Gaining a heart of wisdom
Spare narrative and a stoic reporting of the facts -- this is the tone of the Old Testament book of Nehemiah: "So I came to Jerusalem . . ." (Five words about a dangerous two-month, one-thousand-mile journey.) "I wept and mourned for many days." (Three months!) Based on a careful study of Scripture, Lynn Austin puts… Continue reading Stone by Stone
In a meandering, three-way conversation with far-away friends, we began to ponder the term: just exactly what does it mean to be "reformed"? Without thinking, certainly with no editorial or theological censors in place, I said, "I would, actually, rather say that I'm reforming!" After that conversation, the statement lingered in memory and wafted its way into… Continue reading Just One Thing: Reforming
I'll admit it. I can be just a teensy bit compulsive about my daily to-do list. Could this be why it does my heart good to see that God has included lists in the Bible? Chapters eleven and twelve of Nehemiah are, essentially, a series of lists: leaders (v. 3); members of the tribes of… Continue reading Just One Thing: Order
The weather here in Maine is warming. Bright green daffodil leaves, the tiny nose of a hyacinth peeking out of the ground, goldfinches mobbing the birdfeeder, and the sound of spring peepers in the early darkness are all telling me that it's time . . . Time to get out my summer clothes. After a long… Continue reading Just One Thing: Change
Since I'm on vacation this week with the family, it seems good to pause and look at a "big picture" theme that is prevalent in Nehemiah. Early in my preparation for this study, I ran into the statistic that 11% of the book of Nehemiah is prayer, and now that we've made it through chapter nine's longest prayer… Continue reading Just One Thing: Prayer
The longest recorded prayer in the Old Testament, Nehemiah 9:6-38 is also the fullest summarized retelling of Old Testament history. It's all there, point and counterpoint: the Red Sea crossing, the manna, the subduing of the Canaanites. Ponder these alongside the disobedience, the mutiny, and the faithless complaining. A slow reading of this prayer with an eye… Continue reading Just One Thing: History
When I taught my way through the book of Nehemiah with my Sunday School class this year, I was reminded of the context for one of the Bible's most "quotable" verses on joy -- it's not what I expected! Thanks be to God that He is our infallible source of joy during Advent and throughout… Continue reading Just One Thing: Joy
A Boy of The Book (A short story based on Nehemiah 8) Joel leaned his head against his mother's rough tunic, but then roused himself and immediately straightened, forcing his eyes, once again, toward the direction of Ezra's voice. He was thankful that he and his mother had found a place near the platform, because… Continue reading Just One Thing: The Book
Multi-syllabic, Mostly unpronounceable, They march across the pages. Trailing their fathers, Embedded in community, Their names inscribe the ages. There are no nameless -- There are no faceless -- Followers of God Most High. Although we read them With hearts too numb to marvel At the grace that's between the lines; For these are the… Continue reading Just One Thing: Names
Fear is a powerful motivator. Even the reluctant student might memorize lists of data for fear of failing a class. Motorists maintain a more conservative driving speed in areas where police regularly patrol. Unfortunately, there is also the fear that paralyzes, that leads to irrational decisions and self-protective behaviors. Fear of God, however, is the supremely… Continue reading Just One Thing: Fear
Living Our Days 