So Ezra the priest brought The Revelation to the congregation, which was made up of both men and women—everyone capable of understanding. It was the first day of the seventh month. He read it facing the town square at the Water Gate from early dawn until noon in the hearing of the men and women, all who could understand it. And all the people listened—they were all ears—to the Book of The Revelation. Nehemiah 8:2-3 (MSG)

Last time we saw the people of Jerusalem ask Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law to them, remembering we are all in need of its direction and comfort. Today we see in a little more detail who was in the audience and how they received the Word.

“Ezra the priest brought The Revelation before the qahal (assembly, congregation) of men (ish) and women (isha), all who were able to understand (bin – act wisely, discern) and could hear (shama – comprehend, listen with intent to obey).”

Oh, my friends, can I tell you how grateful I am of the attention God draws to women in His Word? In a culture in which women were viewed as property, He gave dignity. The way Yahweh gives honor to every creature He has made helps my heart to trust His. Here we see all the people gathering before the Book of the Law – men and women. Even further, it points out in this assembly were those able to discern and listen with an intent to obey. While this might mean those without sufficient age or mental capabilities were not expected to attend, it also assumes this group was ready and capable to act upon what they heard.

This week in our Pre-K class, the teacher had told the kids to pick up their particular free play station, then come sit on the carpet. One little friend did not want to sit on the carpet and began helping other stations pick up. This might have been okay had we not been working on her obedience.

“Please go sit on the carpet.”

“I’m helping pick up blocks.”

“I don’t want you to help pick up blocks. I want you to obey.”

Aren’t you glad He knows our hearts? He doesn’t let us get away with stuff that is ultimately not His best for us. Listening with an intent to obey sometimes means letting go of what we may prefer to do and following through on what we know He’s already asked of us.

But there’s more to this, isn’t there? How often do we try to take God’s Word and separate it into parts we prefer and with which we are comfortable and discard the rest? We cannot seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God when we refuse to pay attention to the whole Revelation. Listening with an intent to obey means we assume God is smarter than us and approach His Word in such a manner. May we never say, “Shalom, Shalom” in areas in which there is no peace. Where there is En Shalom, we say so. And we pray to and join the God of Justice Who sees.

“[Ezra] read (qara – proclaim, call, make famous) from daybreak until noon. And the ears (ozen) of all the folk (am) were attentive to the Book of the Law.”

Each time I read the synonyms for that word “qara,” I hesitate. To proclaim, make famous. It sounds like a dream come true, but only if it is something or Someone worthy of being proclaimed. Made famous to make others free. If ordinary folk are going to be all ears about something, please Jesus, let it be Your perfect, embodied Grace and Truth. Let it be Your alive and active Word which pierces and soothes. May it be Your Spirit Who blows like the wind, convicts and woos.

Believers, we have been called, set apart, to make Him famous. To join Him where He is at work and proclaim The Revelation. No Book is like this Book of the Law. No words like Words of Life.

Let’s listen with an intent to obey – then together act wisely.

Enter Ezra, our Reforming Priest. We have watched him grieve intermarriage and idolatry among the returning exiles before. Now we get a glimpse of him helping this newly-fortified city get on its feet. Fortunately, the people were hungry for the Truth. They were asking for God’s Word to them.

Believers, it may not seem like it, but people are hungry for Truth in our day, too. Most of us are one tragic phone call away from realizing how fragile life is. Relationships are broken, dreams are realized yet unfulfilling, we are restless in a way that no amount of delicious food or travel or pleasure can calm. We need peace. Peace in our hearts and relationships and workplaces, schools, and nation.

Our titles may not be scribes, and we may not have a huge group huddling in an open public plaza united in their begging for God’s Word to be read, but we are all commissioned to know what it says, to proclaim it in a way that draws others to its perfection, and recount the ways He’s shown Himself mighty through it.

Because we are all united in our need of it.

Does any of that stir something in you? Have you ever longed to belong and earnestly pursued a place at the table? Ever wondered where your records are to prove you fit in with others?

It stirs something in me. I think we all know what it’s like to feel left out or forsaken. Or vulnerable to the eyes of others and coming up short. It gets even rougher when we see this particular group of returning exiles never found what they desired. Found here is matsa – attain, possess. Those family records of priestly descendants did not exist for them. They could not prove to be of a legitimate line of Aaron, and were therefore excluded (min) from the priesthood as unclean (gaal – defiled, stained).

There’s more to this because God’s Word is inexplicably brilliant. But let’s keep pushing forward and see how this turns out. The next verse outlines how the Persian governor (tirshatha) ordered this group of men not to eat the sacred bread until there stood (amad – to take one’s stand, abide, arise) a priest ministering with the Urim (a section of the high priest’s breastplate) and Thummin (emblem on the breastplate standing for complete Truth).

If you’re like me, you may have heard of Urim and Thummin but have no idea what they mean. When God was originally giving instructions to Moses on how to adorn his brother as high priest, he specified a particular breastplate:

“Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions…

There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes…”

Exodus 28:15, 21

Did you catch what the breastplate was for? Making decisions. So interesting, right? I love that the breastplate contained precious stones and names to represent the 12 tribes. Because if you are the one in charge of making decisions for a nation while ministering in the Holy Place, it would be wise to keep in mind the people those decisions affect.

Continuing on:

“Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord. Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.”

Exodus 28:29-30

Source

As seen in the text below, scholars are not sure precisely what the Urim and Thummim were. Only that God used them to impart direction to the high priest. In the Hebrew, Thummim is the plural of tom – integrity, innocence, simplicity. Whatever these items were exactly, they represented wisdom and capital-t Truth, and were never seen after the Babylonian king, King Nebuchadnezzar, destroyed the temple and carried away the sacred things.

Source

“For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or household gods.”

Hosea 3:4

The price for idolatry was high. But He comes to us like rain.

And now for all the beauty:

If you have ever felt your family records were missing, my friend, no fear. You are welcomed in the family of God. You have a new identity, a new name, and a new family:

“Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.”

Romans 12:4-5 NLT

And remember the Hebrew word gaal, meaning unclean or defiled? It comes from a remarkably similar word, gaal, which means “to act as kinsmen, to redeem, buy back, rescue, avenge.”

We all stand before a Perfect Creator defiled and stained, no matter what our family papers say. But because of the cross we get new papers with a different verdict: not guilty and beloved. He bought us back from slavery, rescued us from our lost state, and redeemed every single thing the enemy tried to steal.

And remember how Thummim was the plural of the Hebrew word tom, meaning innocence? This word comes from tamam – to complete or finish, destroyed.

When our Savior breathed His last, He was the essence of Thummin, tom, and tamam. Perfectly Just, Truth walking around on planet earth. Simplistic and innocent, only making decisions as He listened to His Father. And Priest Whose perfect sacrifice ended the need for all other sacrifices. Now it is complete.

“If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?”

Hebrews 7:11

He has come, friends. Our perfect High Priest, Mediator of God and Man, Destroyer of Darkness. He is Urim and Thummim, and we are on His very heart.

“And from among the priests:

the descendants of

Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name).”

Nehemiah 7:63

Last time we saw those who had returned from Jerusalem and Natophah, remembering He Himself is our Place of Bread. Today we see some descendants of priests listed. Let’s take a closer look together.

The first priest (kohen) is Hobiah (Chabayah) which means “Yah has hidden,” from chabah – to hide, withdraw, conceal.

There is a wonderful, God-given hidden in which we learn to rely on Yahweh, His strength and not our own. And there is a false hidden, a timidity in which we are not living in the Spirit of power, love, and self-control He has given us. Ladies, I’m looking at us. Can we who love God’s Word and desire to have a gentle, quiet spirit also lean into His Spirit of power? Can we boldly set boundaries and speak up without sacrificing respect for men or appropriate authority in our lives? We, too, are of those who do not shrink back, friends. Let us not throw away our confidence. May we stand firm, hidden in His righteousness, and bold in our love.

The second priest from whom the exiles were descended is Hakkoz, from qots meaning “thorns.” Ah, thorns. Such imagery in the Holy Scriptures. The ram hidden in the thicket, a substitute sacrifice for Abraham’s son, his only son, whom he loved. And the thorns our Savior wore when God’s perfect, unfailing love would not rescue His son, His only Son, Whom He loved from the ultimate sacrifice. And, of course, our Paul’s famous thorn in his flesh, teaching him to rely not on himself but the grace which is sufficient to do the impossible.

What thorn in your life drives you back, over and over, to His sufficiency? Let’s not fear it or avoid and run from it. It is a gift if we let God do His sovereign work through it. Our character matters more than comfort, and each time we experience sufficient grace it is a tender joy.

The final priest listed in today’s verses is Barzillai whose name means “man of iron” from barzel – iron, axe, chains. He got this name, interestingly, from his father-in-law. This priest had married Barzillai the Gileadite’s daughter and, thereafter, was called (qara – proclaim, become, summoned, famous, invited) by that name (shem – renown, repute, fame, defame).

Doesn’t this make you curious? Why would a man take his father-in-law’s name? Does it point to something more significant? Had they made some sort of an agreement? And is it just me, or does this name associated with chains and an axe sound unappealing?

Fortunately, whatever the situation, we do not have to worry about God’s heart toward women or His intentions for marriage to display an intimate covenant between Jesus and the Church. The way a man leaves his father and mother and becomes one flesh with his wife is the best earthly picture we have of how Jesus left His Home of glory, absolute perfection to win His Bride. To give it all so we could take His Name, the Name above every other, the One from which demons have to flee and at the sound of every knee will bow and tongue confess.

We are invited, summoned to become like the One Whose Name we bear. As His Spirit changes us, it becomes clear it is other-worldly: a cooperation with His work in our lives. Our growth makes Him famous – the only One Who is worthy and can handle such worship.

Indeed, in the most freeing way possible, Yah has hidden.

Enjoy a Market-to-table brunch tomorrow morning, Saturday August 18th, at Old Town Farmers Market. Watch the folks from In Season Bistro, a local pop-up eatery, select choice ingredients and serve up Veggie Breakfast Tacos, Biscuits and Gravy, and Chorizo Hash.

Have you ever been to Avenue Art Days? This is the group responsible for the fantastic murals along Douglas street.

More Details:

How about the Library?

Don’t miss all the upcoming library events, including their Fall Gardening Series, a Pinterest workshop, how to download free e-books session, and a Retro Game Night!

And coming up with the Sedgwick County Extension Office: “Farms, Forks & 4-H Festival.” Next Saturday, August 25th, come to the Extension Education Center to enjoy Food & Garden Demonstrations, a Kids’ Ag Zone including Dairy Cows, Goats, Rabbits, & Chickens, and many other booths, door prizes, and activities.

Did you know College Hill Pool is featuring their Dog Days of Summer event again this year? On Monday, August 20th, from 6-8 pm, bring your canine friend to enjoy the zero-entry pool!

Check out all of Watermark’s author events coming up, including Sarah Henning & Bree Barton, Alexandra Ott, David Joy, Larry Schwarm, and Linsey Miller.

Have a wonderful weekend!

(14.)

Jack’s North Hi Carryout

Delicious + Charming Decor + Incredible Service

$5 Movie Wednesday at Old Town

11 years old + Paintball

Vikings Cake

Rising Sun Glory

 

Your 7 Days?

[The list of the men of Israel]…

the men of Bethlehem and Netophah — 188…

The musicians:

the descendants of Asaph — 148…

Nehemiah 7:26, 44

Last time we looked closer at a returned exile, Ater, and his forefather, Hezekiah, and what we can learn from the positive and negative aspects of his reign as king. Today we jump to the next specified section of returned exiles: those from Bethlehem and Natophah.

The city name Bethlehem is from two Hebrew words, Beth Lechem, meaning “a place of bread.” I find that phrase so interesting in our gluten-free, low-carb culture. But let’s take that lens off for a minute and think of what bread meant for our friends in Old Testament Judah. First of all, bread was their staple. It represented, literally, their bread and butter. What satisfied their hunger daily and helped stretch a stew or fish for a large family or a crowd.

Second, bread was a daily ritual. Fresh ground grain, hand-kneaded loaves are not what most of us picture as bread in the 21st century. It was easily digested, a loving provision from Yahweh. So a city with the name A Place of Bread surely represented provision and satisfaction.

Of course when speaking of bread in God’s Word, one verse we know well is how man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. I think this a necessary starting point when talking about God being our everything. There is no way to give up our pet sins, our idols and indulgences and hoarding tendencies without facing seriously our reluctance to trust God’s character toward us. Will He really give us this day our daily bread or do I need to wring my hands in worry? Can God and the life He gives me genuinely satisfy the desires of my heart? Or must I provide for myself what I think best makes up the good life, holding back my heart for fear He won’t come through?

Indeed, shaming ourselves into giving up all these other things can turn into picking up a couple more. But starting at a place of need and asking Him to become our everything gives Him the space in our hearts to gently pry our fingers off such lesser treasures. The beauty is when He is our Place of Bread, we can share in gratitude with many of these provisions without putting them on the pedestal of our hearts. His design is to take over our lives from the inside out.

The other city listed here is Natophah – from nataph – to drip, discourse, speak, or spokesman. Have you ever had a message you would do anything He allowed in order to share with others? Are we who believe in Jesus as the Messiah – the One Who came to rescue the world – being spokespeople for the ways He went about loving and rescuing it? Do we sound like Jesus? Does His word drip from our mouths, our very words embodying His Spirit, love, and redemption?

If not, why not? Where do we need to start in our own hearts? What about the soul of our nation? Just as we as individuals are resistant to a culture of shame, blame, and scapegoating, as a nation we cannot thrive in such a manner. Whenever God’s Word is used to promote hatred, His Spirit is not leading. When we are at one anothers’ throats rather than washing each others’ feet, we need to step back and ask ourselves where we need to go from here.

There is one other group represented in our verses for today: the musicians (shir –  singers, song leaders). You may remember learning about this group from the first time around. King David was the one to set apart this family and their descendants:

“David…set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals…all of them trained and skilled in music for the LORD…” 1 Chronicles 25:1, 7b

This family line took the charge seriously and, in fact, eleven psalms are included in our Bible labeled, “A psalm of Asaph.” (Psalm 50 and 73-83.)

The Mighty One, God, the Lord,
    speaks and summons the earth
    from the rising of the sun to where it sets.
From Zion, perfect in beauty,
    God shines forth.

Psalm 50:1-2

And my personal favorite:

“Yet I am always with you;
    you hold me by my right hand.
 You guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward you will take me into glory.
 Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
 My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart
    and my portion forever.”

Psalm 73:23-26

The name Asaph means “gatherer” from asaph, meaning “all together” and “victim,” “assemble” and “reaper.” Both “gather in” and “destroy.”

Don’t you find those synonyms interesting and almost at odds with one another? Victim, reaper, and destroy have such an ominous tone. I suppose whatever it is we are gathering will focus the direction of our outcome. Are we passive either in ourselves or in the defense of genuine victims? Are we sowing darkness or deceit, greed or jealousy? Being a reaper in such a situation will not end pretty. It simply cannot with a loving Creator and good, good Father at the helm. How about gathering destruction? How will that turn out in our lives?

What about all together, assemble, and gather in? Ah, yes, darkness flees and light breaks forth with such words. Drawing those from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets is God’s glorious mission in His Body in our day. From His generous provision and our soul satisfaction, we join Him with open arms to those who seek to know Him. We have the honor of being His spokespeople to a weary, watching world. Truth can drop from our pleasant words like honey. Our joy gently interrupting discontent with conversations seasoned with salt.

And when it doesn’t, our lament and sorrow can gather in those wounded and aching to know of a compassionate Creator, defender of orphans and widows, and righteous Judge. One Who chases down a lost coin and throws a party, heals the sick on the Sabbath, and runs to meet the son who squandered it all. What a Savior, in good times and bad.

He is Our Place of Bread. Gather in.

“The list of the men of Israel…

the sons of Ater (through Hezekiah) – 98

Nehemiah 7:7b, 21

Last time we dove into two forefathers listed in the genealogy Nehemiah found, Jeshua and Joab. Today we see another returned exile and his forefather closer up.

The next person listed whose lineage is included is Ater. His name comes from the Hebrew word atar – to shut, close, bind. One usage of this word is from Psalm 69:15:

Do not let the floodwaters engulf me
    or the depths swallow me up
    or the pit close its mouth over me.

In the line “…[do not let] the pit close its mouth over me,” close is a form of this same word atar. It is tender to me that one of the only usages listed for this word is in the context of God’s deliverance. And, friends, we have groups of people on our watch who are in need of deliverance.

Maybe you know of people separated from their flesh and blood who have done nothing illegal. Perhaps you know those who have been living here for years and are now facing unjust deportations. It could be you are beginning to realize indigenous people and African Americans and people of color – whether here first, brought here against their will, or legally seeking asylum or a better life – have always been targeted in a way you have never had to face if those categories do not apply to you. I hope so. I hope, like me, you realize how much you have to learn and together we allow those who may seem “other” to teach us. I hope this is true in our solitary learning life and our regular, daily life.

If it is not true of us, the last thing to do is defensively pull back or anxiously despair. The first thing to do is pray. Ask for His Name to be hallowed, His kingdom to come in our sphere of influence, His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. He is on the move and joining Him in ways appropriate to each of our lives simply involve being connected to the Master Whose yoke is easy and burden is light.

Ater’s lineage includes a king of Israel, Hezekiah. His name means “Yah has strengthened” from chazaq – to be or grow firm or strong, become mighty, been arrogant, take courage, repair, recover, withstand.

Hezekiah’s reign included so many wonderful things. He destroyed idols, reopened the Temple, and prayed in times of crisis. He renewed the nations’ worship to Yahweh and invited the divided kingdom to celebrate together. However, he also succumbed to pride in showing off riches to the enemies of Judah. Eventually, what he had was taken from him. All the riches he bragged about were taken to Babylon.

Doing and telling of works in our own strength indeed leads to captivity. Whatever we have: possessions, relationships, talents, social standing, esteem in the eyes of others, is all from Yahweh. It is Yah Who has strengthened.

A friend and I walked and chatted this week about old lady joint stuff. Needing to walk a certain way so as not to increase our pain. It made me think of the ways God talks about strengthening us in His Word:

“And they said, ‘Let us rise up and build.’ So they strengthened their hands for the good work.”

Nehemiah 2:18

“So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!”

Hebrews 12:12-13 (MSG)

We get to strengthen our hands and build at His lead. We can spur one another on toward love and important work. But ultimately? Some of us may still walk with a limp. The fantastic news is He uses it for His glory and others’ good.

Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.

 He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.

 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
 but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31

 

Thank You, Jesus.

Coming up with City Arts.

Thanks to Wichita on the Cheap, I can tell you about an amazing, free outdoor concert on Saturday, August 11th, at Andover amphitheater in Andover Central Park. See Plain White T’s and Vertical Horizon –  families welcome! Gates open at 5:00, food trucks and a playground are available.

Don’t forget – this Saturday is Convoy of Hope!

Keep Watermark’s Saturday Story Time with Melissa on your mind. Beginning at 10:30 this Saturday the 4th the kiddos can enjoy This Book is Red.

Come hear The Astronauts on the Wichita Waterwalk for the Summer Concert Series. Food trucks, community, live music. Enjoy our city this weekend.

Also Friday the 3rd, enjoy Park & Rec’s Floatin Down the River Sunset Tour! Enjoy a float from Cowtown to the Boathouse with dinner after. To register and purchase tickets, call 316.268.4361.

Also from 6-8 pm on Saturday the 4th, enjoy a Back to School Bash at OJ Watson Park. Free for all ages!

For all upcoming Library Events, including Job Application Assistance, Comic Book Reader’s Theater: Black Panther, Go Create: Flooring Demo, and Fall Gardening: Rose Care, click here.

 

And for those of us gearing up for Back to School, Wichita on the Cheap has rounded up the best deals on School Supplies!

 

Have a fabulous weekend!

Cooler weather (for a bit) = more bike riding

Racing

A quick date

Perfect

Workout at Bradley Fair Lake

Farmer’s Market + New Arboretum

A lovely space

Sky glory

 

Your 7 Days?