Author: Dave Dishman (Page 225 of 458)

Few bless me more as a friend than an honest person. Men and women of integrity form the foundation of the civil society in which we all want to live. Every good leader finds roles for people of integrity.

Nehemiah put his brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do.

Not only was Hanani honest and dependable, he carried a deep reverence and understanding of the Lord. He feared God more than most. His integrity flowed from his knowledge and experience of the Lord. Hanani internalized the words of the law. He meditated on them, turned them over in his mind, struggled with their ideas and put them into practice.

Hanani’s fear of God moved him toward sincerity and trustworthiness.

The same idea emerged when Paul praised Timothy in his letter to the Philippian church—Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. The congregation welcomed Timothy as a man of honor and Biblical principles.

Integrity never grows old. Like Hanani, I hope to live as a man of integrity. I want friends who are people of integrity. The surest way to get there? Respect the Lord and practice his ways.

Nehemiah 7 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Cytonn Photography

The psalmist wrote, Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.

This imagery of rivers giving applause to the Lord, and mountains forming choirs to sing praises, lifts my spirit. I can almost hear clapping as mountain streams in the Rockies cascade against boulders on their rush downhill. I can imagine the chaos of peaks leaning in to hit the right note as they strive for harmony.

We know creation groans in its current state, waiting on the Lord (Romans 8:22), so why wouldn’t all the universe break into spontaneous song upon his long-awaited arrival?

This language of metaphor speaks to us with deep meaning, pointing to the power and glory of the Lord our God. Don’t overlook it, there’s more here than pretty pictures.

Something beyond our senses is at work, profound and mysterious and wonderful. Ecstatic rivers flowing through rhythmic mountains only hint at this reality.

Psalm 98 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Luke Vodell

Daily interactions sap my strength. The challenges and hardships I and my friends face drain away joy. This world is not for the faint of heart.

Every good adventure movie features a powerful villain about to vanquish the hero until the very end when fortunes reverse. Good triumphs over evil, the villain sulks away and everyone lives happily ever after.

Nehemiah faced a convoy of villains as he led the citizens of Jerusalem in rebuilding the city walls. They faced such credible threats that each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked.

Along with violence, Nehemiah’s opponents spread rumors of his desire to finish the walls and declare himself king, which meant swift reprisals from the leaders of the empire. A full-one smear campaign at work.

But Nehemiah persisted, working the curses of his enemies into his prayers. He wrote of the experience: They were all trying to frighten me, thinking “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.” But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”

His enemies hoped to discourage Nehemiah into dropping his trowel. Instead, Nehemiah prayed the opposite and the Lord responded.

In 52 days the wall stood complete, an amazing accomplishment. The nations who opposed the work were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.

The Lord reversed the curse. Which is one reason to pray today. On my own I cannot fix all the problems around me, or heal the wounds of this world, or make wise the foolish.

But I can ask the Lord—the one who answered the prayers of Nehemiah—to work in reverse. Then who knows what amazing results I might see?

Nehemiah 6 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by 愚木混株 cdd20