Day 226

Nehemiah 7:73–9:21; 1 Corinthians 9:1-18; Psalm 33:12-22; Proverbs 21:11-12

YESTERDAY IN NEHEMIAH, we witnessed the completion of the wall surrounding Jerusalem. Nehemiah subsequently obtained the genealogical records of those who had returned from exile and called everyone to an assembly before God. In today’s reading, the Mosaic law was read in everyone’s hearing, while selected Levites stood among the people to offer explanation. While studying, the people realized that they were to celebrate the Festival of Shelters (Sukkoth) to commemorate their liberation from slavery in Egypt and to reaffirm their utter dependence on God. For the next week, the people observed the festival at the Temple —the ancient place of pilgrimage. This led to their full-hearted prayer of confession before God, which began in today’s reading and will conclude in tomorrow’s.

In 1 Corinthians, Paul defended himself against naysayers who were essentially claiming Paul exploited people for his own advantage.

This is my answer to those who question my authority. Don’t we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals? Don’t we have the right to bring a believing wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers do, and as Peter does? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?

Paul explained that those in spiritual service because of God’s call deserve to be able to support themselves through their hard work on behalf of others. But even though this was completely normal and honorable, Paul had not exploited anyone for anything. The accusations against Paul were false and exasperating because, as Paul asserted, “What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News” (1 Corinthians 9:18).

Assumptions about spiritual, political, and creative leaders are commonplace in our society. But it’s not a new invention. The Bible is full of examples of the same. Joseph faced false assumptions, as did Moses. Many of David’s psalms were written because of assumptions made about him. The story of Saul and David is full of false assumptions. The prophets regularly faced false assumptions. Jesus faced them, and today, we see Paul dealing with them.

The realities we are willing to invent about people we have never met or know only through brief encounters or sound bites are not helpful and are often devastating. Think of what it would be like to have your life story told through fragments of conversations taken out of context or filled in from different seasons of your life that no longer represent who you are. It would be incomplete at best and could be tremendously harmful to your heart. Let’s continue to be vigilant in this area so that we might gain true and assumption-free understandings of one another —and God.

MEDITATION:

We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone.