But if ye turn unto me...the Wayfarer 7/28/14

But if Ye Turn unto Me
 7/28/14

"We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, not the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandest thy servant Moses.

Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandest thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:

But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there."

(Nehemiah 1: 7-9)

As Nehemiah opens his book of prophecy, He does so in prayer that God continue to hear his pleas for the remnant of those in captivity that find themselves in affliction and reproach by their captors despite having submitted to the wishes and customs of those afflicting them.

He tells us that after hearing of their plight, he sat down and wept for them, mourned for their condition, fasted and prayed before God that He would remember His covenant with His people and give relief and succor to them.

His plea was for mercy... this despite the failure to follow the commandments, statutes and judgments given them as a requirement for the continued blessing of being the elect people chosen by God as his own.

"Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned."

(Nehemiah 1:6)

Confession, repentance given for the transgression, comes first, before asking any favor, before asking for the redemption of either himself or his people.

He noted that "WE" have sinned, not "They" have sinned!

 His inclusion of himself shows the humility, respect, complete awe, and fear of God.

He does not attempt to command anything, demand anything, nor does he deny the need for God's participation in the redemption asked for, the mercy asked for, the return to the blessings he knows are available only through God and His will for His people.

That prayer includes asking that God remember both the warnings that had been given for the penalties of transgression, and the promise given that if that transgression was truly repented and turned from, that the blessings would be returned as well.

The opening chapter of this book, continues, as a prayer for God to hear the pleas, both of Nehemiah and his people, and forgive that transgression.

"Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.

O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant his day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer."

(Nehemiah 1:10 & 11)

Despite having held power, and the ear of the king, Nehemiah recognized the limitations of that power held by him, even as cupbearer to the king, despite any privilege given through position.

He recognized that he was not capable of accomplishing the salvation of his people without the assistance of God!

This prayer, offered here by this old prophet, should be offered as well by all peoples today.

The realization that God is in remembrance of  His promises given us, must come with the realization that He also remembers the warnings given for the transgressions of His statutes and Judgments.

The warm fuzzy that is so sought, and touted by so many must also come with the mourning of the fact that that warm fuzzy has requirements as well that need  be met if it is to be real, not just platitude instead of promise, not placebo given in place of that which actually provides a cure for the ills of the sickness that infests this world.

That sickness is, simply, sin.

The placebos are the ideologies and philosophies that continue to promote the mind of men, and the accomplishments that are possible through the minds of those men over the absolute redemptive power, the strong hand of God that was spoken of by this old prophet.

Substitution of anything other than that power, that strong hand, cannot and will not provide redemption from the wrath that is given in the warning of what was and is to be expected when men refute and refuse the statutes and judgments and commandments of a Creator that WILL be recognized, respected and honored despite all denial by the creature created!

Christ was given us to make possible a better and easier covenant.

He left us a single commandment, that, if followed, would make moot all need to have concern for violation of any other commandment, or statute.

Acceptance of Christ, becoming a Christian, must include the acceptance of that commandment as well.

All warnings to turn back to God may be honored, and fulfilled through the following of that single commandment left us!

As we again find the affliction of the remnant in effect, the instruction given us to endure must be heeded, and the commandment given us must be followed.

The commission given must be heeded as well, practiced continually and consistently in conjunction with that commandment until ALL affliction ceases to exist as the promise given is fulfilled...not by man, but by Christ himself: King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Alpha and the Omega.

"A new commandment, I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another'

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciple, if ye have love one to another."

(John 13:34 & 35)

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy

Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen"

(Matthew 28 19&20)

"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."

(Matthew 24:12 &13)

"And, behold, I come quickly and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."
(REVELATION 1:8)

Even so come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer