BY She Reads Truth
Happy Friday, friends!
We’ve been so encouraged by your response to the book of Nehemiah over the past 17 days—the way you’ve engaged with God’s Word and the way you’ve wrestled with and received the truth within. After reading the final chapter yesterday, it’s likely you were left thinking something along the lines of Huh?!, or You guyssss. Or maybe it left you speechless—just a long, tired sigh. Even without the tidy ending and without the pretty bow, we know that those final verses of Nehemiah are not accidental. God inspired the text—His Word—this way.
Today’s #SheSharesTruth assignment is this:
Why does the book of Nehemiah end the way it does?
What does God want us to see here about Himself and the Church?
We want to hear what the Holy Spirit is teaching you about the not-so-tidy ending to this amazing story!
Here’s the scoop on how to participate:
- Write your devotional/reflections/response to the above question on Nehemiah on your personal blog, OR on Instagram or Facebook with the hashtags #SheSharesTruth and #SheReadsTruth. (Feel free to use the image below!) You can even write your response in the comments section below!
- Link to this page in your post so your readers can read and participate in #SheSharesTruth, too.
- Share the link to your post (or Facebook post, Instagram, etc) in the LinkyTool below—just click it and follow the instructions!
- Visit each other’s links, starting with the person or two who linked up before you. Leave a comment there—tell them you see and hear them!
**Please share your heart, Sisters. Our desire is not for this to be a time of comparison or sizing up writing abilities or spiritual maturity. Eloquence and insight are lovely, but we know that is not the thing our God calls us to. So, let’s not call each other to that either! If you feel ill-equipped—GOOD! If you feel like you have so much to learn—GREAT. SO DO WE! Every single time we sit down to write. And if we don’t, are hearts are not in the right place. Let this be a safe place to learn and share and love each other WELL.
74 thoughts on "#SheSharesTruth | Nehemiah"
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We need Him. We just do. If we didn’t, would we be here on earth to choose Him? This is the perfect illustration of what C.S. Lewis calls the Law of Undulation. Think ebbs and flows, ups and downs, peaks and valleys, a roller coaster. Until we reach heaven, the only consistency is in this cyclical law of falling, repenting, getting up, and trying again. He is constant. He is always there. He is “slow to anger and abounding in STEADFAST love.” That word steadfast…that describes his perfect love and what I strive to emulate, but still, I’m learning; still, I need Him.
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Oh, what a sense of renewal. Sharing my thoughts: http://simplesunshinee.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-p…
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Reading the book of Nehemiah, basically taught me that God is in control of everything. No matter how many times we turn our backs away from Him, God has a way of stepping in and throwing obstacles and confusion in our path so we can turn to Him for answers and healing. The love He has for us is so unconditional, that there is nothing we could do which will allow Him to turn His back on us. I was happy to read the book of Nehemiah, because it displayed encouragement to me which indicated that no matter the amount of discouragements, trials and tribulations I am faced with, God is in control. He won’t give us anything we can’t handle. I also realized to turn to Him no matter how many times I have messed up. Just like Nehemiah, we must learn to trust God and to obey Him no matter if the world has turned against us and continue to give us negative feedback. Furthermore, as servants of God we must continue to do His work and turn away from our flesh because it is so easy to be persuaded by this world and fall off from our walk with Christ. However, God has a way of reminding us that He is control by showing us how far He has brought us from and how quick He can take us back if we continue with sin.
Continue to stay strong and trust God because He will provide!!
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Amen. Praise God for you, dear sister! He definitely reminds us of how far He's brought us– and it's something so beautiful and important to reflect upon. Knowing that He takes us back if we continue to sin– that He puts those obstacles and confusion in our path to bring us back to Him– fills me with such encouragement. Sometimes I sit around and get nervous, asking myself if I'm on the right track and even asking God if I'm mistaken in some area, afraid that I'll somehow "fall off the path" completely. I forget in those times that even if I am, I am still in His hand and He is faithful to bring me back to Himself through conviction and repentance if I ever stray. The Lord loves us too much. He honors our choices, but will never let anything take us out of His hands, including Himself. Praise Him for that! Be blessed this Sunday, sister. Praise God.
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Frail human nature. We all mean well, yet are too weak to follow through unless there is someone keeping us on track and accountable. I feel like Nehemiah, with his pure heart and deep devotion to God, was the shepherd. He inspired people to rebuild, to recommit, change their ways. He watched over them as a loving and stern father giving guidance and correcting where it was needed. People lost connection with God, Nehemiah came to restore that connection through him somehow. As soon as he left – people became lost sheep again, scattered without their shepherd.
I think that the ending of the book is first – a reminder for us to keep our focus on God, not only in the good, but in the bad as well. Connect with him every day. Thank Him for all the blessings in our lives. Ask for His guidance in every situation. Ask Him to watch over and guide us and pray to not loose sight of Him.
Secondly – because of an a possible parallel between Nehemiah's rage in cleaning out the temple and Jesus, I think it is God's way of predicting that eventually we people will need Jesus Christ to wash away all our sins and show us the new way of living.
Thank you all for this study and amazing insight! Can't wait for more!
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Mukasha, I definitely agree that Nehemiah was the shepherd– like you said, I see him as another shadow of who Christ was to be! "People lost connection with God, Nehemiah came to restore that connection through him somehow. As soon as He left – people became lost again, scattered without their shepherd." I think the people never had a true connection with God, but one built on covenants and commandments, laws (which are beautiful, glorious things, but without that real relationship built out of Love, the connection is faulty). The Lord was bringing the Israelites back to Himself through Nehemiah in the only way possible at the time: by bringing back exiles physically to live in Israel, and re-instructing them of the laws and commandments.
It was still very faulty, but it shines a light on how the Lord loves our true repentance and devotion– even if we cannot ever fully live up to His righteous standards, He loves a heart that is bent towards Him, pursuing His face and His standards with love and whole-hearted devotion. Praise Him that He sent Jesus, who TRULY brought us back home and put His own spirit within us to keep us close by to Him in obedience and love. Lord, give us hearts that cling to your words, as Nehemiah did!! I pray only you'd mold and shape us: that no leader, no matter how "Holy" or devoted to you, would come close to You and You alone. I praise you for that. Amen.
Be blessed sister. Thank you for this post. :)
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