Heralds Digest

“And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouse Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah; and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were considered faithful, and their task was to distribute to their brethren. Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for its services!” ‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭13:13-14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/neh.13.13-14.nkjv The major challenge of faithfulness in fellowship and service to humanity is the chagrin of fruitfulness. Public servants with a sense of decency are considered workers on earth with only heaven- bound wages. The implications are that there are no legitimate earth-bound wages without abuse of offices, corrupt practices, embezzlement, financial misappropriation, and extortion. Eliashib the priest collided with Tobiah the politician to corrupt the office of priesthood for his own personal gain and gratifica...

“So it was, when they had heard the Law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.” ‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭13:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/neh.13.3.nkjv The membrane of mixed multitude in the current world of information technology is clearly thin and truly invisible. When fellowship with diverse groups on different social platforms are no longer separated by wall of bricks and pebbles, subscriptions into mixed ideologies, manipulated orientations, and marred follower-ship can be as quick as a blink of the eyes. But the scriptural principle of separation remains the entrance of the Law of God (the Bible). “So it was, when they had heard the Law.” The words of the Lord are pure words; and as the dross of earth get separated from silver in the furnace, so the entrance of the words of God keep the heart pure from the pollution of this world. There is no other escape route for separation from the influence of mixed multitude today, compared to the principle of hearing the Law l...

“And at the same time some were appointed over the rooms of the storehouse for the offerings, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered.” ‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭12:44‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/neh.12.44.nkjv Charitable donations are recognized mode of supporting the activities of charitable organizations, institutions, and social systems, especially when those activities have proven records of improving the life of concerned people. Unfortunately, consistent motivation is necessary to sustain the commitment of people to the lifestyle of cheerful giving. While many organizations and system of people have adopted coercion (emotional, physical, and even spiritual) as a plausible motivational tool, Judah in the days of Nehemiah showed the better way of grace. The scriptures has it that giving was gracious, because “Judah rejoic...

“Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.” ‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭12:43‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/neh.12.43.nkjv The stretch of pain and gloom into the night has a worrisome picture of endlessness, segregation, and loneliness. And when the flash of a man’s financial, family, and field failures stirs freely, it is not difficult to understand the depth of his agony and regret in life. We all keep, albeit unwritten or hidden, dairies of failures and disappointments to loved ones. However, not many are often drawn to the reality of their failures to regret the brokenness of an expected sacred relationship with God. The Jews who returned from captivity had a taste of their failed escapades at the dedication of the repaired walls of Jerusalem. And after the dedication of the walls and a rededication of their lives, they had a boundless burst...

“Now the leaders of the people dwelt at Jerusalem; the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine-tenths were to dwell in other cities. And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.” ‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭11:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/neh.11.1-2.nkjv In our fast paced world, the mobility of the working class is driven by the dynamics of opportunities, civilizations, standard of living, security, etc. Where these material privileges are dominant, people are scarcely concerned about the spiritual implications of settling in any acclaimed land of opportunities. In the days of Nehemiah, the city of Jerusalem was considered a region of least opportunities, based on its poor economic viability and low productivity. For those who are above the working class or assigned as officiating Levites, dwelling in Jerusalem will attract the least opportunity cost. Otherwise, it was considered a great...

“For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the grain, of the new wine and the oil, to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are, where the priests who minister and the gatekeepers and the singers are; and we will not neglect the house of our God.” ‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭10:39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/neh.10.39.nkjv What always differentiate between promise-makers and promise-keepers is the courage to stand with promises. In most circumstances where the promise-giver and promise-taker are at the mercy of an unforeseen change, the terms of reference to the promises are bound to be dynamic. However, God respects promise-keepers who are bound to draw strength from the words of their commitments; rather than accommodating the winds of change. Commitments to believers’ marital vows, business engagement, financial obligations, and friendship ties, especially in the face of an unforeseen change in economic situations can be a serious cross or t...

““Here we are, servants today! And the land that You gave to our fathers, To eat its fruit and its bounty, Here we are, servants in it! And it yields much increase to the kings You have set over us, Because of our sins; Also they have dominion over our bodies and our cattle At their pleasure; And we are in great distress.” ‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭9:36-37‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/neh.9.36-37.nkjv The Kings of this world have policy implementation methods that drive prompt compliance. But in the absence of these measures, orderliness in any system of this world is difficult. Likewise, servanthood is always synonymous to fruitfulness. And in the spiritual realm, freedom from sin without a voluntary submission to the Lordship of Christ simply relinquishes the priced deliverance from the captivity of the enemies. For as many as are led by the Spirit...they constitute the fruitful field of the Father. But unlike the servitude of this world, the Father’s fruitful field does serve in the Spirit ...