The Things That Are Above - Meditations on Colossians 3

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:1-4)

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Based on the fact that believers have been united with Christ, not only in his death, but more importantly in his resurrection and life, Paul commands them to “seek the things that are above” (Colossians 3:1) and to “set [their] minds on things that are above” (Colossians 3:2). There are two things that we need to understand here. The first is what the “things that are above” are; the second, what it means to “seek” and “set our minds on” them. This post will consider the first; the next post will consider the second.

The Things That Are Above

The first things that usually come to mind when we think about heaven are pearly gates, streets of gold, and reunion with friends and loved ones. Perhaps there are harps and chubby little angels in the mix, too. All of these are acceptable when we talk about heaven in our over-spiritualized, post-Christian American culture. But Paul doesn’t allow believers to think about heaven like that. He makes sure that there is no room for misunderstanding. The “things that are above” have nothing to do with heaven unless by heaven we mean “where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” All of the other benefits of that happy place are minimal in comparison to Christ who is the center and focus of every joy and blessing. So, when Paul says to seek or set our minds on the “things that are above,” he means for us to understand these things as the blessings that come from Christ, particularly, the blessings that come from His position at the right hand of God.

God’s Right Hand

The phrase “seated at the right hand of God” is a reference to Psalm 110:1: “The Lord said to my Lord. ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’” The New Testament takes up this refrain over and over again and attributes it to Jesus. What is its significance?

First, sitting at the right hand of God is a reference to Jesus’ power and authority. In Luke 22:69, Jesus calls it “the right hand of the power of God.” God has exalted Jesus “above every rule and authority and power and dominion” (Ephesians 1:20-21; 1 Peter 3:22). There is no power or authority, be it human or spiritual, that is exempt from Christ’s rule.

Second, the fact that Jesus is seated indicates that His work of salvation is accomplished, it is completely finished. That he is seated at God’s right hand indicates that God has approved of what he has done (Hebrews 1:3; 8:1). The priests of Old Testament times stood in the temple offering sacrifices over and over, sacrifices which could never really take away sins. Jesus, on the other hand, offered only one sacrifice, Himself, and then sat down at God’s right hand. By that one sacrifice, He has “perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:11-14).

Third, Jesus’ position at God’s right hand is a reference to His ongoing work of intercession for believers (Romans 8:34). It is there that he “lives to make intercession” for us by appearing “in the presence of God on our behalf” (Hebrews 7:25; 9:24). Nothing can separate us from God so long as the risen Christ, our Great High Priest, is there praying for us.

Our Blessings in Christ

So what, specifically, are the “things that are above?” Or, what are the blessings that we have as a result of being united with a Christ who has been exalted to the right hand of God? Paul calls these things “the unsearchable riches of Christ” in Ephesians 3:8. Or, in Colossians, he prays that his readers may “reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:2-3). More explicitly, he says that God has made known “how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

So, in a sense, the “things that are above” are so rich, so numerous, that we could not possibly articulate them all in this lifetime. It will take heaven to come to a full comprehension of all that he has given us in Christ. But there are some things that we can know for sure. Although we could scour the New Testament for these blessings, I will focus only on the things that Paul mentions in Colossians. Let’s consider them in light of what He has done for us, what He is doing for us, and what He will do for us – all guaranteed by Christ’s position at God’s right hand: His power, His completed work of redemption through His death and resurrection, and His continued intercession for believers.

What Christ Has Done

First, Christ has redeemed us, purchased forgiveness for our sins, and brought us into His kingdom. There is no longer any power or authority able to bring a charge against us (cf. Romans 8:33). He defeated them all and has taken away all of the ammunition that they used to accuse us.

• “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:14) 
• “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death.” (Colossians 1:21) 
• “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to an open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” (Colossians 2:13-15)

What Christ is Doing

Second, Christ is now building, growing, and protecting His church. His power and continued intercession assures the growth of the church, as well as each individual believer, into maturity. He is the church’s head, and she His body (Colossians 1:18, 24; 2:19). As Paul says in Ephesians, Christ was exalted “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion…And [God] put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body” (Ephesians 1:21-22). So it is as head over all things that Christ relates to the church, not just as head of the church. There is no power that can keep the church from becoming what God has designed her to be. As Jesus himself said, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). And that he “lives to make intercession” for us (Hebrews 7:25), means that there is never a moment when He is unconcerned about His body’s well-being. He purchased her with His blood; He prays for continually; and He sustains her with His unsurpassable power.

Related to this, is Paul’s repeated prayer that his readers be filled with the knowledge of God, His will, and His mystery, which is Christ (Colossians 1:9, 10, 2:2). This knowledge is directly related to the church’s sanctification and each believer’s growth in holiness. It enables us to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work (Colossians 1:10). It strengthens us “with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy” (Colossians 1:11). Knowing God encourages our hearts and knits each believer in the church together in love (Colossians 2:2).

What Christ Will Do

Third, we have a promise of what Christ will do for us. Paul points to this several times. He gives thanks that the Colossian believers have responded with faith and love “because of the hope laid up for you in heaven (Colossians 1:5).  He encourages them not to shift “from the hope of the gospel” (Colossians 1:23). And he says that “the hope of glory” is, in fact, Christ in them (Colossians 1:27). Even in our passage, it is mentioned, although not by name. He says that “when Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).

The promise of the gospel is not only about the forgiveness of sins. It includes, also, a promise of eternal life, abundant satisfaction, and inexpressible joy in the presence of Jesus Christ and God our Father. This is what Paul means by hope. There will come a day when Christ returns, and in that day all of our hopes will be made reality. There will be no more suffering or death, no more sin or wickedness, no more sorrow, pain, or grief. Instead, there we will be made new. We will be made like Christ, because we will see Him as He is (1 John 3:2).

 
    To sum up, the “things that are above” are all of the blessings that we have as a result of having been united with Christ in His death, resurrection, life, exaltation, and future return in glory. In essence, Paul is joining his voice with the author of Hebrews and saying, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). He is the source and sustainer of our life. For believers, “Christ is all, and in all” (Colossians 3:11).

United with Christ - Meditations on Colossians 3

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:1-4)

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A New Standard for Relationships
         Sunday morning, we continued the series The Gospel in Real Life by talking about how the gospel impacts our relationships. Pastor Norm walked us through Colossians 3:1-17 and showed us how the gospel doesn’t lower the bar of expectations here, but raises it. It gives us a new standard for relationships. Our affections, attitudes, and actions toward other people should be noticeably different because we know and trust Christ. 

        There are nine imperatives, or commands, in this section; they tell us either what we need to stop doing or, more importantly, what we must begin to do. These are more than the basic childhood instructions that we’re all familiar with (for example, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all”). In fact, they go beyond the most profound moral or sociological teaching of every other religion or philosophy. Before we can understand what the apostle Paul is saying in the last seven imperatives, though, we must understand the first two.

Christ’s Fullness and Yours

        Actually, we need to go back a little further still. The first two imperatives (seek and set your minds) are based on the fact that you have been raised with Christ. This is Paul’s habit. He never gives a command without first giving the basis for it. What is fact (what some have called the “indicative” of the Christian life) always serve as the motivation and reason for what must be done (the imperative of the Christian life). 

        The language that Paul uses in these verses is unique. “You have been raised with Christ” is actually only one word in Greek, and it is emphatic: “You have been co-raised with Christ.” The language carries over from Paul’s argument in chapter 2, where this kind of wording abounds.

        

        He begins this section of his argument in Colossians 2:6, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.” In other words, the way that you continue life as a Christian is the same way that you began: by faith. This is why he wants the Colossians to be “rooted and built up in him and established in the faith” (Colossians 2:7).

        In Colossians 2:9, Paul makes one of the clearest assertions to the deity of Christ: “For in him the whole fullness of the deity dwells bodily.” But, amazingly, Paul’s goal is not to teach doctrine, no matter how wonderful it may be. He is more concerned with how this beautiful truth impacts the lives of the Colossian believers. He goes on to say, “and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority” (Colossians 2:10). So, God’s fullness is to be found in Christ, and you, because you also are in Christ, are full as well. God fills Christ, Christ fills you. This is the foundation of everything he says about living the Christian life.

United with Christ

        Paul then explains how this fullness works: you have been made one with Christ. Everything that Christ has done has been done in you. Everything that Christ has earned has been graciously given to you. Everything that Christ is, everything that He has promised, belongs to you because you have received Christ Jesus the Lord by faith. In Him, you have been circumcised; not the removal of foreskin, but the removal of the “body of flesh” or corrupt sinful nature (Colossians 2:11). You have been co-buried with Him, as symbolized by baptism, and co-resurrected with Him by the power of God (Colossians 2:12). You used to be dead in sin, but have now been co-made-alive (awkward, I know, but it gets at what Paul is saying) with Christ and your sins have been forgiven (Colossians 2:13). 

A New Way of Life

        So how does this union with Christ affect the way that we live? How does it affect our relationships and our battle against sin? The basic principles that the world offers for self-improvement are really of no value here (Colossians 2:20-22). Self-imposed religious discipline won’t do you any good either (Colossians 2:23). Neither of these offers any effective or lasting results. What is needed is a complete overhaul, not a removal to the expectations of God’s law, but a new way of living, indeed, a new life.

        This brings us to the point of our passage. Colossians 2:20-23 and Colossians 3:1-4 are parallel. Notice the way that Paul begins these sections: “If with Christ you died…” (2:20); “If then you have been raised with Christ…” (3:1). On the one hand, your union with Christ means that you have died to this world. You are no longer governed by its standards or rules or suggestions. To put it plainly, you need to stop trying to be a better Christian by watching Oprah or reading Dr. Phil; you’ve died to human teachings (Colossians 2:22). On the other hand, your union with Christ means that you have been made alive, really alive, to God. This new life requires a new life-goal and a new way of thinking. It is to be characterized by seeking “the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1). And it matures by deliberately setting your mind on and thinking about “things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2).

In our next post, we will look at these two commands (seek and set your minds) in more detail.

Refuse to Be Afraid - Meditations on Nehemiah 6

“But I said, ‘Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.’ And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me.” (Nehemiah 6:11-13)
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Sanballat knew that fear is a powerful force. It lurks in the shadows of the unknown and undermines our every action. It floods the soul with questions and anxiety. What if I can’t do this? What if I fail? What if I lose everything? Am I being a fool? Fear betrays our insecurities and exposes our weaknesses. It’s a pessimist that fights against our hope by making us see only negative possibilities.

Nehemiah saw past the deception. He knew that the consequences of acting in fear were worse than anything that fear could imagine. By acting in fear, he would have run away from his responsibilities, he would have went to a place that was forbidden for him, he would have sinned against God and tarnished his reputation with the people who followed him.

But Nehemiah refused to act in fear. Not that he was never afraid, but he didn’t allow his fear to control him or to determine his actions. He knew that Sanballat and Tobiah were plotting to kill him; he knew that Shemaiah, a man who ought to have been his friend, was working for them. And yet, Nehemiah didn’t think his life is worth saving if it meant compromise. Instead, he did as he always did: he prayed that God would take care of it and then went on about his business (Nehemiah 6:14-15).

How was Nehemiah able to look the threat of death in the face and turn his back on it? How did he overcome his fear? Notice the two questions Nehemiah asks in verse 11, specifically the phrase he repeats about himself: “such a man as I…man such as I.” The key to Nehemiah’s courage was found in his understanding of who he was, both in relationship to people and in relationship to God.

Nehemiah’s first question was, “Should such a man as I run away?” What kind of man was he that it would have been unacceptable for him to run away? He was the leader of the people, the man responsible for the completion of the wall. He understood that he had undertaken a great task that would require a lot of effort to keep the people motivated. He had already had to deal with multiple issues that distracted the workers and drew them off task. He had urged them when they were idle, encouraged them when they were discouraged, rebuked them when they were disruptive, and praised them for their sacrifice and dedication. What, then, would become of the people and the wall that they were building if Nehemiah ran away? Worse than being without a leader, they would have a leader who demonstrated to everyone that nothing he had said was a reality for him. So because Nehemiah was in a position of honor, authority, and responsibility, he could not and would not run away.

Nehemiah’s second question was, “And what man such as I could go into the temple and live?” What kind of man was he that it would have been unacceptable for him to hide in the temple? The answer is not the same as the answer to the last question. There, Nehemiah stressed his position of honor and authority. Here, the stress is on his lowliness and sinfulness. Yes, he was a man who was above other men, but even more important, he was a man who was infinitely below God. God had not permitted him to enter the temple, only priests were to do so. Nehemiah’s position of authority over people did not give him the authority to disregard God’s instructions. So he would not act in fear of Sanballat. The fear of God displaced the fear of man.

If we are to overcome fear in following God, we must learn to cultivate a view of ourselves that takes in both of these aspects. Christians are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God's] own possession, that [we] may proclaim [God's] excellencies” (1 Peter 2:9). We are called to live in such a way that when unbelievers speak evil against us and try to make us afraid, they might see our “good works and glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12). We need to know the great honor that God has given us in calling us by his name, to display His glory in a world that is ignorant of it. Should those who have been honored like this disregard their calling and cower in fear? Certainly not!

Along with this, we need to cultivate a proper understanding of our position before God. We have, indeed, been called by his name. But we have not been made God's equals. God is still holy, and he requires us to be holy like Him. We call Him Father, but He will still judge the way we live. We must still “conduct [ourselves] with fear throughout the time of [our] exile” (1 Peter 1:15-17). Can a person who is intimately aware of his Father’s presence carelessly disregard His promises and precepts? Will he compromise his relationship and spurn the price with which he was purchased because of fear?

May the Lord deliver us from fear by teaching us who we are in Him!

Strengthen My Hands - Meditations on Nehemiah 6

“For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, ‘Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.’ But now, O God, strengthen my hands.” (Nehemiah 6:9)

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Nehemiah knew Sanballat’s intention. His previous tactics had been aimed to hinder Nehemiah by force and intimidation. Now he aimed at making him afraid (cf. Neh. 6:13-14, 19). If he could get Nehemiah to fear what might happen, Nehemiah would be crippled and would give up.

Oh, to be like Nehemiah! He knew that in himself there was every possibility to run out of strength. He knew that his hands weren’t strong enough for the work. But he also knew that the work was not his own and that the strength required to complete it would have to come from another source. He looked to God for that strength.

Jesus taught that you and I are no different. He said, “As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me…apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5). The life that God has called us to is a hard one. In fact, it’s an impossible one. Just as we didn’t have the power to save ourselves, so we don’t have the power to continue to grow in grace. The promises that God has given us are too radical; the hope too countercultural; the life of sacrifice and love too demanding. The only way that we can succeed is to get our strength from Christ.

Have you ever reached a point where you just didn’t think you could go on? When was the last time you gave up living intentionally for God because it was too hard? Maybe that particular sin has beaten you one too many times and you’re ready to throw in the towel. Maybe you’ve taken a step of faith into the unknown. You’ve been okay so far, but now you’re in a situation where failure is certain if God doesn’t come through. Whatever the details are in your case, the fear is real and you are painfully aware that you don’t have the strength to continue.

Learn from Nehemiah’s example. Having weak hands is not a bad thing. It teaches us to cry out to the One whose power is perfected in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Say to Him: “Father, I don’t have the strength to do this on my own. This is what You have called me to in Christ. Give me Your strength to do what I can’t do myself.” Prayer offered to God in faith and complete dependence is the kind He loves to answer. In doing so, He demonstrates His power and faithfulness to His children and confounds the wisdom of the world.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” (Ephesians 6:10)

You Don't Need to Justify Yourself - Meditations on Nehemiah 6

“In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. In it was written, ‘It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king. And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, “There is a king in Judah.” And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.’ Then I sent to him, saying, ‘No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.’” (Nehemiah 6:5-8)

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If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again - and, of course, change your tactics. The first four requests that Sanballat send to Nehemiah were verbal requests sent by a messenger: “Go ask Nehemiah to come.” Nehemiah had refused each of these requests, so Sanballat decided to attempt something different. Instead of extending a verbal invitation, he would send an official document. It was an invitation laced with formalities and pleasantries, somewhere between a casual letter and a subpoena.

Dear Nehemiah,

You have been charged with rebellion and treason. People (and especially Geshem) are saying that you are planning to declare yourself king! We would love to meet with you so that we can clear this up. We’re here to help.

Sincerely,
Sanballat

Sanballat's efforts would be laughable if they weren't so sinister. Did he really think that Nehemiah would fall for his trick? “I know we haven’t been on the best of terms, Nehemiah, but I really think we can be friends.” A wolf putting on his sheep skins right in front of the shepherd would have had a better chance of deception. And then what is this comment about Geshem? “If Geshem says it, it must be true!” Really? I’m sure that he was an important person and all that, but this sounds like the third grade again.

Did he really believe that Nehemiah wouldn't catch the insult? Letters were supposed to be sealed so that the contents would not be public information. This was true especially of formal documents or appeals, such as this letter purported to be. Sanballat didn’t bother; he sent an open letter. Its contents were public information.

Nehemiah’s response was typical. He wasn’t convinced of Sanballat’s change of heart, he didn’t take offense at the insult, and he didn’t try to defend himself. He could have published an official document himself, refuting the charges brought against him. He could have met with Sanballat to try and clear things up. He didn’t do either. He simply dismissed the letter as he had the verbal invitations: “You’re making this stuff up. Now go away.” He let the accusations stand and went on with his work.

Nehemiah wouldn’t have been able to respond like this if he had not been grounded in truth. He knew that he was doing God’s work; he knew that his motivations were pure and right; he knew that God would give him the strength to complete the work; and he knew that God would protect him from his enemies. In short, he knew himself and he knew his God. Because he was secure in his God, he didn’t have to worry about what Sanballat, or anyone else, said.

You probably won’t experience the kind of opposition that Nehemiah did, but you are no stranger to accusation. You may be accused by your friends, family, or coworkers. You may be accused by your own conscience. Satan is “the accuser of our brothers…who accuses them day and night before our God” (Rev. 12:10). He loves to point out what you’ve done wrong, how you’ve failed, the sins that you love.

The only way that you will be able to respond correctly to these accusations is to know who God is for you in Christ and to know who you are in Christ. You must be grounded in the truth that God is for you and that you are accepted by God because of Christ. No accusation, whether true or false, will ever separate you from Him. Jesus Christ has taken all of your accusations upon Himself and then faced the consequences of those charges. You are free in Him – you don’t have to answer the accusations – and free of guilt in Him.

The devil’s singing over me an age old song
That I am cursed and gone astray
Singing the first verse so conveniently
He’s forgotten the refrain.
Jesus saves!

From the song Embracing Accusation, by Shane Barnard

How do you respond to insult and accusation? Do you feel it’s necessary to defend yourself? If so, why? How does knowing your identity in Christ free you from the need to justify yourself?

Don't Go to Hakkephirim! - Meditations on Nehemiah 6

"Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, 'Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.' But they intended to do me harm. And I sent messengers to them, saying, 'I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?' And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner." (Nehemiah 6:2-4)

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As I sit here and type, there is a fly that keeps trying to land on my head. I keep swatting at it, but it doesn't give up. It's made up its mind that it wants to be there. I didn't think much about it at first, but since it keeps on trying it's become a nuisance. Sometimes I think that flies just believe it their responsibility to distract and annoy me.
 

I'm not sure if that's the way Nehemiah felt about Sanballat and Tobiah, but I wouldn't be surprised. Those guys just would not give up. They have ridiculed Nehemiah, attempted to entice the workers away from their task, and rounded up opposition. Now they're attempting a new scheme. Nehemiah must have been getting annoyed with these two flies.
 

Their latest attempt to foil Nehemiah's plans was to draw Nehemiah out of the city to a place called Hakkepherim. We don't know exactly where this place was; this is the only reference to it in the Bible. We are only told that it was in the plain of Ono (called the valley of craftsmen in Nehemiah 11:35), a town about 30 miles north-west of Jerusalem. They probably hoped to pass the invitation off as an attempt at a truce, meeting at a half-way point between Nehemiah's base of operations and their own.
 

I wonder if the name, Hakkepherim, tipped Nehemiah off to their real intentions. Sanballat certainly could have picked a place with a name that didn't carry the implications of this one. The word Hakkepherim is related two other Hebrew words. The first word means to cover or hide. It came to indicate the covering over of sin that was accomplished by the Jewish sacrifice. By extension, it referred to a ransom or the price of a life. The second word is usually translated "young lion."
 

If the name is any indication of what went on at Hakkepherim, we might assume that it was a place that had to do with sacrifice. Perhaps it was where the remains of sacrificial animals were discarded. Or perhaps it was a place that was inhabited by wild animals. In either case, it couldn't mirror more precisely what Sanballat and Tobiah had in mind for Nehemiah. They wanted to get him to a secluded place and quietly dispose of him. They were the wild animals; he was the sacrifice.
 

Four times Sanballat and Tobiah asked Nehemiah to meet them at their ambush and four times Nehemiah refused. It would have been easy for him to give in to their requests. He might have justified it by thinking that he could finally put an end to their pestering. But Nehemiah was a man committed to finishing his task. If he had stopped to confer with his opposition, he would have implied that what they had to say was more important that what God had said. Instead, he considered the task that God had entrusted to him more important than his personal convenience or safety. He concerned himself with his work and trusted God to deal with the lions prowling about in his back yard.
 

How do you respond when opposition is constant and unyielding? Most of us can withstand a few blows of opposition, but we soon buckle if the pressure refuses to let up. We need to remember that it doesn't matter what threats or enticements may be put before us, if we leave off what God has called us to do in order to pursue other things, those things may very well prove to be our Hakkephirim.

How to Confront Sin – Meditations on Nehemiah 5

So I said, "The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies? Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest. Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them." (Nehemiah 5:9-11)

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    I hate confrontation. It's uncomfortable and I never know when it's going to backfire. But sometimes confrontation is necessary. The consequences are too great if certain behavior is not addressed. When I used to manage a restaurant, I was always having to talk to one person or another about their behavior. To be honest, I wasn't the best at it. Usually, I either blew up and attacked the person along with the behavior or I blew smoke - I fumed and worried about their behavior and then, when I finally spoke with them, the speech that I'd rehearsed in my head for so long turned out to be more of an apology for bothering them than a reprimand.

    I doubt that I'm the only one who dislikes confrontation. I'm also pretty sure that there are others like me in the way that they respond. We don't like what confrontation does to us: it forces us to expose our emotions to ourselves and ourselves to others. Will we find something in ourselves that we don't like? Will the other person take offense and quit the job, relationship, church? Those of us who are positions of authority (and most of us are: parents, business owners, babysitters, teachers, managers, etc.) would do well to learn from Nehemiah's example.

    Nehemiah didn't lose his temper and blow up when he heard that certain people were exploiting their fellow Jews. We saw this yesterday. He took a moment to take counsel with himself and evaluate the situation. But he also avoided the tendency to sugarcoat the reprimand. He didn't beat around the bush when he confronted them. He spoke plainly and described their behavior in specific terms: "You are exacting interest, each from his brother" (Neh. 5:7). He didn't make any attempt to hide his frustration or to apologize for being confrontational. He was still angry with them for selling their brothers to their own people (Neh. 5:8). He freely expressed his emotions without allowing his emotions to control his response. He then told them that their behavior was unacceptable and sinful: "The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?" (Neh. 5:9). He also demanded that they make things right and give back every thing that they had taken (Neh. 5:11).

    Notice that Nehemiah never demeans or belittles those whom he is reprimanding. He makes the reprimand about the behavior, not about the individual. The behavior is wrong, unacceptable, and must change. The consequences for refusing to change are severe. But there is no character assassination going on here. The aim is restoration, to correct the behavior and restore the individual.

    How do you respond to the sinful behavior of people under your authority? Do you blow up or blow smoke? What can you learn from Nehemiah's example? Comment on this post and share your experience.

 

Take Counsel with Yourself - Meditations on Nehemiah 5

"I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, 'You are exacting interest, each from his brother.' And I held a great assembly against them and said to them, 'We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!' They were silent and could not find a word to say." (Nehemiah 5:6-8)

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Nehemiah was angry when he heard about how some of the Jews were disregarding God's law and taking advantage of others. But he didn't immediately storm off and denounce their behavior. He first took some time to consider the matter and to consider his own attitude. Only then did he confront the guilty persons.
 

Nehemiah was angry, as he should have been. These people were exploiting others who were sacrificing their own comforts for the sake of Jerusalem. The broken-down walls were a reminder of God's judgment on Judah's past unfaithfulness. Now, even while they were trying to repair the damage done by forsaking God's law, they were disregarding the law. Nehemiah did right to be angry. But he didn't lose his temper and blow. He first "took counsel" with himself.

The text doesn't explain what he means by, "I took counsel with myself." All that we can do is speculate about what thoughts went through Nehemiah's head. I think it would be a good guess to say that he thought about what they were doing, what God had to say about what they were doing, and how he should respond. In other words, he got his facts straight and then determined how to proceed.
 

This is not our normal behavior. We act first and act questions later. Looking back, we see that our actions were motivated by pride, sinful anger, or ill will. Our first impulses are usually driven by passion rather than love of truth and righteousness. If we are to avoid these first impulses, we must learn to "take counsel" with ourselves before we act. We must get the facts straight, make sure our hearts are right, and then determine how to act.

How many times do you react to a situation without having all of the facts? Do you force yourself to stop in order to find out what God has to say about the situation? Do you take the time to take stock of what is going on in yourself before you respond? What is your usual way of responding to what you perceive to be violations of justice?

The Progression of Sin - Meditations on Nehemiah 5

"Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards." (Nehemiah 5:5)

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Have you ever been in a situation where nothing seems to be going your way? Everyone and everything seems to be conspiring against you. Sometimes circumstances are just out of our control. This was the case with the Jews. Not only were they sacrificing their time, energy, and resources to rebuild the wall, not only were they being opposed by their enemies, but now there was a famine in the land. The fields were not producing, grain was scarce, there was no bread. The people began to wonder where their next meal would come from. How could they continue to work on the wall when they didn't even have food to eat? Shouldn't the next meal be the top priority?

Apparently, some of the Jews decided to take matters into their own hands. Even if everybody couldn't be fed, they would make sure that they and their families were. They outnumbered other families, so they could take advantage of their numbers to shift the food supply in their favor (Neh. 5:2). But they didn't stop there. Once they got control of the food supply, they realized that there was a way for them to make a profit, too. Some families who had land but no food were made to mortgage their properties in order to buy it (Neh. 5:3). Other families who had some food but were low on cash mortgaged their properties in order to get money to pay their taxes (Neh. 5:4). The situation got so bad that some people, when their mortgage ran out, had to give their children up to forced labor so that they could put food on the table.

Obviously, what these people were doing was wrong. Nehemiah reacted sharply to their behavior. But it should be noted that these were not particularly evil men and women. They were "Jewish brothers" (Neh. 5:1). When they were confronted about their actions, they responded positively and vowed to restore everything that they had taken (Neh. 5:12). They were not hardened in their rebellion; they were men who had gotten carried away and led into sin by their own desires and unbelief.

How did this happen? What can we learn from their behavior? Is there a warning here that we need to head? Consider two things:

1. They attempted to work a salvation for themselves. The people had been opposed by their enemies, enticed by their friends, and made to doubt by their own fears and weakness. Nehemiah had confronted all of these threats with the power and promises of God. Until now, God had been enough. What, then, made their faith waver at this point? They were afraid that God would not provide for their basic needs. They did not trust that God would sustain them in the work even in the midst of famine.

This unbelief led them to attempt to work a salvation for themselves. Since God was not doing anything, they determined to make things right in their own power. Inevitably, this is where things really go wrong. Unbelief is a sin making sin. Just as Saul, acting out of desperation, offered sacrifice instead of waiting on God (1 Samuel 13:8-14), these people decided that it was better to act now before things got worse.

    

2. They took advantage of their brothers for their own benefit. Maybe they didn't even think about what God had said about charging interest from their fellow Jews when they devised their plans (Ex. 22:25-27; Lev. 25:35-38). If they did, they probably justified their actions by telling themselves that it was necessary in order to survive. In either case, their first sin lead on to more and greater sins. This is standard operating procedure for sin: lawlessness leads to more lawlessness (Romans 6:19). It is like a fire that consumes everything in its path. You can't bargain with it. You can't tell it to take only so much and nothing more. The more it is fed, the stronger it grows and the more it demands. Just as David's failure to fulfill his responsibilities led to adultery, deception, and eventually murder, their sin had advanced far beyond what they had originally intended.

Take a moment to examine your own life. Are you desperate about anything, afraid that God will not come through? Or are you trusting in His promises even in the face of hardship? Is unbelief beginning to grow in your heart? You must confront it at its first stages with the promises, power, and faithfulness of God.

Perhaps you have already moved beyond unbelief and have taken matters into your own hands. Maybe you are already in a pattern of sin that has taken you further than you wanted to go. Don't give your sin any room to make excuses. Confront it now with the law of God and condemn it. Recognize the guilt of your sin, confess it and repent. Then turn to the cross and ask God for grace to sustain you. There is time now for you to get off the path to further sin.