeguard the sacredness of our home. Nehemiah was outraged against the Jews who intermarried with pagan Gentiles and he entrenched the sanctity of a covenant family among his people. May our beloved sons and daughters become godly men and women who will build godly homes reflecting the grace and glory of God. So we plead, “Oh, LORD, remember us with favor.”

#sermon #sermons #God #Christian #Jesus #Christ #updcbc #dcbc #church #Bible #nehemiah #worship #covenant #devotion #holiness

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abo-ocs · 2 years

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Tobiah's Profile

{ General Information }

Full Name: Tobiah Wittin

Nickname/Alias: TBA

Gender: Male

Secondary Gender: Omega

Sexual Orientation: Homosexual

Marital Status: Single

Age: 21

Date Of Birth: December 25

Occupation: Punk Rock Singer

{ Physical Information }

Height: 5' 9"

Weight: 161lbs

Eye Colour: Golden

Hair Colour: Red

Skin Complexion: Pale

Body Type: Lean

Scars/Tattoos/Other: Multiple piercings

Scent: Rosemary - Mint

{ Personality }

Positives: Confident, fun, prankster.

Negatives: Arrogant, moody, impatient.

Behaviour: Tobiah likes to think himself as independent and yet he rarely strays far from his twin. He doesn't like clingy people or those who try to attach themselves to him. He's a wild spirit, or so he likes to think anyways. Despite this, he can be fun to be around, at times and depending what mood he's in. He tends to look down on others who he considers lower standing than him due to his upbringing of rich and royal blood.

Likes: Piercings, punk rock, his twin, and strawberry tarts.

Dislikes: Lower class, rules, boring conversations.

Struggles: Separation anxiety from his twin.

Trivia:

- Tobiah has never been far from his twin, its very rare if they're separated.

- Despite his rebellious attitude, he enjoys his lavish life.

- He's the lead singer of a punk rock band called Rebel Dogs.

- He enjoys getting piercings. Lip, ears, and even his nipples.

Background: TBD

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always-an-apocalypse · 7 years

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Novo/Remi

Name/Nicknames: Main Verse: Novo Mod au: Kaitlyn Rhiannon ‘Remi’ Winters Sex: Main verse: Trans male (he/him) Mod au: nonbinary (they/them) Age: Main Verse: 18 Mod au: between 18 and 22, they aren’t sure Date of Birth: December 25 Orientation: panromantic demisexual Hometown: n/a Talents/Skills: In any verse they are very skilled at fixing mechanical things and they are an excellent dancer Occupation: Main verse: jabber boy, blackthumb Mod au: does minor repair work on electronics Physical Appearance: 5’1, brown skin with a warm undertone, freckles across the high points of their face and shoulders, big brown/gold puppy eyes, full lips, small gap between their front teeth and a crooked smile, very thin frame with defined muscles. Main verse: hair kept in a mohawk, circuit board scarification on their chest, extending onto their shoulders and continuing down their right arm. They also have snake bite lip piercings and a septum piercing. Their war paint includes a black hand print over their left eye and two black handprints on their chest. Mod au: long dreaded hair that is a warm dark brown close to the roots and almost blond at the tips (later their hair is just long and curly), small tattoo of a cute cartoon pig face on their inner left thigh Way of speaking: They are very excitable so they tend to talk very quickly, they have a small speech quirk that causes them to say ‘yeah?’ or ‘oh’ a lot. When they are nervous their speech halts a lot and they have trouble getting out what they are trying to say. Style of dress: Main verse: they wear tattered and loose fitting black skinny jeans, a red shaw that hangs at an angle around their waist, a bulky tool belt, thick black combat boots, and a bracelet made from teeth. Their tool belt spots several pouches containing miscellaneous things, a couple knives (one like this), and brass knuckles mainly made of spikes and teeth (this). Mod au: Habits: Personality: Remi/Novo is a literal puppy, because of this they have a very happy yet almost nervous nature to them. They are very positive regardless of their situation, and very supportive and protective of those close to them. They don’t have much of a temper but the little bit they have comes in short spurts. They can be a bit clingy, but they are a good listener and follow orders very well. They have a lot energy so they tend to be very active, the only problem comes in if they stay sedentary for too long they can get very frustrated until they find a way to burn that energy off. Background: Main verse: Novo was raised in Gastown, and his scrappy nature and agility made him a powerful force in hand-to-hand combat. He ended up stationed at one of the Gastown Outposts where he functions under the rank of jabber boy (knife fighter). Mod au: Remi’s parents were murdered when Remi was very young, they don’t remember much about that night but they ran off and ended up on the streets for a very long time. They learned how to steal and pickpocket form a friend named Tobiah, and finally one day the duo was able to afford their own apartment. They still make a living via stealing and pickpocketing and occasional drug running for local gangs. If you move farther into Remi’s timeline there’s a fun bit where they move out of Tobiah’s and move in with Jax (who belongs to mediocrenorik) and they both end up in a wonderful poly relationship with Toz,

#character bio #this one is a mess #but I love them

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3thurs · 5 years

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Third Thursday April 18

The next Third Thursday — the monthly evening of art in Athens, Georgia — is scheduled for Thursday, April 18, from 6 to 9 p.m. All exhibitions are free and open to the public.

This Third Thursday will offer four events in addition to the exhibitions. One of the venues will be closed.

Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia

Lecture: Louis Waldman, 5:30 p.m. — Dr. Louis A. Waldman’s talk is titled “Renaissance Cassoni: From Storage to Storybook.” The homes of Renaissance Italians had no closets; their precious articles of clothing were kept in chests now known as cassoni. In the 15th century, these chests were decorated with a vast range of imagery, often by important painters, whose stories tell us a great deal about the interests and values of their owners. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition “Life, Love and Marriage Chests in Renaissance Italy.”

Yoga in the Galleries, 6 p.m. — Join us for a yoga class surrounded by works of art in the galleries. Led by instructors from Five Points Yoga, this program is free and open to both beginner and experienced yogis. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis; tickets are available at the front desk starting at 5:15 p.m. Yoga mats provided.

Tarot Workshop, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. — Tarot originated in 14th- and 15th-century Italy and then spread to the rest of the world. Learn a bit about how it rose to prominence during the Renaissance and how it can still be applicable in modern-day life. Serra Jaggar of Indie South will lead us in an exploration of the cards and their meanings, different tarot decks and different spreads to divine meaning. The workshop fee is $25 and includes your own Rider Waite tarot deck to continue your practice. Registration required; contact [email protected] or 706.583.0111 to reserve a spot.

On view:

“Master of Fine Arts Degree Candidates Exhibition” — The annual exit show for the graduating master of fine arts students at the Lamar Dodd School of Art. Graduating candidates are able to exhibit their work in various areas of study including painting and drawing, fabric design, photo and video, printmaking, sculpture/fibers, jewelry/metals and ceramics.

“Life, Love and Marriage Chests in Renaissance Italy” — The exhibition comprises around 45 Renaissance works of art related to its theme and representative of life and social customs in Renaissance Italy.

“Stony the Road We Trod” — This exhibition features works by African American artists in the museum’s permanent collection and by this year’s Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Award Winner, Leo Twiggs.

“Out of the Darkness” — Artist Rebecca Rutstein uses UGA marine sciences professor Samantha Joye's research to create an interactive sculptural installation and several large paintings.

Permanent Collection — Thirteen galleries house a large portion of the Georgia Museum of Art's collection, including many of the 100 American paintings that made up Alfred Heber Holbrook's founding gift.

Lamar Dodd School of Art Galleries, University of Georgia

Closed to install the next round of BFA shows.

Lyndon House Arts Center

3Thurs Artist Talks, 6 p.m. — Kate Windley, Laura Floyd and Eli Saragoussi will introduce their work during a discussion and gallery walk-through of the 44th Juried Exhibition, led by curator Beth Sale.

On view:

“The 44th Juried Exhibition” — Featuring works by 130 artists selected by guest juror Lauren Haynes, contemporary curator at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

“Plastic Bodies” — Works by Abigale West in the Lounge Gallery.

ATHICA: Athens Institute for Contemporary Art

“New Gods | Old Gods” — Featuring works and performances by I Made “Bayak” Muliana; curated by Peter Brosius and Alden DiCamillo. Made Bayak’s visual practice merges images and symbols from Balinese cosmology and current Balinese political and ecological movements to bring attention to parasitic real estate development and past actions of violence within Bali. The colorful and piercing narrative works that will be on exhibition use plastic waste and trash, ink, acrylic paint, stencils and traditional Balinese painting techniques to tell the most difficult stories of Balinese history. Additional documentary photographs and videos of his work and contextual information about Bali are exhibited alongside.

Ciné

“Painting by Tobiah Cole” — Tobiah Cole’s work is an exploration of improvisational mark making. Often working with a wandering line, Cole has been painting forms that evolve and deconstruct in a landscape of paint that has no firm boundaries. It's his intention to paint from a place of not knowing and to allow images to slowly emerge on their own.

Hotel Indigo, Athens

“You Are Here” — Works by Amanda Jane Burk, Eli Saragoussi, Chasity Williams and Tae Lee

“Taylor Shaw” — A new installation in the GlassCube, featuring neon fantastic mini golf Athens mural fun.

The Classic Center

“Checkerboard Checkered Floor” — An exhibition exploring pattern play is on view in Classic Gallery I. Featuring the boxy abstractions of Cal Clements, the black-and-white patterned interiors of Hanna Friedlander, Jess Machacek’s ombré assemblages, Jared Brown’s bouncy, poppy paintings and Courtney McCracken’s marbled geometric combination collages.

“See Dan Paint” — A solo exhibition of Moby Dicks and large paintings by Dan Smith in Classic Gallery II.

Third Thursday was established in 2012 to encourage attendance at Athens’ established art venues through coordination and co-promotion by the organizing entities. Rack cards promoting Third Thursday and visual art in Athens are available upon request. This schedule and venue locations and regular hours can be found at 3thurs.org.

Contact: Michael Lachowski, Georgia Museum of Art, [email protected].

#athensga #art #UGA #free

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lovelyparanormalbooks · 7 years

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Review: The Mirror King by Jodi Meadows

The Mirror King (The Orphan Queen #2) by Jodi Meadows Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books Goodreads Summary: Wilhelmina has a hundred enemies. HER FRIENDS HAVE TURNED. After her identity is revealed during the Inundation, Princess Wilhelmina is kept prisoner by the Indigo Kingdom, with the Ospreys lost somewhere in the devastated city. When the Ospreys’ leader emerges at the worst possible moment, leaving Wil’s biggest ally on his deathbed, she must become Black Knife to set things right. HER MAGIC IS UNCONTROLLABLE. Wil’s power is to animate, not to give true life, but in the wraithland she commanded a cloud of wraith mist to save herself, and later ordered it solid. Now there is a living boy made of wraith—destructive and deadly, and willing to do anything for her. HER HEART IS TORN. Though she’s ready for her crown, declaring herself queen means war. Caught between what she wants and what is right, Wilhelmina realizes the throne might not even matter. Everyone thought the wraith was years off, but already it’s destroying Indigo Kingdom villages. If she can’t protect both kingdoms, soon there won’t be a land to rule. In this stunning conclusion to THE ORPHAN QUEEN, Jodi Meadows follows Wilhelmina’s breathtaking and brave journey from orphaned criminal on the streets to magic-wielding queen. Rating: 5 Stars Review: Wilhelmina Korte is no longer just a girl. With her identity revealed to all during the Inundation, many are distrustful of her presence in the Indigo Kingdom and some even proceed to call her the Wraith Queen. Tobiah Pierce is no longer just a prince; after his father's assassination, he must prepare for his coronation and arranged marriage. But the choices Wil and Tobiah make aren't always the right ones... The first part of this novel contains a lot of unhappiness. Wil must be diplomatic or risk the fallout, yet she longs for her daggers and secret identity. Her best friend Melanie is still with Patrick Lien, Wil's former friend and commander turned foe. There are many forces working against the princess and Tobiah as they bargain for Wil's right to the Vermillion Throne. The details of this fantasy world aren't mentioned as much as in The Orphan Queen but landscapes, terrain and never-seen-before areas are described frequently. Tobiah treats Wil as a stranger to a certain extent. She wishes that Black Knife and the Sullen Prince were two different people. There isn't much in the form of relationships but love is a huge part of the book, including misguided devotion and doing things with their best interests at heart. There is a constant uphill battle, with no shortage of antagonists. Many rise against Wilhelmina as well as there always being the impending threat of the Wraith. Magic use becomes a desperate last resort as the Wraith arrives at a speed much faster than predicted. I love how there are constant complications and nothing is too easy for the protagonists. Wil and Tobiah both had to overcome many things in order to get the end result desired. Chrysalis's character amused me very much and I appreciated his presence as a loyal, confused boy with very little intelligence other than to protect and please his queen. Jodi Meadows has created a vivid world filled with miracles and conflict. The Mirror King concludes this duology with the much deserved ending these characters need. Purchase Location: Borrowed From Library Edition: Hardcover Buy the book: Book Depository Recommended for: Fans of high fantasy, conflicted tales and magical problems.

#ParanormalBooks

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robbstarkl · 8 years

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WIL AND TOBIAH FOREVR OTP

#wil and tobiah #wilhelmina korte #tobiah pierce #the mirror king #the orphan queen #ellie rambles

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strangenoquestion · 5 years

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I slid my daggers into their sheathes and took the folded note from my belt. After a second's hesitation, I offered it to him. 'I thought if you were going to sneak letters into my room, I should get to have fun, too.' 'And you had to dress as Black Knife to do it?' He took the letter, holding it like it might bite. 'Do you know how hard it is to climb over the roof while wearing a gown?' A sly smile welled up in the corner of his mouth. 'None of the court ladies will loan me a gown to try.' 'Well that's just rude of them.' I started a slow circle around him, making a show of inspecting the way his nightclothes hung over his lean frame. If he wore a bandage anymore, I couldn't see it beneath the dark blue silk. 'I have a dress you could borrow, but your hips are all wrong for it.' He offered a playful frown. "Now who's rude? You'll have to learn to be more diplomatic if you're going to be queen, Wilhelmina.'

Jodi Meadows, The Mirror King

#banter #Tobiah Pierce #Princess Wilhelmina #The Black Knife #The Mirror King #Jodi Meadows #The Orphan Queen Duology #books #series #quotes

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updcbc · 6 years

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August 12, 2018 - “The Fulfilled Great Project” Nehemiah 6:1-7:73

Click KEEP READING to read the full sermon.

Introduction

We have one life—just one life to live, one life to give, one life to serve and one life to offer. And we are born in one country we consider our home. How then should we live our solitary life and what is our noble dream for our beloved homeland?

The late Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. could have chosen to live in safety and comfort in the loving embrace of his family as exiles in the United States. What made him decide to return to the Philippines despite the clear warning of his bloody assassination that would pierce inconceivable grief to his loved ones? He came back because he was restless until democracy would be restored in his own country. Such solid dedication was a demonstration of the incomparable grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to whom he yielded his life while he agonized in his solitary confinement in prison and inspired by Chuck Colson’s book, Born Again. And he offered his life in reverence to God and his love for his countrymen. His dream was fulfilled at the cost of his life. May our children cherish, safeguard and nurture our freedom.

Nehemiah, as a Jewish exile, could have chosen to remain as the cupbearer of King Artaxerxes and for him to enjoy the royal prestige and comfort in the kingdom of Persia. But he, too, was restless when he heard that the wall of Jerusalem remained in ruins and that his remnant people, who had returned from Babylon to Judah, were in great trouble and disgrace. It was his dream to restore the broken wall of Jerusalem and rebuild his fallen nation—and he knew it could cost his life. He pleaded for divine favor and intervention. And God moved the heart of the king. And Nehemiah was granted imperial authority to go back to Israel and govern over his own people as he would build the broken wall of Jerusalem. The enemies of the Jews in Palestine were alarmed for he had come for the welfare of his own people. Despite the hostile opposition from his enemies, he stood on his ground and led his countrymen to restore the wall. In vigilance, the Jewish builders kept themselves on guard from the attack of their enemies who surrounded them. Halfway to the development of the great project, he soon found out the greater problem did not come from outside opposition but from within his people because of the social injustice committed by the affluent over their poor countrymen. Nehemiah instituted reforms and the people made a covenant in the name of the Lord. The Jews reinforced their solidarity as a people. And the builders were back to work with all their heart.

To derail the project, the leaders of the enemies of the Jews focused their attack on Nehemiah. But he made a decisive stand not to bend to their schemes (6:1-9, 17-19). So the great wall of Jerusalem was completed (6:15-16; 7:1-3). And the city of Jerusalem was resettled by the remnant Jews (7:4-73a). The great project was fulfilled under the sovereignty and grace of God through the righteous governance and exemplary leadership of Nehemiah and the solidarity of the Jewish people.

We look at our bare hands. What significant work can we share in our dream to build our nation? When we see how our principled walls in our society are breaking down and how our moral values are deteriorating, we first ask ourselves whether we are part of the solution or the problem. The true builders of the land are those who have a clear conscience and clean hands. Patriotism is to do what is true, right and just. When our hearts are right with God, he can mightily use us in our humble ways.

A. The Plot Against Nehemiah (6:1-9)

Patriotism is tough and hard. Nehemiah became the primary target of the concerted demolition job to get rid of him and destroy his great project. His enemies planned to kill him. When they failed, they resorted to intimidation, threat and political collaboration. Nehemiah pleaded for divine protection and intervention.

1. The Assassination Plan

First of all, his enemies made a plot to kill him. This assassination plan was in disguise of a diplomatic consultation.

a. The Scheming Invitation

Sanballat and Geshem invited Nehemiah to talk with them.

“When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates—Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: ‘Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.’ But they were scheming to harm me.” (6:1-2)

The Jerusalem wall was almost done except for the doors in the gates. The city remained vulnerable. But the enemies knew that as long as Nehemiah stood as the governor, the Jewish community and the city of Jerusalem were safe and secure. So his enemies invited him possibly for a peace treaty on the plain of Ono, a fortified city in the territory of Benjamin, 49 kilometers (30 miles) northwest of Jerusalem. In Nehemiah’s time, Benjamin was under Sanballat the governor of Samaria. The call for diplomatic talk appeared to restore peace in the region. But Nehemiah had the discernment of their assassination plot.

b. The Focused Decision

Nehemiah sent a clear and firm message to Sanballat and Geshem despite their importunate calls.

“So I sent messengers to them with this reply: ‘I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?’ Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.” (6:3-4)

The decision of Nehemiah was non-negotiable. Nothing and no one could deter him from building the wall of Jerusalem. His solid determination reinforced the zeal of his people.

2. The Threat of Rebellion

Secondly, Sanballat and Geshem conspired to threaten Nehemiah of rebellion before King Artaxerxes.

a. The Unsealed Letter

The open letter was a scheme to compel Nehemiah to meet Sanballat and Geshem so they could execute their plot to kill him.

“Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter in which was written: ‘It is reported among the nations—and Geshem says it is true—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: “There is a king in Judah!”’ Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us confer together.” (6:5-7

Under the authority of the king of Persia, Nehemiah came to Jerusalem to be the governor of Judah. For the king to receive a report that he installed himself as a king was a serious charge of rebellion.

b. The Steadfast Commitment

Nehemiah stood on his ground without fear.

“I sent him this reply: ‘Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.’ They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, ‘Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.’ But I prayed, ‘Now strengthen my hands.’ (6:8-9)

His courage was rooted in his integrity. He led his people without any hidden agenda or selfish ambition. He remained true as a governor over his own people and never entertained the thought of rebellion against the king. Under the closest scrutiny of his life and governance he could stand before anyone with clear conscience. This he did in absolute dependence upon God.

3. The Scheming Intimidation

Thirdly, Sanballat and Tobiah hired a prophet to intimidate Nehemiah. His enemies threatened him in the name of the king. This time they tried to destroy his name in the name of God.

a. The Hired Prophet

Nehemiah received a warning from Shemaiah.

“One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, ‘Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you.’” (6:10)

Out of good will, Nehemiah visited Shemaiah because he was bedridden. The word of Shemaiah to Nehemiah could be taken as a genuine concern for the safety of the governor and it could not be easily disregarded because he was a prophet. Nehemiah discerned something wrong. Only a priest could enter the temple. And he was not a priest.

b. The Disclosure of the Plot

Nehemiah safeguarded himself from sacrilege by going inside the temple that would destroy his credibility as a governor and he could be stoned to death by his people.

“But I said, ‘Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!’ I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me.” (6:11-12)

The devious scheme of Sanballat and Tobiah was ingenuous by paying a great price to a prophet who was corrupted by money. We can only surmise that Nehemiah soon discovered the plot, perhaps through the confession of Shemaiah who could have been investigated by the governor. The sovereign God protected Nehemiah.

4. The Political Patronage

Finally, Tobiah capitalized on political patronage over the Jewish nobles to unsettle the governance of Nehemiah.

“Also, in those days the nobles of Judah were sending many letters to Tobiah, and replies from Tobiah kept coming to them. For many in Judah were under oath to him, since he was son-in-law to Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah. Moreover, they kept reporting to me his good deeds and then telling him what I said. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.” (6:17-19)

Political collaboration is an effective strategy to unsettle any government. Tobiah established an insidious political foothold within the Hebrew community out of the unholy intermarriages entered into by the Jewish nobles with the Gentiles. Nehemiah addressed this serious problem to safeguard the political stability of his governance.

5. The Pleading of Nehemiah

Nehemiah anchored his security and stability in the hands of God.

“Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to intimidate me.” (6:14)

He never underestimated his enemies for the irreparable damage they could do to his own people. And he pleaded to God to hold them accountable for they were bent to evil to harm him.

As in the time of Nehemiah, we can observe in our homeland the same patterns done by the enemies of the state to silence anyone who is dedicated to restore our broken walls in rebuilding our nation. The builders of our homeland are maligned, intimidated and threatened. The powerful block of elite collaborates with foreigners for their selfish ends. Many of our reformers had already shed their innocent blood for our homeland. Like Nehemiah, we plead with God to hold into account those who make schemes toward the downfall of our nation.

B. The Completion of the Wall (6:15, 16—7:3)

Under the sovereignty of God, the great project of Nehemiah to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem was finally accomplished with a compelling timetable. The surrounding nations hostile to the Hebrew people were bewildered. And the Jewish community was secured.

1. The Wall Restored

Under the leadership of Nehemiah, the solidarity and dedication of the Hebrew people paid off. “So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days” (6:15). The great wall of Jerusalem was five meters (16.4 ft.) wide, 12 meters (39.37 ft.) high, and 4,018 meters (2.5 mi.) long. Against every possible obstacle it was finished in less than two months. Imagine the work done by the builders. The remnant Jewish community in the province of Judah flocked to Jerusalem. Each section set by boundary of the gates was assigned to a particular group. Blocks of stones chiseled from the quarry were delivered to the site and piled up and cemented with pits and tars. While building they kept themselves on guard twenty-four hours a day from the imminent attack of their surrounding enemies. The greater burden came from the social injustice committed by the affluent Jews over their poor countrymen. The inner conflict and the outside threat were properly addressed and the people were back to work. Nehemiah himself was singled out by his enemies to destroy him so the project would be demolished. Despite all the overwhelming pressures, the wall was rebuilt with all the gates in place in 52 days on the month of Elul, the sixth month of the Hebrew calendar, August-September, a summer time in Israel. The wall was completed because the Jewish people worked with all their heart.

2. The Enemies Unsettled

What was the impact upon the neighboring nations?

“When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.” (6:16)

Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem and all their followers were bewildered. The dread of the Jews fell upon them because they recognized that the great wall was the mighty work of God. The wall was a monument of the solidarity of the Jewish people. Above all, the wall of Jerusalem was a testimony that the LORD of Israel is the sovereign God over all.

3. The Jews Safeguarded

Nehemiah secured the gates of the wall for the safety of his own people.

“After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed. I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do. I said to them, ‘The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.’” (7:1-3)

Nehemiah delegated the security of the city of Jerusalem in the hands of two great men. First was his brother Hanani. He was the one who reported about the broken wall of Jerusalem to Nehemiah while he was the cupbearer of the king in the city of Susa in Persia. Hanani served as the right hand of Nehemiah. Second was Hananiah, the commander of the citadel. The citadel was the final defensive system of the walled city where the governor’s residence was located. Hananiah was a man of impeachable integrity and outstanding spirituality. Jerusalem was not entrusted in the hands of the nobles. Rather, it was committed into the hands of two trustworthy men. And the city was in good hands.

Anything we do for the sake of our countrymen and our nation brings inward fulfillment if we do it in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. In restoring our deteriorating moral values and breaking principled walls, may we stand firm despite the oppositions we encounter. And when we triumph in making our decisive stand for what is true, right and just—in our workplaces—may our enemies recognize that the Lord Jesus is on our side and be unsettled with the dread of God hovering over them. And may the Lord give us trustworthy men and women as fellow servants and guardians in fulfilling our dream to build our nation.

C. The Resettlement of Jerusalem (7:4-73a)

God placed in the heart of Nehemiah to resettle Jerusalem with his own people. He made a census of his remnant countrymen. And the chosen Jews dwelt inside the city of David surrounded by the great wall.

1. The Open Resettlement

Nehemiah decided to resettle Jerusalem.

“Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.” (7:4)

When he arrived in Jerusalem, there were few Jewish families who dwelt in the city because it was then in ruins. When the wall was rebuilt, Nehemiah saw the need to resettle new residents to dwell inside the city. The length of the Jerusalem wall repaired by the Jewish people was 4,018 meters (4.018 kilometers). So the city proper was twice the area surrounded by the UP oval in Diliman campus which is 2.2 kilometers.

2. The Registration of the People

Nehemiah made a census of the remnant Jews who returned in Judah and registered them by their ancestral families.

“So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families. I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return. This is what I found written there: These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town.” (7:5-6)

The first batch was led by Zerubbabel. The detailed registration was recorded in Nehemiah 7:7-67. “The whole company numbered 42, 360, besides their 7,337 menservants and maidservants; and they also had 245 men and women singers” (Neh. 7:66-67). Nehemiah also made a record of the material contributions of the Jewish people for the building of the wall of Jerusalem (7:70-72). Nehemiah himself gave 1,000 drachmas (4,300 grams) of gold. Beside the first batch, we need to mention here the second batch led by Ezra. In his time, those who traveled with him back to Judah were 12,326 men who were family heads. The detail of the second registration was recorded in Ezra 8:1-14.

3. The Resettlement of the People

Nehemiah gave clear directives with regard to the resettlement.

“Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns. The people commended all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.” (11:1-2)

The casting of lots was a Jewish practice done in the name of the Lord in ascertaining and in submission to his will. In the case of resettlement of the Jews in Jerusalem it was done by casting lots to create an atmosphere of peace and harmony among the people. The men who volunteered to stay in the city were commended because they served primarily as gate keepers. The new residents in Jerusalem were 468 able men from the descendants of Judah (11:6), 928 men from the descendants of Benjamin (11:8), 1,192 priests (11:10-14), 284 Levites (11:18) and 172 men gatekeepers (11:19). The total was 3,044 men excluding their families.

And the greater Jewish community settled in their respective ancestral territories in the province of Judah.

“The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers and the temple servants, along with certain of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns…The rest of the Israelites, with the priests and Levites, were in all the towns of Judah, each on his ancestral property.” (7:73a; 11:20)

Nehemiah was a wise governor. He pursued his vision to restore the broken wall of Jerusalem. He committed himself to his mission in rebuilding his fallen nation. To this end he was not sidetracked from any adversity and opposition. All his efforts revolved around his dream. In the process, he governed over his people as an organized administrator. He addressed issues by digging to the heart of the matter. He resolved conflicts without partiality. He made decisions that were just and fair. He delegated his responsibilities to trustworthy persons. Above all, he feared God and yielded his all to him for the welfare of his own people

Conclusion

The sovereign LORD preserved Nehemiah from the plot of Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem. Nehemiah was not distracted in carrying out his great project for his people. Against all odds, the formidable wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt in 52 days. The enemies of Israel were distraught because they realized it was the work of God. They city of Jerusalem was resettled by the Jews. And the rest of Hebrew people settled in their ancestral territories in Judah. This motivates us to pursue our dream.

The late beloved “Manong Bel” left us with a patriotic legacy. We refresh ourselves of his noble dream.

A Vision for the Nation*

Isabelo F. Magalit

What kind of Philippines do I long to see?

A land that is peaceful. Where Muslims and Christians and animists and those with no religion at all can live together as friendly rivals but not as enemies. Where disputes are resolved by discussion and debate and not with the barrel of the gun. Where one may walk the streets at night unarmed and remain unharmed.

A people who are free. Free to think even the unthinkable, free to worship God according to one’s best light, free to elect rulers and to replace them, free to argue one’s case in the media, free to travel wherever one pleases, free to live and work anywhere in the islands.

A territory that is sovereign. Friendly with all her neighbors, and working in solidarity with them in promoting regional interests. Cordial with all nations in the East and the West, the North and the South, but sovereign in her foreign policy. Free to chart her own destiny for Filipinos have the special duty to promote the welfare of their nation.

A nation that is just. Every man and woman and child receives his/her due. The poor are not discriminated against because of ignorance or lack of access to legal services. Judges and justices cannot be bought but dispense and apply the law with impartiality. Equal pay is given for equal work. Everyone has equal opportunity for education, housing, employment, medical care, and other social services.

A community that is participatory. People taking responsibility for their lives, and increasingly empowered to do so. Making decisions that affect their families and neighborhoods, their towns and cities, and the entire country. Being responsible for one another for “each man is his brother’s keeper.” Political in the broadest and best sense. Our stewardship includes the care of planet Earth, God’s appointed habitat for mankind.

A country that is prosperous. Not prosperity at the expense of freedom, but a progressive economy that grows from wise policies, efficient government, and honest business practices. Prosperity that does not merely make the rich even richer, but one that benefits all the people, reaching to all parts of the countryside, finally breaking the back of centuries of feudalism.

A society that is righteous. Only through the Christian gospel are people “put right with God,” so we evangelize as vigorously as we can. However, there is a public righteousness that Christians can promote as salt of the earth and light of the world. As an “overwhelming minority,” we can influence the rest of society to minimize graft, tax evasion, violence, prostitution, and other expressions of a corrupt society.

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).

Today, God enabling me, I commit myself to making this dream become reality.

Manong Bel is home in heaven. Yet his dream lives on.

This dream is much alive for every Filipino who loves his motherland.

May God help us as we pursue our dream.

__________

*First published in PATMOS, magazine of the Institute for Studies in Asian Church and Culture, May 1992, Vol. 8.

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