July 12, 2009
Scripture:
Hymn 146 - We bless our Saviour’s name
Hymn 341 - Jesus bids us shine
Prayer
Luke 15:11-32
There are several important points to notice in the life of the prodigal son. Look at verse 12. Here we can see that greed characterised the prodigal son. Greed comes from our sin nature. Our sin nature is always wanting to get, get, get. So, this father divided his living between his two sons. v13. The younger son acted very unwisely. It says that he wasted his money. People are wasting today as well. But they’re not only wasting their money, but also their lives. They don’t do anything that will count for eternity.
v14. Now things change for this younger son. He’s run out of money, there is a famine, and he is in want. v15. Pigs are stinky creatures, and I can’t imagine anyone being hungry around pigs; but the prodigal son is so hungry that he wants to eat the husks that the swine are eating. Here we find the next point: the prodigal son is in need.
So he starts thinking. He thought, “When I was back at home, my dad’s hired servants always had enough to eat; and here I am, starving. If I go home, maybe Dad will take me on as a servant.” So he decides to go and plead with his father.
v20. We see that the prodigal son experienced love when he got back home. He might have expected his father to be angry, and to talk about how he had been a bad son and had disgraced the family; but instead the father showered love on him. We, as sinners, have disgraced God, but He still loves us. He loved us from before the foundation of the world.
v22. Coming home from the pig-pen, the prodigal son would have looked and smelt bad; so is father has him don the best robe before he enters the house. God has given all that believe a robe of righteousness. The father also gave his son a ring. A ring has no beginning and no ending; it signifies our never-ending relationship with God. He is our father and we are his children. The son’s shoes had to be replaced too, and we are given to be able to walk before God in a right manner.
Now that all is prepared, the father and son enter the house. v24. We hear of this merriment starting, but we never hear of it ending. When we get to heaven, we will be with our Lord forever.
We have been saved from our sins and made ready to enter heaven, where we will spend all eternity. This is something to rejoice in as we journey towards the Father’s house.
This might be one of the most important chapters in Nehemiah, because it tells about Nehemiah’s mission: building the walls of Jerusalem. It’s been precious to go through this chapter and see that so much detail is given about those involved: their names, what they built, how they did it, and so on. It’s also interesting to see the importance of the gates in Jerusalem, and how they are pictures of activities of the assembly. They are also pictures of Christian administrations, or gifts; that is accentuated by the fact that this is a community of people working together: though we may all have different gifts, we all need each other.
Before we move on, read Proverbs 25:28. What we’re reading in Nehemiah has more than an assembly context. This verse mentions the spirit, which is the part of a person that connects with God (Romans 8:16). We need to guard every part of our lives, but it is especially important to guard our relationship with God. And this verse is a good reminder that there is more to our chapter than just instruction for the assembly; there is much we can apply to our individual lives. In this way, as we are taught, scripture is singular in its interpretation, but can be multiple in its application—as here, to both the assembly and the individual.
V. 26 : The water gate was probably a well. Water speaks to us of cleansing and of refreshment. We’ve mentioned before that the Nethinims were probably descendants of the Gibeonites; it was their job to assist the priests. How good to know that even if our work for the Lord is just to help another, He sees and takes note of it all. Anything done for Him is not done in vain. This brings up the point that the things we are reading about are not just for the brothers; even though the sisters are not involved verbally in the meetings, there is so much they can do, and they truly are needed!
The clear and faithful ministry of the Word is important for the cleaning and refreshment of the assembly as a whole to arm against the attacks of the enemy. Also, individually we each need to seek our daily portion for our souls, for our joy and preservation.
Notice that the water gate was toward the east. Many times we read about the east, or the direction of the sun rising. It is always God’s direction. Hopefully each one of us is travelling towards the sun rising: the coming of the Lord.
Hymn 350 - I will make you fishers of men
Prayer