But I said to Shemaiah, “Should a man like me run away? You know that an \{ordinary\} man like me can’t go into the Holy Place without being put to death! I won’t go!”
So I sent messengers to them with this answer: “I am doing important work, so I can’t come down. I don’t want the work to stop just so I can come down and meet with you.”
Our enemies were only trying to make us afraid. They are thinking to themselves, “The Jews will be afraid and too weak to keep on working. Then the wall won’t be finished.”
Then the fire grows and burns away the great trees and vineyards. {\cf2\super [120]} Finally, everything is destroyed—even the people. \{It will be like that when God destroys Assyria.\} Assyria will be like a rotting log.
“Appoint Aaron and his sons to be priests. They must do their duty and serve as priests. Any other person who tries to come near the holy things [30] must be killed.”
I don’t care about my own life. The most important thing is that I finish my work. I want to finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do—to tell people the Good News about God’s grace (kindness).
But Paul said, “Why are you crying? Why are you making me so sad? I am ready to be tied in Jerusalem. I am also ready to die for the name of the Lord Jesus!”
Your faith makes you give your lives as a sacrifice {\cf2\super [13]} in serving God. Maybe I will have to offer my own blood (death) with your sacrifice. But if that happens, I will be happy and full of joy with all of you.
He should be honored because he almost died for the work of Christ. He put his life in danger so that he could help me. This was help that you could not give me.
Moses left Egypt. He left because he had faith. Moses was not afraid of the king’s (Pharaoh’s) anger. Moses continued strong like he could see the God that no person can see.
David risked his life when he killed the Philistine (Goliath). The Lord won a great victory for all Israel. You saw it, and you were happy. Why do you want to hurt David? He’s innocent. There is no reason to kill him!”