Nehemiah may have been a high-ranking government official in
the service of the king, Artaxerxes, but his heart was never far from his
people, the Jews, or the city of God.
When one of his “brothers” comes to the citadel, he inquires as to the
state of the city and is told of the state of the people and city. The people are in great trouble and shame,
the walls of the city are broken down and its gates destroyed by fire. It is pathetic. Nehemiah is broken by the news and weeps,
fasts and prays for several days. His prayer
is based in the revealed truths about Yahweh, that He is “great and awesome”
and He “keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his
commandments.” It is further based in
other truths, the truth about the failure of the nation, including Nehemiah and
his fathers, to keep those commandments.
Our worship is based in those same confessions in Creed and confession,
prior to Communion. Nehemiah isn’t dismayed and hopeless based on these
confessions, he is hopeful because he remembered the other truth, the truth of
2 Chronicles 7.14, “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves,
and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear
from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” In the absolution from Rite I of the Eucharistic
rite I speak this truth, Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of his great
mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all those who with
hearty repentance and
true faith turn unto him…” Receiving
the promises of God has always been based in these two things.
Is there no hope for us in re the Word of God? If we hear and don’t understand the enemy
snatches it away. What is the answer to
that? Prayer for understanding,
preparation for worship should include reading the lessons and praying for
wisdom and insight into the teachings. If
we have no root in ourselves, we hear and receive with joy but then trials and
tribulations concerning the word allow that joy to be taken away. The answer there is to be always in prayer
and, as Paul says, count all such things as joy. Jesus promises trials and tribulations will
come for those who hold fast to the word but that it is not inevitable that we
will fall. We must abide in Him
always. Whose fault is the next problem,
the thorns? Jesus defines these as “the
cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches.” The answer there? Seek first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness, simplicity. All these
disciplines help make the soil good and fertile. We aren’t helpless, we only need to practice
what Jesus tells us to practice.
The worship of heaven is now directed to both the one on the
throne and to the Lamb. That is either ultimately
blasphemous or it is true. That the one
on the throne allows it to continue tells us which of these it is. As the seals are opened, the first four are
attended by one of the creatures around the throne saying a single word, “Come!” What “comes” are four horses, white, red,
black and pale, each with a rider and each with a mission, conquering, dividing
by removing peace from the world, famine, death and hell. The fifth seal reveals the souls of the martyrs
under the throne, crying out for God’s vengeance, the justification for the
first four who are the judgments of God.
The judgment is deserved, not capricious. Let us acknowledge our own unworthiness and
pursue righteousness. He alone is
worthy!
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