“’We will give it back,’ they said. ‘And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.’

Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised.

I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, ‘In this way may God shake out of their house and possessions anyone who does not keep this promise. So may such a person be shaken out and emptied!’

At this the whole assembly said, ‘Amen,’ and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.”

Nehemiah 5:12-13

Last time we saw the charge Nehemiah brought before the assembled people: to return their brothers’ property and then some. To make reparations. Today we see the people’s response.

“We will give it back (shub – return, restore) and not require (baqash – investigate, demand) anything more. We will do (asah – accomplish, make/do in the broadest sense) as you say (amar – call, challenge, charge).”

The people agreed. They had heard Nehemiah’s plea for them to remember how God had brought them back to Jerusalem and agreed they should not be capitalizing on each others’ hard times. They would return the mortgaged land and demand no more from their brothers. They would accomplish the charge.

But Nehemiah isn’t finished. He brings in the priests to make it official. The assembled people were to take an oath (shaba – swear, vow) that they would follow through. Then, taking it one step further, our governor turns the pockets inside out (naar– shake) of his robe (chotsen – front of garment) saying, “So (kakah – thus, in this manner) may Elohim, Creator God, shake every man from his home and labor (yegia – possessions, product, wages, fruit) who does not keep (qum – arise, stand firm, fulfill, take his stand) this promise.

Basically, may each man be fruitless if he fails to stand firm on his vow.

God takes our vows seriously. He takes the way we follow through and how we treat each other personally. And He sees you as you do this, friends. As you follow through to peacefully protest unjust laws and as you look for others unlike you to befriend. As you do the awkward work of racial reconciliation in your real life and as you love those under your roof. As you pray for God to dislodge bondage and bigotry in your heart and as you lay down your life for your neighbor. It all matters. And the work may look as varied and broad as the definition of asah. But as we are obedient to each step in our lives, He weaves it all together as a whole, beautiful tapestry in our generation. Our time.

The people said, “Amen,” to Nehemiah you know. They acknowledged the rightness behind their vow though it would cost them. And they did as they promised. They in this section of the verse is our Hebrew word am – folk. Just regular Joes, following through on their promise. And they praised Yahweh. Praise here is halal – to shine.

Being faithful to our word is justice, friends. Loving our neighbor as ourselves shines a lovely light on our glorious Covenant God. Agreeing to righteousness even though it costs us says more about the Spirit empowering us than we know. Though our dazzling Savior doesn’t need our praise, what a joyous duty to participate in making His Name shine.

Let’s praise Him.

So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let us stop charging interest! Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the interest you are charging them—one percent of the money, grain, new wine and olive oil.”

Nehemiah 5:9-11 NIV

Last time we listened in to how Nehemiah began the public assembly against those charging interest to their fellow countrymen. Today we get to hear more.

“The way you’re walking (halak – to go) is not good (towb – beautiful). You should walk in the fear of (yirah – awesome, reverence) Creator God (Elohim) and avoid the cherpah (disgrace, shame) of the watching nations.”

We’ve chatted on here before about the importance of God’s chosen people walking in a way that shows off His beautiful character to those who do not know Him. God’s flawless Law was given to His people Israel to highlight mercy, peace, and justice. Shalom. The way those with more were not only becoming creditors to those with less, but were also exacting interest from them highlighted the opposite. Revering God’s awesome character and reminding themselves of those watching were two good ways to keep the people on track. But Nehemiah continues.

“I (ani – I myself), along with my brothers and servants, are also lending (nashah – becoming creditors) money (keseph – silver) and grain (dagan). But let us please (na) abandon (azab – loose oneself from) exacting interest (mashsha – usury, lending on interest).”

I am touched by the use of na (please) in this section. As governor, Nehemiah might have been able to force the matter among the people. But he wasn’t. He entreating, exhorting the people to love their fellow countrymen over profits and bottom lines. Over doing what may have technically been legal but was thoroughly unloving and disunifying.

Finally Nehemiah finishes this section with a way forward: reparations.

“Restore (shub – return) this very day (yom) their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the interest you (attah – you yourselves) are charging them (nashah) — one percent of the money, grain, new wine and olive oil.”

I find it intriguing that in the middle of repairing the city wall, Nehemiah and the people find themselves repairing relationships. And not just returning what was taken but giving back a percentage of the money made on unloving business dealings.

There are so many personal and communal and societal applications that can be made for us here. If industries are making profits but hurting people, there will be a price to pay. If “I’m sorry’s” were said but no fruit has been produced in keeping with repentance, relationships will remain unreconciled. If governments historically and systemically have dehumanized any group for any reason and nothing has been done to correct generational wrongs, relationships cannot be made right. And if the Body of Christ stops doing wrong but doesn’t learn to do right, we will not be highlighting Spirit-filled unity to the watching world.

Friends, justice matters. Today let’s gather to worship the Only One of perfect justice. The One Who made flawless reparations He never owed for a broken humanity. But let’s not stop there. Let’s ask His perfectly just heart to beat in us. Ask Him to show us, teach us the next right thing in our personal and corporate lives. Though we wait until perfect Shalom reigns, we can be imperfect agents of it here and now.

And many will see, be drawn, and worship.

“[At the public assembly] I told them, ‘We did everything we could to buy back our Jewish brothers who had to sell themselves as slaves to foreigners. And now you’re selling these same brothers back into debt slavery! Does that mean that we have to buy them back again?’

They said nothing. What could they say?”

Nehemiah 5:8 (MSG)

Last time we watched Nehemiah react, then respond to the news of Jews enslaving fellow Jews. He ended with calling a public assembly against those not living in line with God’s just laws. Today’s verse tells us what he said in the assembly.

“We anachnu (we ourselves) have done everything we could (day – ability, sufficiency, overflows, what’s needed) to buy back our brothers (ach) who were sold (makar) to the nations (goy – Gentiles). Now you will even (gam) sell these same brothers back into debt slavery?”

Why do you think it mattered so much to Nehemiah that the Jews were practicing the law this way? Hadn’t the rich helped those with less when taxes were due? Didn’t they buy the land from those who had to sell so they might eat? And yet, when Nehemiah leveled these statements at them, this group was silent (charash – altogether, cease, hold tongue) and found (matsa) no (lo) answer (dabar – assertion, proposal).

Even savvy businessmen, wealthy landowners, had no proposal to offer Nehemiah when faced with these accusations. In light of all they exiles had been through, and the miraculous way Yahweh brought them back to Temple and their home, none of their logical arguments added up. No matter what rights they felt they had, or how scrupulous they’d been in their business dealings, they quieted right down.

Has this ever been you? Full of all kinds of interior defenses about the whys and wherefores of your behavior…only to finally stand before someone affected by it and lose all righteousness? I have. And, friends, how much more when we stand before our Creator God? The only One with overflowing sufficiency, Who has gone to every length possible to buy us back?

So in the strength and love of this Redeemer may we live in line with His justice toward fellow image bearers. Where we need to lay down our rights, let us do so in light of all He’s laid down for us. Where we are perhaps scrupulously following the letter of the law, may we instead turn to love and scandalously go the second mile. Where we need to care for those outside our tribe, may we ask for His heart to beat in us. And where we’re desperate for help or answers, may we find those named after the Highest Name to be among the most thoroughly and graciously giving.

Because freely we have received.

“I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, ‘You are exacting interest, each from his brother.’ And I held a great assembly against them.”

Nehemiah 5:6-7 ESV

Last time we explored what happens when God’s people aren’t living in line with His just and compassionate laws: the poor in bondage to high interest and children being sold into slavery. Today we see Governor Nehemiah’s reaction and response to all he has heard from the people.

The phrase used for Nehemiah’s reaction is very (meod – force, abundance, exceedingly) angry (charah – kindled, burn with anger). He was exceedingly burning with anger when he heard how affairs were being conducted among God’s people. Remember when Ezra had a similar reaction? After hearing the exiles had disobeyed and married foreign wives who taught them to worship other gods, Ezra was distraught. Nehemiah is too hearing the peoples’ outcry (eaqah – distress, lamentations).

So we see Nehemiah’s reaction was to be kindled with anger. But, just like Ezra, he followed up with a response. His first response is to take “counsel (malak – consult) with (al – hovering over) myself (leb – heart, inner man, center [of anything], courage).” He took his kindled anger inward, to the center of all he knew to be just and true, and took courage.

I think we need to pause here for a moment. Because I don’t know about you, but there have been times in my life when, to take something to my own self for consultation, would have ended in disaster. When my inner man was far from aligned with God’s perfect ways and the center of my life wasn’t reflecting His mercy. Like everyone else, it is a daily struggle to hand over my will to His perfect one and ask His Spirit in my spirit and His Word in my mind to be what guides.

But, friends, I believe we also need to know that when we are doing that the best way we know how, there will be times when our reaction to injustice will be kindled anger. Particularly on behalf of others. Righteous indignation is part of God’s perfect character toward a fallen, imperfect world. And in those times, we must take courage.

After consulting within himself, Nehemiah took the next step: bringing charges against the nobles and officials. To bring charge against is rib or rub – contend, defend, plead case, rebuke, reprimand. And why? You (attah – you yourselves) are hurting (nasha – deceive, delude, lend on interest) your own relatives by becoming a creditor (ashah) against them (al – hovering over). You are deceiving your own countrymen with your deceptive interest rates hovering over them.

Friends, this is a reality in our lives today. A privileged few holding generations of power over others. A small group of elite taking advantage – no, systematically operating against – the larger masses. Whether intentional or not, if we are not swimming against this current we will be swept along with it. And when that happens groups begin to organize:

“Then I called a public meeting to deal with the problem.” (NLT) 

“And I held a great assembly against them.” (ESV)

We cannot be too busy or uninterested to listen to these cries. We are all connected by our common humanity and what we do affects each other. So we deal with injustices as they arise. But mostly, we refuse to ignore the one and only basis for righteousness and justice: A holy and righteous God Who set within us as creatures made in His image the moral compass of understanding right and wrong. And we all fall short.

The only reason we understand injustice is because we are made in the likeness of the Just One. The only One who can burn with anger and it be fully righteous. Who then took on that righteous wrath we could never have borne ourselves.

It’s Lent, you know. A time for those of us who believe Jesus to prepare our hearts to celebrate the glorious Resurrection. The present reality and the future promise when the Kingdom we’ve been praying to come will be here in completeness and never ending majesty. May we listen and love and serve and take courage during this time given to us. To speak up where we need to and sit down and listen when it’s right. To move toward each other – particularly when we disagree.

He has shown us the perfect example of love and courage on behalf of our brothers and sisters. May we love well.

Remember, at this time the Jews in Jerusalem were not obeying all Yahweh had prescribed in His law. Therefore, though it said to not treat a fellow Jew like a slave in His compassionate commands, there was no guarantee that was how the daughters of these families were being treated. The word used for the phrase sold into slavery is kabash – to subdue, bring into bondage, trample underfoot.

Several other words underscore these men’s concern. In Hebrew the verse begins with hinneh – look! behold! see! As in, “Governor Nehemiah, this is what has become of our families.” And not only that but, “we are helpless to do anything about it.” Helpless is ayin a particle of negation -no, bereft, powerless. We have no power (el – God, mighty and yad – hand, powerful help alongside) because our fields and vineyards are mortgaged (acher – belong to another).

When cultures fall into chaos everyone suffers. But it is often hardest to watch children take the brunt of it. They have little control of how adults are managing affairs yet the consequences of adult management fall squarely on them. Not only in the present as children, but in the culture and its issues they inherit as they become adults.

In addition to children, those without economic means also struggle in times of chaos, becoming subservient to those with more. “In times of dire need the wealthy usually have enough stored up to feed themselves. It is the poor who suffer because of the huge rise in prices caused by scarcities.” (source)

Hmmm. Children and the poor. Both groups that are mightily defended by our God in Scripture.

Friends, we too live in a time of ignoring God’s laws, allowing our children to inherit a form of slavery and the poor among us suffering most. Fortunately we are not helpless to do anything about it, nor is our God powerless.

It is never too late to repent and turn as individuals, as the Body of Christ, as a nation. To choose to honor fellow image bearers rather than attack. To love one another and seek just laws. To pray for mercy and ask Him to use us as agents of His perfect justice and tenderhearted mercy.

This is our day, the time appointed to us. May we live as if we belong to the same family.

Something needs to be done. Mass shootings like this are not normal and we know it. I say this as someone who understands the 2nd Amendment, married to a man who fully believes in the right and exercises gun safety. But most of this has nothing to do with the Constitution. And something needs to be done.

I don’t know what, which makes it difficult to express my thoughts on this subject. But I do think we should be laying down our lives for fellow human beings, not watching fellow human beings lose their lives so we can demand our rights. And certainly not – when presented with a clear choice – putting man’s law ahead of God’s.

And inspired by this article, I’m particularly frustrated with what every thoughtful person must intuitively know: there has to be some middle ground on which we are not even trying to walk together. And, meanwhile, people are dying.

So where do we go with this? Let’s start with some fabulous questions from this tweet:

1. Who has to give up what in order to change?
2. What are this person’s/community’s competing loyalties complicating this surrender?
3. How will you come alongside the person/community you hope to change?

I love this because there’s something here for everyone. If you want change, what are you going to do to come alongside a group requiring change? If I know I’m the one who needs to shift, I get to be honest about what makes that difficult. What will I have to die to? No one is off the hook here. Communal responsibility. What will help us move forward if we hope to make actual legislative and actual heart change.

Gun reform laws matter. We know this and can seek to work together so this doesn’t continue. Otherwise there will be blood on our hands.

As Dr. King said, “It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that’s pretty important.”

And, believers? Let’s ask His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Pray. Pray against the idol of nationalism, toxic masculinity, weapons as idols and self love over agape love. Pray against corporate injustice and greed that reveres a bottom line over human lives. No matter how long it’s been an issue, no matter how long it may take to turn a giant ship around, we pray.

Because here’s what I know: like I told my husband last night, if our boys were carried out bleeding on a stretcher…or some of my special needs kiddos were shot in their wheelchairs…or the 3 and 4 year old babies I currently help with were being buried in tiny caskets this weekend…I wouldn’t care one bit how long it would take to turn this ship around. I would be screaming at the top of my lungs we’re about to hit an iceberg and doing whatever it took to fix it.

This is the reality of fellow image bearers this very day in our country. Make it matter that much to us, too, Jesus.

Because to do nothing in the face of such evil is to be complicit with it.

 

“Others said, ‘We have mortgaged our fields, vineyards, and homes to get food during the famine.’

And others said, ‘We have had to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay our taxes.'”

Nehemiah 5:3-4 NLT

Last time we took a look at the larger political landscape affecting our rebuilders, focusing on how the famine impacted large families’ ability to eat. Today we see two other groups and their hardships during a drought: landowners who had to mortgage their property and those who had to borrow money to pay taxes to the king.

The Hebrew word for mortgaged is arab – given in pledge, exchanged. And borrowed is lavah – join, abide with, cleave, unite, remain. If those two definitions don’t sound like a serious venture I’m not sure what does. The people had to give their vineyards and homes in exchange for food and unite themselves to those with greater means just to pay taxes (middah – garment, a feminine form of mad – measurement, cloth, robe, stature). And remember, while these taxes were ultimately going to the king, they were conducting these transactions not with the government but with their fellow Jews. And their brothers were likely not honoring God in the compassionate way He instructed His people to deal with each other.

How about us, Believers? In what way are we keeping a record of wrongs with each other, exchanging harsh, public words to feel superior? Or cleaving to each others’ faults, racking up debts no one but the Ransom from Heaven can truly pay?

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.”

Romans 13:8 NIV

“When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. The law code—don’t sleep with another person’s spouse, don’t take someone’s life, don’t take what isn’t yours, don’t always be wanting what you don’t have, and any other ‘don’t’ you can think of—finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself. You can’t go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love.”

Romans 13:9-10 MSG

Friends, no doubt there was government oppression at play in our rebuilders’ situation. But the focus here is on how kinsmen, countrymen, brothers were taking land from those who needed it and charging high fees on loans to those who couldn’t repay. This was not following what our generous Yahweh had commanded, nor what was loving.

Let’s release each other in our day. Just open our hands and allow God to work in His Bride. Marvel in our differences and how He uses the variety of expressions of church worldwide to show off His character. And allow Him room to work in areas in which we are needy or are not releasing our brothers and sisters from debt. None of us could pay the price He did. Let’s stand in awe then turn around and love like Him.

“About this time some of the men and their wives raised a cry of protest against their fellow Jews. They were saying, ‘We have such large families. We need more food to survive.’” 

Nehemiah 5:1-2 NLT

Well, we have arrived at a point requiring a bit more explanation about the background of our rebuilders during this time in Jerusalem. You see, during their days a famine had swept across the land. When Nehemiah arrived families had already been struggling to survive. Add to that people halting their daily routines of farming or selling products to help build the wall, and we can understand the financial strain many of them felt.

There are three ways we can know this was serious: One is the use of great (gadol – exceedingly great, bitter) describing the outcry ( tseaquah – cry of distress) of the folk (am). The second is that the wives (ishish) joined in the protest. They were unable to feed their families during this time which was a situation needing solved before the work could continue. (source) They couldn’t go on until this was addressed.

The final way we can know this was indeed a grave matter is the use of against (el – about, concerning) their brothers (ach – countrymen, kinsmen, relative). “…their complaints were not lodged against the foreign authorities but against their own fellow countrymen who were exploiting their poorer brethren at a time when both were needed to defend the country. The poignant cry of the oppressed people is a cry to God for justice…Economic conditions forced even the considerable property owners to mortgage to the aggrandizement of the wealthy few (see Isaiah 5:8). The rich got richer, the poor poorer.” (source)

What a mess. Fortunately, our God is able and willing to step into our mess. And it seems clear from Scripture that when unity among His people is threatened, particularly in the sight of the watching nations, Yahweh takes it seriously. I believe the same is true for us as New Testament believers. Due to our interconnected, media-driven culture, the world is watching us, too, as we work to deal with injustice and disunity and grave outcries in our day.

Believers, may we take the lead against any sin affecting our people and our witness. May we not shy away from difficult truths, peace-keeping instead of peace-making, even as we seek to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. And when abuse or criminal offenses are involved, may we consult the proper authorities and take a clear stand against evil our Heavenly Father Himself is against.

And why do we obey in these matters? So we may live (chayah – make alive, nourish, revive; from chavah – declare, show). To declare among ourselves in the sight of a watching world we are alive in Him – rooted and built up in Him, nourished as we abide and revived by His energy daily, powerfully at work in us.

Friends, we are alive in Him. Let’s deal with grave issues so healing and building may continue. In the sight of all.

So many thoughts right now.

I had known about the controversy of this John Piper blog post for a week or so but, frankly, didn’t want to take the bait and read it. But finally did and it – along with Rachael Denhollander’s victim statement, all the #MeToo sadness, a phenomenal conference, texts from a ministry partner about a young woman not feeling safe in her home and needing shelter, this blog post, and my own personal junk – seems too much to not take the time and sort through in written form.

I’ll put the bottom line up front: I believe we are battling an evil spirit of patriarchal power and dominance. Certainly not only in our day, but in a way we cannot deny during our time on this planet. And I believe those who have done battle against it are the ones qualified to speak to it. The problem is, this root can bear a variety of fruit making it difficult to distinguish truth from lies. So let’s back up.

I was telling a friend the other day that, in the midst of learning so much about white privilege, classism and white supremacy, it hit me that I am raising future white men. White men – with all the privilege and power that (often sadly) can result in this broken world simply because of those two descriptors they didn’t choose. And the way I both respect my husband and properly submit to him and the way I wisely stand up to him and set healthy boundaries will affect their understanding in how to live with the privileged cards they’ve been dealt.

The way I see it, two extremes from me as the primary female figure in their formative years could set them up for failure. The first is modeling more of a doormat type of wife and mother. With my main function to meet their father’s and their own needs. As in, this is my highest and most worthy calling as an Ezer (from Azar, and with the descriptive adjective neged, from the word nagad. I linked to those so words such as conspicuous, other side, restrain, protect, ally, and aid could be noted.)

The other extreme to model for our future men is to attack or control or demand from their father or them in such a way that they either are turned away from female influence or experience shame in who God created them to be. I think there’s a way we women can go about making our points that can alienate the other half of the population. And, women, if we’re going to do battle on this, we need the men.

Listen, I think the Church spends a lot of time disagreeing about particulars in complementarian versus egalitarian points of view. And I get it: ideas have consequences and what we believe and live in our homes and teach in our communities matters. But more often than not, I think we spin our wheels with each other rather than love. If I was pushed I’m pretty sure I’d fall into the complementarian camp. I think it’s clear God made the two genders different. But I’d have some limbs dangling in a lot of cabins of the egalitarian camp. For starters, I have a pretty egalitarian bent, like in things such as liberty and justice for all. I also have a tendency to believe that being a helper or ally or aid means things like having a spine and healthy boundaries. No way to truly aid someone without it. Or even love them well.

As I type this I realize I’m likely representing only stereotypes of each side. Heaven only knows this isn’t simplistic. But I tend to think we agree on more things than we disagree in these areas. I believe Paul wanted men to be all God created them to be and lay down their lives for others and the Body. I believe Paul wanted women to be all God created them to be and lay down their lives for others and the Body. And there is no way based on how that man was led to do ministry, how he speaks of women, and his acknowledgment of spiritual gifts in the church that he only desired passive, compliant women. Nor do I think El Roi, the God Who Sees, saw to making half the population – and His Bride – a certain gender, gifting that half by the power of the Holy Spirit, then expecting silence to be their norm.

However, I know from experience with our God that submission to authority matters. Submission to abuse is evil. Submission to proper authority is vital. In His relentless pursuit to make us like Jesus, God wants us to know what to do if given authority. And how on earth could we wield authority without knowing how to yield to it? So this matters, and it matters in this conversation. But it’s not the main point I need to press today.

For me in the midst of all this, the main point is a disgusting fruit of this root: blame. This sense of self-blame says, “It’s all my fault” even in situations that clearly are not. A misplaced desire to keep the peace or defend or protect abusive or unhealthy behavior. But mostly, the whole reason ________ happened was because of self. It was the part I most resonated with in Rachel’s statement: if adults or authorities whose job it is to protect you say nothing is wrong with abusive behavior, the natural result is it must be me. I’m not a counselor, but I would assume this is a common stage for victims. However, I’m not sure all move past it at the same rate. I think many stay here and because of that, stay silent. And because of the way systemic oppression operates, there will always be multiple powerful voices helping keep that self-blame in place to silence victims.

And it is this fruit that most paralyzes me. And I’m sure many others, as I can only imagine how many more #MeToo confessions we would have if everyone told. And it is this lie, that everything is our fault, that needs to go back down to the pit of hell where it belongs. It looks like the wife whose husband cheats and her only response is to redouble her efforts to be a perfect wife. Or the female employee who blames herself for sexual harassment because she thinks her body is shameful. Or the rape victim in a country of rampant corruption who blames herself for not taking another route home. Healthy evaluation says, “This is what I’m responsible for, this is what I’m not” and moves forward. And in cases of victimization, healthy evaluation speaks into the shame with, “None of this is my fault.” Because the root of all this is a twisted version of a God-given ordinance to rule over creation. It has turned to power at the expense of others and sinful dominance over healthy stewardship.

Please hear me, I am not a man-hater. I’m a big fan. But if we don’t acknowledge the principalities and powers at work, none of us will be fully free to healthily live our lives in the here and now preparing for the Kingdom come. Many men are intentional at fighting against this evil, whether or not they realize or name it.

Every time they fight the urge to disbelieve women, discounting them as irrational or illogical, when they not only include female voices in matters involving vision or leadership but listen and take heed, men are fighting the good fight against this evil. When men are tempted to believe women are the enemy out to take over or belittle them, or only an object or out to seduce them, and instead replace those lies with Truth, they do battle against this principality. When men whose struggle is looking to women for their worth instead put their Heavenly Father on that throne and lead and serve and love and work alongside women as colleagues or sisters or friends, they resist another form of this dominance.

When men stand up for women, men, boys and girls who have been abused, no matter the social or positional cost, they triumph over this wickedness. When men use the strength they’ve been given to stand guard and protect those who need protection, shielding them from more danger, they live into their God-given design. When men get on their faces and pray for this broken world, nation, culture and specific individuals, God moves and gives victory.

And when God is clearly showing us an outpouring of His Spirit on all sons and daughters, we all together sense it and join Him. Because to resist is disobedience and making decisions based on fear is not wisdom. God has too much to say through His entire Bride for us to not listen. Or say to half the Body they have little or only certain topics to contribute to this time, our time now. And I’m just going to say it: in particular, I believe we need to be listening to women of color. Just pull up a chair and learn, friends, or we will be repeating a defeating cycle.

There’s more to say, there’s always more to say. But it’s been brewing in my mind, heart and spirit too long to ignore, so this is what I have for now. Blessings to anyone reading this. Pray with me against this? Like many things, our collective situation could get worse before it gets better. But a refined Bride dazzlingly reflecting a Glorious Savior is worth it.

“We all slept in our clothes—I, my brothers, my workmen, and the guards backing me up. And each one kept his spear in his hand, even when getting water.”

Nehemiah 4:23 (MSG)

Last time we watched Nehemiah position those outside the walls of Jerusalem as watchmen inside. Today we see how Nehemiah’s inner circle handled this time of battle.

“Not myself, my brothers, my servants, nor the men advising, guarding, and backing me up – we never took off our clothes or let down our defenses.”

Have you ever been to war? Maybe not an actual military war, but a war against your soul? A war against sacred truths and your sanity and your faith? I have. There was a time when I wasn’t sure if the battle would crush me. If I hadn’t had an inner circle of truth-tellers and God’s Word to cling to, it might have.

Nehemiah and his brothers, advisors and servants never let their guard down. They never took off the clothes which held their weapons, even for a brief time to wash up and get water. Because an enemy is an enemy for a reason. An enemy will look to attack when you least expect it. When your guard is down and the stakes are up.

Friends, the stakes are up now. The enemy of truth and beauty and justice and compassion is having his way in our time. And if we’re not making sure to guard against his attacks, we will be casualties. So do we get paranoid and anxious and fearful? Walk around with a defensive chip on our shoulders?

Certainly not. But we saturate our minds with the Word He breathed. We keep the lines of communication with Him open at all times. We make sure those to whom we entrust our hearts to advise us are doing the same. And we rest knowing the battle is His.

The weapons He gives us for our spiritual battle are not like those of this world. But, oh, are they powerful. And they lead to trust rather than anxious striving. And we all know there is much in our time to be anxious about. Praise Him we don’t have to be. We can keep our guard up without being defensive. And we can fight battles on a level no sword or spear can match.

Friends, let’s take Him at His Word. No enemy can stand against Him. And He is so faithful.