WHEN YOU ARE IN THE WRONG PLACE,HOW TO GET HOME.
"When You Are in the Wrong Place, How to Get
Home" is based on the books of Ezra and Nehemiah
written about 32 life times ago, around 440 B.C.
Verse references and our comments are in
brackets. Quotes are from the N.I.V. Bible.
God spoke of the future through Jeremiah and to
fulfill this, He moved Cyrus, King of Persia, to
write as follows:
"The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all
the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me
to build a temple for Him in Jerusalem." Anyone
who wants to, can go up and help build it. Other
Jews in the kingdom are to provide money and
materials for the job.
So everyone whose heart God moved, prepared to
go. Neighbours assisted with money and
materials. King Cyrus returned 5400 gold and
silver temple articles taken as booty previously
by King Nebuchadnezzar.
Ezra Chapter 1)
42,360 returned with 7327 servants and 200
singers. After arriving at the house of the Lord
in Jerusalem some gave freewill offerings for
the rebuilding. Then priests, Levites, singers,
gatekeepers and temple servants settled in their
own towns and the rest in other towns.
(Ezra Chapter 2)
Then, assembling as one man in Jerusalem the
priests built the altar of the God of Israel to
sacrifice burnt offerings according to God's
written law. They burnt morning and evening and
other sacrifices, despite fear of neighbouring.
peoples. And they brought freewill offerings,
though the foundation of the temple had not yet
been laid.
Two years and two months after arriving, they all
began rebuilding the temple supervised by
Levites. (See drawing). Laying the foundation,
priests in vestments and with trumpets and
Levites with cymbals praised the Lord as
previously prescribed by David, King of Israel.
They sang to the Lord:
"He is good,
His love to Israel endures forever."
And all the people gave a great shout of praise
to God. It was heard far away. But many who
remembered Solomon"s irreplaceable temple,
(destroyed 50 years earlier by the Babylonians)
wept.
Ezra Chapter 3)
Israel's enemies came and offered help but it
was refused. We are building according to King
Cyrus's command Israel said. So their enemies
tried to discourage, make them afraid and
frustrate their plans during the entire reign of
King Cyrus, Xerxes and his successor, Darius.
They wrote to Xerxes, the next king advising him
to stop the work after checking his archives
which would prove Jerusalem had already been
destroyed because the Jews were troublesome. The
king wrote back agreeing, the enemies took it to
Jerusalem and the Jews were compelled to stop
work.
(Ezra Chapter 4)
Then prophets Haggai and Zechariah spoke "in the
name of the God of Israel who was over them."
So the work re-commenced and the enemies
objected. "But the eye of their God was watching
over" .... the Jews and they wouldn't stop until
a report went to the next king, Darius, and a
reply was received. So the enemies sent a letter
to Darius. It told of the rebuilding of the
temple of the great God, and that the Jewish
elders had said:
"We are the servants of the God of heaven and
earth and we are
rebuilding the temple" ......destroyed
"Because our fathers angered the God of
heaven" who handed them over to the King of
Babylon who deported them there.
But Cyrus said we could rebuild
it. Check your records and see if
this is so, and send your
decision.
(Ezra Chapter 5)
Darius checked, found the Jews were right and
told the enemies to: Stop hindering the work.
Pay for temple workmen out of royal funds.
Provide livestock and produce for worship
sacrifices. "Daily without fail" as requested
by the priests. "So that they may offer
sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and
pray for the wellbeing of the king and his sons."
Not to change this edict or be killed. He
concluded "May God who has caused His name to
dwell there, overthrow any king or people who
lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy
this temple in Jerusalem."
So the temple was finished and the people
celebrated its dedication with joy. Priests
and Levites carried out the service of God
according to God's word in the book of Moses.
They celebrated the Passover "together with all
who had separated themselves from the unclean
practices of their Gentile neighbours in order
to seek the Lord, the God of Israel."
(Ezra Chapter 6)
Then Artaxerxes, king of Persia, sent the Jew
Ezra to Jerusalem. He was a teacher well versed
in God's law given to Moses. The king granted
him all he asked for (gold, silver, produce,
helpers etc.) because the gracious hand of the
Lord his God was on him. He was to appoint
magistrates and judges "to all who know the laws
of your God." "To teach any who do not know
them" and punish those who do not obey God's
law. So Ezra said "praise be to the Lord, the
God of our fathers, who has put it into the
king's heart to bring honour to the house of the
Lord in Jerusalem in this way."
(Ezra Chapter 7)
Before Ezra left for Jerusalem he gathered his
fellow travellers and "proclaimed a fast so that
we might humble ourselves before our God and ask
Him for a safe journey." He didn't ask for
protection by a king's escort because he had
told the king, "the gracious hand of our God is
on everyone who looks to Him, but His anger is
against all who forsake Him. So we fasted and
petitioned our God about this and He answered
out prayer." So they arrived in Jerusalem safely
accounted for and handed over silver and gold at
the temple, sacrificed offerings and delivered
the king's instructions to governors of the area
who then assisted the Jews and the house of God.
(Ezra Chapter 8)
Ezra was told the Jews (including leaders and
officials) had "not kept themselves separate
from the neighbouring peoples with their
detestable practices" and inter married with
them. He tore his clothes, hair and "sat down
appalled. Then everyone who trembled at the
words of the God of Israel gathered around me
because of the unfaithfulness of the
exiles"...until the evening sacrifice. Then
"I...fell on my knees with my hands spread out
to the Lord my God and prayed:
O my God, I am too ashamed and
disgraced to lift up my face to
you, my God, because our sins
are higher than our heads and
our guilt has reached to the
heavens." From forefathers to
now it's always been our sin
and guilt and your just punish-
ment,humiliating us as captives
of foreign kings.
"But now,for a brief moment,the
Lord our God has been gracious
in leaving us a remnant and
giving us a firm place in His
sanctuary, and so our God gives
light to our eyes and a little
relief from our bondage."Though
slaves, our God has not
deserted us in our bondage. He
has shown us kindness in the
sight of the king of Persia and
granted us new life to rebuild
the house of our God and a wall
of protection in Judah and
Jerusalem.
But now, God our God, what can
we say after this? For we have
AGAIN disregarded your commands
given before we ever entered
this land, not to be polluted
by the corruption of detestable
practices and impurity of its
peoples.
What has happened to us is the
result of our evil deeds and
our great guilt and yet our God
you have punished us less than
our sins have deserved and
given us a remnant like this.
Shall we again break your
commands and inter marry with
the people who commit such
detestable practices? Would
you not be angry enough to
destroy us, leaving us no
remnant or survivor? O Lord,
God of Israel, you are
righteous. We are left this
day as a remnant. Here we are
before you in our guilt, though
because of it not one of us can
stand in your presence."
(Ezra Chapter 9)
While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping
and throwing himself down before the house of
God, the Jews gathered and also wept bitterly.
A Jew said we have been unfaithful but there's
still hope. Let's covenant before our God to get
rid of these women and their children in
accordance with God's word. "Rise up, this
matter is in your hands. We will support you, so
take courage and do it."
So Ezra put the leading priests and Levites
under oath to go through with this. Then he
withdrew and fasted (no water either) because he
continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of
the exiles.
So a proclamation was issued for all to gather
at Jerusalem or lose all their property. All
gathered in the square before the house of God
"greatly distressed by the occasion and because
of the rain. Then Ezra the priest stood up and
said to them, you have been unfaithful" married
foreign women and added to Israel's guilt. Now
make confession to the Lord, the God of your
fathers, and do His will. Separate yourselves
from the peoples around you and from your
foreign wives.
So the exiles did as was proposed. Ezra
appointed family heads to investigate the cases
and they completed the job.
(Ezra Chapter 10)
HERE ARE SOME MAIN POINTS FROM EZRA.
1. It's God's world, therefore history is His
Story. So God's will is done through unlikely
characters like the pagan Persian kings, Cyrus
and Darius.
2. God wants His people to get together to
acknowledge, praise and honour Him. Special
buildings are no longer needed for this (see our
book "How to Meet with God at Home"). But
CONSTANT REFORMATION (rebuilding) of what should
happen when God's people assemble (church means
gathering not a building or organisation) - IS
NEEDED. So Ezra's message is timeless.
3. God's enemies will try to infiltrate the
reformation process. They must be exposed and
continuing opposition will be inevitable. But
God's people must fearlessly continue to
assemble to praise and worship Him.
4. God's people PERSISTENTLY STRAY away from
assembling to worship Him the way He wants them
to. As REFORMATION IS THEREFORE CONSTANTLY
NEEDED, God sends people to "straighten them
out." (e.g. Haggai, Zechariah and Ezra).
And in the process, letter writing to the
bureaucracy seems inevitable! (See chapter 5).
5. To-day, when God's people assemble, they no
longer need a special building, priest or
organisation. Christ is with them because the
Holy Spirit dwells in each one. And praising and
honouring God involves absorbing and applying
God's word in the Bible, sharing their lives
(fellowhip), a meal including remembering
Christ's death with broken bread and wine
(communion) and prayer. As then, God's people
must separate themselves from the corruption,
impurity and unclean practices of their
unbelieving neighbours (Acts 2:42-47).
6. When you are God's person (by turning from
your sin and trusting completely in Jesus
Christ) you can trust His protection over every
aspect of your journey through life. So, like
Ezra (Chapter 8) ask Him for safe journeys
through dangerous territory.
7. As this is written in June, 1997, there is an
urgent need for a believer or believers with the
heart and mind of Ezra to speak out about the
appalling state of Christianity in Australia and
the moral disaster area that is our country.
Nehemiah, the king's trusted cupbearer in Susa,
(see map) heard of the trouble and disgrace in
Jerusalem because the wall was broken down and
the gates burned.
He sat down, wept, mourned and fasted and prayed
before the God of heaven.
"O Lord, God of heaven, the great
and awesome God, who keeps His
covenant of love with those who
love Him and obey His commands,
let your ear be attentive and
your eyes open to hear the prayer
your servant is praying before
you day and night for your
servants the people of Israel. I
confess the sins we Israelites,
including myself and my father's
house have committed against you.
We have acted very wickedly
toward you. We have not obeyed
your commands, decrees and laws
you gave your servant Moses.
Remember your instruction to
Moses -If you are unfaithful I'll
scatter you among the nations but
if you return to me and obey my
commands I'll gather you to the
place I've chosen as a dwelling
for my name. You redeemed them by
your great strength and mighty
hand so be attentive to this
prayer and the prayer of your
other servants who delight in
revering your name. Give me
success to-day in the presence of
the king."
(Nehemiah Chapter 1)
When the king asked him why he was downcast,
Nehemiah explained about Jerusalem. Asked what
he wanted Nehemiah prayed, then said "send me to
the city .... so that I can rebuild it." It was
okay with the king so Nehemiah also asked for
safe conduct, letters and authorisation to get
timber for the city gates and his own house.
"And because the gracious hand of my God was
upon me, the king granted my requests." When
opponents of the Jews around Jerusalem heard
this they were "very much disturbed."
Arriving at Jerusalem he checked it out with a
few officials but didn't tell them "what my God
had put into my heart to do" or that they would
be doing the work.
Then he asked them to rebuild the wall of
Jerusalem and told them about "the gracious hand
of my God upon me and what the king had said to
me."
So the good work began, and opponents mocked and
ridiculed them. Nehemiah replied "the God of
heaven will give us success. -- But --- you have
no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic
right to it."
(Nehemiah Chapter 2)
A record of who worked and what they did was
kept.
(Nehemiah Chapter 3)
Opposition continued so Nehemiah prayed "Hear us
O our God, for we are despised. Turn their
insults back on their own heads." But the people
worked with all their heart. When at half its
height opponents planned to attack. "But we
prayed to our God and posted a guard day and
night to meet this threat." The workers wanted
to give up. So Nehemiah posted armed family
members at the lowest most exposed parts of the
wall. He said "Don't be fraid of them. Remember
the Lord, who is great and awesome," and fight
for your brothers, sons, daughters and homes.
"When our enemies heard we were aware of their
plot and that God had frustrated it, we all
returned to the wall each to his own work. From
that day on, half of my men did the work while
the other half were" armed. Workers carried or
wore swords. Being spread out along the wall,
Nehemiah said the trumpet will blow where there
is a threat so gather there to repel attacks.
"Our God will fight for us."
So they worked thus from dawn to dusk and stayed
in the city at night to act as guards. Constant
readiness was the watchword.
(Nehemiah Chapter 4)
Jewish money lenders were having a field day
"ripping off" their countrymen. Some were short
of food, some had to mortgage fields, because of
famine and others had to borrow and sell
children as slaves to pay taxes. Nehemiah called
a large meeting and accused the nobles and
officials. He said "Shouldn't you walk in the
fear of our God and avoid the reproach of our
Gentile enemies?"
Return what you've taken he demanded. They said
they would. But Nehemiah made them take an oath
to "follow through." He shook his robe and said
"In this way may God shake out of His house and
possessions every man who does not heed this
promise."
At this the whole assembly said Amen and praised
the Lord. Nehemiah pointed out that in 12 years
as governor, he had not taken advantage of his
position to acquire possessions nor taken a
governor's food allowance. Instead, he provided
food for others "Because the demands were heavy
on these people." Prior governors had "ripped
the people off" but Nehemiah said "Out of
reverence for God I did not act like that.
Instead, I devoted myself to work on this wall.
--- Remember me with favour, God, my God, for
all I have done for these people."
(Nehemiah Chapter 5)
Nehemiah was under constant pressure from
enemies to stop the work. His reply to their
accusations was "nothing like what you say is
happening; you are just making it up in your
head." -- But I prayed "now strengthen my
hands."
A supposedly godly acquaintance (hired by
enemies) suggested Nehemiah hide in the temple
because of death threats. Nehemiah replied
"Should a man like me run away?" He continued "I
realised he had been hired to intimidate me so
that I would commit sin by doing this, and then
they would give me a bad name to discredit me."
When the wall was completed "enemies were afraid
and lost their self confidence, because they
realised that this work had been done with the
help of our God." But attempts to destablise
Nehemiah were continued by Jewish nobles.
(Nehemiah Chapter 6)
Nehemiah put reliable men in charge of keeping
the city secure and instructed them how to do
it. (Nehemiah Chapter 7)
Everyone gathered and told Ezra to read the law
of Moses to them. Standing on a high wooden
platform he read aloud from daybreak to noon.
All listened attentively. When he opened the
book, all stood up. "Ezra praised the Lord, the
great God; and all the people lifted their hands
and responded Amen, Amen. Then they bowed down
and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the
ground." The Levites made the meaning clear so
the people could understand.
Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levites said to the
people "This day is sacred to the Lord your God.
Do not mourn or weep." All the people had been
weeping as they listened.
Nehemiah encouraged the people to eat and
celebrate saying "This day is sacred to our
Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is
your strength." According to the law, they
celebrated the seven day feast of booths (living
in temporary shelters made of branches). Each
day Ezra read from the book of the law of God.
(Nehemiah Chapter 8)
The Israelites gathered "Fasting and wearing
sackcloth and having dust on their heads." They
had separated themselves from all foreigners.
"They stood in their places and confessed their
sins and the wickedness of their fathers. They
stood where they were and read from the book of
the law of the Lord their God for a quarter of
the day and spent another quarter in confession
and worshipping the Lord their God." Levites
called with loud voices to the Lord their God
and said "Stand up and praise the Lord your God
who is from everlasting to everlasting.
Blessed be your glorious name, and may it
be exalted above all blessing and praise
you alone are the Lord." You made the
heavens, stars, the earth and all on it,
the seas and all in them. You give life
to everything,all in heaven worship you.
You, the Lord God,chose Abraham and made
a covenant (agreement with unequals)
to give him the promised land. You kept
your promise because you are righteous.
You saw the suffering of our forefathers
in Egypt. You saved them with many
miracles, especially the dividing of the
Red Sea. You made a name for yourself
which remains to this day. You led them
with a pillar of cloud by day and a
pillar of fire by night to give light on
the way they were to take. You came down
on Mt. Sinai and spoke to them from
heaven. You gave just, right and good
laws. For their hunger you gave bread
from heaven, for their thirst,water from
the rock. You told them to go in and
take possession of the land you had
sworn with an uplifted hand to give
them.
But our forefathers, arrogant and stiff
necked, did not obey your commands. They
refused to listen and failed to
remember. In their rebellion they
appointed a leader in order to return to
their slavery. They made a calf idol and
said "This is your God who brought you
up out of Egypt!" But you are
a forgiving God, gracious and
compassionate, slow to anger and
abounding in love. Therefore you did
not desert them. Because of your great
compassion you did not abandon them in
the desert, they lacked nothing. Clothes
did not wear out nor feet become
swollen. You brought them in to the
promised land subduing their enemies.
They ate to the full and were well
nourished, they revelled in your great
goodness.
But they were disobedient and rebelled
against you, turning their backs on your
law and killing the prophets you sent to
admonish them and turn them back to you.
So you handed them over to their
enemies. Oppressed, they cried out to
you and from heaven you heard them and
in your great compassion gave them
deliverers who rescued them.
But as soon as they were at rest they
did what was evil in your sight. So the
cycle was repeated time and again and
you delivered them time after time. You
warned them to return to your laws but
they disobeyed and sinned against them,
by which a man will live if he obeys
them. But stubbornly they refused to
listen. But in your great mercy you did
not put an end to them or abandon them,
for you are a gracious and merciful God.
Now therefore, God our God, the great,
mighty and awesome God, who keeps His
covenant of love ---- in all that's
happened to us, you have been just; you
have acted faithfully, while we have
done wrong. We did not follow your law,
pay attention to your commands or obey
your warnings. Even in the promised
land, enjoying your goodness, we did not
serve you or turn from our evil ways.
So once again we are in great distress."
(Nehemiah Chapter 9)
Because of all this we are making a
written agreement with you bound with a
curse and oath to follow all your laws
and obey them. In particular we won't
inter marry with foreigners, trade on
the Sabbath, we'll give money for the
temple upkeep and produce for sacrifices
and to support ministering priests and
Levites. "We will not neglect the house
of our God."
(Nehemiah Chapter 10)
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.
(Nehemiah Chapter 11)
The wall of Jerusalem was dedicated with joyful
celebration of songs of thanksgiving and the
music of cymbals, harps and lyres. Priests and
Levites purified themselves, the people, the
gates and wall. Two choirs, giving thanks,
circled in opposite directions on top of the
walls. They then took their places and sang in
the house of God. Great sacrifices were offered
and there was rejoicing because God had given
them great joy. The sound could be heard far
away. The temple was set up and run "according
to the commands of David and his son Solomon."
(Nehemiah Chapter 12)
On that day the book of Moses was read aloud in
the hearing of the people and it was found that
no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted
to the assembly of God. So they excluded from
Israel everyone of foreign descent. But while
Nehemiah was away from Jerusalem for a short
time his temple reforms were neglected. Arriving
back, he threw goods out of rooms and rebuked
officials asking "Why is the house of God
neglected?"
Nehemiah prayed "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."
Nehemiah rebuked those trading on the Sabbath,
also the nobles. He asked "What is this wicked
thing you are doing ... you are stirring up more
wrath against Israel by desecrating the
Sabbath."
"When the evening shadows fell on the gates of
Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the
doors" shut and not to be opened 'til after the
Sabbath. I stationed my own men at the gates and
this happened. "Once or twice merchants ...
spent the night outside Jerusalem. But I warned
them and said -- 'If you do this again, I'll lay
hands on you.' From that day on, they no longer
came 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. Again
the problem of marriage to foreigners arose and
"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" to
stop. He reminded them that Solomon was loved by
God but was led into sin by foreign women and
told them not to be unfaithful to God in the
same way.
So I purified the priests and Levites and
everything foreign and assigned them duties each
to his task. Remember me with favour O my God.
(Nehemiah Chapter 13)
HERE ARE SOME MAIN POINTS FROM NEHEMIAH.
1. If you are in a close relationship with God
(through turning from your sins and trusting in
Jesus Christ) you'll pray every day and night,
confessing the sins Australian "Christians" are
committing against God.
2. When God opens the way for you to do
something about this situation pray and with
Godly boldness don't be afraid to ask for help
from high officials.
3. Be prepared for constant opposition by non
Christians and superficial/lack of support, even
subversion by "Christians." Pray God to
constantly "strengthen your hands."
4. Remind yourself and others that "The God of
heaven will give us success."
5. Prepare those working with you to repel
attacks and encourage them that "Our God will
fight for us."
6. Straighten out "Christians" who take economic
advantage of other Christians and be an example
to them yourself.
7. Ensure nothing you do would discredit the
work.
8. Appoint reliable men to continue and maintain
the work.
9. Ensure that God's word is read and understood
by everyone. Weeping over sin and repentance
followed by release and joy and true worship
should result.
10.Highlight God's historical faithfulness and
Jewish/Christian unfaithfulness in order to get
conviction of sin and commitment to Godly action
- preferably written.
11.It's fitting to celebrate reformation among
God's people as they assemble (church =
gathering). But the need for reformation, the
struggle against sin and Christian apathy is
never ending. Godliness, prayer and constant
vigilance are necessary.
12.Be (lovingly) fearless in exposing sin among
God's people and take direct practical action to
eradicate it. Sin is revealed by the difference
between the word of God in the Bible and the
spirit of its application as against what
"Christians" say and do.
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