2022-08-07 Reflect - Nehemiah 1

Tim & Miriam Rempel – greetings – still in California, one daughter in Lincoln, Nebraska and one in Boston. They’ve been watching our services online.

(blank)

Introduction

Good morning! Well, here I am again! The first time since the end of March. Thank you so much for allowing me the four-month Sabbatical. It was a time of refreshing, learning, travelling and renovating. Unfortunately, not much fishing! Maybe next time.

One of the things we did during our Sabbatical was take a trip to Alberta and BC. Most of our driving was on highways which are easy to navigate with a map. However, whenever we were in cities such as Calgary or Edmonton, I used Google Maps. Google maps is a wonderful invention for travelling through cities that you aren’t familiar with. No paper map needed, just listen to the calm voice on Google Maps telling you where to go. If you make a mistake, no problem, Google recalibrates and finds a new way. (blank) Most of the time it works. But not always. Five years ago, when we went to New Zealand, the rental car we drove had a built in GPS system that was quite frustrating at times. In the city of Wellington, we got royally lost. Much of Wellington is built on steep hillsides. We would come to an intersection and the GPS system would tell us to turn right but the problem was that there were two roads turning right, one going up and one going down. Invariably we chose the wrong one. Then the GPS would begin recalibrating, again! Finally, Corrina pulled out her phone and tried Google Maps. Their instructions were much clearer, and we were able to find our way out of the maze.

I think GPS systems have done more to familiarize people with the word “re-calibrate” than anything else. Before that it was mostly used by machine operators who were readjusting the dials and settings on their machines to make sure that they were accurately doing their job. We used to do that with carburetors. If you got all the screws turned just right, the motor would run smooth. That’s the original meaning of re-calibrate. Now, however, there is another meaning, similar to the first, but now applied to our lives. “to re-examine (one’s thinking, a plan, a system of values, etc.) and correct it in accord with a new understanding or purpose”. (blank) This is something that every person should periodically do. It often happens naturally, usually at significant life changes. How often haven’t you seen a young man or woman radically change their behaviour when a child is born to them. All of a sudden, they realize that there is more to life than parties and good times. They love their son or daughter so much that they’re willing to make all kinds of sacrifices for them. They recalibrate, they re-examine their thinking and system of values and correct it in accord with a new understanding and purpose. Other significant life changes that cause this kind of re-evaluation are falling in love, getting married, turning 50 or 60, an accident or major illness or psychological diagnosis, a business setback or getting fired from a job, etc. etc. All of these can and often should cause a person to rethink their life’s trajectory. “If I keep going the way I’m going, what will be the result? Will it be what I really want it to be?” We can also simply feel in the doldrums, listless, feeling like we have no purpose and begin to think, ‘something’s wrong, I need to figure out what’s going on.’ We may also be caught up in some sin pattern that is consuming our life. Or not a pattern but a major failing that is causing you to question your ways of living. If one of these is the case for you, maybe “It’s time to Re-Calibrate”.

“It’s Time to Re-Calibrate” is going to be the overall theme today and the next two Sundays. (blank) During this miniseries I will look at three aspects of Re-calibrating one’s life; today I’ll look at Reflect and the next two Sundays; Retool and Rebuild. (blank) Throughout, I will be drawing on the story of Nehemiah in the First Testament. The part of the Bible that tells the story of God working with the people of Israel before the coming of Jesus.

So, let’s turn to Nehemiah chapter 1. (read v1, 2) (blank)

Nehemiah

There ‘s a lot of information here that most of us know nothing about. We know that Nehemiah is the one speaking and we know who his father is. Then we have a date reference. The month of Kislev in the 20th year in the citadel of Susa. Susa was the winter capital of the Persian empire, which was the empire, based in what is now Iran, that had defeated the Babylonian empire about 550 years before the time of Jesus. The citadel Susa is in what is now southwestern Iran and Kislev was the name of a Jewish month around November/December, so, the beginning of winter. In the first verse of chapter 2 we find out that 20th year refers to King Artaxerxes reign.

At this time of year, Nehemiah’s brother Hanani shows up. Just so you know, this was a very long journey, around 2000 kilometres, all on foot or on some kind of animal like a donkey or camel. Not an easy trek. The land of Palestine was also part of the Persian empire. Nehemiah, being far from Jerusalem, naturally questions them about what is happening there. Nehemiah had likely never lived there himself. Here’s what Hanani and his companions told him. (read v3) (blank) The report wasn’t good. Some 160 years previous the Babylonians had completely destroyed the city, tearing down the temple and the walls. 90 years previous to Nehemiah, Cyrus the Great had given permission for the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. They had done so and had also started to rebuild the walls and gates. This had been forcibly stopped which you can read about in the book of Ezra, chapter 4. That’s the situation Nehemiah heard about. Interesting news. Nehemiah’s reaction, however, was more than simply that the news was interesting.

Listen to Nehemiah’s reaction (read v4) (blank)

Why would it have bothered Nehemiah so much? He didn’t live there. He lived in one of the capital cities of the empire. Nothing was broken down in Susa. In fact, beautiful and wonderful buildings were being built all around him. The broken walls didn’t even affect most Jewish people. Historians believe most stayed in the lands they had been exiled to. Only some had moved back to Palestine. So, why did it bother Nehemiah so much?

It was actually quite simple. It’s found at the end of v9 in Nehemiah’s prayer. “the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.” (blank) You see, in King Solomon’s time, many years previously, a Temple had been built for the worship of the one true God. From then on, the worship of God was closely associated with the city of Jerusalem. Even while in exile, all Jews faced towards Jerusalem when praying to God. And in that day and age, every city and town had a wall around it to protect its people and whatever place of worship was in the city. Jerusalem had a beautiful new temple, but no wall. As long as there was no wall, any neighbouring enemy could waltz right in, stop the worship of God, steal the offerings stored there and terrorize the people at will. To a certain extend, God’s reputation was tied up with Jerusalem’s reputation. The broken walls also meant that the Jews who had returned to the land were always in a place of insecurity. Even the surrounding village people were at a disadvantage. They had no place o flee to.

So Nehemiah wept and prayed and mourned and fasted. From vv5 to 11 we have Nehemiah’s final prayer. (read v5-11) (blank) It is a touching, moving prayer.

What are the key elements?

Confession of the sins of his entire nation.

A reminder of what God had promised to do and a call for him to act on his words.

By the way, do you know how long Nehemiah had wept and prayed and mourned and fasted? Chapter 2:1 tells us the in the month of Nisan he went in to serve King Artaxerxes. Nisan is the fourth month after Kislev, around April. Nehemiah spent a 1/3 of a year on his knees. I imagine that much of that time was spent in thought as to what had all gone wrong for God’s people, the Jews and what was the cause. That’s why confession was such a major part of his prayer.

In short, he examined his heart and collective heart of his people. For Nehemiah this was one of the major events in his life that caused him to “re-examine his thinking, and way of life and correct it in accord with a new understanding or purpose”. (blank) In the next chapter, which I won’t read, we have the story of him sharing his broken heart with the King and his desire to go and help to rebuild the wall. I’ll look at that more the next two Sundays. For today I want us to think about his spending four months in reflection and prayer. He heard about the brokenness, and he reflected on it and re-examined his heart and his life.

Examining Your Heart

What kind of brokenness is in your life? What kind of brokenness is in the lives of the people around you? Do you think maybe that its time to stop pushing it aside and spend some time on reflection and re-examination of your own heart?

One of the things that Corrina and I did while on Sabbatical was to attend a retreat for people in ministry at Focus on the Family’s Kerith Retreat Centre in East Braintree, MB. We needed it. Ever since July of 2020 we have had a variety of people live in our home. All of whom have come from some kind of broken family situation. It has been a God thing all along. God led us and prepared us for this. But it is wearing and draining and there have been many times where we haven’t known what to do and how to work with the people in our home. Just so you know, we love every one of them and would do it all over again.

When we went to the retreat, we were able to unpack our souls with the leaders of the retreat. We had lots of time for reflection and prayer. We also needed to confess to God the wrong ways in which we were acting and reacting. We needed to find a new way of relating. We needed a new plan, a new direction. If we hadn’t done this, I think things would have gone downhill. You see, “An unexamined heart is a hurting heart.” (blank) What do I mean by that? Two things.

The first is that a lot of us have hearts that hurt for a bunch of reasons. Some of us have been hurt deeply by others. Caustic words, ‘the look’, physical, mental and sexual abuse, losses such as a financial setback, friendship, marriage partner, death. Simply being misunderstood again and again. Not being cared for. There are so many ways in which our hearts are hurt. What do we do with it? We shove it aside, mask it with activity or medication, cover it with some kind of drug of choice. It hurts to examine it, so we run in the other direction. The problem is that when we do so, our hurting hearts end up hurting others. “An unexamined heart is a hurting heart.” How is this true? I’ll share a few scenarios. “Because my boss is miserable to work with, when I come home, I lash out at my kids over the simplest mistake they make.” “Because the person who abused me had a moustache, I disrespect any man with a moustache.” “Because your actions hurt me, I will retaliate with snide comments and harsh words.” “Because I’m depressed and angry, I’ll retreat from my loved ones and they wonder if I even love them.”

“An unexamined heart is a hurting heart. It itself hurts and as a result, hurts others.”

But it doesn’t have to stay that way. There’s a flipside. “An examined heart can be a healing heart. Your heart can heal, and it can bring healing to others.” (blank) Examining our hearts is painful. I can’t imagine that those four months were much fun for Nehemiah. Weeping and mourning and fasting and praying about the brokenness of Jerusalem doesn’t sound like my idea of a good time. But it was a necessary time. Without it, he wouldn’t have been ready or capable to move forward. He needed to come to a place of personal and corporate repentance and be willing to be part of the solution.

The same is true for us. God longs to heal the brokenness in our lives, but he can’t if we won’t take the time to examine our hearts. I urge you to do so. Be willing to go into the depths and see what is really there. How do you examine your heart? Here are a few thoughts. Much more could be said.

Think through your actions and words in light of the words of Jesus and the things he taught. Read the words of Jesus in Matthew 5, 6 and 7 and compare your life to the pattern of living Jesus taught.

Talk to a friend or a counsellor about your pain, about the difficulties you face, about the major changes in life that you are experiencing. Ask them to be honest with you about where they see your life going and about the patterns of life that they see that are destructive for you and others. Listen and accept their criticism as hard is it is. Even if some of what is said is off. In fact, even if much of what is said is off, look for the parts that are true. Having said that, don’t dismiss their critique too easily. We deceive ourselves very easily as to what is true about our lives.

Talk to God about it directly. Invite him to examine your heart as King David did in the Psalms. Remember, Jesus demonstrated on the cross when he was willing to die for us how much he loves us. He desires only good things for us.

Consider doing what Nehemiah did, if there is brokenness in yourself or others you love, mourn and weep for the brokenness. Fast and pray about the situation. Don’t just sweep it under the rug. Take your time. Nehemiah took four months. Don’t rush things. In Matthew 5:3-6 Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for their is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (blank)

Once you have examined your heart, follow God’s leading in the changes to make. Often it will begin with confession of sin as with Nehemiah. Then it will often lead to significant life changes, to a new direction, and new purpose. It is then that your examined heart can become a healing heart.

For Corrina and I, it meant letting go of certain ways of acting and responding to individuals in our lives that were returning hurt for hurt. It meant letting go of trying to control those individuals and giving them back to God. We are much more at peace and living in a more sustainable way.

I’m going to invite the worship team to come up and prepare to lead us in our last song. While they do so, I’m going to invite all of you to stop for a moment, close your eyes, and ask God to show you which aspect of your life, which aspect of your heart needs examining. Ask him for direction so that you can begin the process of reflection centred in him.

“An unexamined heart is a hurting heart. An examined heart can be a healing heart.”

Pause—then pray

Reading of Psalm 139

Closing Song.

Benediction: 2 Thess. 2:16, 17

Related Media

Related Sermons