"The Uplifting Prophets" July 1 Readings: Nehemiah 10-13, Psalm 126

Today's Reading - Nehemiah 10-13, Psalm 126

Background

Nehemiah's attitude and actions will sound strange to our ears, in our tolerant, standardless culture. But he acted - sometimes harshly - to bring Israel back into obedience to the Law of God. The last four chapters of the book record Nehemiah's efforts at conforming rebuilt Israel to God's law.

Devotional - The Uplifting Prophets

We are coming to the end of one of the harshest sections of Scripture - the prophets. People whose Bibles are years old will often find the pages of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Minor Prophets still stuck together because the message of  God's judgment against sin is so depressing - a real downer.

If we think that we are missing the big picture, which is spelled out in the last Psalm we will read, Psalm 126. Everything God does is to redeem his people and to conform us to the image of Christ. When he performed great and mighty acts of power to bring Israel out of bondage to Egypt, he was working to redeem a people for himself. When he gave the Law he was seeking to show that people who to live. When he raised up judges and kings and priests, it was to shepherd his people, whom he loved, to guide them in the paths of righteousness. When the people strayed into sin, into idolatry, into the ways of the Canaanite nations around them, he sent prophets with strong warnings. It was not because he was angry but because he loved them and wanted them to walk the right path. When they ignored the prophets and continued in sin, God sent judgments on the Land. This was not an act of hate but of love.

But Israel would not listen. Judah would not listen. They hardened their hearts and ignored God's Law. They ignored the prophets and listened to the false prophets who seduced them with messages of false peace - everything is okay, don't worry about it! So God finally reduced first the northern kingdom of Israel and then finally Jerusalem to rubble.

Because he was angry? Yes, sin is an offense against God? Because he was cruel? NO! No...no...no. God knew that sin is destructive to the soul, but temporally and eternally and he acted to purify Israel and draw them back. When they would not listen he escalated his judgment until finally they would listen.

But everything God did was for one purpose - to show his love to Israel and to draw them back.

Psalm 126 is a Song of Ascents. These were songs that worshippers sang as they ascended the steps up to the Temple in preparation to worship. The content of this one makes it clear it is likely designed for the Second Temple, a song to recall the restoration God wrought for Israel that we have been reading about. Verses 1-3 express it well.

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,we were like those who dream.Our mouths were filled with laughter then,and our tongues with shouts of joy.Then they said among the nations,“The Lord has done great things for them.”The Lord had done great things for us;we were joyful.

God's purpose all along was to create joy. Israel's rebellion made that difficult. The harder their hearts became the harder God had to work to bring restoration and renewal. But even when God was pouring out judgment on the nation it was always with a purpose of restoration.

Thank you, Lord, that even though you may discipline me, as your son, your purpose is to strengthen me and to conform me to Christ.  

Think and Pray

How do you read the prophets?
How do you see God in the prophets? Do you keep in the front of your mind that even God's anger and judgment were part of his plan of redemption, renewal, and perfection of Israel?
Remember that God works in you the same way. He may allow difficult things in your life to conform you to Christ.