Nehemiah Chapter 8

Gone to Mex & Back

"When Jesus Came Down"

Back in Nebraska, I was having a hard time deciding whether to go to the church that held weekly communion or the church that had communion once a month. One particular Sunday, I opted to attend the church serving weekly communion. That decision led me to a communion I’ll never forget.

June 25, 2018  When Jesus Came Down

Yesterday, I filled up on garbage, watching TV and eating non-stop. In my journal, I wrote, “TODAY . . . Please, if I hear Your voice, let me not turn my back, let me not run like Jonah, but instead let me listen like Abraham and run to You like Samuel the boy You called to become a prophet. TODAY, let me seek Your face in all I see, for You, LORD, are holy; help me to be holy, “because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy. (I Pet. 1:16).’”

My plan was to let Ziggy out, then walk over to First Christian. Outside, I saw a young man sitting in the grass; his back pack beside him. He also held a clear plastic kitchen-sized garbage sack containing pieces of cardboard. I ignored my first reaction to ignore him. Instead I walked over and asked how he was doing. He looked familiar.

Immediately, another young man came to mind. On Oct. 22, 2017, I wrote an entry about the young “homeless” man sitting on the concrete divider in the dark with his dog. To recap, I stared and nodded at him at the young man, then commenced walking my dog. All the while I kept thinking I should go talk to this young man who was sitting on the divider actually n my normal parking spot. I had all kinds of questions for him, like was he homeless? What was he doing there? Was he waiting for someone? Somewhere in Scripture—Hebrews? I Peter?—the author said entertain strangers because they might be angels, I thought, “Good point.” And stopped in my tracks. “What if this stranger was Jesus?” I turned around and hurried back to the parking lot. Too late, he was gone. For the rest of the night, I felt I had missed a great opportunity to see and serve Christ. I cried and prayed and cried some more throughout the night.

Today, Sunday morning, this young man, maybe in his 20s’, blue eyes, reminded me of my son 10 years ago. I asked his name and he said, “Bane (?)” and that he was just taking a break. My heart melted and I wanted to stay, but my mind was telling me I’d be late for church if I didn’t leave. I walked across the street, then turned back, haunted by the memory of that October night. I didn’t want to let this young man out of my sight. Every time I’d walk away, I felt a strong pull to return to the grassy plot he sat on. We talked a little. He was so excited to have found a working cell phone, turquoise-colored, and I asked him if he believed that God provided for him. His eyes brightened and he said, “Yes.”

Not really knowing what to say, I told him that if anyone gave him a hard time for sitting out on the lawn, he should tell them that Jill said it was okay. (Duh). Ziggy, by now, was in his lap, face-to-face with him, giving kisses. Thinking back, Ziggy was taken with the young man, too. Zig was very calm and content as if he knew this man and wanted to stay with him. I apologized for my dog as I pulled on Zig’s leash to leave. The young man said he loved dogs. Before saying goodbye, I offered to bring him some food when I came back from upstairs. He said, “That’d be good.” He was a little hungry.

“I’ll be right back,” I promised, then rushed to my apartment, quickly pulled out peanut butter, crackers, searched for a plastic spoon knife to spread the PB, and a bag of chips, water, and then wrote my name and number and the verse from Nehemiah 4:19-20 on a card. I hurried outside, fearing I’d taken too long.

He was gone. 

My heart sank. I drove around for several minutes searching for him downtown. The longer I drove the worse I felt. I kept thinking of a Calvary Church sermon recently about Jacob’s story in Genesis. He wrestled with God, and would not let go until God had blessed him. Jacob was then renamed “Israel,” by God. So it occurred to me that I should not have let go of the young man. I couldn’t explain the over-whelming love and longing I felt toward him. I shouldn’t have let him go, I shouldn’t have been so concerned about communion, I should’ve done more to tend his needs and spent more time talking to him. His presence grabbed me so emotionally. I sensed You, LORD. I really sensed You in his face. But again, You were gone.

Finally, after praying and driving around heart-broken, I parked my car and went in to First Christian, 30 minutes late. I chose communion over spending more time with You, LORD. But there’s the irony. I did have communion with You. I was blessed by You, and Ziggy was blessed too. I learned some important lessons that morning.

• If I see You, don’t let go, don’t let You leave until I am satisfied You are taken care of.
• If I lose sight of You, I should remember to look for You in the faces of others.
• Be prepared. Keep a sack lunch with cookies, fruit cups, PNJ, etc. and water in the car.

NEH 8: DAY 29 READY, SET, READ!

Section I: Ezra Reads and Explains the Law

1 Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded Israel.

2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month.

“All who could hear with understanding” narrowed the gathering to men, women, and elderly people, plus youth who understood as well as their parents what was being said. Notice the people told Ezra to bring the Book of the Law of Moses. These people were enthusiastic.

3 Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

4 So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 

5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God.

Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

Oh, if we could be so moved in our worship. They were hungry to hear the word of the LORD.

7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. 

These were learned men, perhaps trained by Ezra, on how to read and interpret the scripture. In the original language. the Book of the Law was difficult to understand, so those teachers, scribes, leaders and Levites helped the people understand.

8 So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.

Giving the people sense was like taking the blindfold from their eyes so they could see spiritually. Now they understood what God wanted them to do.

9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, 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 nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law.

People were emotionally moved, distraught, feeling unworthy in God’s eyes, and ashamed for how their ancestors had turned their back on God. It was happening just like the prophets had said—the wantonness of the nation, God’s warning, the captivity, the restoration. Exactly the way it had been predicted. No wonder they felt so humbled.

10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

It’s a celebration! God is still with us! Don’t be sad. Share your food!

11 So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them

Section II: The Feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:33–43 )

13 Now on the second day the heads of the fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests and Levites, were gathered to Ezra the scribe, in order to understand the words of the Law. 

14 And they found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, 15 and that they should announce and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the mountain, and bring olive branches, branches of oil trees, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.”

16 Then the people went out and brought them and made themselves booths, each one on the roof of his house, or in their courtyards or the courts of the house of God, and in the open square of the Water Gate and in the open square of the Gate of Ephraim. 

Do you recall that the Water Gate represented more than a place to fetch water? “The Water Gate is significant of the Living Water, and likely the reservoir where 3,000 people were baptized on the day of Pentecost.” (From Chapter 3: Class Notes)

17 So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness.

I can’t help but think, “What a happy ending.”

18 Also day by day, from the first day until the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day there was a sacred assembly, according to the prescribed manner.

NEH 8: DAY 30 CLASS NOTES & CONNECTIONS

During the first seven chapters, we see people working on the wall. Although threatened by their adversaries, they understood God was working with them. Now the people were able to take comfort in knowing God wasn’t going to desert them. It brought closure to the exiles who had once lived under the rule of the Babylonians and Persians for 70 years. At last, they could settle down. With the wall in place, significant things happened. The people started to gather as a community; they came “together as one man.”

Building the physical wall enabled the Jewish nation to worship God without distractions and influence from other nations. At the same time, the wall facilitated the nation’s development and encouraged the spiritual growth of the people. God used the wall as a conduit to link the physical to the spiritual. Or, like a battery cable, one end was once again connected to the Living God, the other to the people who needed a spiritual jump start.

While a ministry can meet physical needs of the people; it can also serve to meet spiritual needs. There are times we meet spiritual needs, but ignore the physical depending on the circumstances of the people being served. What about the opposite? Is it okay for a ministry to meet physical needs and ignore the spiritual? What would happen to the ministry if they did?

Ezra Reads and Explains the Law

The wall was finished in 52 days, but the celebration wasn’t held until a few days later than the day when the Feast usually started. What a time to celebrate! The people gathered together in front of the Water Gate and asked Ezra to read publicly. They even built a wood platform for him to stand on much like the platforms used by preachers during church services today. Because Ezra had prepared his heart, he was the perfect person to read the scroll. (Ezra 7:10)

Reading was Normal

It was normal for the Book of the Law to be read at celebrations and feasts. When Ezra blessed the LORD and opened the scroll, the people shouted, “Amen! Amen!” God’s word provided nourishment for a spiritually-starved nation. If only the people in our churches today, were that motivated to read, explain, and accept the word of God, then we, too, would lift our voices and shout, “Amen! Amen!”

They Read Distinctly

Because the language was difficult to read and understand, the Levites and teachers explained to the people what the scripture mean. Scribes like Ezra would’ve have taught their students how to apply these words and laws to their personal lives. In turn, students shared their knowledge with the people.

Christ gave us the Holy Spirit to help us understand God’s Word. He sent His Helper to interpret scripture for us, as well as teach us and remind us of everything Christ said. Have you ever read from the Bible and something baffled you, then suddenly a light turns on, and you go, “Oh, I get it.” That moment of realization is a nudge from the Holy Spirit giving you “sense” to understand. I picture the Helper standing over me or reading behind me.  I might have a question about a verse, then suddenly, I either remember or randomly open to another verse that ties in with the one I’m questioning and everything makes “sense.”

What’s all this talk about “Joy?”

Why can’t we be as joyful as King David when he danced in the streets? Is happiness the same as joy? Pastor Michael said the difference between” happy” and “joy” is based on our circumstances. Happy is feeling good because our attention is focused on something we define as good or tangible. We buy the house of our dreams or get a promotion at work. Our happiness depends on worldly circumstances.

Joy is a choice based on the decision to recognize the grace in our life. That might explain why the world is short on joy. We’re blinded by the world and cannot see God’s grace. We can’t always see it because we’re focusing on the circumstances. Since joy is a choice, we can choose to change our attitude. Joy is trusting in the LORD and knowing He is moving in our life. When we receive “sense” from the Holy Spirit, it’s like our blinders are removed and we begin to see clearly. The Jews wept because they focused on their sins and regrets. Nehemiah reminded them it was time to rejoice. “This day is holy to the LORD!”

Sometimes when we run through our Bible reading in a year or even more quickly, it can be dangerous. We might be better off reading a self-help book instead of Bible skimming. By joining a small group study, we can share insights and questions. Leaders or seasoned Christians or someone knowledgeable can explain difficult passages. If you take time to read daily, you can also expect the Holy Spirit to give you sense to help you understand what you read. First, we have to learn to listen.

Understanding the Feast of the Tabernacles according to Lev. 23:33-43

Taking it day-by-day

The Seventh month of the Seventh Year was the Feast of Tabernacles also known as the Sabbatical year, when all five Books of the Law of Moses were read and people confessed their sins and celebrated God. After 1,000 years, the Feast of Tabernacles lost its significance due to the periods of captivity, and then the Jewish nation turned their eyes from God to the idols of their captors. Note that the same is often true of us. We are gung-ho to worship and pray, then sickness, marriage, school, career, or family distracts us. God is no longer our main focal point. In a way, we’ve become captives of the enemy.

For the Jewish nation, the Feast of Tabernacles recognized the Presence of God in the lives of the people, and His provision for them during their 40 years in the wilderness. The people gathering at the Gate might have been intentional because of the spiritual significance of water. Water used to wash the body symbolizes the Word of God; water for drinking pertains to the Holy Spirit. This time, the festival was different because God used the coming together of the wall and the people, to do something new.

 (Vs. 2), Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month.

Day 1, known as the Feast of the Trumpets, included shouting out praise to God. The noise of the shouting carried beyond the wall, and was heard by friendly nations and enemies alike. During this time, the reading of the Law took place from morning to mid-day, (about four to six hours).

(Vs. 9) And Nehemiah, who was the governor, 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 nor weep. "For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. Nehemiah reminded them, “this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

(Vs. 13) Now on the second day the heads of the fathers’ houses and priests and Levites discovered a long-forgotten commandment in the Law. The children of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast. The Israelites cut fruit and palm tree branches to build booths and dwell in them, remembering God’s protection and provision for them during the journey from Egypt.

(Vs. 17) Everybody helped make the booths, then sat under them. They were filled with great joy and gladness, dwelling in the booths. Ezra read from the first to the last day. During that time, the people stood for one-fourth of the day or about three hours.

(Vs. 18) On the eighth day there was a sacred assembly, according to the prescribed manner. And that’s where Chapter 8 ends.

NEH 8: DAY 31 NEHEMIAH & ME

Feb 4, 2017  Tears of Grief, Joy, or Longing?

Why is it, LORD, that when I hold the Bible between my hands to consider which wonderful book I should study next, my eyes are filled with tears, not tears of shame or sadness, but I think tears of longing to know you better. Through the blur of tears, I imagine Neh. 8, how the people grieved after hearing God’s Book of the Law, saddened by the “sense” of having disappointed the LORD, yet overwhelmed by His love for them.

Perhaps that’s where my tears come from—a desire to know You, serve You, please You. Nehemiah & the Levites read God’s Book to the people and gave them “sense” to understand. You, LORD, give me the Holy Spirit who gives me “sense,” and understanding or desire, a yearning to be with You, an awe and appreciation of Your majesty.

Aug 12, 2017  Extra! Extra! Joy! Veil Lifted! Read all about it!

"Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is our strength!” Neh. 8:10

It feels like I’m finally getting it, understanding what part (or part of the part) the Holy Spirit plays in our lives or more specifically, mine.

It is that breath you don’t want to let go of. That moment you never want to see it pass. That friend you love so dearly. That dream you don’t want to awaken from for that fear that circus of happy feelings—awe, fear, amazement will vaporize and be gone, and the life you just became more aware of this morning will be gone and your life return to normal. And this is that which Jesus promised. Joy and Glory.

(John 15:11) “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”

So this is Joy! His joy and glory. Jesus asked the Father to keep us with Him so we too can behold His glory. The Most Excellent Glory and radiance that burned the face of Moses and turned his hair white. What else did Christ, the Good Shepherd, say?

(John 10:10) “I have come so that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

Jesus laid down His life for His friends. Who are His friends? We are. Thru His death, we have a more abundant life, a Spirit of truth, the lifeline to Christ and the Father. Always THIS close, closer than we can imagine. So why don’t we always feel that joy or that our life is more abundant? Why are we on anti-depressant and anti-anxiety meds? Perhaps, we haven’t made that connection because it is part of our spiritual wall that came down and is buried under the rubble of the world’s worries. Or maybe, like I tell my friends when we all seem to be having a “bad” day. “Be patient. If every day was perfect (according to our plan) and all went smooth, how would we learn patience?”

How would we know joy if we haven’t experienced the opposite? We know the world’s joy—buying new cars, a new house, finding a good sale, football games, losing 10 pounds, winning $500 at the casino. What goes deeper is the joy we experience with another human being, someone we love. From this comes a spiritual joy (as long as worldly worries don’t take over). When we love Christ in the same way, we feel a more intensified joy, an ever-lasting joy (until the world distracts us again). This is the abundant joy and connection the LORD promised.

Without the LORD, or without the Holy Spirit running interference for us, our joy will be diluted or polluted by the cares of the world, subject to lies of our enemies, resulting in anxiety, depression, anger, jealously, worries, etc.; Jesus offers a never-ending joy, a perfect joy that fills us so full, we no longer feel the pain or concerns of the world. It’s not that we become numb, but His joy lifts us up, and we can go about our daily lives knowing what our true reward will be. We want the early joy of a relationship to last forever. With Christ in us, it will.

In Genesis 15:1, God tells Abram, 

“I am your shield and your exceedingly great reward.”

Sept. 9, 2017  Opened to Nehemiah 8:10 and read:

Then he said to them (a weeping congregation, repentant, celebrating the completion of the wall)

“Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

So God was extremely joyful and happy that the wall was finished; the captives had returned home.

I never looked at it that way before. “The joy of the LORD is your strength, whom shall we fear?” Commentary said, “strength” means safety and refuge. The joy of the LORD comes when we do things that make the LORD happy. His joy becomes a refuge for us, our strength, our safety, our wall.

Oct. 19, 2017  Seeking to Understand

Seeking to understand, LORD, how to relate and help people of different faiths & beliefs who do not worship or recognize Jesus? Apostles Paul and Peter always seemed to find common grounds to teach. How do we minister to people who are living in a spiritual garbage dump? Their beliefs put them in danger, they eat old fly-infested food; they digest toxic beliefs in a landfill of treachery, deceived by the powers of darkness. Help me, LORD, to remember our battle is not against flesh & blood, but against the powers of darkness. (Ephesians 6:12)

Oct 24, 2017  Distractions: An Enemy’s Opposition Tactics.

Replied to a comment on FB, and from there my mind took off, knowing I also wanted to pray and worship You without distractions. Ha! I kept brushing You off. "Just a minute, LORD! I’M COMING.” Uh-h, let me see what Google brings up reading hip replacement metal and allergies. “Coming, LORD.”

Gosh, I’d better wash my hair first . . . Two hours later, I’m feeling restless, antsy, but ready to meet You, like we had a set time, but I’m late. Again. I’m sure that Nehemiah was often interrupted (or not) when he was planning and maybe praying. You never say “no” to the king, yet we find it easy to say “no” to God, to Jesus, the King of Kings.

PSALM 46 – A Perfect Remedy for Distractions!

(Vs. 1) God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 

(Vs. 3) Though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling . . . Amen!

(Vs. 6) He uttered His voice; the earth melted.

News flash! God’s voice melts the earth!! Wow! Psalm 46, 11 verses about God as our help, “present” even now. We don’t have to make an appointment, or wait to talk to Him. He is with us now, this very present moment. He is available NOW. Great verses that can help us be “present” in these times of fires and hurricanes and wars. The war in my head is keeping me from staying focused. “Mind, be still!”

(Vs. 10) Be still, and know that I AM God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

June 9, 2018  WATCH!

Good Morning, Precious Lamb of God. You make my heart sing with joy, yet weep because of Your greatness and yet Your people did not recognize You when You walked with them, just as You predicted. And today, they still do not know You. You closed their hearts and eyes because they had wandered from You.

Please open the hearts and eyes of Your Jewish nation, LORD, that those who don’t believe will believe and there will be much grief and much celebrating like in Neh. 8 after Ezra read the Law, and Nehemiah said to the people, “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is Your strength.”

My prayers for those who do not believe or know you: Change their hearts and open their eyes. Use me.

Jesus speaks about His Second Coming and the Tribulation.

(Matt. 24:42) Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour Your LORD is coming.

(Matt. 25:13) Watch therefore for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

(Mark 13:32-37) Take heed, watch and pray for you do not know when the time is. (35) Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming. (37) And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!

 LORD, I need a break. I haven’t even prayed yet. Must stretch. In Nehemiah, the men who worked and watched did not do anything else. They didn’t linger or loiter or watch reruns or go shopping all afternoon.

O LORD, we are so far from You. Help us to watch, and I ask You to please watch our backs. Keep us from distractions so when the day passes and we ask “Where was God in my day?” we’ll know You’ve been with us. You’ve accompanied us with each step and breath we taken.

Nov. 10, 2018  THE JOY OF THE LORD!

Last night I worked on my Ziggy box and ended up crying and depressed. Finally, I poured out my heart to You, and said, “Help me. Where is this joy—this abundant joy, LORD? The joy of  the LORD is my strength.”

Then immediately, a song came on the radio, “The joy of the LORD is My Strength.” Feeling much better, I started working on Neh., Chap. 7-9. I hadn’t written anything for over a month since preparing for my trip; which ended up as a trip to Bryan West & East hospitals.

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH. (Neh. 8:10)

According to NKJV notes, “When our goal is to know more about the LORD, the by-product (benefit? result?) is His joy. Strength here means “place of safety,” a “refuge,” or “protection.” The people’s refuge was God: They had built a wall and they carried spears and swords, but God was their protection.”

Nov. 12, 2018  Dear LORD

I always think I have so much to do. Today I made a list for Monday and realized it’s an identical list like I made yesterday and the day before. My prayer and challenge is to BE JOYFUL in all I do, recognizing “the Joy of the LORD is my strength,” and “Today, if I hear Your voice, LORD, let me harden not my heart.”

Let me listen and be grateful, and follow Your instructions. Let me get lost in Your word, not in the world.

Dec. 17, 2018 One Year Since My Left Hip Replacement!

Praise the LORD for His blessings and healing. I’ve been praying for my brother Mark, and nephew Rick, and Mary and Dick and others in our family facing health issues and cancer. LORD, You’ve even got me referring to my family now as a “Village,” because there’s so many of us. But I’m excited because Tom shared Ephesians 6, Armor of God, at nephew Ron Pickel’s birthday dinner. For the first time as a family, we openly discussed spiritual warfare. I am amazed by You, LORD. I have vowed to trust in the LORD, so, please help me remember You so You can remember me. You are our defender against enemies, against sickness.

I turned to Isaiah 65 and found this incredible verse! It sounds like a riddle.

I was sought by those who did not ask for Me.

I was found by those who did not seek Me.

I said, “Here I am, here I am.”

To a nation that was not called by My name.

The Gentiles might not have asked for the Messiah or realized in the heart of their spirit, that they were seeking Him, but Christ connected with them because it was the Gentiles who reached out to the Israelites. Again, a lesson in God is not partial.

YOUR TURN!  If you’re having trouble pouring out your heart, consider writing about meeting Jesus for the first time. What would you do? Remember when Peter realized who Jesus was, he jumped out of the boat to meet Him on shore.

NEH 8: DAY 32 PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE 

INSPIRATIONAL VERSE: NEH 8:8 So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.

Although giving the people sense means instructing them or helping them understand what they needed to do, I love the word “sense” and how it applies to us today. When we read scripture and pray for understanding, suddenly we see clearly what we’re supposed to do. The Holy Spirit gives us sense. The Holy Spirit speaks to us in the language of tears. I think that’s why I weep when I pray. Once the blindfold is removed, I began to understand. Still, it doesn’t hurt any less when I think of how our Savior suffered at the hands of men, even though He was fulfilling prophecies about Himself. But along with the “sense” comes understanding, all part of the LORD’s plan.

Today, ask for the Holy Spirit to help you understand what you’ve read. Help you to make “sense” of the words. Understand and feel the pre-sense of the LORD in your life. It doesn’t always come easy. We may try and keep trying to remember He is with us. His presence is very real in our daily lives, but if you’re like me, you’ll find yourself distracted by the world. Distractions are the conspiracy of the enemy in the world.

“Hey,” says the enemy, “Dwell on this: Be angry because of what happened in the past; be sad because you can’t fix what’s wrong or broken. No, don’t be sad, be depressed."

Remember, it’s a ploy of the enemy’s, Satan tried tempting Christ, but Christ already possessed the “Sense,” and knew His Father would provide for His Son’s every need. When you realize you’ve just been played—or ployed, stop and pray, 

LORD, help me understand Your word so I can resist the devil’s schemes. Give me Your sense to understand that You are here with me now.

Congratulations! You just finished Chapter 8! We learned that Nehemiah had a plan. Rebuild the wall, and then rebuild the worship connection between the Jewish people and God. This was also the time of the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles.

THE JESUS CONNECTION: John 7:2

Jesus fed the 5,000, walked on water, and gained a huge following. After He said, “I am the bread of life . . . Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life,” many of his disciples “walked with Him no more.” Chapter 7:2 reads, “Now the Jews' Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. His brothers therefore said to Him, 'Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing.'" Jesus told His brothers to go without Him, because His time had not yet fully come. After His brothers left, “He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.” The Jews were looking for Him, but He didn’t show Himself until “about the middle of the feast,” when He taught in the temple.

A big difference between Nehemiah and the Israelites celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles, and Jesus who went up secretly because people were turning against Him and it was not yet His time. Yet, it didn’t stop Jesus from teaching at the temple. We should never stop teaching or talking about God.