Have you ever had the thought that you wished you could wipe the slate clean and start all over? Most, if not all of us, have been at a difficult stage in life and entertained the thought that it would be so nice to start with a clean slate. Kinda like drawing a picture on a sheet of paper, and when you make a mistake or don't like the design then you can erase or simply crumple up the paper and start all over. Or, like having an electronic device (cell, tablet) and it isn't functioning well and all you have to do is reset or restore it back to its original settings. Many of us have wished life to be that way. And here in our text, we find Nehemiah helping the Israelites restart or do a reset with their lives. They have rebuilt the wall around the city, they have rebuilt their passion for worship and now they are rebuilding their system of living. They are moving from the social system that oppressed them to a spiritual way of living or a spiritual system that will develop them rather than destroy them. Nehemiah helps the people embark on a new way of living. They see that the sabbath is special, supporting God's work is critical, and strategic giving is essential to transitioning into a spiritual system.
Rev. Squire J. Newsome III
