Burunche’s Blog

Nehemiah 1:1 – 11 Nehemiah’s Prayer (2 Kings 25:8-17; Jeremiah 52:12-23)

“These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah. So I questioned them about the remnant of the Jews who had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”

When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion with those who love Him and keep His commandments, let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites.

I confess the sins we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned. We have behaved corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that You gave Your servant Moses.

Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses when You said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to Me to keep and practice My commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’

They are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power and mighty hand. O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and to the prayers of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”

(At that time I was the cupbearer to the king.)

Pastor Travis D. Smith gives the following outline of events: King Nebuchadnezzar had conquered Judah in 606 B.C., and in 586 B.C. Babylon’s army had destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem. Seventy years after Judah was first conquered, the prophecy of Jeremiah was fulfilled when Cyrus, king of Persia, issued an edict in 536 B.C. giving the Jews liberty to return to Jerusalem (Ezra 1).

Under the leadership of the prophet Zerubbabel, the Jews began to rebuild the Temple (Ezra 1-6). Opposed by their enemies, and discouraged, the building of the Temple languished for many years as the Jews neglected construction on the LORD’S house, and turned to building their homes and planting crops. The Temple was completed around 458 B.C. (Ezra 6).

Some sixty years later, the LORD moved on the heart of a scribe named Ezra, who led a second group of Jewish exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem (Ezra 7). Ezra’s task was to teach God’s Law and Commandments, call the people to repent of their sins, and renew worship and sacrifices in the Temple.

The Book of Nehemiah gives us a history of how the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt and the challenges and difficulties Nehemiah and the people encountered. The year is around 446 B.C., and Artaxerxes is king of Persia (Nehemiah 1:1). (Nehemiah: More Than a Cupbearer (Nehemiah 1-4) – “From The Heart of A Shepherd” by Pastor Travis D. Smith)

Ezra the scribe and teacher of the Law returned to Jerusalem in 458 B.C. Now thirteen years have elapsed. Although Ezra has done well, there is still a great deal left to do. Back in Babylon, Nehemiah is serving as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. Pastor Smith says this regarding the role of cupbearer: “Living in the king’s palace, Nehemiah’s life was one of wealth and privilege.  He was more than his title implies; the role of the cupbearer was that of a king’s closest aid; his confidant, and counselor.  Artaxerxes, king of Persia, trusted Nehemiah with his life. As the king’s cupbearer, he was charged with guarding the king from assassination attempts, being the first to taste the king’s food and sipping his wine.”

Confidant to one of the most powerful monarchs in the world! That is Nehemiah’s position. Artaxerxes is obviously a great judge of character. There are men from hundreds of nationalities settled in Babylon; yet, Artaxerxes has chosen a Jewish exile to occupy this key position. Obviously, there is something about Nehemiah that Artaxerxes finds both attractive and trustworthy. It’s likely that Artaxerxes has had Nehemiah’s background carefully investigated prior to elevating him to this key position. Evidently, Nehemiah has passed the character test and continues to prove his worth daily.

The news from Jerusalem is horrible. ““The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.” For those of us who have never lived in walled cities, this statement might seem meaningless, but for Nehemiah, this is terrible news. Without walls, Jerusalem is open to attack at any point; and without gates, there are no means of controlling those who enter and exit the city. When ancient conquerors wished to humble a city, they would destroy the walls and the gates as a sign that the city had lost its identity and power.

Immediately upon receiving this news, Nehemiah mourns for days, fasting and praying earnestly, confessing the sins of the Jews, and reminding God of His promises to restore Judah and Jerusalem. Nehemiah ends his prayer by asking God to grant him success and to give him mercy in the sight of King Artaxerxes. Why does Nehemiah need to ask for mercy? In ancient times, nobody was allowed to exhibit any sadness or grief in the presence of a king. Nehemiah is certain that King Artaxerxes may have noticed that he has not been as cheerful as usual. Now Nehemiah is worried that his grief may result in his being relieved of his duties as cupbearer or even in his death, should King Artaxerxes be sufficiently displeased.

APPLICATION: There are many people who must have envied Nehemiah in his position as cupbearer; there were undoubtedly even some who plotted against him so that they could take his place. After all, the cupbearer was closer to the king than practically anybody else. What a great opportunity for influencing the king to favor the cupbearer’s family members or to carry out cherished plans suggested by the cupbearer. Artaxerxes trusted Nehemiah precisely because Nehemiah could help protect him from such schemers. Well-connected in the Jewish community, Nehemiah may have had friends in several places who could quietly feed him information that would help the king make decisions.

There are many noteworthy intercessory prayers in the Bible. We have previously examined Ezra’s prayer and now Nehemiah prays in a similar manner. Note that Nehemiah includes himself when he is praying for his people.

“Both I and my father’s house have sinned. We have behaved corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that You gave Your servant Moses.”

1 John 1:8 – 9 says, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” None of us is free from sin; therefore, prayers of intercession must begin with confession of sin. Only after we have made confession can we proceed with our requests. Nehemiah bases his requests on God’s Word and God’s promises.

There are enormous amounts written on successful methods of prayer. But effective prayer must begin with respect for God and a sense of one’s own unworthiness. In Luke 18:10 – 14 Jesus tells the story of two men who went up to the temple to pray. One man is a Pharisee, a professional religious man, who stands in a place of prominence and LOUDLY recites all his virtuous acts as if God were not already aware of them. Back in a corner out of sight, a tax collector has slipped into the temple. Now the tax collector stands there with his head bowed, beating his chest, and repeating, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” Jesus tells us that it is the humble tax collector who goes away forgiven and made upright, rather than the Pharisee. That Pharisee has all sorts of failings that need confessing; however, he is blind to his own shortcomings because he has dedicated his life to searching out the faults of others.

When Jesus was being crucified, one of the thieves who was dying alongside him taunted him, saying that if Jesus was really the Son of God, he should come down off the cross and save himself and the two thieves. But the other thief recognized Jesus as the Son of God and rebuked his fellow thief, stating that they were only receiving the just reward for their sins while Jesus was sinless. Then that thief begged Jesus to remember him when Jesus came into his kingdom. Jesus promised that criminal, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Notice that man had never met Jesus before occupying a cross next to his; neither had that man raised his hand in a meeting or prayed prayers of confession. But just like the tax collector in the corner of the temple, God heard and answered that thief’s prayer.  (Luke 23:39 -43)

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we confess that we have sinned in our thoughts, in the things we have done, and the words that we have spoken. You know our failings better than we do ourselves. Lord, forgive us and help us to change so that we will reflect Your holiness and Your glory. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Ezra 10:1 – 44 Shecaniah’s Encouragement

“While Ezra prayed and confessed, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israelites—men, women, and children—gathered around him, and the people wept bitterly as well.

Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, said to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the people of the land, yet in spite of this, there is hope for Israel. So now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. Get up, for this matter is your responsibility, and we will support you. Be strong and take action!” So Ezra got up and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been said. And they took the oath.

The People’s Confession of Sin

Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. And while he stayed there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.

And a proclamation was issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should gather at Jerusalem. Whoever failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, according to the counsel of the leaders and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.

So within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem, and on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God, trembling regarding this matter and because of the heavy rain.

Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, adding to the guilt of Israel. Now, therefore, make a confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do His will. Separate yourselves from the people of the land and from your foreign wives.”

And the whole assembly responded in a loud voice: “Truly we must do as you say! But there are many people here, and it is the rainy season. We are not able to stay out in the open. Nor is this the work of one or two days, for we have transgressed greatly in this matter. Let our leaders represent the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at an appointed time, together with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us.”

(Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, opposed this plan.)

So the exiles did as proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, each of them identified by name, to represent their families. On the first day of the tenth month they launched the investigation, and by the first day of the first month they had dealt with all the men who had married foreign women.

Those Guilty of Intermarriage

Among the descendants of the priests who had married foreign women were found these descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. They pledged to send their wives away, and for their guilt they presented a ram from the flock as a guilt offering.

From the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah. From the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah. From the descendants of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

Among the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

From the singers: Eliashib. From the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.

And among the other Israelites, from the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah. From the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.

From the descendants of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza. From the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai. From the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth. From the descendants of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh. From the descendants of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah. From the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei. From the descendants of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi, Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu. From the descendants of Binnuid :

Shimei, Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph. From the descendants of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah. All these men had married foreign women, and some of them had children by these wives.

While Ezra was praying, weeping, and falling on his face, those who were still righteous gathered around him, praying and weeping and falling on their faces also. After these prayers, a man named Shecaniah encouraged Ezra. “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the people of the land, yet in spite of this, there is hope for Israel. So now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. Get up, for this matter is your responsibility, and we will support you. Be strong and take action!”

Was Shecaniah one of the men who had married local women? Quite possibly. On the other hand, Shecaniah was one of those praying with Ezra. At any rate, Ezra took courage and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel to take an oath to put away the foreign women and their children. But how was this to be accomplished?

In the beginning, Ezra called a big meeting to take place in the temple square. But it was raining heavily, people were shivering, and the problem turned out to be far bigger than Ezra had realized. The leaders decided that they would analyze their local situations and then report to Ezra. So many men had intermarried that it took two full months to conclude these investigations. Much of the remainder of the chapter is taken up with the names of those who had trespassed God’s commands. Sadly, this list includes the names of priests, Levites, temple singers, and temple gate keepers – the very people who should have been setting a good example ironically set a bad one.

APPLICATION: Whistle blowers never have an easy time of it; neither do those responsible for ensuring that rules are followed. Consider Ezra: It’s quite likely that King Artaxerxes had greater respect for Ezra than the Jews did, especially when it came time for those men to give up their foreign wives and children. Traditionally, children took the nationality of their mothers; therefore, those children might not be considered as being Jews.

One of the tragic parts of this story is those women and their families. How did those women and children feel when the Jewish men were repudiating them? Certainly, having a family torn apart would scarcely encourage those women to worship the God of Israel. And who would provide for these women and children afterwards? It’s quite possible that when these women tried to return to their own families, their families might have rejected them on the grounds that they should never have engaged in that marriage in the first place. In those days and in that culture, women without husbands had little or no protection. How many of these women starved or became prostitutes to feed their children and themselves?

It’s barely possible that only the women were put away but that the children were cared for. Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible states: “No mention being made of the children being put away, as Shechaniah proposed, Ezra 10:3, it may be concluded they were not, but were taken care of, to be educated in the true religion, and entered proselytes at a proper time; and the rather, (sic) as Ezra gave no orders about their putting away, Ezra 10:11.”

The dilemma surrounding the foreign wives and their children illustrates that when we transgress God’s commandments, we create unending messes for ourselves and others. May God help all of us so that we follow His commands faithfully!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You forloving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to study Your commands and to follow them, so that we do not create messes for ourselves and others. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

TODAY;S TEACHING IS DEDICATED TO MY BELOVED BROTHER RUSSELL BJORLING, WHO SPENT MUCH OF HIS LIFE TEACHING IN SMALL GROUPS AND ONLINE BIBLE STUDIES. SADLY, RUS DIED ON NOVEMBER 17, 2021, TWO WEEKS BEFORE HIS 71ST BIRTHDAY. “THE MEMORY OF THE RIGHTEOUS IS A BLESSING.” PROVERBS 10:7