10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!
Who has experienced God’s goodness? Knowing that… would you say it’s true that one day as the most insignificant servant in God’s household is better than a whole lifetime of dwelling amongst wickedness?
Trusting God means experiencing favor and honor. That alone is enough goodness to help us walk uprightly. Sure there are times we would like to have our cake and eat it too. Choosing what God says is best for us may seem like we are getting the short end of “riches” or fewer friends but when we go to sleep at night we have His peace that surpasses understanding (Phil 4:6,7).
Philippians 4:6,7 (NET)
Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
When the people flying first class are crude and rude (I heard one passenger this past week laughing hysterically and repeating three times while talking on her phone “ did you just call me a f..ng b.?” And those flying economy are the students with no carryons but polite. I’ll tell you right now that I prefer to stay in economy class, sitting at the back of the plane.
It’s not always about wealth but it sure seems that the tents of wickedness can’t get enough of swindling. Just one day, Lord, in your courts. You satisfy me and I am grateful.- Teresa #withYou #Iamsatisfied #lifetimelearner
At 10 years old, I wanted to be an astronaut when I grew up. Watching the Apollo astronauts on TV (during school) was certainly part of the reason for my excitement. Also, I developed a love for traveling (like my mom) that was fueled by discovering new places.
While I consider this passage, I find great comfort in knowing that my “fleshly nature” has died and my “spiritual life” has been awakened. Even more secure, it is hidden with Christ in God.
That is because God chose me, called me holy and beloved. This knowledge alone can cause my compassionate heart to overflow. Do I feel chosen? For those who have a question on whether or not they are chosen, I challenge you to ask God for His confirmation in your life. The Holy Spirit comforts us in this. But I must warn you that an honest, humble petition will result in something you never thought possible. Be prepared to be amazed!
What am I struggling with today? Maybe it’s part of my “earthly life”. Remembering that Christ, (who “is all and in all“ ) will help me solve many issues involving those who think “differently” than me.
Forgiveness means letting God’s plan of peace pervade my thoughts. I can focus on the truth of God’s word or I can focus on the “white noise” of the world’s system (which is opposed to God).
He is our peace and He is love. (We love because He first loved us – I John 3:16). In that, there is much earthly good to be reaped. – Teresa #beheavenlyminded #sowtheseedonearth
Colossians 3:1-17. English Standard Version
Put On the New Self
3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your[a] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:[b]sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[c]7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self[d] with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,[e] free; but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.Read full chapter
There were moments when the wickedness of the world had become too much for those with contrite hearts. At that point, God chose to provide them with an escape (translating them into glory). I understand my father’s death this way. He had endured so much wickedness with those around him that God chose to give him peace.
But there are also times when the believer must live and be a witness of Jesus’ humility and strength. They are enabled with the power of God to endure for a time.
Those who are lowly, He will revive their spirit. Those who are of a contrite heart, He dwells with them.
When God dwells with man, the curse of sin has ended. (Sin leads to eternal separation from God, aka spiritual death- Romans 6:23).
John the Baptist sounded the warning that prepared the way for Messiah (Anointed One and Savior). He told the people “repent for the kingdom of heaven is near”. Repentance requires a lowly and contrite heart. It means a change in our heart’s allegiance from being self- centered to seeing it God’s way (180 degree turn about). This usually happens after a tremendous revelation of His love.
The people in Jerusalem that day may not have recognized in the moment the outpouring of love Jesus offered for us. He endured the punishment of the cross, not because He was a criminal but because it was God’s plan to satisfy the requirement for salvation (to buy us back from sin to God =redemption). He understood the cost and took on the task. Why? He was the only one able to bear the sin of the whole world (and was without sin). He conquered sin’s curse (aka death and ended eternal separation from God) when he rose again from the grave. In that moment He offered mankind a tremendous gift. The gift of forgiveness and eternal life.
Receive His gift today (with a lowly and contrite heart). – Teresa (listen to the song “Who am I”) #tobelovedbyYOU #NEEDTOBREATHE
Isaiah 57:15 ((ESV)
15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Isaiah 57:1,2 (NET)
1 The godly perish, but no one cares. Honest people disappear, when no one minds that the godly disappear because of evil. 2 Those who live uprightly enter a place of peace; they rest on their bed
Romans 6: 19-23 (NET)
19 (I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.) For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness. 21 So what benefit did you then reap from those things that you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now, freed from sin and enslaved to God, you have your benefit leading to sanctification, and the end is eternal life. 23 For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Matthew 3:1-11 (NET)
1 In those days John the Baptist came into the wilderness of Judea proclaiming, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” 3 For he is the one about whom Isaiah the prophet had spoken: “The voiceof one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, makehis paths straight.’” 4 Now John wore clothing made from camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his diet consisted of locusts and wild honey. 5 Then people from Jerusalem, as well as all Judea and all the region around the Jordan, were going out to him, 6 and he was baptizing them in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. 7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance, 9 and don’t think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones! 10 Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water, for repentance, but the one coming after me is more powerful than I am – I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Revelation 22:1-3 (NET)
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life – water as clear as crystal – pouring out from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 flowing down the middle of the city’s main street. On each side of the river is the tree of life producing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month of the year. Its leaves are for the healing of the nations. 3 And there will no longer be any curse, and the throne of God and the Lamb will be in the city. His servants will worship him, 4 and they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5Night will be no more, and they will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.
In Yosemite this past month, we encountered some smoke but only at the higher elevations. It was so refreshing when the following day (after this image was captured), we experienced a deluge of rain, cleansing the atmosphere.
Whether the air is subpar with smoke or freshly humidified with rain, I love Yosemite views!
This passage in Ephesians is not meant to discourage us with words like predestinated or adoption. The smoke of human allusions to these words could be negative or may cloud our understanding of the spiritual perspective.
How much better to see it as a mystery, high elevation beauty that exudes God’s goodness. How can God be inclusive with a word like predestined? Or is it the phrase “adoption to himself” that clarifies the intent of God’s heart?
Even those of us who are not Israel have been shown mercy and grace, being included as adopted sons and daughters.
The Holy Spirit guarantees the inheritance for us. Jesus Christ the Lord bought the inheritance for our redemption from sin. God the Father foreknew (planned) what would happen because it was in His heart to rescue all of mankind.
Today, take a look at the view and be awed by the mystery. When He works all things together for good (Romans 8:28) (to those who love God and are called according to his purpose), He really means that His purpose will stand. #mystery
In spite of my brokenness, He is making things more beautiful than I can ask or imagine.- Teresa #loveGodfirst
Ephesians 1:3-14 (ESV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us[b] for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known[c] to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee[d] of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,[e] to the praise of his glory.
In the movie, “Hacksaw Ridge”, Desmond Doss portrays true reliance on God’s strength to bring his comrades to safety. His words “just one more” became his prayer during the whole ordeal. *
It’s because of the way God loves me (as a fortress and steadfastly), that I can sing like David. Although David was in a dire place and men were sent from a place of authority to kill him, he still sang praises to God.
If I am surrounded by enemy fire (like the soldier, Doss) or faced with unimaginable odds (like David), then I must trust that the refuge God provides is more powerful than human aid.
His refuge may take on the form of something we had never considered (i.e. retirement) or it may appear as a new career (in a whole new field). But one thing is certain, He will provide.
David started a new career as King of the nation of Israel after many years of running like a fugitive. His faith was well-placed and this vulnerable relationship with God was reflected in his songs (the Psalms).
You are the God who shows up with steadfast love!! How can I withhold my song of praise? – Teresa #justonemoreday
*watch “Hacksaw Ridge”, the movie (2016)
Psalm 59:16,17 (ESV)
16 But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. 17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.
Destroying strongholds does not happen with fleshly human power. Contrary to popular opinion, it is not the boldest person in the room who wins or even the one with the loudest voice.
The believers at Corinth were chiding Paul for his meekness. Paul was one tough guy. Most likely he was the boldest and loudest voice in the room (at least prior to his conversion).
The Savior did something so dramatic that it literally changed his character (and name) on the road to Damascus. It was there he encountered a blinding light and was saved.
Paul understood the need to be touched at a spiritual level. Jesus was the one who touched him and changed him. What argument or lofty opinion has raised itself up in your life to keep you from the change God has for you?
Paul obeyed Jesus Christ the Lord and became his mouthpiece of peace to both Jews and Gentiles. He helped build the church in Asia Minor and despite the harsh treatment he endured (beatings and prison), he was still able to write the majority of the New Testament. His legacy lives on for us today.
What act of obedience has God called me to? Am I entering into this time with weapons that have divine power to destroy strongholds? #meekness
In order to recognize it, I have to change my mind by joining my steps to the Holy Spirit’s leading. God is in the common places of our lives, we don’t need to search far to find Him. In fact, we may be surprised to know He has been waiting for us to recognize His presence with us even now.- Teresa #knowGod #Holybible #obeyChrist #completeobediencemeanssurrendered.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (ESV)
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
God’s gift is not the perfect human specimen but is the pleasure of eating, drinking and being able to provide (aka work).
When God puts eternity in the heart of man, He inserts a longing for heaven. We may not understand the fullness of that longing but can relate to the feeling, as C.S.Lewis describes it.*
Everything is made beautiful in time by our great Creator. Someday, when we join our Savior in heaven, we will reflect the Father’s glory. It is His plan and purpose exponentially understood and experienced that creates perfect beauty.
Be encouraged because although things are not perfect here, we can still partake of God’s gift.- -Teresa #resting #enjoying #expecting
* (see Focus on the Family Canada), Written by Subby Szterszky “Longing for a far country never visited”.
Ecclesiastes 1:9-13 (ESV)
The God-Given Task
9 What gain has the worker from his toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.
A good name and favor are from God, reflecting the character qualities that He seeks to develop in us.
Great riches, silver or gold are from the world, wages for our labor/contribution to society/or even inheritance from our biological family.
Some have chosen the latter and forfeited their good name to obtain it (i.e. scammers, criminals, shady dealers, wishy-washy Kings who lost their faith).
The writer of this passage in the wisdom literature (Proverbs) exhorts us to choose a good name and favor, first and foremost. Many believe Solomon wrote this chapter in the book of Proverbs, which makes it even clearer. Realizing that his character reputation as the “wisest man on earth” was tarnished, Solomon may have had to own up (eat crow) for the reason he lost faith. By turning to wealth, not God, he became a follower and no longer a strong, godly leader in his home or marriage(s).
After reviewing materials yesterday from my last “coping skills” class on boundaries, I thought of five incidents in the past few weeks where my lack of boundaries made me vulnerable and opened the fortress (so to speak) of my good character/name. No amount of money/wealth is worth that.
As an exercise for myself, I made 5 “rules” to help maintain the fortress (my healthy boundaries) and keep me looking to Jesus: 1. don’t over give, 2. let it go (when it’s another’s misperception, not my issue), 3. recognize and never compete with a psychologically unstable person- (no matter how many degrees they have after their name), 4. always be kind but keep it truthful and 5. maintain a safe distance, both physically and emotionally (from those who are explosive).
I am grateful for Solomon’s wisdom as he had God-given favor. I am also grateful for time to consider how I can improve, personally. – Teresa #Godswordistruth #nonverbalcommunicationcansaylovebest
Proverbs 22:1English Standard Version
22 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.
Queen Esther was taken in as a child by Mordecai, a family relative. She looked to Mordecai as a father since he protected her.
Even in the palace, Esther followed Mordecai’s instructions. She was blessed because of it. Not only was she blessed but the entire Jewish nation was blessed. Mordecai feared God and followed Him first.
Who do you know that has modeled following God first? I’m not talking about someone with only elaborate prayers/words but also able to walk steadfastly and faithfully, caring for the 10 relationships that God entrusts to each person. #GilSteiglitz #leadership #ptlb (principles to live by)
Anger can cause action, as in this passage when King Ahasuerus “fired” Queen Vashti. This week, I attended session 5 of coping skills and learned that anger can sometimes be misplaced. For example, if I’m in an emotionally abusive relationship but continue to take responsibility for its success, anger/frustration can turn inward (when it should actually be a signal to walk away from said relationship).
Those who cannot recognize their worth because of the load of dung deposited on them by others are not thinking truthfully. Poor Esther, she had to be the Queen after Vashti. Ahasuerus sounds to me like he may have been emotionally abusive (at the least we know he surrounded himself with very poor advisers). #narcissist #showoff
Esther did not react like Vashti, however. She trusted God’s deliverance and her kind heart at convincing the king that proud Haman was deserving of death (for pronouncing extermination of the Jews).
Sometimes we cannot escape the “said” relationship, but God is able to provide wisdom and support. Surrounding Ahasuerus with grace, Esther blessed his life as well.- Teresa #trust #courage
Esther 2:1-18 (ESV)
After these things, when the anger of King Ahasuerus had abated, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what had been decreed against her. 2 Then the king’s young men who attended him said, “Let beautiful young virgins be sought out for the king. 3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom to gather all the beautiful young virgins to the harem in Susa the citadel, under custody of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women. Let their cosmetics be given them. 4 And let the young woman who pleases the king[d] be queen instead of Vashti.” This pleased the king, and he did so.
5 Now there was a Jew in Susa the citadel whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite, 6 who had been carried away from Jerusalem among the captives carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away.7 He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter. 8 So when the king’s order and his edict were proclaimed, and when many young women were gathered in Susa the citadel in custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken into the king’s palace and put in custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women. 9 And the young woman pleased him and won his favor. And he quickly provided her with her cosmetics and her portion of food, and with seven chosen young women from the king’s palace, and advanced her and her young women to the best place in the harem. 10 Esther had not made known her people or kindred, for Mordecai had commanded her not to make it known. 11 And every day Mordecai walked in front of the court of the harem to learn how Esther was and what was happening to her.
12 Now when the turn came for each young woman to go in to King Ahasuerus, after being twelve months under the regulations for the women, since this was the regular period of their beautifying, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and ointments for women— 13 when the young woman went in to the king in this way, she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace. 14 In the evening she would go in, and in the morning she would return to the second harem in custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch, who was in charge of the concubines. She would not go in to the king again, unless the king delighted in her and she was summoned by name.
15 When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her. 16 And when Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign, 17 the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown[e] on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 Then the king gave a great feast for all his officials and servants; it was Esther’s feast. He also granted a remission of taxes to the provinces and gave gifts with royal generosity.
Nehemiah not only wept over the broken walls of Jerusalem but he also took the appropriate action (fasting and prayer). He remembered God’s promises to Moses and spoke them in his prayer.
When we speak God’s word in prayer, he is honored. When we trust Him for His intervention, He will prosper the actions built on His word.
At every moment of nervousness or uncertainty, Nehemiah prayed and God opened the door for him.
We should not worry about the distraction but allow it to help us become more determined to notice what is going on inside. Inside of Nehemiah was intense sadness/grief.
I felt that the learning I received yesterday (from Coping Strategies #4) applied even to this passage. When my mind gets distracted by the rubble around me- I can still be mindful of the Lord’s plan in the midst. My emotions are signaling what I need to process (grief, pain, the discomfort of change).
What if my own life’s walls have come to disrepair? (relationships, trauma, illness)… Have I taken time to grieve and build up what is most important? (The joy of the Lord is your strength- Nehemiah 8:10)
When God opens the door, I can then be ready to step through with confidence!! #prayedup
Here’s some music to restore strength aka the “joy of the Lord”… Egypt by Cory Asbury. He is great and we can always remember His word, because of His covenant nature.-Teresa #embracedistraction
Nehemiah chapters 1 & 2 (ESV)
1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.
Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
Nehemiah’s Prayer
4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”
Now I was cupbearer to the king.
Nehemiah Sent to Judah
2 In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. 2 And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid. 3 I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”4 Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven.5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.” 6 And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time. 7 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.
Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Walls
9 Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.
11 So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days.12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. 13 I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass.15 Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. 16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.
17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 20 Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim[a] in Jerusalem.”
Reconnection 