Daily Dose of Hope

March 6, 2025

Day 5 of Week 49

 

Scripture:  Nehemiah 7-9; Psalm 140; Revelation 7

 

Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope!  This is the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.

 

We head back to Nehemiah for our Old Testament reading.  Let’s start with chapter 7.  Nehemiah knows that there are still dangers outside (and maybe even inside) the city. Thus, the leaders must be chosen carefully. Obviously, they needed to be competent. But more than anything else, they needed to have character and love the Lord. Those in charge of the city required more than professional skill; they required integrity.

 

That’s certainly just as important for us today. If we think of those who are in charge of our nation, our states, our cities, and even our churches, integrity matters. It isn’t just about voting record, we need to think of how these individuals actually live their lives. How have they treated their employees, their spouses, and their children? Are they honest? Are they respectable? What is their faith journey like? Integrity matters.

 

There is also a discussion about the times during which the city gates will be open. This may sound strange to us but it really makes perfect sense. Nehemiah is delegating some of the city protection tasks out to various trustworthy people in the community. They are to keep watch and keep the large city gates closed during the busy times of day and only open them during the hottest hours. During that time, the enemies and opponents are going to be less active; it is truly the safest time of day. The men watching the doors can let their guard down for just a moment. Basic commerce can occur and some people will be allowed in and out. But those chosen to guard should come from inside the city, particularly those who live close to the gate. These are people who have a vested interest in keeping that area safe. 

 

Chapter 8 is an incredible chapter.  Ezra the priest brings out the Book of the Law and begins to read it to all the people who could understand. Verse 3 of this chapter states, He read it aloud from day break till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. I’ve been trying to visualize thousands of men, women, and children, listening to the reading of the law. Most likely, it had been years since they had heard God’s Word read out loud. Some may never have heard it. Remember, they had been in exile and then they moved to a very disheveled and chaotic Jerusalem, where survival was precarious. They had become disconnected from God’s Word for generations. And they begin to weep. They were both distraught and heartbroken at how far away from God’s Law they had moved. But Nehemiah gets up and tells the people not to weep. Rather, this was a holy day of celebration. They don’t need to grieve because God is joyful at their new found obedience. They need to rest in that and allow God’s joy to be their strength.

 

In chapter 9, we read that as God’s people stood and listened to the Book of the Law, they knew that things needed to change. After listening to God’s Word, they corporately spent time in confession and worship. And then, they began to move toward aligning themselves with the law. This was repentance.

Repentance is more than being sorry for something.  It’s when we move away from sin and wrongdoing and move toward God. When we repent before God, we are saying that we will change. When we repent of our sin, we cannot go on consciously committing that sin without remorse. Repentance brings results that affect our behavior. When we continue to live in sin, we are short-circuiting God’s power in our life. Lack of repentance can keep us from thriving and experiencing true awakening. Sin is like a millstone around our neck as individuals and as a church.

 

For what do you need to repent? Let’s confess our sin, repent of it, become cleansed and available for the Holy Spirit to fill us and use us.

 

Let’s head over to Revelation 7.  The first six seals have been opened. Before the seventh is opened, however, John takes an interlude. There is something else that needs to be shared. It starts with a vision of four angels standing at the corners of the earth. God is in control over all the earth. These angels emphasize that. Then, the text speaks of putting a seal on all of God’s people.

 

I don’t know about you but over the course of my life, I’ve heard people speak of the mark of the beast (or the evil one) far more often than the mark of God. We will discuss the mark of the beast more when we get to chapter 13 but certainly it’s worth noting that some in religious circles stir up fear. “Be on the lookout,” we hear Bible commentors say. What is our infatuation with things that are dark, mysterious, and sinful? Perhaps we should be more interested and passionate about ensuring that Christ-followers are living in such a way that the world around them will notice the mark of God in their lives. As ones who belong to Jesus, we don’t have to be fearful of Satan. We have the Spirit of the Living God within us and there is power in that! Ephesians 1:13-14 states, And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. The mark of God is far more powerful than the mark of the evil one, yesterday, today, or tomorrow.

 

The chapter specifically mentions the number 144,000. Literal interpretations of this number have caused all kinds of problems throughout history. The Bible does all kinds of things with numbers that we don’t totally understand in our 21st century context. Obviously, 144,000 is 12 squared. Both the numbers 12 and 10 often represent completeness in Scripture. As we work our way through the chapter, we find that the heavenly population is expansive. Verse 9 reads, After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

 

Heaven is larger than our ability to fathom. There are no limits in relation to size and numbers when we are talking about God and heaven. All people from all tribes, nations, tongues, and time periods are invited to receive Jesus and spend eternity in glory. Think about the awesomeness of that truth! People from across the globe will spend eternity worshiping God together.

 

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki