Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Dec 23 2019 - Nehemiah 8 – The reading of the law

The walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt and the city was now secure. But Nehemiah was not concerned only with repairing the physical structures of the city of God, he wanted also to strengthen and repair the spiritual life of the people of God. So Ezra the scribe was called upon to conduct a day of Bible study. He had come to Jerusalem 13 years earlier (see Ezra 7:8-10). He was a Bible scholar with a good knowledge of the law and had been working for some years prior to Nehemiah's arrival to re-establish a people who would live by God's word. 

A platform (v. 4) had been constructed so that everyone could see and hear those who were to speak. Ezra climbed up onto the platform along with thirteen helpers, fourteen men in all. As he opened the Book of the Law of Moses the people all stood up (v. 5). Ezra praised the Lord and the people responded, lifting their hands and crying, 'Amen! Amen!' (v. 6). In other words, they joined in Ezra's praise of the Lord. Then they bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. There was an expectant and humble spirit among the people: a readiness to hear what 'the Lord, the great God' would say to them.

Ezra read the law of God from daybreak until mid-day. Or rather, it is more likely that Ezra and his team took it in turns to read sections from the book of the law – each of the fourteen reading from time to time. And as each section was read the people listened attentively: the phrase at the end of verse three says literally that 'their ears were to the book of the law.' They were intent on hearing what God had to say to them, determined not to miss one word.

Then, after each section had been read, another team was at work among the people (vv. 7-8), to help them understand what they had heard. The second group of thirteen Levites moved among the crowds ensuring that they understood the implications of what they were hearing – what it meant for their daily lives. The whole stress of this part of the chapter is on understanding (see vv. 2, 3, 7, 8). It seems that the people listened together to the word being read and then, perhaps in small groups, considered its meaning, calling on the help of those who were knowledgeable in the law. In this way they all heard and understood the word.

And as they listened and talked together, the people understood that had failed to obey God's word, failed to live as they should have done, and they began to weep. But Nehemiah, Ezra and his helpers wanted this to be day of celebration and called on the people to rejoice:

Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." (v. 10)

It was to be a day of general celebration. All were to share together in the celebrations and no one was to be left out through lack of resources. And that's just what happened (v. 12). Nehemiah wanted the people to focus on what their God had done for them, not primarily on what they had failed to do for God. And in focussing on the goodness of God they were to discover that the joy of the Lord would be their strength. Rejoicing over what their God had done for them was to be the dynamic of their renewed community life: it was to be their strength, the power that enabled them now to live for him – to put away past failures. Part of that joy in what God had done for them involved their renewed celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles – remembering God's provision and care for his rebellious people in the wilderness and celebrating God's continual care for them now. This must have proved a powerful witness to other peoples living around them.

Lord God, you have filled our hearts with joy because of your saving goodness towards us in the Lord Jesus. Give us an appetite to read and understand your word that we might learn more of your love and goodness towards us. Strengthen us by your Spirit and may our lives of joyful thanksgiving act as a powerful witness to those around us who do not yet know you.

Dec 23 2020 - Revelation 14:1-20 – The grapes of wrath

There are some passages in the Bible that one cannot help find troubling. The bloody picture of judgment at the end of Revelation 14 is one such passage, as is the picture in 14:10-11 of those who have worshiped the beast being "tormented with burning sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever." These are pictures that do not seem to sit easily with the gospel message that "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him" (John 3:16-17). Yet Revelation 14 also pictures an angel flying through the sky proclaiming the eternal gospel to all the nations, tribes and peoples of the world (14:6). How are we to fit together the message of the gospel with this brutal picture of judgment?

This is a difficult question and I attempt some sort of answer to it only with the greatest hesitation. Part of the answer, however, is to see that the salvation of God is accomplished through judgment upon those who oppressed his people and held them captive. This was true of the Exodus; Israel was saved precisely through God descending in judgment upon Egypt (more of that tomorrow with the Song of Moses). Revelation was written to address the situation of an oppressed and persecuted people. The prophetic promise that "Babylon the Great" is fallen (14:8) is the promise of deliverance for an enslaved people. God has heard their cry and will come to save them. As, many centuries before, God had rescued Israel from Egypt and had freed his people from captivity in Babylon, so now he will save them from the tyranny of Rome. This is what is pictured in the apocalyptic language of the book of Revelation.

Salvation is accomplished through an act of judgment. We praise God that our salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ was accomplished when the judgment of God fell upon him; he took our place in enduring the judgment of God in order that there might be no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. The cross of the Lord Jesus Christ is the place where wrath and mercy meet. The wrath of God is real and it is terrifying; but it holds no more terrors for those who have found salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb who was slain (13:8).

The chapter begins with a picture of the Lamb who is King – the Messiah standing on Mount Zion. This glorious Lamb is also the Great Shepherd of his people, "They follow the Lamb wherever he goes" (14:4). He is the one who will keep them safe from those who seek to ravage his flock – from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear.

These promises did not mean that John’s readers would not face opposition and persecution. Rather, it calls for “patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus” (14:12). It calls for an unshakable faith and confidence in Jesus in life and in death (14:13) – confidence that God always has the last word and that the resurrection of the Lord Jesus from the dead means “that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). This is the message John had been given for the troubled Christians to whom he writes. This is his message to us.

Lord Jesus, you gave your life for us – you have purchased us and made us your own. Help us to follow you faithfully and confidently wherever you may lead us.

Peter Misselbrook