Mediterranean Moments

Understanding the context in which a passage from the Bible is written is important because it helps prevent wrong interpretations, which would result in bad theology and confusion. The [popup_anything id=”3076″] provides the complete meaning of Scripture as it is studied. The English word “context” was developed in the early 1400’s meaning a composition, a chronicle, the entire text of a writing. It comes from the Latin contextus which means “a joining together” The word was originally used “to weave together” in such a way that taking one thread from the others would destroy the fabric.

How does Nehemiah 8:2-8 fit into the tapestry of God’s entire message to humanity?

By the eighth chapter of Nehemiah, the walls of the city and the temple were near completion. The phrase “all the people gathered as one man” into the square is identical to Ezra 3:1, which also refers to an assembly on the first day of the seventh month. The object of the meeting in Ezra was to restore the altar of burnt offerings and sacrificial worship. This was key to the entire structure of Jewish worship, from daily activities to annual festivals.

Consider the energy that was present the first Sunday when worship was returned to buildings instead of online. Imagine what would happen if we went for seventy years without celebrating Christmas or Easter. There must have been tears shed, shouts of joy offered, and people embracing one another.

We don’t celebrate alone

We are encouraged not to forsake assembling together (Hebrews 10:25). How can we creatively accomplish that if restrictions for health and safety are in place? Can the people of God “assemble” in one place without actually being physically present?

In Nehemiahs time, assemblies were held by the city gates. The one in our passage convened in the square by the Water Gate. It may be the same place as mentioned in Ezra 10:9; see also Judges 19:15, 2 Chronicles 32:6). The people were gathered as one. Social distancing was certainly not a factor, but the implication touches “with one accord.” There were no minds wandering. There was a focused purpose among the people.

There is absolutely no reason that all of the people in verses four and seven are mentioned by name and included in the Scripture. The lesson being taught is vital. Individual people need to be celebrated. No doubt each of these individuals played an important role in the rebuilding or in the ceremonies that were being held. We clearly need to give honor to those for whom honor is due.

Participating with the Word

Notice in this celebration the place that the Word was given, and how the people participated. It is difficult in today’s worship for individuals to participate – a factor that we probably should work on correcting. Ezra the scribe is told to bring the Book of the Law of Moses before the people. Such scrolls would have been kept in regal containers, treated with the same reverence that was once given to the Ark of the Covenant. When the Torah was brought before the people, there must have been shouts of praise and extended applause.

The men and women who were gathered were people “who could understand what they heard” when the Torah was read. This would be people who retained their knowledge of Hebrew even through the exile. There was no attempt to make the reading of God’s Word “user-friendly.” If you want to be a part of this, you need to know the language.

Ezra read the Law while standing on a raised platform that had been constructed for the event. Pomp and circumstance were a part of the ceremony. It is quite possible that the books read were not only the Torah, but also the Prophets and the other Writings. This would be practically the entire Old Testament which we know today. The reading lasted from early morning until midday.

The impression of this passage is that the people insisted upon the reading of Scripture. While not spontaneous, the attentive listening and heart-searching that followed is evidence this was not imposed upon the people by leadership.

The faithful listened

Throughout the passage, Ezra is seen as reading the Torah to the people. Verse six indicates that Ezra blessed the Lord and all the people answered, “Amen! Amen!” Don’t think of this as a one-time moment. Through the ceremonies of worship or festivals, several blessings were offered. Compare this idea to the Seder service for the Passover. Ezra may have done this at the end of a chapter, a book or a scroll.

Also notice that several people mentioned in verse seven helped people understand the Law. Some commentators assume this was translating it from the Hebrew into Aramaic, but Nehemiah and Ezra both seem to place value upon the people knowing the Hebrew language. Think instead of the readers working through a passage and then explaining what it meant. This could be the meaning of the phrase “they gave the sense” that is mentioned in verse eight so that the people understood the reading.

The people bowed their heads as the Scripture was read and placed their faces on the ground. Verse nine tells us that the people wept as they heard the words of the Law.

 

But Nehemiah and Ezra told the people not to mourn or weep, for this day was holy to the Lord. Instead the people were told to go, to eat, drink and celebrate for “the joy of the Lord in your strength” (verse ten).

They read from the book clearly … and the people went their way to eat, drink and make great rejoicing.

 

wrangling with words

Did you ever read something in a book or printed page that made you stop and reread it? It hit you and it was almost like you couldn’t believe what your eyes read? Perhaps it was a statistic that was so astonishing. Maybe it was a quotation that you couldn’t believe so-and-so said that!  So you were compelled to read it again, just to make sure. Instead of looking just to comprehend the big picture, you looked closely at each word to find nuances and meaning.

You read it again and paused. You noticed. And thought. And nodded. And you understood.

Think for a moment about one of the concepts in this passage: building. When Nehemiah was able to paint the correct picture to the people, and mapped out a plan for them to follow and rebuild, the people responded positively. The time is now. The culture is in despair. The walls and structures of society are in shambles.

Come. Let’s start rebuilding. The Lord will give us success.

Building walls is taking responsibility for who you are and who God is calling you to be. Do you see the difference? There are parts of who we are that are not who God wants us to be. We are to take responsibility for our sins. That is difficult and humbling. We want to blame someone or something else for who we are. It’s my parent’s fault. I am the product of my culture. I need to take responsibility for my sins and I need to repent of them.

God is in the process of building, building a new way. In Nehemiah’s day, it was shifting from the Law to grace. In the New Testament, Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6 ESV). The early church were known as followers of the Way, often shortened to just “The Way.” It wasn’t a name claimed by their own; it was a name bestowed upon them by others.  These followers of Christ were first called “Christians” by the leaders of the community in Antioch (Acts 11:26).

The interesting – and quite unusual – thing about this is that sects of the Jewish faith usually did not get a distinctive name among the Gentile population. The Jewish faith had different sects, groups like the Pharisees and Sadducees and Essenes and several others, but to the outside world they were all Jews. So why weren’t Christians simply lumped in with all the other variants of the Jewish faith?

A little context to the culture might help. Antioch became the first major city outside of Judea to be touched by the message of the gospel. The city of Antioch was often referred to as “all the world in one city.” You could see the riches and diversity of the entire world located in the city of Antioch. The city was designed like most cities of the day – a circular wall surrounding the boundaries of the city and inner marketplace at the center of the city, serving as its hub. From the hub of the city were inner walls, sometimes constructed, but sometimes natural barriers that served as spokes reaching from the hub to the outer wall. The spokes marked ways that divided different people groups from one another. Jews from Gentiles. Rich from poor. Color from color. All cities followed a similar pattern. Each of these walls were known as “ways.”

Until the Christians came to Antioch. Here the message of reconciliation of the gospel came across in stark contrast to the design of the city. There is no male nor female – gender, something that was a huge divide in the early world. There is no Jew nor Gentile – race and religion, two more dividing walls in the boundaries of the city. There is no rich or poor, slave or free – economy and education, two more avenues that separated the city.

The people of Antioch were amazed, but also astute. “These Christians are followers of the WAY,” they said – meaning Jesus.

But I don’t think the people of Antioch said it like that. I think they said,

“The people are followers of THE Way.”

THE Way that tears down walls. THE Way that builds new walls. THE Way that leads to the Father.

Mediterranean Moments

Understanding the context in which a passage from the Bible is written is important because it helps prevent wrong interpretations, which would result in bad theology and confusion. The [popup_anything id=”3076″] provides the complete meaning of Scripture as it is studied. The English word “context” was developed in the early 1400’s meaning a composition, a chronicle, the entire text of a writing. It comes from the Latin contextus which means “a joining together” The word was originally used “to weave together” in such a way that taking one thread from the others would destroy the fabric.

How does Nehemiah 2:17-20 fit into the tapestry of God’s entire message to humanity?

After the Babylonian Exile, small groups of Jewish captives were allowed to return to their homeland. Nehemiah, who had risen in respect and authority in the Persian Empire, was one of those who dreamed of going back home, back to Jerusalem. After petitioning the King, Nehemiah was allowed to return. Our passage focuses on Nehemiah 2:17-20.

The walls of the city of Jerusalem, along with the structure of the Temple, lay in ruins. Some 130 years had passed since Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed the city. The leaders and people had apparently become apathetic to the conditions. It is easy for that to happen, isn’t it? “Things have always been this way. There is no use trying to change them.”

Nehemiah comes to Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:11) and stayed there three days. We are not specifically told what Nehemiah did during that time, but let’s speculate for a moment. He may have first rested there like Ezra did (Ezra 8:32). Rest should be an important part of the schedule of the servant of God. Jesus once told the disciples to come with Him to a quiet place and get some rest (Mark 6:31). If the spiritual body is going to be sharp, the physical body needs to be well-rested and prepared.

Would you like to print out a two-page

copy of the context of Nehemiah 2:17-20? Click on the image.

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He probably met with the leaders of the Jewish community. He needed to receive their “buy-in” for the project that he intended to fulfill, but it was also important to get their take on what was needed and what opposition would oppose his efforts. He most likely wandered through the streets of the city, getting an idea of hits flavor and witnessing first hand where the greatest problems were developing.

the right project at the right time

Nehemiah wanted his project to be the right work at the right time. Success of this nature takes planning. Nehemiah had to assess the circumstance and craft a proposal based on his perception of the problem. There is an interesting phrase in verse twelve of the context of our passage (Nehemiah 2:17-20 ESV). “I had not told anyone what my God has put on my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on” (Nehemiah 2:12 NIV).  He used only one horse so as not to draw attention to what he was doing. He did not want opposition before he started his work. Wise leadership knows when to publicize work and ministry, and when to quietly clarify the need and develop the plan.

If there is a lesson for us from Nehemiah, it is this. The positive, faithful nature of one man can become contagious. It was the genuine conviction of Nehemiah that the conditions of the city and temple were a disgrace. He began to talk to other about the plight – but the message was always the same. It started with the fact the hand of God was upon the project. He didn’t begin by criticizing the apathy and inactivity of the people, although he surely could have. His message started with what God was doing – gathering the scattered.

Nehemiah was to face many who opposed his work and direction. He perceived his mission as rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem so that an environment could be established for the people where there was freedom and safety to worship their God. Nehemiah wanted to build a location that would be pleasing to God. The walls would serve not only as physical protection, but would nurture a culture that would symbolize boundaries of religious belief. The walls are made complete later with the reading of the Torah – the first five books of Moses.

 

 

 

Petra

What is your favorite Easter song? My favorite Easter song was performed by Petra, a music group regarded as the one of the foundations of Christian rock and contemporary Christian music. The song is titled, Grave Robber, and was written by Petra band member Bob Hartman.

There’s a step that we all take alone
An appointment we have with the great unknown
Like a vapor this life is just waiting to pass
Like the flowers that fade, like the withering grass
But life seems so long and death so complete
And the grave an impossible portion to cheat
But there’s One who has been there and still lives to tell
There is One who has been through both heaven and hell
And the grave will come up empty-handed that day
Jesus will come and steal us away

(Chorus)
Where is the sting, tell me where is the bite
When the grave robber comes like a thief in the night
Where is the victory, where is the prize
When the grave robber comes
And death finally dies

Many still mourn and many still weep
For those that they love who have fallen asleep
But we have this hope though our hearts may still ache
Just one shout from above and they all will awake
And in the reunion of joy we will see
Death will be swallowed in sweet victory

 

Grave Robber: More Than Just a Song

Grave robber – it sounds more like something out of a world wrestling match than church, doesn’t it? Maybe that is a far more appropriate imagery than a hallelujah or a lilly. Paul says we wrestle – not against flesh and blood – but against powers and principalities. And for centuries, we wrestled against death – and lost.

If I understand what happened on the day that Christ rose from the grave, death died.

Since Adam in the Garden, death had reigned day after day, generation after generation. From the time of a birth, mankind simply waited for the time of a death. From the moment that Adam and Eve buried Abel, people have paused respectfully at tombs, gathered together in cemeteries, planted flowers and gazed and remembered. And death smiled. Laughed. Champion again. Undefeated. Still holding the belts. Longest reigning ever.

And today, if you and I were to visit cemeteries

and look for

 

Grandpa May, whom I never knew

Grandma May

James Thomas, Uncle Wes’ son

Uncle Lloyd

Uncle Herb

Aunt Reba

Aunt Sylvia

Aunt Flossie

Aunt Emma

Uncle Wes

Sharon, a teen-aged girl, and the first funeral I ever officiated

Grandpa

Chuck

Dad

Bama

Grandma

Joe, the one who got away

Dean

Joyce

Jacob

Mom

Scott

Rich

Renae

 

Your loved one

 

We would be struck by seeing a man, relaxed, waiting, almost anticipating our arrival. Sitting on the headstone. Glistening. White. Radiant.

With a slight smile on his face, he whispers, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”

He is not here.

She is not here.

Never was.

Never will be!

 

A Reason for our Hope

For death, you see, not only does not reign – it doesn’t even need to be considered.

Useless.

Impotent.

Stingless. Defeated.

Robbed.

 

And a grin bursts over our faces.

They are not here.

They are risen!