Why Bother?
Again I said, “The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?” Nehemiah 5:9
Walk – Nehemiah’s question is a good one. It gives us the right perspective about walking in the ways of YHWH. But it’s not the reason we expect. Nehemiah tells the people that the reason they should walk according to the fear of God is because if they do not, they will silently endorse the criticism of their enemies. In other words, when the people of God do not live according to the ways of God they give encouragement to the critics of God. They become traitors to God’s cause.
Nehemiah is not our contemporary. If he were, we would never expect such a declaration. We would expect him to say that the reason we need to keep God’s ways is for our benefit. We follow Torah because it will keep us holy. We follow Torah because it will make us prosperous. We follow Torah because it expresses our love for God. Of course, all these reasons are good ones, but they are not Nehemiah’s reason. Nehemiah sees that God’s reputation is on the line here. God stakes His name on the loyalty and fidelity of His people. Walking in His ways is about signaling to the world that He is sovereign. Walking in His ways is a form of spiritual warfare. We walk – He fights. The nations must see that there is a significant difference between God’s ways and the ways of the world. Where there is no difference, His name is not glorified. We walk because His plan of redemption for the nations depends on this difference – and we are the only ones who can bring it about.
Walk – telechoo – is from the verb yalak. It is used metaphorically for following the pathway of the Lord. What is that pathway? It is the pathway demarcated by God’s instructions about living. In other words, Nehemiah is calling the people to live by the Torah. If they don’t adopt their lives to Torah principles, they contribute to their enemies’ taunts about God. Just think about that for a moment. Yeshua and Sha’ul say the same things. “By this all men will know that you love me.” How? “By keeping the commandments I give you.” Sha’ul instructs those who commitment themselves to the Way to be imitators of him as he imitates Yeshua. How does he imitate Yeshua? He keeps the principles of Torah. Any way you look at it, you just can’t get around it. Unless you are willing to rewrite Scripture, you will have to admit that every man and woman who served God lived according to God’s instructions. What else would you expect? How can I be a priest for God if I don’t follow His instructions for being a priest?
Finally, the verb yalak paints a picture – the work of controlling the open hand. Walking in God’s way is the work of a lifetime, learning to have His compassion, mercy and grace in the land of the living so that we might become His priests to the nations. It’s a difference that makes all the difference.
Topical Index: walk, yalak, Nehemiah 5:9
Thanks, Skip, for yet another timely and challenging word. It never ceases to amaze me how YHVH continuously confirms the truth of His word through the mouths of two or three (or many) witnesses. Your post today exactly parallels the discussions and robust debate that have been going on in another blog in which I participate. At least one other person from that group has subscribed to the “30 days” and is finding it really helpful.
Be encouraged, Skip – God is using you to make a real difference in people’s lives, because you’re willing to be obedient to Him. I think I’ve learned (and begun to put into practice) more about obedience in the last 8 weeks or so than in my previous 40-odd years. You have encouraged me to dig deeper into His word and have recommended (and given hints on how to use) some useful tools to do that. As a result, I’ve suddenly begun to find gold nuggets where previously I found only rocks and stones. God has been rekindling in me a love for His Word and even more so, a passion to teach others what I’m learning. I’ve found that through teaching others and searching out answers to questions, I’m learning even more!
God is GOOD! Blessings to you and your family.
Shalom.
I failed to wear my steel-toed boots this morning while reading TW. My toes are sore brother Skip. As it has been said, “the truth often OUCH!” But isn’t it wonderful to live under the tutelage of the Ruach Hakodesh- (the Holy Breath?) Our Bible says we should “confess our sins to one another and pray for one another that we might be healed.” -I am asking for prayer this morning from those who pray. My request? -conviction and repentance. I am praying for a “repentant heart.” To repent and return to the straight and narrow path, that I too may walk in His ways. I know (beyond knowing) His path leads to life. I also know this path is narrow, uphill, and going against the flow of the systems of this world and that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities who hate G-d and anything belonging to Him. This includes me for I belong to Him. I have been bought with a price.
I know greater is He (referring to?) that is in me, than he (referring to?) that is in the world. (I John 4.4), but sometimes we grow weary. I need to bury my nose in His book and “eat that which is good.” I need some spiritual sustenance and the rest,comfort and strength I can only find in the LORD of Sabaoth and the G-d of all comfort. My desire is to live as would please Him today. Yes, brother Skip- the world is watching. And bringing it “a little closer to home”, so is my family. My wife and my children, and a great cloud of witnesses. I’ve got some praying to do. It’s “bent-knee” time for me.
Sometimes when we walk, we stumble and fall. But the secret is “to fall seven times and to get up eight.” Abba, help us, enable us to walk, even as He walked, and to live even as He lived. To allow this mind to be in us, which also was in Christ Jesus. Cause this to be so is my heart’s desire. In the only name above all names, the LORD Jesus, the Annointed One and our Intercessor I ask this of you. Restore unto me the joy of your salvation and renew a right spirit within me. These are my words, amen.
Amen, brother Carl, Amen. I will agree with you in prayer, and ask that you do so also for me. YHVH Bless and keep you.
Adonai Elohainu, I pray with Carl, and ask That you give him a clear vantage point.
Lift him above his surroundings, that he may see with clarity the strongholds and pitfalls. But also that he will see the Lord of Hosts and His legions and know that they will fight the good fight with him. And He will have the victory!
If G-d is for us, who is against us?
And just like our Master Yeshua did …. we are commanded to follow Him as in the beginning … “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”
And as difficult as this is … should we be afraid? No … Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
You are indeed correct Skip … how can we shine in contrast to the darkness of the nations if we ourselves walk contrary to the way (ha derech)? Amazing is it not …. with all of our so called wisdom and theology we fight tooth and nail the will of ELOHIM while the purported main body of believers in Yeshua (Jesus) views Torah as “not applicable”!
Talk about the grand delusion!
Grand delusion indeed, Drew. “In the mouths of 2 or 3 witnesses let all truth be established.”
3 witnesses are quoted here: Nehemia, Yeshua, Sha’ul. All agree; by walking in God’s paths, by following His instructions, we set ourselves apart from the world, we demonstrate our love for Him and we bring glory to His name.
By NOT following Torah, we align ourselves with the world, we contribute to their disdain for God (and in doing so show our contempt for Him and His word, despite our protestations to the contrary and professions of “faith”) and fail to glorify His name.
I know which walk is easier, but I also know which one I would prefer to have on my resume when we are all called to “give an account”.
I would rather hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant”, than “Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity, I never knew you”.
Pitiful indeed will be their cries of, “But Lord, LORD, didn’t we do signs and wonders in your name? Didn’t we cast out demons in your name? Look how many sinners I got saved in my revival crusades! Doesn’t that count for something?”
It scares me when I realise that those who are cast out as “workers of iniquity” are those who called Him “Lord” and did signs, wonders, miracles, cast out demons, healed the sick etc. all in “Jesus’ Name”, yet he never KNEW them.
“Obedience is better than sacrifice”, as King Sha’ul found out when he took it upon himself to usurp the authority of Torah (God’s instructions) re how He was to be worshipped. It cost him his kingdom.
There, but for the grace of God, go I.
Ahmein my brother!
I believe it was Skip that referred to Matthew 7:21-29 as the “scariest” passages in The Word!
You echo this sentiment and frankly I share the very same fear …
“Matthew 7:21-29 as the “scariest” passages in The Word”
Hi Drew,
We probably all have different fears, but for me Matthew seems to describe Jesus in the role of Mr Nice Guy.
When I read Matthew, I tend to think of Carl Rogers the humanistic psychologist, especially in the opening passage of Chapter 7:
Matt 7:1 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.
From a psychological perspective, I think the primary fear we have is the one of being judged.
So this comment is very comforting.
On the other (cool) hand, the Jesus we see in Luke gives me a different impression.
I get the impression that Luke’s Jesus would give me a test that would be difficult to pass 🙂
I am truly blessed for hearing God-fearing men discuss the power and might of our LORD and His authority to give us the much-needed instruction for all areas of our lives including what true worship consists of through the unadulterated Word. This is a true blessing coming from an assembly where the women do it all EXCEPT preach and take care of the finances and make the directional decisions. When it comes to down and dirty, cost you something personally ministry, the men are obviously MIA. It appears that the foundation of the little “c” church today is crumbling because it has institutionalized itself into a major corner that is angling tighter and tighter, as it seems to be preaching a divided doctrine of “us” against “them”. The distinctiveness of His nation has been marred by a departing from the faith into a form without power. This divide has only increased and it appears that critical mass has been reached.
I just read yesterday that the “doomsday clock” was being advanced another 2 minutes. Of course this clock has more to do with politics and global-warming than eschatology, but many signs point to the return of our LORD. In light of His nearness, which is a fact for us all with each heartbeat, this inward calling to live wholly holy unto YHVH cannot be denied. Thank you men of God for your courage and boldness.
This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 1 John 5:3
Mary …. shalom,
Growing up in a parochial environment, I saw first hand the difference between men and women in ministry (the scenario quite frankly that you depict in your post) and really have no basis to disagree with you!
Frankly the real role models of servitude and walking the path (from my experiences) were the nuns and not the priests!
Anyway …. let us continaully pray for a large harvest that will embrace the truth and light … praise Him for His mercy and loving kindness …. and let us pray that children, women and men alike will take heed from any source that will spur them towards The Lord … be that source male or female!
I seem to be in a “confessing” mode today, so I’d like to ‘fess up’ again. Thank you Mary for your kind comments- your love for Abba is shining through your words. They do my heart good. Here is my ‘confession’.
I’m not the sharpest pencil in the box, but I’ve lived long enough to see and to understand, sin is a sure source of misery and pain. Sometimes immediately, sometimes over the course of time, but be very sure “your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32.23), and the soul that sinneth, it shall die. (Ezekiel 18.20). Take a look around people- “true or false?”. Our audience says…
I also have been exceedingly blessed to have known some very godly people. (Yes, they’re out there- rare- but they’re out there!). I have seen their lives and seen the good hand of our Father upon their household. Their children rise up and call them blessed. They have a certain “inner glow” about them from years of walking with and talking with our Savior. The memories of these people upon my mind is very special. Thank you Abba for allowing me to be there with them. A few of these were epiphanic moments. (G-d did that!) I hope you have known some of these messengers/witnesses for YHWH.
I want to be like them. I want our Father to use me as He has used them for His glory and the spread of his kingdom. You may call it a “holy jealousy” if you wish. But this is where I’m going with this: obedience results in blessing. Sometimes immediately, sometimes over the course of time, but it is going to happen as day follows night, or the beautiful sunshine follows after the blustery storm.
Dipso fatso- obedience to G-d results in blessing. It’s going to happen. Not only to me, but just as my “sin” (disobedience) results in injury to my family, my obedience to the words of YHWH, (the righteous results of faith), will result in blessing to myself and to my wife and children. Pain free?- no, not by a long shot. This ‘way of holiness’ is no primrose path, I guarantee it. But worth it? Hallelujah!- Yes!. He is the Way and obedience to His words result in multiplied blessings. I would say you have my word on it, but I’ll go you one better: we have His word on it! (Isaiah 55.3) ( lol!)
I want to add, in no way am I diminishing the work/worth/worship of women. I trust everyone realizes that. The women participating within this community are a blessing as well. Hearing the sincere love for our King and the desire to serve Him brings the living water that refreshes my thirst for Him. We say it is all about Him, and true that statement is, because He paved the highway of holiness with His obedience to our Father as He walked according to the manner pleasing to YHWH. In a world where men get together and discuss sports, politics and other temporal matters, and women have their special niche topics of conversation, this forum feeds my soul. Thank you all.
One more thing. This community is quite different from many others discussing theology, Christianity and such. Many threads quickly disintegrate into childish and immature innuendo and downright harsh judgementalism. The love of God reigns here. I have witnessed firm confrontation, some quite convicting messages, but the Word has been displayed with the power of brokenness and humility of disciples growing in His grace.
About a year ago I began introducing Torah-observance into my life, and people are beginning to notice (even tho I don’t get out of the house often). I don’t know if anyone else is struggling with other’s reaction to their personal lifestyle change, but I wrote an “Explanation for Beginning Torah Observance” which I mailed to friends and family who requested it. The explanation is posted at http://truthfulkindness.blogspot.com/ (http semicolon backslash backslash truthfulkindness dot blogspot dot com) in case someone else can use it as a jump-off spot for an explanation to their own friends/family.
– – Truthful L Kindness & Blessing, the wheelchair Service Dog