DISCOVERED: Nehemiah’s Wall
DISCOVERED: Nehemiah’s Wall
Archaeology proves the famous biblical account of a desperate attempt to fortify the Holy City
Archaeology proves the famous biblical account of a desperate attempt to fortify the Holy City
The Towers are the Lower Part of the Map
Mosaic believed to be Nehemiah, taster to the King
Left of the seated King
Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10
2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand.
Nehemiah 8:5-6
5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
Nehemiah 8:8-10
8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and 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 or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord.
And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
We finally had Christmas, January 22nd. The family experienced Covid in stair step doses. Edward and I had delivered a few meals to the door step. We took the 3rd booster, when 2 Cases of Covid were fatal in two elderly (80s) family members died. My son and his fiance, had Covid for nine days, with a lot of ill health. Then our oldest son, passed the Bar in 26 states, went on a celebratory ski trip, caught Covid and was sick for ten days. Quarantine has just now ended for all of us.
We stayed up too late, had too many lovely things to eat. Had several brisk discussions and overall had a good time. We had good news to Celebrate, not so good news to overcome. Discussions of the previous years being filtered into this year.
Not everything seems to be ordinary, regular, pleasing and comforting.
Not for any of us.
But the story of Nehemiah and Ezra is one to draw comfort from today. Rebuilding. Renewal. Allowing what is painful to pass by and draw Joy and Strength from the Lord to take new chances, overcoming fears.
Today, Edward and I collapsed in the den chairs as our oldest went to the airport and watched Church on YouTube. We heard a lovely Sermon about Prophecy. All of God's Word is Prophetic. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. I love to hear Nehemiah as the Liturgy, knowing God is certain this is still Good News.
Do we believe in Prophecy, I do.
About, 1982 I was hired as an hourly worker, in College by the Texas A&M Psychology Department, as one of three tests. Three Saturdays. The last one was to demonstrate ESP. 3,000 flash cards would prompt the test subject, I was one, to find if the shape on the back the test subject couldn't see. The color. The number. Anything the flash card asked.
We left the test in about 2 hours. And as my friend and I left the Business College Building, called Blocker, the Psychologist Grad Student tester, walked up and joined my friend Kathy and me, as we walked back to our dorm. He laughed loudly. And asked me if I actually believed in ESP. I said vaguely, but mostly I believe in the Prophecy in Scripture. Why? This is where our faith is, and faith is one of the greatest aspects of life. The Grad Student laughed and said I was definitely fired. Why? Because of the 3,000 questions, I had only answered 3 correctly. The Department had not seen anything like these results.
Today, I'm rather pleased with the memory. Life is an adventure. We live seeing signs around us. Some people find a song bird. A song. A sermon. A daily Word of God, the Scriptures. And when we are encouraged to believe God, we have touched what is meaningful in life. The Renaissance is filled with history of the encouragement of the People of God.
To find Joy in the Lord and find His Strength and begin again. Not just for ourselves, but the people we care for, our family, the people we Love. We believe in our prayers coming to bring us Home to the Kingdom of God, His Heart, The Kingdom Jesus told us exists on earth as in Heaven.
Thursday, the Post was about being brave and protecting one another. Friday, I got a text from a friend to pray for her daughter, their school was experiencing a bomb threat. God prepares our hearts to believe the danger is real and the solution is found. Safety, security. Historically we can believe the next few years have real challenges and human upheaval in emotions and plans that are unwise. The Pandemic History tells us we can prepare for upheaval and then times of building and renewal. In Jesus Christ, we can be strong and do this with Joy. Even when Joy is a choice and we remind ourselves to find and hold this Joy with God's Help.
Christmas is when Jesus is born, trusting God's Son as an infant to mankind. And in the Celebration, we give gifts to each other. God does this for us daily. His mercies renew. Daily!
Ephesians 4
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists,
the pastors and teachers
12 To equip his people for works of service, so that
the body of Christ may be built up
13 Until we all reach unity in the faith
and in the knowledge of the Son of God
and become mature,
attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
My Aunt Eloise, Uncle Cary, Cousin Maxine and JT,
used to have this Prayer on the wall near their Front Door.
Old English and Scottish Prayer.
Father God,
I will be verree busee
this day.
If I forget Thee,
please, Father,
Do not forget me.
Amen.
We pray this for our families
during all times
but especially now
when times are different
and challenging.
Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,
for those who are called according to His purpose.
Abba, Father,
The Spirit of God come upon us
and give voice to this prayer, we ask in Jesus' Name.
May the words of our mouth and thoughts of our heart
be the
the utterance of mankind whose eye is true,
The utterance of one who hears what God says,
and knows what the Most High knows,
Of one who sees what the Almighty sees,
enraptured, and with eyes unveiled:
How goodly Your Refuge and Your Strong Tower
Name of Jesus Christ.
We who Believe are like gardens beside a stream,
like the cedars planted by the LORD.
His wells shall yield free-flowing waters,
Let Justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream
In Jesus, we shall have the sea within reach;
Jesus, Lord of Lords
King of Kings shall rise higher,
and His royalty shall be exalted.
We thank You, Abba, God, for rifts healed
as the Pandemic gave us time to think and talk.
We thank You for Your Mercy.
We Thank God for children and parents to unite.
We pray for the suffering, for the Comfort and Love of God Himself.
Jesus, Lamb of God, comfort, we ask, and heal.
Peace.
Dwell in those seeking Your Love and Mercy
Dwell in us and those we Love.
Help us to seek You first.
And we will finish well.
Amen in Jesus and
Alleluia to the Glory of God.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment