Scriptures:
Text to read: Nehemiah 2:1-2 It was the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king. At the hour for serving wine I brought it in and gave it to the king. I had never been hangdog in his presence before, so he asked me, “Why the long face? You’re not sick are you? Or are you depressed?”
2-3 That made me all the more agitated. I said, “Long live the king! And why shouldn’t I be depressed when the city, the city where all my family is buried, is in ruins and the city gates have been reduced to cinders?”
4-5 The king then asked me, “So what do you want?”
Praying under my breath to the God-of-Heaven, I said, “If it please the king, and if the king thinks well of me, send me to Judah, to the city where my family is buried, so that I can rebuild it.” and Revelation 21: Everything New
1 I saw Heaven and earth new-created. Gone the first Heaven, gone the first earth, gone the sea.
2 I saw Holy Jerusalem, new-created, descending resplendent out of Heaven, as ready for God as a bride for her husband.
3-5 I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: “Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They’re his people, he’s their God. He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone.” The Enthroned continued, “Look! I’m making everything new. Write it all down—each word dependable and accurate.”
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John Wesley’s Notes-Commentary:Nehemiah 2:1-5
Verse 1
[1] And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.
Nisan — Four months after he had heard those sad tidings. The reason of this long delay might be either that his turn of attending upon the king did not come 'till that time: or that 'till then he wanted a fit opportunity to move it to him.
Verse 2
[2] Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,
Sad — His fasting joined with inward grief had made a sensible change in his countenance.
Afraid — It was an unusual and ungrateful thing to come into the king of Persia's presence with any token of sorrow. And he feared a disappointment, because his request was great and invidious, and odious to most of the Persian courtiers.
Verse 3
[3] And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
Why should, … — All the grievances of the church, but especially its desolations, ought to be matter of grief to all good people, to all that have a concern for God's honour, and are of a public spirit.
Verse 4
[4] Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Let, … — My sadness comes not from any disaffection to the king, for whom my hearty prayers are that he may live for ever; but from another cause.
Sepulchres — Which by all nations are esteemed sacred and inviolable. He saith not a word of the temple as he spake before a Heathen king who cared for none of these things.
I prayed — To direct my thoughts and words, and to incline the king's heart to grant my request.
Revelation 21:1-5
Verse 1
[1] And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
And I saw — So it runs, Revelation 19:11; 20:1,4,11, in a succession. All these several representations follow one another in order: so the vision reaches into eternity.
A new heaven and a new earth — After the resurrection and general judgment. St. John is not now describing a flourishing state of the church, but a new and eternal state of all things.
For the first heaven and the first earth — Not only the lowest part of heaven, not only the solar system, but the whole ethereal heaven, with all its host, whether of planets or fixed stars, Isaiah 34:4; Matthew 24:29. All the former things will be done away, that all may become new, verses 4,5; 2 Peter 3:10,12.
Are passed away — But in the fourth verse it is said, "are gone away." There the stronger word is used; for death, mourning, and sorrow go away all together: the former heaven and earth only pass away, giving place to the new heaven and the new earth.
Verse 2
[2] And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I saw the holy city — The new heaven, the new earth, and the new Jerusalem, are closely connected. This city is wholly new, belonging not to this world, not to the millennium, but to eternity. This appears from the series of the vision, the magnificence of the description, and the opposition of this city to the second death, Revelation 20:11,12; 21:1; 2,5,8,9; 22:5.
Coming down — In the very act of descending.
Verse 3
[3] And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
They shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God — So shall the covenant between God and his people be executed in the most glorious manner.
Verse 4
[4] And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And death shall be no more — This is a full proof that this whole description belongs not to time, but eternity.
Neither shall sorrow, or crying, or pain, be any more: for the former things are gone away — Under the former heaven, and upon the former earth, there was death and sorrow, crying and pain; all which occasioned many tears: but now pain and sorrow are fled away, and the saints have everlasting life and joy.
Verse 5
[5] And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
And he that sat upon the throne said — Not to St. John only. From the first mention of "him that sat upon the throne," Revelation 4:2, this is the first speech which is expressly ascribed to him.
And he — The angel.
Saith to me Write — As follows.
These sayings are faithful and true — This includes all that went before. The apostle seems again to have ceased writing, being overcome with ecstasy at the voice of him that spake.
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Daily Devotions:
Monday, September 22, 2014
Sermon theme: Dare to follow Jesus - Commit
Read both passages.
What do they share in common?
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Sermon theme: Dare to follow Jesus - Commit
If Revelation is a "fulfillment" of Nehemiah's call, what is our role in it?
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Sermon theme: Dare to follow Jesus - Commit
How do you (us) address an increasingly violent world in light of God's perfect redemption? (How do we get to the new Jerusalem?)
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Sermon theme: Dare to follow Jesus - Commit
What part do you play in helping this world move closer to Revelation 21?
Friday, September 26, 2014
Sermon theme: Dare to follow Jesus - Commit
What spurred Nehemiah to make a bold request?
How does that same feeling work in you?
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Sermon theme: Dare to follow Jesus - Commit
What role does commitment play for any follower of Jesus?
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Sermon theme: Dare to follow Jesus - Commit
Pray for those who are working in violent situations to bring God's justice and peace.
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First United Methodist Church
2111 Camino del Rio South
San Diego, CA 92108
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