the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 2 of 5
Nehemiah 4:15-23; Nehemiah 5:1-5
To the difficulties and weariness of building is added, at the end of ch. 4, that of conflict. And indeed the believer is not only a workman but also a soldier. He is like the militia man of Nehemiah, holding his tool in one hand and his weapon (which is the Word of God: Ephesians 6:17) in the other. He has no right to lay aside either of these.
After the beautiful display of zeal which we have observed, ch. 5 brings before us an unpleasant surprise. These people who had returned and who, even before the coming of Nehemiah, were living in great poverty (Nehemiah 1:3) now find themselves in an even worse situation. They have had to mortgage their possessions and, in some cases, hand over their children to be slaves in order to be able to pay their taxes and avoid dying of hunger. Worse still, those who have brought them to such a state are not enemies. They are their own brethren, who have broken the law by so doing (Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:39-43; Deuteronomy 15:11; Deuteronomy 23:19-20).
Where do we stand in relation to brotherly love? Without it the finest Christian service is valueless (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). Let us put into practice what the apostle James says (James 2:15-16). Let us carefully examine our hearts regarding this matter. And our behaviour as well!
