Oftentimes, as I read from the Old Testament, I notice themes or patterns reflected in the New Testament. I want to begin uncovering these mysteries to further grasp the depth of the God we serve. I am reading Nehemiah, who is introduced as the cupbearer for the Persian king at the time. This meant that Nehemiah was part of the king’s inner circle and had direct, daily access to him. Through this access, Nehemiah was allowed to rebuild Jerusalem and restore its identity.
A lot of times, when I am reading the Old Testament, I fail to realize that being in the bible doesn’t mean you did everything right. The characters in the bible and their stories can teach us so many things, even what not to do. The pattern in the Old Testament demonstrates the failures of the people to keep the law, highlighting the need for a new covenant. Nehemiah’s purpose was important- don’t get me wrong- but there is no resolution to his story. His story creates a parallel to the coming messiah and the rebuilding and restoration of God’s people, yet it fails. Once again, emphasizing the power of Jesus Christ’s coming and the ultimate restoration and formation of the church of Christ.
More specifically, Isaiah was a prophet before the time of Nehemiah. His commission from the Lord, as referenced in all of the gospels, is very important to note here. The people of Israel had once again turned away from God; they were seeing but not perceiving, hearing but not understanding; their hearts had grown dull. Because of this, they would lie in ruin, leaving only a tenth left, referred to as the “holy seed” or “remnant.” I believe there are more than one example of this repeated throughout history, mirroring what was to come. A small group of God’s people remains to rebuild, restore, and witness. In the book of Nehemiah, this is what we are seeing. Even though they ultimately fail, what is so important about this book? I believe there are three key lessons we can learn from this story: the concept of faithful readiness, provision in waiting, and the shortcomings of legalism.
You’ve just read the intro to a short series on the concept of faithful readiness! To read part two, head to my next blog post.
Thank you for reading; everything that I post is based on my research and the Word I believe God has given me. I encourage you to read the Word on your own and see what the lord might be saying to you!