In The Odyssey, Odysseus had his men tie him to the mast of his ship so that he wouldn’t succumb to the Siren’s alluring song as they passed the rocky Sirenum Scopuli islands. The Sirens were mythical sea nymphs who sang so beautifully that sailors would sail their ships into the island cliffs in an [...]
Posts Tagged as ‘pride’
July 2, 2008
11.2 Like a Thief In the Night
Nehemiah had left Jerusalem in good shape under able leadership, but the people got complacent after he returned to the king. They let down their guard at the gates, and the enemy was able to sneak in and make his home in the heart of the city – the temple. Tobiah didn’t scale the wall, [...]
May 28, 2008
9.2 Wall Fortification
Another essential way to keep your walls strong is to stay in the Scriptures daily. It’s the sword of the Spirit, which you can use both offensively and defensively to defeat the Enemy. Nehemiah knew the power of Scripture to change hearts and make the people more like God.
Many men have told me that [...]
May 10, 2008
7.8 The Inside Man
One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, “Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to [...]
May 6, 2008
7.4 Where Are You, And Who Are You With?
Sanballat and Geshem invited Nehemiah to a special meeting of high-level leaders, but Nehemiah knew that he had no business associating with men like them. We should avoid isolation, but we also have to be careful not to put ourselves in harm’s way by going places we shouldn’t go with people we have no business [...]
May 2, 2008
7.1 Divide and Conquer
When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it – though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates – Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us [...]
March 22, 2008
4:6 Pride and the Sin of Compare-A-Son
The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors. (Nehemiah 3:5)
What a disgrace! The nobles of Tekoa were too good to join in this great work. Apparently, they were the only ones who wouldn’t help with the walls; no other abstainers [...]
