Day 35: Nehemiah 1:1-Nehemiah 13:14

A Nation Reborn

Nehemiah's Journey to Deliver the People of Israel


Maybe you've just been catching up on the Bible through the quick summaries I post, which is fine! But I highly recommend reading Nehemiah when you get the chance. 

Nehemiah begins by rebuilding the temple against the will of all the other leaders. He convinces them all to allow the Israelites to rebuild anyway. (Nehemiah 4:14--Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and daughters, your wives and your homes.) 

He helps the poor, who were forced to pay a hefty tax, and give their land to the kings. They continue to rebuild. Nehemiah commissions Ezra (the scribe from yesterday's reading) to read aloud the Book of Law, where we hear, "Do not grieve. For the joy of the Lord is your strength," (Nehemiah 8:10). 

Nehemiah 9-10 is what we've all been waiting to hear! The repentance of the Israelites and their rebirth through God, who saved them time and time again. They weep for their sins and are truly repentant of their wrongs. I felt my heart soar--and if you don't have time to read all of Nehemiah, at least read 8, 9, and 10. You'll feel your heart stir as well. 

The wall of Jerusalem is dedicated to the Lord and the people are purified. 

We all have the opportunity to humble ourselves before the Lord every day. We all have the opportunity to be reborn in Him every day. We all have the opportunity to ask for forgiveness for our sins and to start each day, each hour, each minute, fresh--with a pure heart and a soul set on the Lord. We can see how wrong the Israelites were each time they turned from God, but how much harder is it to see when we have our backs turned to him in our own lives. Nehemiah 9:28, "and in your compassion, you delivered them time after time." The Lord will always save us, will always offer counsel, and will never turn His back to us when we call Him into our hearts again. That, is a beautiful and wonderful thing--that we can always grow and regrow with God in our hearts. 


Tomorrow's reading: Nehemiah 13:15-Job 7:21.
Have a blessed Sunday!
Jill Jafarace
Director of Student Ministries
New Leaf UMC


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