Epistle for September 5, 2008
Posted by: info <info@...>
E-pistle
Dr. Dan Hite, President FreeWay Foundation September 5, 2008
A Politician Who Wouldn't Take Money!
(Nehemiah 5:1-19)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the events of this chapter
1. A famine, with its accompanying economic crisis struck before
Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, forcing many families into poverty
and slavery: these poor people cried out to Governor Nehemiah
for justice against oppression and heavy taxation, vv. 1-5.
2. In anger, and after serious thought, Nehemiah called a great assembly
and rebuked the nobles and rulers for charging their fellow Jews interest,
confiscating their property, and selling into slavery those who could
not pay their debts; Nehemiah ordered them to cease these practices
and to release and restore those who had been oppressed, vv. 6-11.
3. The guilty persons agreed to obey the commands of Governor Nehemiah,
and he put them under a sacred oath with a curse if they failed to do as
they promised, vv. 12-13.
4. During his entire 12 year administration, Nehemiah accepted no salary
(taxes; tribute) to pay for his expenses or those of his servants; although it
was customary for the people to support the governor and his officials,
Nehemiah paid his own way, recognizing that God would reward him for his
generosity, vv. 14-19.
II. Meditation: on the spiritual principles seen here
1. God is concerned about the economic condition of His people, in addition
to His primary concern about their spiritual condition.
2. God's laws demand mercy toward the poor and needy; He forbids oppressing
His people who have fallen into poverty, Leviticus 25:36-47.
3. Economic practices (business dealings) are subject to the Lord's spiritual
principles which establish what is right and wrong on the basis of God's
standards of ethics and morality.
4. Government officials and/or religious leaders should not draw exorbitant salaries
or profit excessively from their positions of authority. "The laborer is worthy
of his wages," I Timothy 5:18 . . . but a godly person of prominence will be
sensitive to the disparity between "the haves and the have-nots" and give
generously and work diligently to help the poor and needy.
III. Revelation and Applications: as a Christian leader, I need to . . .
1. Realize that God knows and sees all my deeds, including how I make, invest,
spend, and give money.
2. Obey God's instructions by treating all persons with mercy and compassion.
3. Live a life of integrity, according to God's standards of Christian ethics and morality.
4. Work faithfully to earn my wages; give generously to support God's kingdom
enterprises and to help those in need.
Learning Obedience Through Suffering
(Hebrews 5:1-14)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the Old Testament High Priest
1. They were human beings, v. 1.
2. They were sinners ("subject to weakness"), enabling them to have some
compassion on the ignorant and those going astray, v. 2.
3. They had to offer sacrifices for their own sins before making sacrifices for
sins of the people, v. 3.
4. They held this honorable office (High Priest) temporarily, and by God's
sovereign will, vv. 1, 4.
II. Meditation: on the contrasts with Jesus, our High Priest
1. Jesus was more than human; He was God's only begotten Son . . .
divinity in human flesh, v. 5.
2. Jesus is God's appointed High Priest forever, vv. 1, 10 (See Hebrews 7:25)
3. Jesus has His prayers heard because of His unwavering faith in God and His
unceasing fear (reverence) for the Father, v. 7.
4. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life, learning (by experience) that obedience
involves suffering . . . thus becoming the author of eternal salvation to all who
obey Him, vv. 8-9.
III. Revelation: on the responses to these truths by some believers
1. Too many Christians have become dull of hearing (spiritually deaf; unperceptive;
unappreciative) toward Christ's on-going intercessory ministry for them as the
great High Priest, v. 11.
2. Too many Christians, who now should be teaching God's word, still need to be
taught; they require spiritual milk instead of solid food, v. 12.
3. Too many Christians are unskilled in righteousness . . . are spiritual babies, unable
to walk in right relationship with God and man, v. 13.
4. Too many Christians, through lack of spiritual exercise (Bible study, meditation,
prayer, and fasting), remain weak immature, unable to discern good from evil, v. 14.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Perceive Christ's on-going intercession for me as God's High Priest.
2. Allow the Holy Spirit to enlighten my mind so that I may learn and be able to teach
others God's word.
3. Grow in grace and knowledge toward spiritual maturity . . . "to the measure of the
stature of the fullness of Christ," Ephesians 4:13.
3. Exercise personal discipline in my spiritual life, so that I may be able to see and
understand things form God's perspective.
A Wooden Bowl
(Copied from the Black River Times)
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year
old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his
step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's
shaky hands and failing eyesight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon
onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son
and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about
father," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food
on the floor."
So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather
ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken
a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl!
When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction sometimes he had a tear in his
eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions
when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in silence.
One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wooden scraps
on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy
responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I
grow up."
The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.
To be continued!!
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