Thursday, August 21, 2008
I'm taking some time reading through the book of Nehemiah. It's a story I've heard and studied previously, but none the less I am still blown away. I'm two chapters in right now. For those who don't know, the book of Nehemiah is written by Nehemiah and it reads like it is his own personal journal or diary.
When the book starts Nehemiah has a pretty responsible position in the Persian government and his heart aches for his city Jerusalem. Jerusalem had been destroyed about 140 years earlier. When he hears how the walls of Jerusalem are in ruins and that the people who are there are really struggling he breaks down and weeps for the city.
How many of us that love Jesus have that kind of passion about our city. Do we weep over our cities? I've heard a lot of 'Christians' talk about our world with the "it's on it's way to hell in a hand basket" kind of approach, but they don't care and they don't do anything about it besides complain. Nehemiah broke down and wept for his city, then he responded by praying and fasting and asking God to give him the means and put him in a position to do something about it.
So how much do you care for your city? My heart breaks for the students that are in the Quad Cities area where I am an youth minister. I pray that God uses me here and that I would be faithful to trust God and do what he tells me.
Mark Driscoll is a pastor at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, which is one of the least church cities in the country. He grew up there not following Jesus, was introduced to Jesus and fell in love with him. In his 20's he started a church because he loved Jesus and he loved his city. And now their church is making a difference in Seattle because they are missionaries to the city that they love and live in.
Sometimes, I can lack compassion and initiative. Not to the point of not caring at all or being totally lazy, but enough to limit myself when something needs to be done. My prayer is that God would let compassion and love for my city overflow from me and that I would have the initiative to respond to God by serving the city and making a difference. I truly love the city and I want the people in the city to know Jesus.
Maybe we should all take some time and weep over our cities and then respond by letting God radically work through us to touch the lives of the people in our cities.
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4 comments:
Nice blog. It's awesome to see what other Christians are studying in the Bible... I have not read Nehemiah yet. I'm still taking in the New Testament. But dude, keep it up!!! I'm interested in seeing what you get out of the book and hopefully i can recieve some insight to it as well.
-Nathan Barkley aka. Nathen
I found this to be quite insightful. I mean, when I read through Nehemiah, I just blew past that part. Its interesting to see what other people pick up in their studies and the challenges they put forth to others. But the best part is that you write like you're speaking to the everyday Joe. Sometimes, reading a commentary can be almost as difficult as trying to understand a passage of scripture. Its a breath of fresh air to see someone just writing from their heart to the hearts of other men.
Some good thoughts Bryan. Nehemiah has been one of my favorite books for a long time.
I also find it fascinating to see Nehemiah's response in context to what the city of Jerusalem really represented to the Isrealites. The sacking and burning of their city is the ultimate slam. The house of God, literally where God resides on Earth is destroyed and Jerusalem which was the heart and representation of all that the Israelites held as their identity is now in ruins.
Literally a ruined Jerusalem represented a broken, ruined and scattered people. Throughout the book the story of the salvation and rebuilding of the city is used as an analogy of the redemption of the Israelites as a people.
One of the coolest things in the book is when they are working on the walls, In those times a city wasn't a city without walls, and Nehemiah makes the wall out of people. There is this humbling symbolism that while the finished walls of the city will be made of stone the real city is made up of the people.
Sometimes I forget that in the various communities that I participate in.
Good stuff man looking forward to more
Hey man,
the blog looks great. What a great book to be studying. It records such a pivotal time in Israel's history. Nehemiah's passion is inspiring.
It's heartbreaking to see that by the first century, the genuine concern of men like Ezra and Nehemiah had become deformed into the the escapism of the Essenes, the self-righteous piety of the Pharisees, and the violet aggression of the Zealots.
It's depressing, but what you said about many Christians talking about the world as "it's on it's way to hell in a hand basket" really resonates. It shows that these three mindsets are still a temptation for Christians today. There are many who would just assume escape the world, others who are connect smugly looking down their noses at the swarms of unwashed masses, and still others who want to convert the world using scare tactics, manipulation, and in some extreme cases violent force.
Nehemiah, and indeed Jesus Christ, shows us that their is another option... but it starts with a broken heart as we see Nehemiah weep for his city. Again, as we see Christ approach that same city many years later we hear his famous words,
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing."
You can feel the pain, and longing he has to restore his people. But he does not come in judgement, and he does not come with the sword. He comes as a servant. One who is rejected and scorned. One who loves his enemies and prays for those who persecute him. What would happen if we did the same?
I probably won't bust out the sackcloth and ashes, but maybe it's time i hit the ground in prayer for all my friends and neighbors who don't know Jesus. Maybe i need to ask God to re-break my heart and give me a passion like Nehemiah so i can humbly, yet boldly, embody the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Thanks for the post Bryan, i think this is a challenge we all need to hear.
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