Scripture Reading: Rev. 12:1-14; Neh. 1:1-11; 2:9-20; 4:4-5, 9; 5:10, 14-19; 8:1-10; 13:14, 29-31
Ⅰ
God’s desire is to end this age and bring in the age of the kingdom; in order for God to accomplish this, He must have His dispensational instrument:
Ａ
All of us should look to the Lord and pray that we will have dispensational value to God; we need to ask ourselves what we are doing to close this dispensation and to bring in the next age, the kingdom age; this is a special time, so there is the need of special believers to do a special work.
Ｂ
Those who can only say, “Go,” but not “Come,” will have no effect; that is, they will have no dispensational value to God — cf. Heb. 10:22:
１
The writer of Hebrews did not tell the believers to go forward but to come forward; this means that the writer was in a particular place and that he wanted his readers to come forward to the place where he was.
２
We need to come forward to three things: to the Holy of Holies, to the throne of grace, and to God Himself; do not shrink backward — come forward — 4:16; 10:22; 7:25; 11:6.
３
God is on the throne of grace, and the throne of grace is in the Holy of Holies; at the time of the writing of the book of Hebrews, the writer was there in the Holy of Holies, calling the Hebrew believers to come forward.
Ｃ
The rapture of the man-child to heaven, the casting of Satan to earth, and the declaration in heaven that the kingdom has come signify that God’s gaining of the man-child is His greatest dispensational move because it brings an end to the church age and introduces the kingdom age — Rev. 12:5, 9-10; 11:15.
Ｄ
The rapture of the man-child to the throne of God will be before the one thousand two hundred and sixty days, which is the time of the great tribulation of three and a half years (forty-two months) — 12:1-14; 13:5; 11:2.
Ｅ
We live in the most privileged time in which we can do the most for God; God as light will show us the way, but the indwelling Christ as our strength and power will enable us to walk the road; a great price must be paid in order to be used now — 3:18.
Ⅱ
Because the church has not attained to God’s purpose, God will choose a group of overcomers who will attain to His purpose and fulfill His demand; this is the principle of the man-child — 12:1-2, 5, 10-11; 2:7, 11, 17, 26-28; 3:5, 12, 20-21:
Ａ
The universal bright woman represents the totality of God’s people, and ultimately, the seed of the woman in Genesis 3:15 is enlarged to include the overcoming believers, the stronger part of God’s people, signified by the man-child — Rev. 12:1-2, 5, 10-11.
Ｂ
The resurrected Christ as the life-giving Spirit is the transfigured descendant of the woman, the seed of the woman, dispensed into us to bruise the serpent’s head in us and make us the corporate seed of the woman, the overcoming man-child, to carry out God’s judgment on the ancient serpent and to be God’s dispensational instrument to change the age and usher in the manifestation of God’s kingdom — v. 5.
Ｃ
Psalm 2:8-9, Revelation 2:26-27, and Revelation 12:5 indicate that the Lord Jesus as God’s Anointed, the overcomers in the churches, and the man-child will rule the nations with an iron rod, thus proving that the Lord Jesus, the overcomers, and the man-child are one; the Lord as the leading Overcomer (3:21) is the Head, center, reality, life, and nature of the man-child, and the man-child as the following overcomers is the Lord’s Body.
Ｄ
Through the Lord’s death on the cross, Satan, the old serpent, was judged, cast out (John 12:31; 16:11); that judgment and sentence will ultimately be carried out and executed by the overcomers as the man-child, the corporate seed of the woman; the war waged by the overcoming believers against Satan is actually the executing of the Lord’s judgment upon him for him to eventually be cast out of heaven (Rev. 12:7-9).
Ｅ
The man-child consists of the overcomers who stand on behalf of the church, take the position that the whole church should take, and do the work for the church — 2:7b, 11b, 17b, 26-28; 3:5, 12, 21; 12:5, 11:
１
All of God’s people should have a part in His eternal purpose, but not all assume their rightful responsibility; therefore, God chooses a group from among them — the man-child brought forth by the woman.
２
In the Bible the stronger ones among God’s people are considered a collective unit fighting the battle for God and bringing God’s kingdom down to earth — Rev. 12:5, 10-11.
３
God will use the man-child to fulfill His economy and to accomplish His purpose — 1 Tim. 1:4; 2 Tim. 1:9; Eph. 1:9, 11; 3:11.
４
God needs the man-child to defeat His enemy and to bring in His kingdom so that His eternal purpose might be accomplished; the Lord’s recovery is the practicality of God’s economy today, and His economy can be carried out only by the man-child — Rev. 12:10.
Ｆ
The rapture of the man-child is a transaction that causes Satan to have no more position in heaven; we must be raptured to fulfill God’s need by executing His judgment upon His enemy — vv. 5, 7-10.
Ｇ
Those who constitute the man-child overcome the devil (the accuser, the slanderer), who is Satan, the adversary of God, because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they love not their soul-life even unto death — vv. 10-11.
Ｈ
The entire being of the man-child is saturated and permeated with the element of Christ because they are daily strengthened into their inner man so that Christ may build Himself into their hearts, they are being nourished with the unsearchable riches of Christ, and they put on Christ as the whole armor of God — Eph. 3:16-18, 8; 6:10-11.
Ⅲ
When Israel was taken into captivity for seventy years, God still had a dispensational move because of Nehemiah, who was a true overcomer; he is a pattern of someone who has dispensational value to God — Neh. 1:1-11; 2:9-20; 4:4-5, 9; 5:10, 14-19; 8:1-10; 13:14, 29-31:
Ａ
The crucial point in the book of Nehemiah is that the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem with its wall was both a continual recovery among His elect for His testimony as the accomplishment of God’s economy and a safeguard and protection for the house of God within the city:
１
This signifies that the house of God as His dwelling and home on the earth needs His kingdom to be established as a realm to safeguard His interest on the earth for His administration to carry out His economy — cf. Rom. 14:17.
２
The rebuilding of the house of God typifies God’s recovery of the degraded church, and the rebuilding of the wall of the city of Jerusalem typifies God’s recovery of His kingdom; the building of God’s house and kingdom go together — Matt. 16:18-19.
Ｂ
When we realize and enjoy Christ as our life, we have the church as the house of God; if we go further and realize His headship, the house will be enlarged to be the city, the kingdom of God — Eph. 1:10, 22-23; 4:15; Rev. 22:1.
Ｃ
Nehemiah shows the need for us to have the proper aggressiveness in the Lord’s recovery today:
１
The leaders of the Moabites and Ammonites were greatly displeased about Nehemiah’s seeking the good of the children of Israel; these descendants of the impure increase of Lot hated and despised the children of Israel — Neh. 2:10, 19; cf. Ezek. 25:3, 8.
２
In relation to the mocking, despising, and reproach of these opposers, Nehemiah was very pure and aggressive, not cowardly — Neh. 1:4; 2:3-8, 17-20; 4:3-5, 8-9, 14, 17-23; 5:14; 13:23-31; cf. Acts 4:29-31; 1 Thes. 2:2; 2 Tim. 1:7-8.
３
The aggressive ones receive help from God; like Nehemiah, the apostle Paul was allied with God and realized God’s assistance in this alliance — Acts 26:21-22.
４
Nehemiah’s aggressiveness, as a virtue in his human conduct, shows that our natural capacity, ability, and virtues must pass through the cross of Christ and be brought into resurrection, into the Spirit as the consummation of the Triune God, to be useful to God in the accomplishing of His economy.
Ｄ
Nehemiah did not live in his natural man but in resurrection; he was aggressive, but his aggressiveness was accompanied by other characteristics:
１
In his relationship with God, he was one who loved God and also loved God’s interests on the earth, including the Holy Land (signifying Christ), the holy temple (signifying the church), and the holy city (signifying the kingdom of God) — 1 Kings 8:48; cf. 2 Tim. 3:1-5.
２
As a person who loved God, Nehemiah prayed to God to contact Him in fellowship; for the rebuilding of the wall, Nehemiah stood on God’s word and prayed according to it — Neh. 1:1-11; 2:4; 4:4-5, 9.
３
Nehemiah trusted in God and even became one with God; as a result, he became the representative of God — 5:19; cf. 2 Cor. 5:20.
４
In his relationship with the people, Nehemiah was unselfish, without any self-seeking or self-interest; he was always willing to sacrifice what he had for the people and for the nation — Neh. 5:10, 14-19.
Ｅ
Nehemiah, as the governor, in the position of a king, was a man with a pure heart for the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall in carrying out God’s economy; he was a pattern of what a leader among God’s people should be — cf. 1 Tim. 3:2-7; 1 Pet. 5:1-3:
１
Unlike many of the kings of Israel and Judah, Nehemiah was not selfish, did not seek his own interests, and was not indulgent in sexual lust.
２
As the commander-in-chief, Nehemiah was among those who were ready to fight against the enemy, and he took part in the night watch; he did not leave these matters to others but participated in them himself — Neh. 4:9-23.
３
He and his brothers did not eat the food appointed for the governor for twelve years because of the fear of God — 5:14-15.
４
Nehemiah applied himself to work on the city wall without any kind of payment; instead of being self-seeking, he fed others for the purpose of building up the wall — vv. 16-18.
Ｆ
Although Nehemiah was the ruler, he was altogether not ambitious; this is indicated by the fact that in reconstituting the nation, he recognized his need of Ezra for the reconstitution of the people of God with the word of God — 8:1-10; Phil. 2:3-4.
Ｇ
Nehemiah was the perfect leader, the best leader in human history and the best example of what an elder should be; it is surely worthwhile for us, especially the leading ones in the churches, to consider his example so that we may be a pattern of gaining God and flowing out God to others in order to turn the age — Neh. 5:19; 13:14.
Morning Nourishment
Rev. 12:5 And she brought forth a son, a man-child, who is to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.Heb. 10:22 Let us come forward to the Holy of Holies with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
According to the Bible, the seed of the woman will bruise the head of the enemy. The seed of the woman in Genesis 3 primarily refers to the Lord Jesus, but the overcomers also have a part in this seed. The seed of the woman includes the church, especially the overcomers. Even though the Lord bruised Satan’s head, he is still at work. The fulfillment of the seed of the woman bruising Satan can be seen in the man-child in Revelation 12. The only Overcomer includes all the overcomers (vv. 10-11). (CWWN, vol. 34, “The Glorious Church,” p. 153)
Today’s Reading
When God changes His attitude toward a certain matter, He makes a dispensational move. Every dispensational move brings in God’s new way. His most important dispensational move is in Revelation 12. He wants to end this age and bring in the age of the kingdom…. How can He bring this age to a close and bring in another? He must have His dispensational instrument. This is what God wants to do today.The rapture of the man-child brings an end to the church age and introduces the kingdom age. The man-child enables God to move….We should never forget that God can be limited. He waits for man in all of His moves. God’s binding in heaven is based on our binding on earth; God’s loosing in heaven is based on our loosing on earth. Everything depends on the church.
It is God’s desire that created beings would deal with fallen created beings. According to His purpose, the whole church should deal with Satan; however, the church has failed. Therefore, there is the need for the overcomers to rise up. God’s purpose is fulfilled in the overcomers because they work with Him. We can see the principle of the overcomers throughout the Word of God. (CWWN, vol. 34, “The Glorious Church,” pp. 153-154)
The writer of Hebrews tells us to “come forward.”...This phrase... is used several times in Hebrews: “come forward... to the throne of grace” (4:16); “come forward to the Holy of Holies” (10:22); “come forward to God” (7:25; 11:6). We need to come forward to three things: to the Holy of Holies, to the throne of grace, and to God Himself. Do not shrink backward—come forward. The Hebrew believers were in danger of shrinking back. They were staggering and hesitating, and the book of Hebrews was written to encourage them to come forward. The writer did not tell them to go forward but to come forward. This means that the writer was in a particular place and that he wanted his readers to come forward to the place where he was….Where is God? He is on the throne of grace. Where is the throne of grace? It is in the Holy of Holies. At the time of the writing of this book, the writer was there in the Holy of Holies, calling the Hebrew brothers to come forward. (Life-study of Hebrews, p. 356)
After the rapture the woman will be persecuted three and a half years. Many other of her children will go through the tribulation, but God will keep them. Being an overcomer is not primarily for escaping the tribulation. We need to see of what value the rapture is to the Lord, not to ourselves.
Of all the dispensational moves, the man-child is the greatest because it removes man’s power and the devil’s power, and it brings in the kingdom. We live in the most privileged time; we can do the most for God. Light will show us the way, but strength and power will enable us to walk the road. A great price must be paid in order to be used now. (CWWN, vol. 34, “The Glorious Church,” pp. 156-157)
Further Reading: CWWN, vol. 34, “The Glorious Church,” pp. 153-157 (Appendix); Life-study of Hebrews, msg. 32
Morning Nourishment
Gen. 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed; he will bruise you on the head, but you will bruise him on the heel.Rev. 12:1-2 And a great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon underneath her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was with child, and she cried out, travailing in birth and being in pain to bring forth.
The Lord Jesus, the seed of the woman, has bruised the head of the serpent. The Lord has destroyed Satan, the one who holds the power of death. While the Lord Jesus was destroying the serpent on the cross, the serpent bruised His heel. This means that Satan wounded the Lord Jesus by nailing His feet to the cross (Psa. 22:16).
The woman in Genesis 3:15 first is Eve and second is all the people of God, including the virgin Mary, as signified by Eve. Hence, the seed of the woman is mainly the Lord Jesus who was born of Mary. However, more regarding the seed of the woman can be seen in Revelation 12. The woman depicted in Revelation 12 and signified in Genesis 3:15 is a universal woman, and within her is a part called the man-child (Rev. 12:1, 2, 5). In a biblical sense, woman represents weakness, for the woman is the weaker vessel (1 Pet. 3:7). The man, especially the man-child, represents strength. The universal woman of Revelation 12 has two parts: the outer part, which is the woman herself, and the inner part, which is the man-child…. All the people of God are the woman, who is somewhat weak, but among all the people of God is a stronger part, which is the man-child, the overcomers….The man-child is also a part of the seed of the woman. (Life-study of Genesis, pp. 252-253)
Today’s Reading
This man-child is not individual; he is corporate. Since the woman herself is not individual, but universal and corporate, her child must also be universal and corporate. This corporate man-child includes the Lord Jesus as the Head, center, reality, life, and nature of the man-child. This can be proved from the Scriptures. Psalm 2:8-9 prophesies that the Lord Jesus, God’s Anointed One, will rule the nations with a rod of iron. Revelation 2:26-27 says that the overcomers in the churches will rule over the nations with a rod of iron. Now in Revelation 12:5 we are told that the man-child will rule all nations with a rod of iron. Therefore, according to the record of the Bible, both the Lord Jesus Himself and His overcomers will rule over the nations with a rod of iron. Thus, the man-child in Revelation 12:5 includes both the Lord Jesus and the overcomers in the churches. Furthermore, Revelation 20:4 says that Christ and the resurrected overcomers will reign as kings for a thousand years. Hence, the man-child in Revelation 12 is neither the Lord Jesus individually nor the overcomers separate from Him, but the Lord Jesus with the overcomers. Christ Himself is the foremost overcomer (Rev. 3:21). As the leading overcomer He is the Head, center, reality, life, and nature of the overcomers. Among the people of God on earth there is a stronger part which includes the Lord Jesus and the overcomers. Thus, the Lord Jesus and His overcomers compose the man-child.On the one hand, we are the woman; on the other hand, we are the seed of the woman. We are the ones who trust in God: this is our source. We also are the seed of this source that trusts in God. Therefore, we can become strong. Only the seed of the source trusting in God can be strong, not strong in themselves, but strong in God. The Lord Jesus Himself took the lead to be such a person. He is the Head of the man-child. Now He is also the center, reality, life, and nature of the man-child. How the enemy, Satan, fights against this man-child! (Life-study of Genesis, pp. 253-255)
Further Reading: Life-study of Genesis, msgs. 19-20; Life-study of Revelation, msgs. 34-35
Morning Nourishment
Rev. 12:10-11 …Now has come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ, for the accuser of our brothers has been cast down, who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they loved not their soul-life even unto death.The woman [in Revelation 12] represents the totality of God’s people. But throughout all generations there have been some stronger ones among God’s people. These are considered in the Bible as a collective unit fighting the battle for God and bringing God’s kingdom down to earth.
Verse 5 says that the woman “brought forth” the man-child. “Brought forth” here signifies resurrection, as in Acts 13:33-34. The man-child is composed of the overcoming saints who have died and who have been resurrected. This is proved by the words unto death in Revelation 12:11….The resurrection of all the dead overcoming saints will be the delivery of the man-child. Hence, the man-child is composed of all the overcoming saints who die before the time of this resurrection. If you are an overcomer today and live until the Lord comes back, you will not be a part of the man-child. Instead, you may be among the firstfruits mentioned in Revelation 14. But if you are an overcomer and die before the Lord comes back, you will be resurrected to be part of the man-child.
The man-child brought forth in 12:5 is composed of the “brothers” in verse 10 who have been opposed and accused by Satan, the enemy of God. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of their testimony, and by loving not their soul-life even unto death (v. 11). (Life-study of Revelation, pp. 420, 426-427)
Today’s Reading
Although we all have come into the Lord’s recovery, we should not say that everyone in the recovery will be an overcomer….We can only say that those in the recovery have a greater possibility of being overcomers. Whether or not you will be an overcomer depends upon you; it depends upon how much you share of God’s grace….We must look to the Lord that we may be enriched, strengthened, and become more solid so that we might grow from the woman into her stronger part. But no matter how strong you become, do not prematurely separate yourself from the woman…. Stay in the woman as part of the man-child until the time of delivery has come.How can we be the man-child? If you would be part of the man-child, you must eat more, grow more, and become stronger. To put it into practical terms, you must pray more, spend more time with the Lord, eat more of the Word, experience the Lord more, grow in life more, and have more dealings with the negative things. If others would gossip, you would not gossip. If others would not pray, you would pray more. Although you should not be separate from the woman, you should be somewhat different from others. The woman is too general. Those who are part of the man-child are somewhat particular. Many of the dear ones in the Lord’s recovery are indifferent. They have little appetite and do not like to eat very much. But if you would be in the man-child, you should not be indifferent. You must be particular, sober, and serious. You must have a good appetite and have a personal, direct, moment-by-moment dealing with the Lord….Whether or not you will be in the man-child depends upon how you react to God’s desire, God’s move, and God’s eternal economy. If, day and night, you cannot go on until you have given yourself wholly and thoroughly to God’s economy, then it is likely that you are a part of the man-child.
Many of you have time to gossip, but you do not have time to read a few pages of the Life-study messages. Are you in the man-child?...Whether or not you are part of the man-child depends upon how hungry and thirsty you are. (Life-study of Revelation, pp. 421-423)
Further Reading: Life-study of Revelation, msgs. 36, 39, 45
Morning Nourishment
Rev. 12:7-9 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels went to war with the dragon. And the dragon warred and his angels. And they did not prevail, neither was their place found any longer in heaven. And the great dragon was cast down, the ancient serpent, he who is called the Devil and Satan, he who deceives the whole inhabited earth; he was cast to the earth...[In Revelation 12:9] dragon indicates greatness, cruelty, and killing; serpent refers to the cunning one who always deceives; devil means accuser, or slanderer; and Satan is the rebellious one.
Satan is cast down at this point because the overcomers, the man-child, are caught up to God. The principle here is that where the man-child is, there is no ground for the enemy. Satan has been judged on the cross of Christ, but this judgment needs to be executed. The church should carry out this judgment, but it has failed, so the overcomers must rise up to take the position of the church to execute God’s sentence on Satan…. After the overcomers are raptured and caught up to God’s throne, there will be no more place there for the enemy.
A seeking believer may deal with his conscience until it becomes a pure conscience. However, when the conscience becomes pure, it is easy for it to be weak….When [it] is weak, the enemy always accuses us, causing us to constantly feel that we are not right…. [So] we have to stand against the enemy by the covering of the blood. We have to not only claim but proclaim the power of the redeeming blood. (CWWL, 1964, vol. 2, “A General Sketch of the New Testament in the Light of Christ and the Church, Part 4—Revelation,” pp. 495-496)
Today’s Reading
All of God’s people have a part in His eternal purpose, but not all assume their rightful responsibility. Therefore, God chooses a group of people from among them. This group is a portion of the whole, a part of the many chosen by God. This is the man-child brought forth by the woman.The rapture of the man-child is not just a matter of some individuals being caught up, but more than that, it is to bring to an end the warfare which has been going on for ages and generations….When this warfare takes place in heaven, Michael and his angels fight against the dragon, who is the old serpent. Formerly he was a serpent, but now he has changed in form to a dragon. He has steadily increased his power. However, once the man-child is caught up, not only is the dragon unable to be enlarged any further, but he is cast down from heaven. The rapture of the man-child is a transaction which causes Satan to have no more position in heaven.
The man-child in Revelation 12 consists of the overcomers who stand on behalf of the church. Therefore, as soon as the man-child is caught up, Satan is cast down from heaven and the kingdom comes.
The reason for the overcomers to be the overcomers is not to receive glory or crowns for themselves, but simply to take the position which the whole church should take and do the work for the church….The church... has failed... [and] has not gained the ground for God. There is only a group of people left to do that work for the church and to take up the church’s responsibility. This group is the overcomers. What they do is counted as the work of the whole church. If there are those who will be the overcomers, God’s purpose is attained and He is satisfied. This is the principle of the man-child.
God’s difficulty is removed by the rapture of the man-child; His problem is solved. It seems that once the man-child is born, God’s purpose can no longer be hindered. This is what God is calling for today; this is what interests Him today. God needs a group of people to attain His original goal. (CWWN, vol. 34, “The Glorious Church,” pp. 75-76, 78, 81, 83-84)
Further Reading: CWWN, vol. 34, “The Glorious Church,” ch. 4; Life-study of Revelation, msgs. 37-38
Morning Nourishment
Matt. 16:18-19 …Upon this rock I will build My church…. I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens, and whatever you bind on the earth shall have been bound in the heavens, and whatever you loose on the earth shall have been loosed in the heavens.Rom. 14:17 For the kingdom of God is... righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
The book of Ezra is a history of the return of Israel’s captivity and the rebuilding of the house of God as the initiation of God’s recovery among His elect for His testimony on the earth according to His economy. The book of Nehemiah is a history of the rebuilding of the wall of the city of Jerusalem as a continual recovery among His elect for His testimony for the accomplishment of His economy.
The crucial point of the book of Nehemiah is that the city of Jerusalem was a safeguard and protection for the house of God, which was in the city. This signifies that the house of God as His dwelling and home on the earth needs His kingdom to be established as a realm to safeguard His interest on the earth for His administration, to carry out His economy. The rebuilding of the house of God typifies God’s recovery of the degraded church, and the rebuilding of the wall of the city of Jerusalem typifies God’s recovery of His kingdom. God’s building of His house and His building of His kingdom go together (Matt 16:18-19). (Life-study of Nehemiah, pp. 1-2)
Today’s Reading
The leaders of the Moabites and Ammonites were greatly displeased about Nehemiah’s seeking the good of the children of Israel (Neh. 2:10). Nehemiah 2:17-20 is a word concerning the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem. The leaders of the Moabites and Ammonites mocked and despised the children of Israel and asked whether they would rebel against the king by doing this (v. 19). Nehemiah answered them by saying, “The God of heaven Himself will make us prosper; therefore we His servants will rise up and build. But you have no portion nor right nor memorial in Jerusalem” (v. 20). This answer indicates that Nehemiah was very aggressive. He surely was not cowardly. Anyone who is cowardly cannot be a servant of God.The enemies became angry and greatly enraged, and again they mocked the Jews and despised their building (4:1-3). Nehemiah trusted in God by praying that God would return their reproach to themselves. Thus the Jews built the wall, and all the wall was joined together to half its height, for they had a heart to work (vv. 4-6). Today, no matter how much we may be mocked and despised, we should have a heart to build and should be aggressive.
On the one hand, the children of Israel were prepared to fight; on the other hand, they trusted in God that He would fight for them. In this matter also they were aggressive. Those who are cowardly might say that, since God will fight for us, there is no need for us to do anything. But in a very real sense, God will help those who help themselves. If you do not help yourself, God will not help you. According to history, God does not help the cowardly. It is the aggressive ones who have received help from God.
In the typology in the Old Testament... many persons were temporarily used by God according to their natural capacity and natural virtues to signify something spiritual. An example of this is Nehemiah and his aggressiveness, which was a virtue in his human conduct…. In the New Testament, all the natural virtues and capacities should be brought to the cross. They need to be put to the cross and crossed out.
According to the real significance of the cross of Christ, the cross does not mean merely that something is put to an end but that the natural things are crossed out in order to be brought into resurrection. (Life-study of Nehemiah, pp. 3-5, 12-13)
Further Reading: Life-study of Nehemiah, msgs. 1-2
Morning Nourishment
1 Kings 8:48 And if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul..., and they pray to You toward their land..., the city that You have chosen, and the house that I have built for Your name.1 Pet. 5:2-3 Shepherd the flock of God among you, overseeing...willingly, according to God;...eagerly;... by becoming patterns of the flock.
Nehemiah was one who lived not in his natural man but in resurrection. He was aggressive, but his aggressiveness was accompanied by other characteristics. First, he loved God…. He also loved the Holy Land (signifying Christ), the holy temple (signifying the church), and the holy city (signifying the kingdom of God). He loved God and, in typology, he loved Christ, the church, and the kingdom. As a person who loved God, Nehemiah was one who contacted God, ...prayed to God (Neh. 1:4)…. Nehemiah trusted in God and…became one with God.
Nehemiah was an aggressive person who loved God, the Holy Land, the holy temple, and the holy city, who contacted God and had fellowship with Him, who trusted in God, and who was one with God. As a result, he became the representative of God. (Life-study of Nehemiah, p. 15)
Today’s Reading
In Nehemiah 5:14 through 19 we see Nehemiah’s good example….Nehemiah and his brothers did not eat the food appointed for the governor for twelve years because of the fear of God (vv. 14-15).Nehemiah applied himself to work on the city wall. He, his brothers, and all his servants... did not acquire fields. This means they did not receive any kind of payment. Rather, he fed richly at his table one hundred fifty Jews and rulers, besides those who came to him from the surrounding nations, not demanding the food appointed for the governor, for the building service was heavy on the people (vv. 16-18).
Nehemiah, as the governor, in the position of a king, was a man with a pure heart for the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall in carrying out God’s economy. He was not selfish, he did not seek his own interests, and he was not indulgent in sexual lust like all the kings, including David. Therefore, he was qualified to enjoy the top portion, the kingship of the good land promised by God to His elect. Instead of being self-seeking, he fed others for the purpose of building up the wall. In human history he might have been the only leader of a nation to behave in such a way. As a result, he was used by God.
Nehemiah received help from God to carry out a great success in the work of rebuilding the wall of the city of Jerusalem. It is surely worthwhile for us today, especially the leading ones in the churches, to consider his example. Nehemiah was a head, a ruler, of a nation, but he was altogether not ambitious, ... indicated by the fact that he recognized his need of Ezra. In reconstituting the nation, Nehemiah realized that he did not know God’s Word. But Ezra, who was famous for his knowledge of the Word of God, was still alive, and Nehemiah was willing to go to Ezra for help. Many of today’s leaders would not seek help in such a way…. Nehemiah knew that without Ezra he could not reconstitute the people of God.
Nehemiah was the perfect leader, the best leader in human history. Only under the leadership of such persons as Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah could Israel be reconstituted to be the testimony of God, the expression of God on earth, a people absolutely different from the Gentile nations. This is a type of what God wants the church to be today.
There were no complaints about Nehemiah from the people. Everyone appreciated him and was grateful for him. We may say that Nehemiah was an outstanding elder, the best example of what an elder should be. I hope that all the elders in the churches today will be like Nehemiah. (Life-study of Nehemiah, pp. 6-7, 32-33, 31)
Further Reading: Life-study of Nehemiah, msgs. 3-5