Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 04 August 2018

Happy Saturday,  the first such in the month of August.
I'm still checking out the "body count" from last night's "festivities" in the area.  The web site for one of the local papers "goes to bed" around midnight, so the early morning casualties aren't listed.  At least one of the local TV news stations barely updates at all from Friday evening and another can't be bothered until around 09:00.  I don't sit by a police / fire / EMS scanner these days (and, living where we do, we'd have to get feeds from two state police agencies, sheriff departments in at least five counties in two states, and feeds from about a dozen city and township departments, not to mention a similar number of fire calls and EMT/ambulance agencies).  Having been at the on-the-ground events more than once in my past, the entertainment value isn't much.  What's almost as interesting is the information that the "official" media outlets choose to not make known.  LOTS of that in this area.



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Today's reading is brief, just chapter 13 in the book of Nehemiah.  This concludes that book.
Don't flip over it casually, don't (I often have).
Remember that Nehemiah, following after Ezra, was dedicated to rebuilding Jerusalem as a fortified city and the center of the Jewish nation, after Ezra had led the reconstruction of the Temple and the worship of the true Lord.  All around them were the very visible reminders of the judgment when the Lord had, after generations of apostasy, withdrawn His hand of protection and allowed the enemies free rein.
Nehemiah was, simultaneously, an official in the court of Babylon, and was not in Jerusalem constantly, dealing through persons he'd appointed.  A bit of juggling going on there, and communication was neither fast nor reliable.  Neither were some of those persons.
So his dismay at discovering that, in  his absence, even those whose positions as priests and leaders, persons upon whom he thought reliance was possible, were found to be heavily involved in going back the Bad Old Days, making common cause including marriages, with the heathens around them.
Think the term "heathen" is excessive?  Not at all!  The Ammonites, noted here with names like Tobiah, were worshipers of "gods" like Molech and others that "got into" things like child sacrifice of one's first-born.  At one time, cults like that had taken hold in Israel, which the Lord could not overlook.  So judgment fell.  Yet here it was again, albeit in early stages.  Though clearing out a portion of the Temple complex in order to accommodate one of these Ammonite dignitaries is a bit more than "early".
Such is not unknown in our time either.
I occasionally receive calls and messages from persons, including a few I've known for many years and who are involved in some church and para-church operations, complaining about my use of emotionally loaded terms like "heathen".  Tough.  The desire to make "common cause" with cults, like Islam, that worship a demon, is in no way much different than the efforts in Jerusalem to "make nice" with the heathens from the area we now refer to as Amman, Jordan.  Yet such efforts are to be found in many places.
Nehemiah made a faithful effort to be obedient to the Lord's call upon him, and did so in the face of great odds and opposition.  He was obedient.  May we do as well.

Nehemiah 13

1On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;they…: Heb. there was readaudience: Heb. ears

2Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.

3Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

4And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:having…: Heb. being set over

5And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.which…: Heb. the commandment of the Levites

6But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:after…: Heb. at the end of daysobtained…: or, I earnestly requested

7And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

8And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.

9Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.

10And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.

11Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.place: Heb. standing

12Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.treasuries: or, storehouses

13And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.treasuries: or, storehousesnext…: Heb. at their handtheir office…: Heb. it was upon them

14Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.good…: Heb. kindnessesoffices: or, observations

15In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.

16There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

17Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

18Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.

19And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.

20So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.

21Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.about: Heb. before

22And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.greatness: or, multitude

23In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:had…: Heb. had made to dwell with them

24And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.could…: Heb. they discerned not to speakof each…: Heb. of people and people

25And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.cursed: or, reviled

26Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.

27Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?

28And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.

29Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.because…: Heb. for the defilings

30Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;

31And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.