by Jack Hoehn | December 7, 2019 |In the Beginning Was the Word. I’d love to be one of those nocturnal camel-backed wise men following a wonder-star through dark night after dark night, secure in the knowledge that in my saddle bags I had the stash of golden staters that would both sparkle for the […] Source: https://atoday.org/jesus-doesnt-fit-in-the-manger/
Swedish Union: Statement about Warnings and Reprimands
7 December 2019 | The Swedish Union of Churches has issued a statement in response to the warnings and reprimands from the president’s office of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and voted at the autumn General Conference Executive Committee Meeting. The Sjundedags Adventistsamfundet was one of the entities “warned” about non-compliance by the GC […] Source: https://atoday.org/swedish-union-statement-about-warnings-and-reprimands/
Sunday: Tainted Temple Leadership
Nehemiah chapter 13 begins with a concern about Ammonite and Moabite foreigners/idolaters in their midst (Neh. 13:1-3). These verses do not speak about driving away individuals from a different nation or race who followed God, but rather they refer to sending away those who were of a different faith — not converts, but idolaters. (See also Deut. 23:3-6).
Read Nehemiah 13:1-9. Who were Eliashib and Tobiah? Why is what they did unacceptable? Look at Neh. 2:10, Neh. 2:19; Neh. 3:1; Neh. 12:10, Neh. 12:22; Neh. 13:28.
Removing idols
Both Eliashib and Tobiah are known figures in the book of Nehemiah. Eliashib was the high priest of the nation, and he was also in charge of the temple. Tobiah is mentioned as the Ammonite enemy of Nehemiah who vehemently opposed his work in Jerusalem. The alliance of Eliashib and Tobiah suggests a relationship established through marriage.
Even though records of the marriage connection have not been preserved, we know that Tobiah had a Jewish name (meaning the “Lord is good”), and thus most likely came from a Jewish background. His wife’s family, the descendants of Arah, though unidentified, are believed to have been related to Eliashib’s family. Additionally, Sanballat the Horonite, Nehemiah’s other opponent, had a daughter who was married to Eliashib’s grandson. Therefore, the circle of intrigue around Nehemiah must have been intense as the highest-ranked officials in the land were related and in an alliance against Nehemiah’s leadership.
During the governor’s absence, the high priest gave Tobiah one of the rooms in the temple that was designated to hold the tithe, gifts, and offerings. Tobiah was granted permanent residence in the temple, a way of establishing him as one of the leaders of the nation. The enemies of Nehemiah finally achieved what they wanted all along: to displace Nehemiah and be in charge themselves. Fortunately, Nehemiah wasn’t going to sit by and do nothing.
| Do God’s people all through sacred history — whether the Jews in ancient Israel, or the Christians who followed them during and after New Testament times — so easily allow themselves to be led astray? How can we avoid their mistakes? |
Amen!
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(0) Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/zY_611GpJD8/
A DIY Guide for the Perfect Gift: No More Blue Christmas
A DIY Guide for the Perfect Gift: No More Blue Christmas
Source: https://pmcdata.s3.amazonaws.com/pmc-audio/PODCAST_0.mp3
Isaiah 11:1-2
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him– the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~s/dailybible/main/?i=http://dailybiblepromise.com/verse/2019/12/07
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dailybible/main/~3/-Agt4-O63sU/07
