Rev Wendell

NUMBERING THE PEOPLE THE ANIMALS AND THE GIFTS

PROCLAMATION
“The whole congregation together was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty.” Nehemiah 7:68 (KJV)

EXPLANATION
The Bible Book of Nehemiah was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Nehemiah, the cupbearer to Artaxerxes the king of Persia. After the wall had been rebuilt and the doors had been set, the gatekeepers and singers were appointed. Nehemiah appointed his brother Hanani and Hananiah the ruler of the palace to be the rulers over Jerusalem, for they were faithful and God-fearing men. (Nehemiah 7:1-2) Then he said let not the gates of Jerusalem be open until the sun is hot. And while they are standing guard, let the gates remain closed. He appointed guards from among the people of Jerusalem. He noted that the city was large and great but there were very few people within it, and no houses had been rebuilt. (Nehemiah 7:3-4) The remainder of chapter seven includes a listing of the genealogy of the people. (Nehemiah 7:5-65) There were forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty people. In addition to seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven manservants and maidservants; plus two hundred and forty-five singing men and women. He also counted the horses, mules, camels, and donkeys. (Nehemiah 7:66-70) There was a record kept of what the head of each of the families gave into the treasury.

APPLICATION
It has been said that there is strength in numbers. However, being on The Lord’s side puts us on the winning side. If He is for us, then no one can stand against us. (Romans 8:31) It is not always good to follow the crowd. The crowd is fickle, easily influenced, and it can change on you very quickly. Remember, one day they were shouting “Hosanna” for Jesus, The Christ, (Matthew 21:9, Mark 11:9-10, and John 12:13) and the next week they were shouting, “Crucify Him!” (Matthew 27:22-23, Mark 15:13-14, and John 19:6) The majority of people will follow the crowd down the well-travelled road and it will lead them to their destruction. (Matthew 7:13) It is the narrow, less-travelled road which leads to everlasting life but only the few will go that way. (Matthew 7:14) Just because everyone is doing it does not make it right. Let us follow The Lord God and go His way.

GOD ANSWERS PRAYER

PROCLAMATION
“And the king said unto me, (the queen also was sitting by him) ‘For how long shall thy journey be? And when wilt thou return?’ So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.” Nehemiah 2:8 (KJV)

EXPLANATION
The Bible Book of Nehemiah was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Nehemiah, the cupbearer to Artaxerxes the king of Persia. It came to pass that as Nehemiah took a cup of wine and gave it to the king that the king noticed that he was sad. When the king inquired as to why the sad face, Nehemiah answered that his city, the city of his fathers, lies in ruins and its gates are burned. (Nehemiah 2:1-3) The king asked what did he want him to do about it. Nehemiah replied if it would please the king, then send him to Judah to rebuild it. He also asked for letters to the governors beyond the river to allow him safe passage; and to Asaph the keeper of the forest so that he would give him timber. (Nehemiah 2:4-8) The king sent captains and horsemen along with Nehemiah. When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite heard this they were grieved. It took Nehemiah three days to reach Jerusalem. When he arrived he went out by night with a few men to assess the situation. He did not tell the leaders or the priests where he was going. (Nehemiah 2:9-16) Afterwards he told the people that Jerusalem lies in waste. Then he told that the hand of God was upon him, and that the king had given him permission to rebuild the city. However, Sanballat and Tobiah, along with Geshem the Arabian, laughed at them and scorned and despised them. They asked were we rebelling against the king. I answered them saying , “The God of heaven, He will make is prosper; and we His servants will rise up and build … and you have no claim in Jerusalem.” (Nehemiah 2:17-20)

APPLICATION
Nehemiah wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed when he heard about the situation in Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 1:4) Here we learn that The Lord God answered his prayer and moved upon the heart of the king to allow Nehemiah to do something about the situation. (Nehemiah 2:3-5) The Lord God hears and answers the prayers of those who trust in Him. (1 Chronicles 5:20) The sincere and fervent prayer of a righteous man produces much. (James 5:16) We just need to make sure that what we pray for is within the will of God and will give Him glory, and is not for our personal pleasure.

A PRAYER OF CONFESSION

PROCLAMATION
“And I said, ‘My God, I am ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God, for our wrongful deeds …” Ezra 9:6 (KJV)

EXPLANATION
The Bible Book of Ezra was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Ezra the scribe and priest and historical Bible scholar, according to Jewish tradition. After they had traveled safely to Jerusalem and delivered the gold, silver, and the vessels to the chief priests, the officials approached Ezra and told him that the people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites had not separated themselves from the people of the land. They had taken the daughters of the local people as wives for themselves, and for their sons, and intermingled with them. (Ezra 9:1-2) When Ezra heard this, he tore his garment and his robe, pulled out some of his hair and beard, and just sat down appalled for the remainder of the day. That evening he went to the evening offering wearing his torn garments. He bowed down prostrate before the altar for The Lord God and confessed that in spite of all that He had done for them, the Israelites had sinned and intermarried with the unclean people of the land. He said that we have done what You said not to do by taking their daughters as wives. (Ezra 9:3-12) After all of the evil that we have done, and since You have spared us by inflicting upon us less than our wrongdoings deserve, and allowing us to escape captivity, and now we break Your commandments and intermarry with the people who committed that which You consider abominations. Ezra said, “Lord God of Israel, You are righteous … we are before You in our guilt, for no one can stand before You because of this.” (Ezra 9:13-15)

APPLICATION
All of us have sinned. (Romans 3:23) None of us are righteous. (Romans 3:10) The Bible says that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) If we are sincere, all of our sins can be forgiven. The only sin which will not be forgiven is blasphemy of The Holy Spirit. (Mark 3:29 and Luke 12:10) With respect to all other sins, we need to pray and as to be forgiven. However, The Bible also says we should humble ourselves, and pray, and seek His face, and we should turn from our wicked ways, then He will hear our prayers. (2 Chronicles 7:14)