Reaping in Tears

Ps. 126:5

"Those who reap in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him."

As I see this Psalm as following chronologically after Neh. 11-13, it is clear that the people were reaping with shouts of joy because the wall of Jerusalem was completed. Finally, after the hard years of exile, they were in Jerusalem and able to worship and obey their God. It was a joyous, emotion-packed time. It would seem that after having been through such a hard time, and having to work on the wall while fighting off the enemies, that their hearts would be set on God. But not so! Emotion is  not always followed by resolve or faithfulness!

Before Ezra left to report to the king, he had set everything in place, that is who was to maintain the house of the Lord, accept sacrifices, even down to the care of the musicians and Levites for temple worship. Sadly, while he was gone the corrupted priest did his dirty work. Into the very house of God, he emptied a room of its holy, sanctified objects to make room for their enemy Tobiah. Tobiah's insidious influence had disrupted the care and maintenance of the Levites and musicians so they left Jerusalem and went back to their homes. When Ezra returned, he confronted the sin and appointed treasurers to see to these duties. How quickly they had listened to the enemy! My enemy prowls about seeking someone to devour. Am I keeping a room for him even in the very temple of my heart? Or am I resisting and being faithful to God's words?

But then another problem surfaced. People were bringing their wares and selling them on the Sabbath. Boldly and passionately, Ezra asked, What is this evil thing that you are doing? How could they forget what had been the cause of their exile? How could they profane the Sabbath of the Lord so easily and so quickly after they were back in Jerusalem? Ezra stationed men outside the  wall and refused entrance to these peddlers. He confronted them, beat them and even pulled out their hair. Go Ezra! When things try and pull me into the markets of the world, am I fighting them with all the Spirit's arsenal? Am I willing to shame the very things that are enticing me into a love of the world?

Finally, Ezra dealt with the last problem mentioned in Nehemiah. The people had intermarried with foreigners. He reminded them of Solomon, the great king who was beloved of God. Even he was made to sin by the foreign women that He married. Ezra spoke out for right. He asked the hard questions to a people who hearts were already growing cold and hard. Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women? Ezra's heart was for God alone. Faithfully, He spoke out against evil. He confronted it with actions as well as his emotions. For Ezra, truly the Lord had done great things, and he purposed to keep the truth before his people.

Father,

Keep me always faithfully coming home rejoicing because of the great work that you have done. Help me to speak out for right, but most importantly, to keep my heart and emotions charged for you alone, unpolluted by the crafty enticements of the world, and free from entangling alliances. Keep me every and only Yours.

In Jesus name,

Amen