“I know that I’m not alone. I know that there are millions of us who believe in common sense gun laws and have no interest in vilifying respectful, responsible gun owners. I also know that there are millions of us who find the NRA and the politicians who take millions of dollars from them and, in turn, support laws that endanger all of us morally reprehensible.

The only way to successfully bring about gun reform is if a critical mass of us are willing to have honest, tough, civil conversations outside of our ideological bunkers. Gun reform will not happen unless the silent majority of gun owners who passionately disagree with the NRA’s divisive rhetoric and complete lack of respect for responsible gun culture speak out and take political and economic action.

When we engage in the ‘us versus them’ argument, we lose. The only person who wins is the person who owns the framing of the argument…

Speak truth to [BS]. Be civil. Take action.”

(Source)

It’s not the first time I’ve attempted to collect my thoughts on school shootings. It’s not even the first time I’ve referenced this article from Brene Brown about finding some sort of middle ground.

But today, I’m going to attempt to bullet point some things the majority of us can get behind. It comes straight from this article:

How to Stop Shootings and Gun Violence in Schools:

1. Did you know “billions of dollars [are] available in the recently passed Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to invest in proven solutions to keep schools safe from violence [?]” This is good news! It has bipartisan support!

2. Shooters are usually connected to the school. “[Using these bipartisan funds,] researchers found that in the six mass school shootings¹⁹ and 39 attempted mass school shootings²⁰ in the two decades between 1999 and 2019, more than nine in 10 shooters were current or former students at the school.²¹ 

a. Interventions matter. “These data suggest that school-based interventions to support students in crisis and act on warning signs are vital for addressing school gun violence.”

b. “[The research also] found that 100 percent of the perpetrators showed concerning behaviors, and that 77 percent of the time at least one person, most often a peer, knew about their plan.²⁵

3. Equitable schools for our kids matter. “[We know based on the data that] two in three incidents (67 percent) occurred in majority-minority schools.²⁶ The burden of gun violence has a particularly outsized impact on Black students. Although Black students represent approximately 15 percent of the total K–12 school population in America,²⁷ they make up 30 percent of the average population at schools that have been impacted by a fatal shooting. This suggests that creating safe and equitable schools and supporting community-oriented intervention programs in communities with high rates of gun violence can help address these broader trends.”

4. The bottom line is easy access to guns. “Many ‘comprehensive’ school safety plans have been proposed over the last 20 years. Few have thoroughly addressed the issue common in all school shootings: easy access to guns for those at risk of committing harm.

a. Secure Storage Laws can help. “Most common sources of guns used in school shootings and across all school gun violence incidents are the shooter’s home or the homes of friends or relatives. This is unsurprising, as nearly 4.6 million American children live in homes with at least one gun that is loaded and unlocked.²⁸ Everytown, the AFT, and the NEA recommend that states enact and enforce secure firearm storage laws.” 

b. [BUT!] “It is also crucial to collect data on and monitor the implementation of these laws to ensure that they are not enforced in a discriminatory manner toward overpoliced communities or lead toward increased incarceration in communities.“

5. Civil procedures can be enacted with those who have proven to be unsafe to themselves or others. [Called] Extreme Risk laws, “[t]hese laws create a legal process by which law enforcement, family members, and, in some states, educators can petition a court to temporarily prevent a person from having access to firearms when there is evidence that they are at serious risk of harming themselves or others, giving them the time they need to get help.

a. “These orders can also be used with minors, who may not be legally allowed to buy or have guns, but who may still have access to them at home.” 

b. “Extreme Risk laws provide a civil procedure that gives key community members a way to intervene without going through the criminal court system.”

c. There is proof these laws work! “There is substantial evidence that these laws can prevent acts of violence in schools. In Maryland, leaders of the Maryland Sheriffs’ Association pointed to at least four cases where an Extreme Risk law was invoked involving “significant threats” against schools.³⁶ In Florida, a Red Flag law passed in 2018 has been invoked in multiple cases of potential school violence, including one case of a student who was accused of stalking an ex-girlfriend and threatening to kill himself³⁷ and another in which a potential school shooter said killing people would be “fun and addicting.”³⁸ A study in California details 21 cases in which a gun violence restraining order, California’s name for an extreme risk protection order, was used in efforts to prevent mass shootings, including five instances where schools or children were targeted.³⁹

d. These laws have bipartisan support! “Because Extreme Risk laws are a proven tool with strong due process protections, they enjoy strong bipartisan support. Fourteen states, including Florida, as well as Washington, DC, have passed Extreme Risk laws since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018; five of them were signed by Republican governors.⁴⁰ In all, 19 states and DC now have Extreme Risk laws on the books.” ⁴¹

e. We need to know about them! “School officials also need to know that this tool is available to them as part of a comprehensive intervention with a student who is at serious risk to themselves or others. Overall, these laws are a commonsense method for acting on the warning signs too often found in active shooter incidents.”

8. Increasing the minimum age to purchase guns. “Everytown, the AFT, and the NEA believe states and the federal government should raise the minimum age to purchase or possess handguns and semi-automatic rifles and shotguns to 21 in order to prevent school-age shooters from easily obtaining firearms. Under federal law, in order to purchase a handgun from a licensed gun dealer, a person must be 21.⁴² Yet to purchase that same handgun in an unlicensed sale (online or from a private individual), or to purchase a rifle or shotgun from a licensed dealer, a person only has to be 18.⁴³ Only a few states have acted to close these gaps.” ⁴⁴

9. Background Checks have the receipts! “[We] recommend that states and the federal government act to pass laws that require background checks on all gun sales so that potential shooters cannot easily purchase firearms.

a. “[As] many as one in nine people looking to buy a firearm on Armslist.com, the nation’s largest online gun marketplace, are people who cannot legally have firearms, including because they are under age 18. And the unlicensed sales marketplace is large: The same investigation found that 1.2 million online ads offering firearms for sale are listed annually that would not legally require a background check to be completed.⁴⁷

b. “Background checks are proven to reduce gun violence. Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia already require a background check on all handgun sales.⁴⁸State laws requiring background checks for all handgun sales—by point-of-sale check and/or permit—are associated with lower firearm homicide rates,⁴⁹ lower firearm suicide rates,⁵⁰ and lower firearm trafficking.”⁵¹

c. “After Connecticut passed a law requiring background checks for a handgun purchase permit and at the point of sale, its firearm homicide rate decreased by 40 percent,⁵² and its firearm suicide rate decreased by 15 percent.” ⁵³

1. School Interventions

2. Safer storage for guns in homes

3. Extreme Risk Civil Procedures

4. Increase the age to buy firearms to 21

5. Enforce background checks

I don’t know about you, but this encourages me. We can actually do something to reduce our children dying. We can believe no one should come for responsible gun owners AND protect innocent lives. We don’t have to only choose one party line over another. We can pray, relentlessly investigate our personal and corporate idols, and vote for commonsense protections for the kiddos we love.

At that time I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath. They were also bringing in stores of grain and loading them on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought to Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them against selling food on that day. The Tyrians living there were importing fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah in Jerusalem.

I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day? Didn’t your ancestors do the same, so that our God brought all this disaster on us and on this city? And now you are rekindling his anger against Israel by profaning the Sabbath!”

Nehemiah 13:15-18

“In those days, I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath…”

Saw is raah – to see, show self, sight of others, view, behold, enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, be near, perceive, present, provide, regard. And we have seen Sabbath before; it is shabbath or shabath – to cease, desist, rest, celebrate, desist from exertion, put away.

While back in Jerusalem, I had the experience of seeing people treading the winepresses on a day they were to cease exertion and rest.

“And bringing in sheaves and loading them on donkeys…”

Sheaves is aremah – a heap, heap of grain, rubble, sacks of grain; from aram – heap (of corn), sheaf.

“And with wine, grapes, and figs, and with all kinds of burdens which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath…”

Burdens is massa‘ – load, lifting, prophecy, song. It was the same word we saw for Malachi’s prophetic burden, song. Now it identifies the loads the people were putting on their animals.

This seems strange to be focused so much on the donkeys, but God was very specific when talking about Sabbath.

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy: 

You are to labor six days and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. You must not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female servant, your livestock, or the resident alien who is within your city gates. For the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days; then he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy.

Exodus 20: 8-11

Be careful to remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy as the Lord your God has commanded you. You are to labor six days and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. Do not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female slave, your ox or donkey, any of your livestock, or the resident alien who lives within your city gates, so that your male and female slaves may rest as you do.

Deuteronomy 5:12 – 14

What a tender God making sure even animals and land get a break. All His creation is good, and all is commanded to trust and obey and rest.

“And I warned them about the day on which they were selling provisions…”

Warned here is uwd – admonish; to return, go about, repeat, do again; to duplicate, by implication, to protest, testify (as by reiteration); intensively, to encompass, restore, charge, earnestly, lift up, rob, solemnly, stand upright, give warning, call to witness. And provisions is tsayid – catch, hunting, game, food, hunter, venison, victuals; from a form of tsuwd and meaning the same; the chase; generally lunch (especially for a journey).

I protested intensely, calling witness about the day on which they were selling their food.

“And the men of Tyre who dwelt there brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold them on the Sabbath to the sons of Judah in Jerusalem…”

Goods is meker – merchandise, value, price, worth, ware. And sold is makar – to sell away; literally (as merchandise, a daughter in marriage, into slavery), or figuratively (to surrender).

So the men of Tyre makar the meker. They sold their wares to the sons of Judah on a day which was to be set apart as holy rest.

Not that long ago, once the wall was finished and the gates were being set, Nehemiah made sure the city and its people were protected by having guards at every gate. Their job was to wait until the sun was fully up before opening, and closing them before the sun had set. And I can only imagine, as the people were learning the ways to honor Yahweh after a generation of exile, these gates were not open for trade on the Sabbath. So somewhere in there, things had changed. Duties were left undone and compromise had set in.

How about us? Something He’s taught us experientially about obedience, but somewhere compromise set in? I can think of several places in my heart I need to make sure the gates are protected.

And I just can’t pass up how sold can mean literally (including human beings. Gasp.) and figuratively – as in surrender.

Doesn’t all this talk of Sabbath rest, of ceasing our striving, hit right at the heart of surrender? Just letting it go and trusting in Him? Putting away the need to control, get ahead, and attempt to provide for ourselves?

“And I contented with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, ‘What is this evil thing that you do by which you profane the day of Sabbath?'”

Contended is rib to strive, argue, complain, dispute, plead, quarrel, reprimanded, to defend. Nobles is chor, meaning noble; from charar – white or pure (from the cleansing or shining power of fire). Evil is ra’ – adversity, bad, evil; affliction, calamity, displeasure, distress; from ra’a’ – adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, grievous, harm, heavy, hurtful, mark, mischievous, misery, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked, wretchedness, wrong. Profane is chalal – to pierce.

And I reprimanded the nobles, ones who are to be cleansed and pure by fire, saying they have done evil, a grievous harm, by piercing the Sabbath.

Direct disobedience tends to set my parent (and teacher) heart on edge. The willful defiance, in spite of loads of attempts to offer options, speak calmly of consequences, can ignite my anger instantly.

While God is infinitely more perfect and patient than I, can you just imagine how He felt watching this newly-reconvened people to represent Him deliberately disobey His commands? This is the direction Nehemiah takes his thoughts.

“Did your fathers not do the same thing and did not God bring all the disaster on us and this city?”

Bring on us is al – hover over; this is zoth – hereby in it, such deed; disaster is ra’ again; And city is iyr (excitement).

Didn’t your fathers do the same thing? And didn’t Elohim allow all this adversity and disaster hover over us and our city because of it?

“And yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”

Here wrath is charon – burning of anger; fierce, fierceness, fury, wrath; and profaning is chalal – to pierce again.

Yet you bring added fury to hover over Israel by piercing the Sabbath.

Nehemiah reminds them disobeying God was the reason for the exile, then charges them with adding to God’s fury by profaning the Sabbath. Actually, there’s something about that literal translation of profane – chalal, to pierce – that paints a poignant picture. Sabbath was a gift to God’s people, allowing them rest, an opportunity to see Him as Jehovah-Jireh, their Provider, and their common creatureliness. All humanity, no matter their station in life, was given the luxury of taking a day off.

From an old post:

“In modern America, we take the five-day work week so much for granted that we forget what a radical concept a day of rest was in ancient times. The weekly day of rest has no parallel in any other ancient civilization. In ancient times, leisure was for the wealthy and the ruling classes only, never for the serving or laboring classes. In addition, the very idea of rest each week was unimaginable. The Greeks thought Jews were lazy because [they] insisted on having a ‘holiday’ every seventh day.”

(www.jewfaq.org/shabbat.htm)

And yet, they refused the gift, piercing rather than receiving it.

By the time the God-Man Jesus walked on earth, the leaders were observing Sabbath, but had turned the gift into a reason to police others and halt mercy. The funny thing is, they didn’t realize the Sabbath Rest and High Sabbath Atonement were standing in front of them. The rest they received weekly as a gift was just a shadow of the Gift Himself.

May we lean into the opportunities He offers for rest and trust, to cease striving and cooperate with His rhythms of grace. But may we throw ourselves on the only One Who can put our souls at rest for eternity.

“Then all Judah brought a tenth of the grain, new wine, and fresh oil into the storehouses. I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses the priest Shelemiah, the scribe Zadok, and Pedaiah of the Levites, with Hanan son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah to assist them, because they were considered trustworthy. They were responsible for the distribution to their colleagues.

Remember me for this, my God, and don’t erase the deeds of faithful love I have done for the house of my God and for its services.”

Nehemiah 13:12-13

Last time we saw Nehemiah rebuke the officials for not giving the workers their allotment, and round up the Levites and musicians to leave the fields and, once again, fulfill their calling in Temple. Today we see the people follow suit.

“And all Judah brought (Kol Yehudah bo) the tithe (masser) of the grain and the new wine and the oil (dagan and tirosh and yitshar) to the storehouses (otsar – a treasury, storehouse, cellar)…”

And what was the result of kicking out Tobiah and his things, along with purifying the temple storerooms? All of Judah bringing the tithe of their produce to the treasury. Obedience can inspire obedience.

“And I appointed treasurers over the storehouse…”

Appointed is atsar – to lay up, store up, appointed, hoard, make treasurer. And over the storehouse is al – hover over.

And I appointed people whose job was to hover over the treasury.

Sounds like a smart move after such misuse. Let’s hear who he appointed.

“the priest Shelemiah, the scribe Zadok, and Pedaiah of the Levites…”

Shelemiah means “friend of Yah” or “thank offering of Yah”; from Yah and shelem – a sacrifice for alliance or friendship, peace offering, properly, requital, a voluntary sacrifice in thanks. Zadok is Tsadoq, from tsedeq – rightness, righteousness. Scribe is saphar – to count, recount, relate; teacher of the law, assigned, declare, measure, number, proclaim, relate, taken account. And Pediah means “Yah has ransomed.”

Friend of Yah, Righteousness the Scribe, and Yah has Ransomed were appointed treasurers.

“And next to them, was Hanan, the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, for they were considered faithful…”

Here next to them is yad – hand; right-hand man. Hanan means “gracious/favor,” and Zaccur means mindful, from zakar – to remember. And Mattaniah means “gift of Yah.” Considered is chashab – to think, account, calculate, consider, devise, esteem, purposed, reckoned, skillful workman, think, value, make account of, conceive, consider, count, cunning man, work, workman, devise, to weave or to fabricate; to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense); find out, forecast, imagine, regard. And faithful is aman – to confirm, support, believe, enduring, established, faithful, firm, guardians, lasting, put your trust, reliable, trustworthy, assurance, steadfast; to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; to be permanent or quiet; morally to be true or certain.

And their right hand man was Hanan (gracious), the son of Zaccur (mindful) the grandson of Mattaniah (gift of Yah). These men were esteemed and regarded as firm, enduring, trustworthy guardians.

To be considered firm, enduring, and trustworthy. Such a reputation can only come from faithfulness over time.

“And their task was to distribute to their brothers…”

Their task is al – what hovered over them; distribute is chalaq – to deal, divide, share, distribute, flatter, give, have, take away a portion; to be smooth (figuratively); by implication (as smooth stones were used for lots) to apportion or separate, separate self. And brothers is ach.

And what hovered over them was to share, give away, to their brothers.

The people obeyed and brought in their tithes and offerings. These appointed treasurers, then, were to distribute them to all the workers who’d recently returned from the fields.

Don’t you like that very practical picture of making sure obedience continues? That Temple is never left destitute again?

It’s our calling, too, friends. What hovers over us is to give away the love, forgiveness, and acceptance we’ve been given.

Finally we have almost an aside from Nehemiah. A glimpse into his prayer to Yahweh:

“Remember me, my God, concerning this…”

Remember – zakar – remember, bring to mind

My God (Elohim) concerning (al)

Bring to mind, Creator God, what hovers over me about this…

“And do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and its services.”

Wipe out is machah – abolish, wipe, wipe out, blot out, destroy, full of marrow, put out, reach unto, utterly, wipe away, to erase; to smooth (as if with oil). Good deeds is checed – favor, goodness, kindness, good deed, kindly, loving-kindness, merciful kindness, mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing; from chacad: kindness, by implication (towards God) piety: Beauty. And for (the house of God/bayith Elohim) and its services is mishmar –  a place of confinement, jail, prison, division, diligence, keeping watch…sentry, the post; Preservation.

Do not wipe away the good deeds of piety and beauty I’ve done for the house of God, its post in Jerusalem, and its preservation.

This one is interesting to me. I don’t think Nehemiah is actually concerned a perfect God has a bad memory. Nor do I think a man who intimately understood the temple sacrificial system thought his work as governor is what put him right before a holy God. So what do we think he means by this prayer? And why do you think it was recorded for us to see thousands of years later?

Personally, I think it’s there because obedience can be hard.

God, don’t forget what I’ve done despite opposition. Remember how I’ve been zealous for Your glory. Keep in mind how hard it’s been.

It sounds like intimacy to me.

The good news is, God blesses our obedience. Maybe not always in tangible ways, but often in a sweet experience of His presence. His kindness evident, a lightness of heart, a sense of Him saying, Well done.

Nehemiah gives us permission to pray the same thing.

Don’t forget, don’t wipe it away, let me sense Your delight in my work.

To look up and say, “This is hard. Are you pleased?” and let Him answer our weary hearts.

He doesn’t forget, friends. May we not grow weary in doing good. We will reap a harvest at the right time.

“I also found out that because the portions for the Levites had not been given, each of the Levites and the singers performing the service had gone back to his own field.

Therefore, I rebuked the officials, asking, ‘Why has the house of God been neglected?’ 

I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts.

Nehemiah 13:10-11

Last time we saw how Nehemiah had returned to Babylon and King Artaxerxes while the people of God in Jerusalem were separating from the Ammonites and Moabites. We also saw how, when he returned, Nehemiah found out about Eliashib the priest giving Tobiah a storeroom in Temple. Nehemiah threw out Tobiah’s things, cleansed the room, and returned the tithes, offerings, and utensils. Today we see Nehemiah’s next steps.

“Then I realized the portions for the Levites had not been given to them…”

Realized here is yada – to know intimately; and portions is menath – an allotment (by courtesy, law or providence); from manah – appoint, count, number, prepare, set, tell.

I also found out first-hand the allotment had not been given to the Levites.

Uh oh. We know from this post that the people were to bring in the first fruits and tithes to the Levites – and just a chapter ago, the people had been “pleased” to offer this to those working in Temple. Seems in our governor’s absence things had shifted. These requirements were not only to be given based on God’s Law, but also an allotment was to be given them from the Persian King. It seems Nehemiah would have known this well having just left the king’s palace.

Does it make you wonder what happened to that portion? Had the people used it for themselves? Was Tobiah involved in using it, having taken a storeroom for himself?

“…for each (ish) had gone back to his field, the Levites and the singers, who did the work…”

Gone back here is barach – to go through, flee; Field is sadeh – agricultural, field, ground, land, soil, territory; And work is melakah – business, cattle, labor, project. The nitty gritty.

For every man, Levite and singer who did the nitty gritty work of Temple, had fled to their field.

This is not good. Once again, God’s Law is not being followed, as the Levites were not to inherit a portion of land. Their nitty gritty work was to be in Temple, not fields. And the LORD was to be their inheritance.

“So I contended with the rulers and said, ‘Why is the house of God forsaken?'”

Contended here is rib – to strive, argue, complain, dispute, plead, quarrel, reprimanded, to defend; Rulers is sagan – prefect, ruler, official, to superintend. Why is maddua – why? for what reason? And forsaken is azab – to loose oneself, leave, abandon, loose, forsake, commit self, fail, fortify, help, leave destitute, refuse, permit.

So I reprimanded the officials, asking “For what reason has the House of Elohim been abandoned and left destitute?”

While this seems a bit dramatic, if you think about it, Temple would have been left destitute. With no portions being given for sacrifices, tithes to feed the workers, grain to bake the Bread of the Presence, and the Levites and singers fleeing to their fields just to make sure they could eat that day, Temple would have been abandoned. Seems shocking given all the exiles had seen God do to help them return, rebuild Temple, the wall, and the city itself.

I read this morning about the Israelites quarreling with Moses (and testing God) at Meribah. One of the things they grumbled when thirsty was, “Is Yahweh among us or not?“

It is so easy for me to judge the people here: Um, had they not watched God send plagues? Rescue them from Pharaoh? Send sky bread? Part the Red Sea?

But all I have to do is look into my own heart, and listen to the words coming from my mouth, to know I’m just like this. So rather than wag our finger at those wandering in a desert, or abandoning the temple they had just helped rebuild, let’s have a look in the mirror together.

Has God ever answered your prayers, perhaps in an even surprising and delightful way, but this time you’re not trusting and taking control? Has He ever shown you how faithful He is in the midst of trials or testing, but you see it coming again and you’re retreating? Has He ever blessed you over and above what you’ve given to Him – a ministry, a person, a tithe, a stranger – and yet, this time, you’re not opening your hand?

Yeah, me, too.

But we don’t have to wonder if Yahweh is among us or not. We don’t have to withhold portions we know are to be given to others. We can remind ourselves, and help remind each other, that He has always taken care of us and He won’t stop now.

Finally we see what Nehemiah did to resolve this:

“And I gathered them together and set them in their place.”

Here gathered is qabats – to collect, assemble, meet, rally, heap, surely take up. Set them is amad – to take one’s stand and in is al – hover over; Their place is omed – a standing place; place, posts, stations, where stood; from amad – a fixed spot.

And I collected them all from the fields and allowed their fixed spot, their post, to once again hover over them.

Well, I’m assuming this was more than a weekend job. Even if he gathered up helpers to round up the temple workers, it would take a while to find where they were, explain they would be provided for, and help them tie up loose ends in their fields. So we don’t know when these workers left the nitty gritty of farming and returned to the daily tasks of worship, but we know they came. And the governor set them in their place. Their calling once again hovered over them.

Praise God. Both for civil leaders fearing God and for His people obeying. For the people stepping back up and bringing tithes and offerings, and the rulers and officials owning up to their shortcomings, giving the royal allotment once again.

Obedience matters and repentance is vital in our walks with Him communally. May we not abandon His work in our day.

“While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to King Artaxerxes of Babylon in the thirty-second year of his reign. It was only later that I asked the king for a leave of absence so I could return to Jerusalem.

Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah by providing him a room in the courts of God’s house. I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah’s household possessions out of the room. I ordered that the rooms be purified, and I had the articles of the house of God restored there, along with the grain offering and frankincense.” 

Nehemiah 13:6-9

Last time we were reintroduced to Tobiah, a leader of the Ammonites, who had previously mocked and sought to sabotage the rebuilding. We found Eliashib, the priest, had given him a storeroom in Temple that had been purposed for tithes, offerings, and utensils needed for worship. Today we see our governor’s whereabouts and response.

“But during all this I was not in Jerusalem, for in the 32nd year of Artaxerxes, king of Babylon, I had returned to the king…”

We first met Nehemiah in Chapters 1 and 2 during the twentieth year of this King Artexerxes’ reign. Now we find out he returned 12 years later and was absent during the time the people were separating from the Ammonites and Moabites, as well as when Eliashib had given Tobiah an unauthorized storeroom in Temple.

Artaxerxes, interestingly, is Artachshasta‘ – a title (rather than name) of several Persian kings. And Babylon is Babel – an Eastern Mediterranean empire and its capital city, Babylonia; The word comes from balal meaning confusion.

I know this isn’t a deep dive into Babylon, but I hadn’t really thought of how this empire, from the time of Jeremiah and Daniel to its mention in Revelation, began with the tower of Babel, making a name for oneself, and the pride of trying to be like God. And this is the empire in which Nehemiah served. Makes me wonder what was different there twelve years later. How had Artaxerxes changed? Who was the cupbearer now? Did Nehemiah jump right back in or was he given different duties?

“And after certain days I obtained leave from the king…”

Here after is qets, and obtained leave is shaal – ask, counsel, on, beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand, desire.

However the circumstances were when he returned, after a bit, he was already asking, desiring to return once again to his ancestral homeland. How do you think King Artaxerxes handled the request? Was he reluctant to grant it? Did Nehemiah indeed have to beg? Was he punished for having to leave again so soon? Had he earned enough relational trust to come and go as needed?

No matter how it happened:

“…I came to Jerusalem and discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah…”

Discovered is bin – discerned, attend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, feel; to separate mentally (or distinguish), understand, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, teach, think, view, deal wisely. And evil is ra‘ – adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, displeasure, distress; From ra’a’; bad, evil, great, harm, heavy, hurtful, mischievous, misery, sorrow, trouble, wretchedness, wrong.

I directly came to understand the great and harmful evil Eliashib, the priest, had done for Tobiah.

“…in preparing for him a room in the courts in the house of Elohim. And it grieved me bitterly, therefore I threw all the goods of the household of Tobiah out of the room.”

Grieved is ra’a, the root word for evil above, meaning “evil, great, harm, heavy, hurtful, mischievous, misery, sorrow, trouble, wretchedness, wrong.” Bitterly is meod – muchness, force, abundance; diligently, especially, exceedingly, far, fast, good, greatly, louder and louder; vehemence, wholly, speedily, louder and louder, mightily, utterly. Threw is shalak – adventure, cast away, down, forth, off, out, hurl, pluck; to throw out, down or away. All the things is kol keli (utensils). And out is chuts – abroad, field, forth, highway, more, outside street.

“I was exceedingly and vehemently sorrowed, and I hurled away all goods from Tobiah’s house outside.”

Can’t you see this from a movie scene? Enraged at betrayal, jealous for God’s glory, angry with continued idolatry, he takes Tobiah’s things and throws them out.

Do you wonder if Tobiah was there watching? Did he have to hear about it from others? Were all of his goods smashed and ruined? Did the two men come face to face with one another?

“And I commanded them to cleanse the rooms.”

Cleanse is taher – to be bright; to be pure, cleanse, purge, purify. This seems like a good next step after throwing everything out that wasn’t to be in Temple. Cleansing the rooms to once again hold God’s people’s tithes, offerings and utensils.

And that’s just what he did:

“And I brought back into them the articles of the house of God, with the grain offering and frankincense.”

Brought back is shub – to turn back. Once the room was emptied of what didn’t belong, and made bright and cleansed once again, Nehemiah turned back each room in Temple as it was intended, holding the proper elements.

Oh, Church, what is this saying to us? While we all need to make sure our personal temples are cleansed and purified, what of our corporate Body? Of both the need to hurl away what looks nothing like Jesus and embrace what is bright and pure as light and salt in this place?

The truth is, each local body of believers will have a variety of answers for this question. Things in which the culture of their church struggles. So, too, will the broader, western Church have different needs than those in other places. But in individual, local, and universal areas where God’s Spirit sheds light, may we be zealous for His glory as we purge and purify.

And what better time to do business than Lent? Contemplating how the Cross ensured forgiveness and preparing for the Resurrection providing power.

It is a privilege to lean in and be used. May we do so.

“Now before this, the priest Eliashib had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was a relative of Tobiah and had prepared a large room for him where they had previously stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, and the tenths of grain, new wine, and fresh oil prescribed for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, along with the contributions for the priests.”

Nehemiah 13:4-5

Last time we saw the people heed the Law of Moses and separate themselves from those of other descents. We remembered He is always protecting His followers from idolatry and calling all nations to Himself. Today we see what was going on in the Temple storehouse.

“Now before this, Elisashib the priest having authority over the storerooms of the house of our God…”

We begin with some context: Eliashib had been put in charge of the storerooms. Here having authority is nathan – to give, put, set; storerooms is lishkah – room, chamber, hall, cell, parlor; and house of our God is “bayith Elohim.”

Eliashib was given the chambers of the house of God…

“…[and he] was allied with Tobiah…”

And now it gets tricky. Allied with is qarob – near, close, allied, approach, at hand, any of kin, that is near of kin, neighbor, that is next; from qarab; near (in place, kindred or time); Tobiyyah means “Yah is my good.”

This Eliashib was near, kin with Tobiah…

Ah, Tobiah. We’ve seen him several times, but it’s been a minute. We first met him in this post, from this verse:

So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.

When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.”

Nehemiah 2:9-10

Not a great start for the leader of the Ammonites.

But that’s not all. Tobiah then moved onto mockery and trickery, seeking to sabotage our governor. Even hiring someone to falsely prophecy to him in order to blackmail him.

“And he had prepared for him a large room…”

So our priest, Eliashib, near and allied with this Tobiah, had prepared for him a large room in Temple. This is not good.

“…where they had previously stored the grain offering, the frankincense, and the articles, and the tithes of grain, the new wine, and oil…”

And now we see why:

Grain offering is minchah – gift, tribute, offering, sacrifice [bloodless and voluntary]; frankincense is lebonah; and articles – keli – utensil, vessel, earthen ware, jar, jewel, pottery, tool, yoke; Grain (dagan), new wine (tirosh) and oil (yitshar).

Everything in Tobiah’s Temple room used to be where offerings and articles were stored. Uh oh. We have not historically seen Yahweh appreciate Temple not being used for its intended purpose.

“…which were commanded to be given to the Levites and singers and gatekeepers, and the offerings for the priests…”

Here commanded is mitsvah (prescribed, terms; from tsavah – conditions, law, ordinance, precept, lay charge upon); singers is shir – to sing, song leaders, behold; gatekeepers is shoer; and offerings is terumah – contribution for sacred uses, heave offering, shoulder, lifted up; from rum – to be high or exalted; a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tribute — gift, heave offering (shoulder).

These articles had been prescribed for those who worked in Temple: The Levites, singers, and gatekeepers – and contributions of sacred use were for the priests.

Well, now we see why giving Tobiah a storeroom meant for other items was such a big deal: A charge had been laid upon those working in Temple to make sure only things of sacred use were kept there. And it seems as though Eliashib, being a priest in Temple, was misusing his authority. And for someone who historically has been against God’s people and the rebuilding.

Does it make you wonder why someone would strike up such a deal? And what was Tobiah storing in there?

My first instinct is to think it had nothing to do with Tobiah lacking storage space in his personal living quarters, and everything to do with control. What I don’t know is if Eliashib was fine with the setup or if he did it under duress. Did he owe Tobiah a favor and reluctantly gave into his request? Was he needing something from Tobiah and offered the storeroom without worry? Nehemiah hadn’t been gone that long – all the returned exiles knew what they were to be doing to honor God.

Next week we’ll see our governor’s response. For today, let’s apply this to our own lives.

Anything you’re allowing in your life you know is for sacred use? Ways you’re compromising – even if you don’t necessarily want to? Instances you’ve turned your back on others or what’s right?

How about us communally? Any compromises believers have agreed on – spoken or unspoken? Injustices we’ve chosen to ignore – or address but in our flesh, not His Spirit?

Truth and love together, friends. May we use authority given to us for Good.

At that time the book of Moses was read publicly to the people. The command was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, because they did not meet the Israelites with food and water. Instead, they hired Balaam against them to curse them, but our God turned the curse into a blessing. When they heard the law, they separated all those of mixed descent from Israel.

Nehemiah 13:1-3

Last time we finished up with our messenger prophet, Malachi, remembering the coming Elijah and Messiah will turn people’s hearts to Him, then to each other. Today we pick back up with Nehemiah after a 5 1/2 month break from the book.

But perhaps we should back up a bit? The last time we were in Nehemiah (this past August), we read:

“So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions 

for the musicians and the gatekeepers. 

They also set aside the portion for the other Levites, 

and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.”

Nehemiah 12:47

The people were consecrating as holy a portion of all their produce, herds, and flocks for the Levites. And the Levites, in turn, were consecrating a portion for the sons of Aaron, the priests. Basically? They were doing what they were supposed to. Let’s dig into what goes on next (including quite a bit of historical background).

“On the day that they read the book of Moses in the hearing of the people…”

Read is qara – to call, proclaim, read; that are bidden, call for, forth, self, upon, cry unto, be famous, to call out to, invite, mention, preach, pronounce. Book is sepher – missive, document, writing; and in the hearing – ozen – ear, advertise, audience, displease, ear, hearing, show; from ‘azan; broadness. And people is am, folk.

With a broad audience of all the folk, the writing of Moses was proclaimed.

“It was found that no Ammonite or Moabite should come into the assembly of God forever…”

Here it was found is matsa – to find, befall, happen, hit, meet, overtake, possess, present, reach, spread, strike. Ammonite is from Ammon, a son of Lot; also his posterity and their country; a people living East of the Jordan. And Moabite is also a son of Lot, and his descendants. Assembly is qahal – assembly, congregation; God is Elohim; for is ad – as far as, even to, up to, until, while; and ever is olam – antiquity, always, forevermore.

It suddenly struck them no descendant of Ammon or Moab (Lot’s sons and their descendants) should come into he congregation of Elohim forever.

Since the Moabites and Ammonites are both descendants of Lot, we should probably start there.

Beginning in Genesis 13, we see Lot joining Abram to leave their people and go to the land God would show them. He was Abram’s nephew, and after a few years, both had too many possessions and herds to stay together…

“So Abram said to Lot, ‘Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.’

Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east.

The two men parted company: Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord. (Gen 13:8-13)

Unfortunately, Sodom was about to be destroyed. But because of Abram’s intervening with God on behalf of Lot and his family, they were able to escape the devastation. However, after fleeing to a new town, one of his daughters had a….not good idea:

“One day the older daughter said to the younger, ‘Our father is old, and there is no man around here to give us children—as is the custom all over the earth. Let’s get our father to drink wine and then sleep with him and preserve our family line through our father.'” (Get 19:31-32)

I know, right? So…

“So both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today. The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today.” (Gen 19:36-37)

So we have these two people groups from an incestuous relationship that grow mighty after the Israelites go to Egypt (with God using Joseph’s position to rescue them from famine) then come out of Egypt 400 years later (with God using Moses to lead them in the exodus and through the wilderness).

“Because they had not met the sons of Israel with bread and water…”

Here not met is qadam – to come or be in front, meet, anticipate, confront, receive, rise; flee before, disappoint, prevent; to project (one self)…to anticipate, hasten, meet – usually for help).

Because they had not met to help the sons of Israel [during their time in the wilderness] with bread and water.

“But hired Balaam against them to curse them…”

Against them is al (hover over). Balaam is Bil’am – a Mesopotamian prophet; and curse is qalal – to be slight, swift, trifling, abate, make bright, bring into contempt, accurse, despise, be easy.

But hired Balaam to have contempt hover over them.

Not only did these people groups not allow the Israelites pass through unharmed on their way to the Promised Land, they hired someone to curse them so they would not lose to them in battle.

“However, our God turned the curse into a blessing…”

Here turned is haphak – to turn, overturn, change, come, be converted, overthrow, perverse; curse is qelalah – curse, villification. And blessing is berakah – benefit, generous, gift, peace.

But God overturned the curse into a generous gift of peace.

How, you ask? You may have noticed Balaam is a Mesopotamian prophet. And here are some of the messages his man hired to curse God’s people gave:

Then Balaam spoke his message…

“How can I curse
    those whom God has not cursed?”

From the rocky peaks I see them,
    from the heights I view them.
I see a people who live apart
    and do not consider themselves one of the nations.

(Numbers 23:7-10)

In case you’re curious what the guy who hired him had to say about this:

…Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!”

He answered, “Must I not speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?” (Numbers 23:11-12)

Then he spoke his message:

“Arise, Balak, and listen;
    hear me, son of Zippor.
God is not human, that he should lie,
    not a human being, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?
    Does he promise and not fulfill?
I have received a command to bless;
    he has blessed, and I cannot change it.

“No misfortune is seen in Jacob,
    no misery observed in Israel.
The Lord their God is with them;
    the shout of the King is among them…
There is no divination against Jacob,
    no evil omens against Israel.
It will now be said of Jacob
    and of Israel, ‘See what God has done!’”
(17b-23)

When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him and he spoke his message:

“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor…

“How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,
    your dwelling places, Israel…

“May those who bless you be blessed
    and those who curse you be cursed!” (numbers 24:2-4,9)

So, yeah, I’d say Yahweh turned what was meant for evil into a generous gift of peace for His people.

Anything this stirs in you? Has Yahweh ever taken something you know others meant for evil and turned it into a blessing in your life? We all probably have situations in which this is true, because we all have a genuine enemy of our souls and live in a broken world. May we hunt for the blessing in even the most difficult situations, knowing God has promised He is for us.

Now back to the Moabites and Ammonites not being in the congregation forever:

“So when they heard the Law, they separated the mixed multitude from Israel.”

Heard is shama – listen with intent to obey; Law is torah; separated is badal – to divide, exclude, make distinct, set apart, sever, make separate, distinguish; and mixed multitude is ereb – mixture, mixed company, Arabia; from arab; the web, or transverse threads of cloth; mingled people.

When they listened to Torah with intent to obey, they separated the mixed multitude from Israel.

We have seen the returned exiles separating from the surrounding nations before in our journey through Ezra and Nehemiah. This is always tricky for me, as God regularly, throughout the Hebrew Bible, is reaching the nations. And even Ruth, a woman in Jesus’ lineage, was herself a Moabitess.

I found this commentary helpful in instructing my thoughts:

“The meaning of which phrase is, not that they were prohibited from attending divine worship in the court of the Gentiles, and in their synagogues, but from being admitted to the privileges of Jews, and becoming one body with them by intermarriages. ‘None of the house of Israel, of either sex, were to enter into marriage with any Gentile, of what nation soever, unless they were first converted to their religion; and even in that case, some were debarred from it for ever, others only in part, and others again only for a limited time...'” (Source)

So, once again, we see God’s protection for His people to not be pulled away to the idols of the surrounding nations. If someone who was raised to worship such idols, and merely had an interest in the God of Israel, were to marry a follower of Yahweh, the lure of idolatry would inevitably (and historically) be heeded.

But I especially appreciate this does not mean Gentiles could not worship in Temple. Forever and always, those who seek Him will find Him. And He so loved the whole world.

All this makes me think of the walls of hostility Paul mentions with Jews an Gentile converts to Christ:

“But don’t take any of this for granted. It was only yesterday that you outsiders to God’s ways had no idea of any of this, didn’t know the first thing about the way God works, hadn’t the faintest idea of Christ. You knew nothing of that rich history of God’s covenants and promises in Israel, hadn’t a clue about what God was doing in the world at large. Now because of Christ—dying that death, shedding that blood—you who were once out of it altogether are in on everything.

The Messiah has made things up between us so that we’re now together on this, both non-Jewish outsiders and Jewish insiders. He tore down the wall we used to keep each other at a distance. He repealed the law code that had become so clogged with fine print and footnotes that it hindered more than it helped. Then he started over. Instead of continuing with two groups of people separated by centuries of animosity and suspicion, he created a new kind of human being, a fresh start for everybody.

Christ brought us together through his death on the cross. The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of the hostility. Christ came and preached peace to you outsiders and peace to us insiders. He treated us as equals, and so made us equals. Through him we both share the same Spirit and have equal access to the Father.”

Ephesians 2:13-18 (MSG)

It is all even more poignant as this week is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten season. A time when we remember Christ’s sacrifice on all our behalf, leading up to His conquering of death.

Indeed, and praise God, He Himself is our peace.

“Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.

“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”

Malachi 4:4-6

Last time we saw how Yahweh will burn like chaff those who insist on wickedness, and the righteous will playfully jump like calves. Today we see the final words of our messenger prophet, Malachi.

“Remember the Law of Moses my servant”

Remember is zakar – call to mind, and Law is torah – direction, instruction, law, teaching. And did you know the meaning of Moses’ name? It comes from mashah, meaning to draw or pull out (of the water); Rescued. What a precious name meaning: Rescued one. And servant is ebed – slave, servant, bond slave (from abad –  work, serve; become slaves, bondage, cultivate, do the work, labor, perform, till, worship).

Remember the teachings I gave to Moses, my rescued one, my servant.

“which I commanded in Horeb for all Israel with statutes and judgments…”

Commanded is tsavah – conditions, law, ordinance, precept, lay charge upon. Horeb (Choreb) waste, a mountain, desolate; and for (al – hover over) all Israel.

We’ve seen statutes before; it’s choq – something prescribed or owed, a statute, allotment, boundaries, conditions, due, portion, appointed, bound, commandment, convenient, custom, decreed, law; From chaqaq – to cut in, inscribe, decree; carve, lawgiver, ruler’s staff, scepter; to hack, i.e. engrave or inscribe; by implication, to enact (laws being cut in stone or metal tablets…); hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage) — set time, statute, task

And judgments is our familiar mishpat – claim, court, crimes, decisions, justice, mode of life, order, plans, rights, rule, standard, verdict, way prescribed, what is right, worthy.

The conditions, boundaries, set tasks, and just mode of life to hover over all Israel.

Basically? Keep brining to mind all I have laid out for you as My people.

“Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet…”

Hinneh is lo! behold! Send is shalach – to send, cast away, forsake, bade his farewell, burned, cast off, certainly let them go, delivered, dismissed, divorce, driving them away, escorted him away, gave them over, get rid, gets his own way, let them down, let them go, release, remove, send them away, set free, stretched. Elijah’s name (Eliyyah) means “Yah is God,” from el and Yah. And prophet is nabi – spokesman, speaker, prophet.

Behold, I will send a spokesperson for Me, one whose name means “Yah is Creator God.“

“Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of Yahweh…”

Before is paneh (the face of); great is gadol – great, high, prominent from gadal – grow up, advance, magnify, promote; and dreadful is yare – fearful reverence.

Before the prominent and reverent Day of Yahweh.

I find this part more tender as I study it. The coming Elijah was to be a mercy for God’s people, preparing them – once again – for God’s coming judgment. They had the Law of Moses, they had all the commands and prophets, they even had the exile and returning. The generations of His people had lived through all He said was true. But, even still, He would send someone to speak for Him and encourage repentance.

Those of us this side of the prophecy know this Elijah was John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin:

Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 

From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.

For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.

Whoever has ears, let them hear.

Matthew 11:11-15

The other part I find tender is that “great and dreadful Day of the LORD.” That is to say, we have seen those words, gadol and yare, before. Yes, the Day will include judgement and fire and chaff. But it’s because there is nothing else to do when every knee will bow and tongue confess in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, that He is the One Who created it all, the only Rescue from ourselves. Fearful reverence and magnifying glory of the Rightful Judge is the point of such a Day.

The next part is very interesting to me. What will this prophet, the spokesperson for Yahweh, do when He comes?

“And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their sons, and the hearts of the sons to their fathers…”

The Hebrew is the same in both these phrases. Turn is shub – to turn back. Hearts is leb – inner man, mind, will, heart; care for, comfortably, consent, considered, courageous, friendly, broken, hard; the feelings, the will and even the intellect; the centre of anything, wisdom. And to their sons/fathers is al – hover over.

This Elijah will turn back the center, the inner man of sons and fathers, children and parents, to one another.

Of all the things one would think are needed in repenting before the coming Day, to me top of the list doesn’t seem like it should be parents’ and children’s hearts turning toward one another. How about you?

But as I ponder, I think this is a relationship in which the repentance necessary for entering the Kingdom would most show up in power. Parents know their children, have seen them grow all their days, and can probably point out the areas in which they are lacking. Children know their parents, have seen their shortcomings, and are still to be under their authority.

If a repentant, humble heart is required to live a righteous life before God, it could best be seen in a relationship with such history and close living.

The humility to love and be patient and shepherd children’s hearts – versus simply demanding and correcting – will begin to be obvious as we walk in humility.

And the ability to honor and obey and love someone over you – of whom you have clearly seen their weakness – will be obvious, too, as a repentant, humble heart takes over.

But, based on the words of Jesus, I wonder if there’s something else to this. He said He didn’t come to bring peace but a sword. I mean, listen to this:

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 

And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.”

Matthew 10:34-36

Confused yet? Especially based on what we just read in Malachi?

Perhaps these next two will help us with this:

Now large crowds were going along with Him, and He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

Luke 14:25-27

And this:

While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 

Someone said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak to You.”

But Jesus replied to the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” 

And extending His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold: My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother, and sister, and mother.”

Matthew 12:46-50

Put together, and based on the people of God waiting centuries for the Coming Messiah, Malachi and Jesus are warning of the division that can be caused by entering into this Messiah’s Kingdom. It requires everything: death to self, obedience to Him above all others, and an embracing of those in His Kingdom – even if we are not naturally fans of them. Those that recognize Him as that long-awaited Messiah, will have a new heart and spirit put into them. Their hearts will turn to family members and others in His Church.

And those that don’t? Who reject Him and insist on their own way? This Good News will not be peace, but a sword.

Now let’s put it together with the final warning:

“Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

Lest is pen – because, fear, might, or, or else, otherwise. Strike is nakah – to smite, beat, cast forth, clap, give wounds, go forward, indeed, kill, make slaughter, surely wound. The earth is erets – earth, country, land, region, territories, wild; common, nations, way; From an unused root probably meaning to be firm. And curse is cherem – devoted thing, devotion, ban; accursed dedicated thing, appointed to utter destruction, extermination; from charam; physical (as shutting in) a net (either literally or figuratively); usually a doomed object.

Otherwise I will indeed cast forth the land to utter destruction.

The result of not choosing the King of this Kingdom is to continue to be under the curse of destruction. And we know that because of sin, this earth will pass away. But because of redemption and resurrection, a New Heaven and New Earth will replace it.

He will make all things new.

“For look, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and everyone who commits wickedness will become stubble.

The coming day will consume them,” says the Lord of Armies, “not leaving them root or branches. 

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and playfully jump like calves from the stall. 

You will trample the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day I am preparing,” says the Lord of Armies.

Malachi 4:1-3

Oh my goodness, we’ve already reached the final chapter in Malachi! But it’ll take a few weeks to move through it. Last time we saw a Book of Remembrance written before Yahweh of those who felt fearful reverence toward Him and sought obedience. He promised to carefully treasure and protect them, as well as pointing out, once again, it will be obvious those who worship Him and those who do not. Today we see both fear and hope in Yahweh’s words.

Let’s break down the whole first section before we come back together and chat about it:

“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven…”

Behold is our familiar hinneh (lo, behold!), and coming is bo (to come, go, go out, advance). Burning is ba’ar – brutish, take away, burn, cause to eat up, feed, heat, kindle, consume (by fire or by eating). And oven is tannur – portable stove, fire pit; From niyr – lamp, candle, light; meaning to glisten

Lo and behold, the day will surely come consuming like a fire…

“And all the presumptuous, yes, all who do wicked…”

Here all the presumptuous is kol zed – insolent, arrogant, proud. And yes, all who do is kol asah (accomplish). Wickedly is rishah we’ve seen recently – evildoer, guilt; Feminine of resha’; wrong (especially moral)

Indeed, everyone who is arrogant, all who accomplish morally wicked deeds…

“Will be stubble and shall burn up…”

Stubble is qash – stubble, chaff, straw; burn up, set on fire, flaming, kindle, to lick, i.e. (by implication) to blaze; and shall burn them up is lahat – to blaze up, flame, aflame, breathe forth fire, consumed, set them ablaze.

Will be chaff set ablaze…

“That will leave them neither root nor branch…”

Here neither leave is lo azab – leave, abandon, loose, forsake, commit self, fail, fortify, help, leave destitute, refuse, permit. Root is shoresh – base, deep root, depths, soles; bottom, heel; From sharash; a root (literally or figuratively). And nor branch is anaph – boughs, branch; From an unused root meaning to cover; a twig (as covering the limbs).

The Day will abandon both their evil deeds and the deep roots giving them life.

When put all together, this reads:

Lo and behold, the day will surely come consuming like a fire, where indeed everyone who is arrogant, all who accomplish morally wicked deeds, will be chaff set ablaze. On this Day, I will abandon both their evil deeds and the deep roots giving them life.

Deep breath, because this is serious. The Bible, and Jesus Himself, do not apologize for talking about hell. And those of us who believe in its reality do well to ask for broken hearts for those who do not know Him. Because the certainty in these words (behold, surely, indeed, will be) is not to be missed. It’s as if the prophet can see what’s coming as God relays this Message. Behold! Look!

I’m in Matthew in my personal devotions, and I was struck for some reason this morning about how, when Jesus officially began His ministry, the word He chose was, “Repent!” He went to God’s chosen people first, and the assumption was the faithful were offering sacrifices, following the Law. And yet, the first thing out of the Savior’s mouth was, “Change your ways! Turn around! The Kingdom is here!”

While it sounds harsh, it only takes a look at the news to realize how much arrogance and moral wickedness is out there. Whether it is those given authority instead wickedly and abusively wielding it, or those taking advantage of the young or vulnerable in evil ways. We know, don’t we, that there are things that deserve punishment? That there’s a difference between good and true, wrong and evil?

The Good News is He promises there will come a Day He will take care of it all. The harsh news is we all deserve such a Day. And He made sure I had my share of falling short this week so as to not be looking down on anyone in my own perceived righteousness. Because the Best News is any who turn, all who repent, can be rescued from themselves.

“But to you who fear my Name…”

Oh good, some reassurance. Here fear is our familiar yare, and Name is shem again (name, renown, report, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character; possibly “from sum [through the idea of conspicuous position]- to place, appoint, pay attention, required.”)

But to those who have reverence for my Name, renown, and conspicuous position…

“Shall arise the sun of righteousness…”

Arise is zarach – to rise, come forth, dawned, risen, arise, rise up, as soon as it is up; properly, to irradiate (or shoot forth beams), and sun is shemesh – sun, battlements, daylight, east side, sundown, sunrise, sunset, west; From an unused root meaning to be brilliant; by implication, the east; See also Beyth Shemesh (“Sun Temple”). Righteousness is tsedaqah – right, merit; honesty, justice, righteous, vindication.

…the brilliant light, like the sunrise, will shoot forth beams of justice and right living and vindication…

“and with healing in His wings…”

Healing is marpe – healing, cure, health; brings healing, composure, incurable, remedy, soothing, tranquil, sound, wholesome, yielding; From rapha’; properly, curative, a medicine, a cure; deliverance; and wings is kanaph – wing, extremity, bird, corner, covering, edge, fold, garment, skirt.

…with the remedy, cure, deliverance in its covering…

Put together we have:

But to those who have reverence for my Name, renown, and conspicuous position, the brilliant light, like the sunrise, will shoot forth beams of justice and right living and vindication, with the remedy, cure, deliverance in its covering.

I love this visual of beams of sunlight and righteousness shooting forth, curing those under it.

Maybe this hits a nerve for you. Do you have people in your life who need healing? Desperate for a cure? We probably all do. I just this week watched the episode of The Chosen in which James asks for healing from Jesus and doesn’t receive it. Jesus is neither harsh and unfeeling nor unwilling and unable to heal Him. It was simply not what He had for him in this life.

So what do we do with verses like these, promising streams of light with healing in their wings? The same thing we do with all of God’s Word: trust the heart of Him Who wrote it. All healing will come one Day. In the meantime, we have a God Who walks with us in pain, fear, disappointment, depression, brokenness and sin. I don’t know how else any of us could do this.

“And you shall go out, fat like calves stall-fed…”

Go out is yatsa – to go or come out, go, come out, brought forth, upheld, assuredly, break out, shoot forth; fat is puwsh – up, spring about, grow up, be grown fat, spread selves, be scattered; to spread; figuratively, act proudly. Calves is egel – calf; From the same as agol (round, circular) a (male) calf (as frisking round), especially one nearly grown (i.e. A steer). And stall-fed is marbeq – fatted, stall; From an unused root meaning to tie up.

And you will most assuredly come forth like grown but frisky calves stall-fed…

Cattle imagery isn’t my forte, but I did just have a rousing game of fetch with my pup outside in the Sunday afternoon sun. Talk about playfully jumping – he was having the time of his life! It seems to me the difference being pointed out in our verse and this definition is a cow having to search for pasture and one who is being given everything it needs. He simply can go out, leaping and playing, because he’s being taken care of. Like a sheep with a Good Shepherd. That is how free we can be when we fear God in obedience.

“And you shall trample the wicked…”

This one means exactly what it says: trample is asas – to press, crush, tread down; wicked is rasha from last time – wicked, criminal; evil, evil man, guilty, offender; condemned, ungodly, that did wrong; from rasha’; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person.

And you shall tread those who do evil…

“For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet…”

Ashes is epher – ashes, dust, and under is tachath – underneath, below, instead of. Soles is kaph – hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot), a pan, branch, foot, handful hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole; From kaphaph; the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree); figuratively, power, spoon; and feet is regel – accompany feet, follow, footstep, heels, hoof, journey, swift-footed; be able to endure, according as, after, coming, follow, haunt, journey; from ragal; a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step.

For they shall be dust below the hollow of your feet.

This one, at first glance, seems unnecessarily harsh. I understand God taking vindication on those who persist in wickedness. But why must those who fear Him tread on them like dust under their feet? I sought some commentary to help guide my thoughts:

“Malachi uses tsedâqâh, righteousness, instead of ישׁע, salvation, with an allusion to the fact that the ungodly complained of the absence of the judgment and righteousness of God, that is to say, the righteousness which not only punishes the ungodly, but also rewards the good with happiness and salvation…And not only will those who fear God be liberated from all oppression, but they will also acquire power over the ungodly. They will tread down the wicked, who will then have become ashes, and lie like ashes upon the ground, having been completely destroyed by the fire of the judgment.” (Source)

I hadn’t connected the dots that this was one thought from Yahweh. Not only is He indeed righteous and will undoubtedly take vengeance on evil, but He is pointing out that those who fear Him will not be able to help but see it. The wicked will be as ash on the ground at the blazing furnace of the coming Day. Whether they want to or not, the righteous will be treading on them like dust.

This commentary section also pointed more than once to Isaiah 26. So let’s look into a small section of that:

He humbles those who dwell on high,
    he lays the lofty city low;
he levels it to the ground
    and casts it down to the dust.
Feet trample it down—
    the feet of the oppressed,
    the footsteps of the poor…

But when grace is shown to the wicked,
    they do not learn righteousness;
even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil
    and do not regard the majesty of the Lord.

Isaiah 26:5-6, 10

Once more we have the arrogant brought low, but did you notice whose feet are trampling on them? The oppressed and poor. Because He is a God of justice, those who have been broken down by wicked systems will have their vindication when He judges. And why? Because those who do wickedness refuse to repent. They do not want to learn righteousness. They choose their will be done.

“On the day that I do this…”

I is ani – I Myself, and do this is asah – to accomplish.

On the day when I Myself will accomplish this, says the God of Angel Armies.

Indeed, our salvation and honor depend on Him. He is the One with the Cure, the One Who will accomplish this all in perfectly loving justice. On Him we can rely.

Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.

“On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

Malachi 3:16-18

Last time we saw our returned exiles’ bitterness toward serving God and those who seem to go free. Today we get to see those who are choosing obedience.

“Then those who feared Yahweh spoke to one another…”

I decided to dive into that word “then,” because the timing of this section feels confusing. We were just talking about how His people were envying the wicked. So, are “those who fear Yahweh” part of that group and repented? Were they a section who was always following God? Did this happen a long time after the previous rebuke?

Then is az – at that time; now, once, so, then; A demonstrative adverb; at that time or place; also as a conjunction, therefore — beginning, for, from, hitherto, now, of old, once, since, then, at which time, yet.

Does it make you wonder if it means, so then? I kinda hope so. I hope it implies a change of mind by God’s people, an act of turning around and walking the right way.

As for the meaning of the other words, feared is our familiar yare – affright, reverence, make afraid, dreadful, put in fearful reverence. Spoke is dabar from last time: speech, word, account, act, advice, affair, answer, business, matter, message, purpose, talk, thoughts, verdict. And one another is rea – friend, companion, fellow; another, husband, kind, lover, neighbor, opponent, brother.

Therefore, those who felt fearful reverence toward Yahweh took the same purpose and words with each other as friends and neighbors.

“And Yahweh listened and heard them…”

This one feels tender to me. We know He hears, but I love how intentionally this phrase was added. The curtain is pulled back a bit to know when they spoke to each other, He listened, too.

Here listened is qashab – to incline ears, attend; gave attention, listen, cause to hearken, give heed, incline, mark well, regard; to prick up the ears. Heard is shama – listen with intent to obey; But we’ve discussed before how, when referring to the Almighty, it more likely implies “listening with an intent to act.”

So Malachi seems to purposely point out Yahweh didn’t just turn His ears to them, He listened in order to act. I’m so glad.

“So a book of remembrance was written before Him…”

Written is kathab – to write; decreed, describe, record, registered, sign; to grave, by implication, to write. Book is sepher – missive, document, writing, and remembrance is zikkaron – memorial, remembrance, memorable sayings, memorial; From zakar; a memento (or memorable thing, day, or writing). Before Him is paneh before the face of.

So a document of memory was recorded before the face of Yahweh.

Because write implies to engrave, this section makes me think of stones of remembrance. How God commanded the Israelites to take literal stones and make a memorial of how He acted on their behalf for future generations.

It was there at Gilgal that Joshua piled up the twelve stones taken from the Jordan River.

Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’

 Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 

For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea when he dried it up until we had all crossed over. 

He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.”

Joshua 4:20-24 (NLT)

This time it seems someone (angels?) are making the memorial. And what are they recording?

“For those who fear Yahweh and meditate on His Name.”

Fear here is yare again, and meditate is chashab – intelligent, to think, account, calculate, consider, determine, devise, esteem, intend, meant, mindful, planned, plot, regard, scheme, skillful, think, cunning, fabricate, contrive in malicious sense. Name is our familiar shem – name, renown, report, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character; possibly “from sum [through the idea of conspicuous position]- to place, appoint, pay attention, required.”

The memory written was of those who felt fearful reverence toward Yahweh and regularly consider, esteem, and think on His renown and conspicuous position.

How beautiful. And how wild. Not only were God’s people to remember ways He had been faithful, He also is recording ways His people fear Him. Seems hard to imagine Yahweh inclining His ear toward human’s faithfulness and having a book written about them. But I suppose all of Hebrews 11 could be an example of such a writing, yes? It also makes me think of how, from Abraham, what is being recorded is when we believe Him. “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Could it be when we fear and regularly consider His renown in our lives, it is being written before Him? It’s not impossible, as the phrase “the Book of Life” occurs regularly in Scripture.

“And they shall be mine,” says Jehovah-sabaoth, “On that day that I make them My jewels…”

Make is asah – do, make, accomplish; and jewels is segullah – possession, property, treasure, treasured possession; good, peculiar treasure, special; Feminine passive participle of an unused root meaning to shut up; wealth (as closely shut up).

They will be Mine when I accomplish making them my treasured possession, carefully protected from harm.

This feels like the Already/Not Yet Kingdom tension we live in. Because of what Jesus already accomplished on the cross, once for all, we are already His treasured possession, carefully protected by the Holy Spirit. And, yet, there will be the final accomplishing of forever vanquishing evil and living in a New Heaven and New Earth as His treasured jewels.

“And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him…”

Spare here is chamal – concern, desires, had compassion, had pity, mercy, spared, unwilling, ruthlessly; to commiserate; by implication, to spare; and them is al (to hover over). Serves is abad from last time: work, serve; become slaves, bondage, cultivate, do the work, labor, perform, till, worship.

My compassion and mercy will hover over them as a father’s compassion hovers over the son (ben) who lovingly serves him.

Sparing is only a necessary verb if there is something from which to be rescued. If there is no eternal punishment for our deliberate sin, salvation isn’t necessary, the cross is a joke, and we should all just live as we’d like. But if it’s true we cannot stand before an awesomely perfect and holy God on our own merit, then his compassion over us to save is indeed Good News.

“And you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked…”

Shall again here is shub – to turn back; Discern is raah – to see; to see, show self, sight of others, view, behold, enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, be near, perceive, present, provide, regard. Between is bayin – interval, space between; among, champion, midst; asunder, at, between twixt; from biyn – to discern, a distinction, attend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel; to separate mentally. And righteous is our familiar tsaddiq – just, righteous, while wicked is rasha – wicked, criminal; evil, evil man, guilty, offender; condemned, ungodly, that did wrong; from rasha’; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person.

You will once more turn back, clearly beholding, discerning the space between those who do what is just and those who willingly continue with evil.

This one is hard, because, if you’re like me, sometimes the more you seek God in a certain area, the more aware you are of how far you have to go. How un-Christlike your character still is, how much you still rely on His power in your life. But it seems as though that is not what is being referred to here with “the wicked.” That part of the definition, an actively bad person, feels different. Like consistently choosing to not trust God, not meditate on His renown but our own, and willingly, continually, choosing what is evil. And He says we will clearly behold the difference, even in this life.

And, finally, our last phrase in today’s verses:

“Between one who serves God and one who does not serve him…”

Between is bayin again, and serves is abad again. Him here is Elohim, Creator God.

Clearly beholding the one who lovingly serves and worships (abad) Creator God, and one who does not (lo abad).

It will be obvious, by actions and the fruit of our lives, those who serve and worship Jesus and His Kingdom and those who do not. And the sad thing is, those who don’t are missing out on the fullness of His presence, the joy He seems to take in our obedience, and the delight of being His treasured possession.

May we continually, daily choose to make Him our Lord, have fearful reverence of His right to rule our lives, and esteem His renown in all things.