Day 44: I trust You, Lord. I'm not weak! Nehemiah 13:8, 11, 19, 21, 25
In today's society, people of God are often seen as weak or skinny backed (opposite of broad backed). If you, as a believer of Christ, have Holy Spirit, there's no way you should ever be seen as weak. Yet you are. Many think they can treat you any kind of way because as a Christian, you apparently won't do anything about it. While not every situation requires a fight, you most certainly need to discern when to 'put up your ducks.' Understanding that your fight isn't a physical fight but rather a spiritual one, there is no reason to lift a finger upon anyone. But you do NOT have to allow certain things to continue to go own.
Jesus is the typical example used.
And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; John 2:15. KJV
But today we will see what Nehemiah did. The book is rarely short - just 13 chapters - so you should definitely go back to previous chapters to understand what's the backstory, but in essence, he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. When he returned in this chapter, he found the people had decided to do their own thing. Nehemiah declared "Not on my watch!'
First Nehemiah threw out everything Tobiah had placed in one of the store rooms given to Tobiah by a priest to live in (verse 8). He had the room put back to its original use. If you go back to chapter two, Tobiah was one of the officials who opposed Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem. He had no business living there. He didn’t even want it to be there.
Then, finding that the Levites, the tribe who were to be taken care of as priest in the temple, not at their posts but in their fields working (verse 11), he call them together and "put them in their place" according to the KJV of the scripture. Typically when you put people 'in their places' you've told them off. This would be a way better example to show there was no display of weakness, but this time the words are literal. He probably gave them some words in the process, but he sent them back to their posts in the temple.
After looking around, he noticed that all types of atrocities took place on the Sabbath (verse 19). People were buying and going selling all kinds of things. What did Nehemiah do? He closed the gates. If you were in, you were in. If you were out, oh well. Those gates would not reopen until after the Sabbath passed. The people who sold things in the Sabbath were unable to come in.
The sellers began to sleep outside the gate and wall (verse 21)! Nehemiah then told them that if he found them doing that again he would "lay hands on them!" BOL!!! Again, it would be so much fun if he meant he was going to beat them up, but he most likely meant he would have them thrown in prison or thrown out of the vicinity of the walls.
During those days, people didn't marry praise the 'family'. Some areas and people were banned, like the Moabites who were descendants of Lot and his daughter (just nasty!). Sure enough, Nehemiah found out the people were marrying into these 'forbidden' families. Nehemiah gave them some strong words and physically 'laid hands on them' (verse 25). Then he reminded them that these type of relationships is what destroyed Solomon, who was well-favored by God to sin.
Mind you, Nehemiah had been gone back to Babylon for some time. These people were doing their own thing and upon his return, he straightened them all out. He wasn't scared about it either.
Again, the battle is not a physical battle, but are you going to leave things in a mess just because you found it like that? Oh! So you aren't the leader. Well, are you not going to go to the leader and express your concerns about what you are seeing going on? Yes! You can do that.
Everyone has role to play in the Kingdom. If you don't do your part, it will leave a gaping hole in the entire thing. Who wants to have someone else's load thrown on them? Especially when the load is added because someone who is housed with the authority of God and the power of Holy Spirit is too weak to make some tough choices or actions. If God put you in this position, then he will give you all you need to do it. Open your mouth and get the house cleaned!
Believers of Christ aren't weak. You are strong and mighty. There is nothing too hard to do because you have the guidance of Holy Spirit as your GPS. Step out and step into the will of God. If He has told you to open your mouth, then open it wide and release all He has told you to release.
Mighty,
Keiyia JOYet George
Trust Walk: Walking in His Steps coming soon!