Year 5, Day 53: Nehemiah 6

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Discipleship Focus: Authority

• Authority: Our calling.  This comes from God as king.  Because He calls us as His representatives, He gives us authority to go and do His will.

I am constantly reminded with how much of life starts with having a properly oriented perspective of Up.  If my Up is focused on God, most decisions really become quite clear.  If I am focused on my Father in heaven, then my identity becomes clear and I can be obedient.  If I am focused upon the true King of the universe, then my authority becomes clear and my power is obvious.  It is this dimension of authority that I want to focus today with Nehemiah.  But in truth it all starts with the focus of Nehemiah’s worship.  Who is in Nehemiah’s Up position?  God.

Three attacks come against Nehemiah in this chapter.  The first two attacks are external.  The first attack is a physical attack.  The leaders of the people around Nehemiah try to draw him out away from Jerusalem so that they can attack him.  Nehemiah will have none of it.  He knows his place.  Because God is in his Up position, Nehemiah knows that his authority – and therefore his power – don’t extend out away from Jerusalem.  Therefore, there is no need to go out into Jerusalem and there is no need to put himself at risk.  Nehemiah is able to avoid this threat entirely because he knows the limits of the authority that God has given to him.

The second attack is a case of defaming his character before the King of Persia.  Nehemiah is told that they are going to tell the king that Nehemiah is planning a revolt.  What is interesting is that Nehemiah allows God to fight this battle as well.  Nehemiah responds with truth: “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them in your own mind.”  But then the next comment we hear is Nehemiah asking for God to protect him.  Once more Nehemiah is able to avoid the bait because he knows the extent of his authority.  He is content to let God fight the battle that is outside of his authority to fight – even though it involves him and his character!

The third attack against Nehemiah is a subtle and deadly attack from within upon his character.  Some of the religious leaders in Jerusalem attempt to get Nehemiah to enter into the temple.  They try to smooth-talk Nehemiah into going where he has no right to go!  He is no priest, he has no business being there!  Once more Nehemiah understands his authority.  Nehemiah has been given the authority to lead and rule over the Jews from a political perspective.  He is their governor.  But he is not a priest.  He has not been appointed by God to offer up sacrifices.  Because Nehemiah knows and understands his place, he understands his authority.  Because he understands his authority, he is once more able to sidestep the bait of the trap that had been laid for him.

Understanding our authority is crucial to living a successful life in obedience to God.  But obedience only comes when we are willing to have God in our Up position.  Want to live a life of obedience?  Get your identity and authority from God.

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