Consider Nehemiah Chapter 8. Do you need more JOY in your life? Are you seeking a revival in your faith? Nehemiah will show you the way. Join us today as we cover creating a spiritual “prayer booth” for rejoicing, reading Scripture, recalling what God has done for us, and receiving new JOY.

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Wall Completed

• Nehemiah and the Israelites completed the walls and gates in 52 days (Nehemiah 6).
• Now Nehemiah begins restoring his beloved people’s faith (Nehemiah 7 & 8).

Fortification and Worship (Nehemiah 7: 1-5)

• Nehemiah assigned gatekeepers to keep the city free from enemies so the people could worship without threats.
• He appointed singers to praise the Lord day and night and to lead worship. It nurtured a close relationship with God.
• He appointed the Levites to watch over all things holy.

Historic Memory

• God put it into Nehemiah’s heart to register every person.
• Historic memory is crucial to the survival of any nation or culture.
• Nehemiah had to remind the people of their heritage and that God was with them as the returning remnant.

The Gathering – New Year’s Day (Nehemiah 8: 1)

• It’s October 444 B.C., New Year’s Day, called Rosh Hashanah on the Hebrew Civil calendar.
• The Feast of Trumpets on the Hebrew religious calendar calls for the people to prepare for the holy days to come (Leviticus 23: 23-24).

Hunger for God’s Word and Joy (Nehemiah 8: 2-8)

• The people gathered to hear Ezra read from the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).
• The people stood up the entire time from morning to midday, starved and thirsty for the Word of God.
• It takes only a few fallen-away generations to leave the next ones destitute and ignorant about God.
• Ezra blessed the Lord. All the people responded, “Amen, Amen.” Thus, they (1) thanked God with their “Amen”, (2) praised God by lifting up their hands, and 3) bowed down in adoration and submission to God.

Weeping & JOY (Nehemiah 8: 9-12)

• It took hearing and understanding God’s Word to begin the healing of broken hearts and dreams.
• The Word of God revealed their sin, they were grieved, and they confessed their sins before God.
• Nehemiah and Ezra told the people: “Don’t be grieved, for the JOY of the LORD is your strength”(v. 10).

The Feast of  Booths – 444 BC (Nehemiah 8: 13-18)

• The Feast of Booths, also called the Feast of Tabernacles (or Sukkot) was celebrated for seven days.
• God called the Israelites to recall how they wandered the desert and lived in booths or huts while God provided for them.
• The Feast of Booths commemorates God’s provision and guidance, and the Israelites must live in booths to celebrate it.
• They read the Word of God, rejoiced, offered thanksgiving, and worshipped God with their families in huts/booths.
• God’s Word led them to repent; God’s Word changed everything, and they were filled with much joy.

Personal Reflection – The Feast of Booths Application

• How will you respond to these verses of Scripture? You Could
  • Prayer Booth. Set up a Holy Place (call it a booth or secret place) in your home where you can pray, praise, read Scripture, and write in your prayer journal. Your booth is your secret place – it’s like a spiritual booth/or hut/where the people celebrate the Feast of Booths. It’s a place to put yourself in God’s presence in your home. You offer praise thanksgiving and worship.
  • Listen. Take time daily to read Scripture and allow God to speak to you. You can ask the Holy Spirit to set the Words afire in your heart and help you understand as you read. Try to record a few sentences in your journal of how the Lord speaks to you.
  • Receive the JOY of the Lord. “For the Joy of the Lord is your strength.” Ask Jesus for JOY as you read His word. (See John 15: 11 & Psalm 1.)

Cup of JOY Women

• Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group study. It accompanies this podcast and you can begin anytime or choose another of my podcast series (e.g. Finding More JOY).
• Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by hosting a small group of friends over coffee or tea. It’s free and I will help you get started. For information, contact me, or go to Cup of Joy Women.

Links

• Download Bookmarks from this podcast series at my website: com
• Read more on hosting a Cup of Joy Women’s small group.
• Check out more podcasts here!
• Click HERE to find the book: Nehemiah: Rebuilding Hope and Joy in Your Life.

Nehemiah reads slanderous letters from Sanballet

Pray, Speak the Truth & Persevere Always

Look to Nehemiah. Are you facing slander?  Have mistruths been spoken about you? You can overcome the discouragement and discern the lies, deception, and diversion around you! Nehemiah will show you how. Join the podcast today as he shows us to always pray, speak the truth, and persevere. Today we cover the following points:

The Outcry of the People

• In Nehemiah 5, the immoral and unlawful practices of the Jewish nobles and officials brought many families to poverty.
• After he stood back in anger, Nehemiah demanded that nobles and officials follow God’s laws, or as a consequence, they would lose their possessions in God’s justice. The Jewish officials made an oath to do this and responded, “Amen,” and “praised the Lord.”

Three Attacks from the Opposition

• In Nehemiah 6, the enemies from surrounding countries become fearful about losing authority and moneymaking practices.
• They conspired to stop the building with a 1) Fake Meeting, 2) Slander Campaign, and 3) False Prophecy.

Diversion – The Fake Meeting Scheme (Nehemiah 6: 1-4)

• They invited Nehemiah to a “fake meeting” in the hills of Ono, a day’s journey away (near Tel Aviv today).
• It sounded like a neutral place, but he discerned it was a scheme to do him harm.

Division- Lies & The Smear Campaign (Nehemiah 6: 5-9)

• In an unsealed letter, Sanballat accused Nehemiah of a treasonous plot to revolt and overthrow the king.
• Sanballat knew that others would read the lies and slander would be spread everywhere.
• The scheme had worked twenty years prior when the King of Persia shut down the rebuilding (Ezra 4).
• Nehemiah declared the truth to confront the lies and prayed: But now, O God, strengthen my hands.”

Deception –False Prophecy Trap (Nehemiah 6: 10-14)

• Tobiah and Sanballat hired Shemaiah, likely a priest and prophet, to mislead Nehemiah.
• He prophesied that he should seek refuge in the temple and make an offering.
• Shemaiah tried to use tales of terror and “religious speak, saying the enemies planned to kill Nehemiah.
• Nehemiah knew entering the temple would be a sin that the enemies would use to discredit him.

The  Completed Wall

• God blessed Nehemiah, answered his prayers, and helped the Israelites complete the wall in only 52 days.
• This was a great victory for the people because of opposition from the same enemies over twenty years.

Personal Reflection

• Today, Nehemiah reminds us how to respond to life’s assaults: Pray, Declare the Truth, and Persevere.

1. When you are facing discouragement, especially from diversion, division, or deception, pray like Nehemiah, Lord, strengthen my hands! and thus, ask God to help you discern the truth and persevere.
2. Declare the truth. Don’t be distracted by rumors or slanderous accusations. This is the devil’s way of making you compromise with evil. Instead, speak the truth in love. Declare the Scriptures. For example:
   • Romans 8:15: For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!”  Declare: I am a daughter of God!
   • Timothy 1:7: [F]or God did not give us a spirit of fear, but rather a spirit of power and of love and a sound mind. Declare: I don’t have a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and a sound mind.
3. Commit your work to the Lord and stay focused.

Cup of JOY Women

• Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group study on It accompanies this podcast and you can begin anytime or choose any podcast series (e.g. Finding More JOY).
• Pray about accepting this fantastic opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by hosting a small group of friends over coffee or tea. It’s free and I will help you get started. For information, contact me, go to Cup of Joy Women.

Links

• Download Bookmarks from this podcast series at my website: com
• Read more on hosting a Cup of Joy Women’s small group.
• Check out more podcasts here!
• Click HERE to find the book: Nehemiah: Rebuilding Hope and Joy in Your Life.

Angered While Rebuilding? Nehemiah Says Step Back First!

Consider Nehemiah. Do you get angry easily?  Do you get riled up? Nehemiah shows us to step back before acting. It never works to respond with emotions. In Chapter 5, during their rebuilding, the people face opposition from within their ranks. It seems that if the opposition doesn’t hit us from without, it comes from within. Join the podcast today as Nehemiah reminds us to step back, then stand up and keep focus when facing opposition. Today we cover the following points:

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Fight for Your Families

• In Nehemiah Chapter 4, the people were making progress when more persecution made them fearful.
• Nehemiah prayed and encouraged the people saying: “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome and fight for your kin, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes” (Nehemiah 4: 14).

Outcry and Poverty (Nehemiah 5: 1-5)

• Many were in poverty: inflation had become rampant and taxes were unbearable.
• In order to pay the taxes, the families borrowed money from others using their own children as collateral.
• If loans could not be repaid, their children, and even the wives and men, would be sold as slaves..

Step Back & Take Time to Think (Nehemiah 5: 6-7)

• Nehemiah was very angry with the nobles and officials who took advantage of their kin.
• Leviticus 25: 35-38 and Deuteronomy 23: 20 instruct them not to charge interest if they lend to the poor.
• Nehemiah did not show his angst. He stepped back and collected his thoughts.
• He gives us the first step in resolving conflict from within – step back.

The Symbolism of the Oath & Gesture (Nehemiah 5: 6-13)

• Nehemiah confronted the nobles who were enslaving their own brethren and children.
• He implored the officials to 1) repent of their sins and respect the Lord by following His Law, 2) stop charging interest, and 3) restore everything they took.
• Using the Word of God (Torah at the time) and a conciliatory manner, he spoke the truth.
• In one dramatic prophetic act symbolizing the solemnity of their oath, Nehemiah shook out the fold of his garment … In this, he emphasized that judgment would come to those who did not keep their oath before God. The assembly confirmed it with a passionate “Amen.” They “praised the Lord … and did as they had promised.

The Governor

• Nehemiah kept his focus on building the wall.
• He used his money earned as a cupbearer to support Jerusalem’s poor and suffering people. He worked more for God’s approval.
• Nehemiah prayed: Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.
• He was asking God for continued grace in the work and most importantly, for the Lord to remember him when it comes to eternal life and rewards. We can pray with the same words.
• The Lord promises He will remember you. Hebrews 6: 10—11 says this: God is not unfair. He will not forget the work you did or the love you showed for him in the help you gave and are still giving to other Christians. (Good News).

Personal Reflection

• Please reflect on the principles that Nehemiah models and we can apply:

1. Step back. Do not be led by anger. Collect your thoughts. It never works to respond with emotions. Ephesians 4: 26. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.
2. Stand up. In love, confront Christians with the Word of God when they are sinning against Him. Forgive always. 1 Timothy 5: 20 reminds us:  As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest also may stand in fear.
3. Focus. Keep your focus on what God has called you to do. Keep building, pray always, and never give up. (Luke 18: 1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to teach them that they should always pray and never become discouraged [give])
4. Remember the poor. Do not take advantage of the less fortunate. Instead, help them. Psalm 15: 5, Do not lend money at interest, and do not take a bribe against the innocent.
5. Pray with Scripture. Remember me O my God, all that I have done for your people. In this prayer, we also remind ourselves that our rewards are eternal when we choose to follow Jesus and as His disciple, we build up others in Christ.

Cup of JOY Women

• Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group study on It accompanies this podcast and you can begin anytime or choose any podcast series (e.g. Finding More JOY).
• Pray about accepting this fantastic opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by hosting a small group of friends over coffee or tea. I will even join you via Zoom.
• For information or to contact me, go to Cup of Joy Women.

Links

• Download Bookmarks from this podcast series at my website: com
• Read more on hosting a Cup of Joy Women’s small group.
• Check out more podcasts here!
• Click HERE to find the book: Nehemiah: Rebuilding Hope and Joy in Your Life.