Thursday

11-July

Nehemiah 8-10; Psalm 85; 2 Corinthians13

Nehemiah 8: What happened on the day after the book of the Law was read publicly?

Nehemiah 9:  How long did the people read the book of the Law?

Nehemiah 10: Why were these names on the seals? What did the people agree to?

2 Corinthians 13: What will Paul do when he goes to Corinth for the third time?

Journal Prompt: Consider this:

The ninth chapter of Nehemiah is so all encompassing. The Jews gathered together after having fasted, wearing sackcloth with dirt on their heads, prepared to confess their sins before the Lord and repent. The prayer pretty much sums up the entire relationship of God and His chosen people. If you haven’t read it, I highly suggest you read it carefully today. How desperately they needed a Savior and how blessed we are that we have a Savior that chose us and died on a cross for our sins.
I often read different commentaries when I come to something in the Bible that I find hard to understand, and they included the following at the conclusion of this chapter which really speaks to my heart, so I wanted to share it with you. It’s about coming to a point in our lives where we must choose to make our own covenant with our Lord and Savior.

GOD’S WORK IN US OFTEN MUST COME TO A PLACE OF DECISION – WHERE HE WANTS US TO MAKE A STAND FOR HIM, AND AGAINST SOME OTHER THINGS. IF YOU NEED A POINT OF DECISION, ALAN REDPATH GAVE THESE SELF-EXAMINATION QUESTIONS, TO GIVE AN IDEA HOW:

What about my relationship with men?Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am a better man than I really am? Is there the least suspicion of hypocrisy in my life? Am I honest in all my words and acts? Do I exaggerate?Am I reliable? Can I be trusted? Do I confidentially pass on what was told to me in confidence? Do I grumble and complain in the church?Am I jealous, impure, irritable, touchy, distrustful? Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying? Am I proud? Do I thank God I am not as other people? Is there anyone I fear, or dislike, or criticize, or resent? If so, what am I doing about it?What about my devotion to God?Does the Bible live to me? Do I give it time to speak to me? Do I go to bed in time and do I get up in time?Am I enjoying my prayer life today? Did I enjoy it this morning? When I am involved in a problem in life, do I talk about it or pray about it?Am I disobeying God in anything, or insisting upon doing something about which my conscience is very uneasy?When did I last speak to someone else with the object of trying to win him for Christ?Am I a slave to books, dress, friends, work, or what others think? How do I spend my spare time?

Answers:

Nehemiah 8: The day after the Law was read, the heads of fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law.

Nehemiah 10:  The names on the seals were the princes, the Levites, the priests and Nehemiah. These people as well as the Israelites agreed to obey God’s laws, to not marry outside of the covenant community, to honor the Sabbath, and support the service with a special levy, to present their first fruits and they promised not to neglect the Temple.

2 Corinthians 13: Paul will speak boldly in judgment of those who are sinning in the Corinthian church.