In the book of Ezra, Ezra shared about “the children of the province that went up out of the captivity” which included those who came with “Zerubabbel”, and “some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place. They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pound of silver, and one hundred priests' garments”, and in chapter two and verse seventy of Ezra, Ezra shared how, “all Israel” dwelt “in their cities”where we read,
So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters,
and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
The verse reads, “So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, ...” Ezra began with the words, “so the priests” which means “therefore, then and wherefore the spiritual leaders, chiefs and officiating men”, “and the Levites”” which means “and the ones from the tribe descended from Levi specially set aside by God for His service whose name means joined to”, “and some of the people” or “a number of the human beings both male and female”, “and the singers” which means “and the men who sung and songstresses”, “and the porters” or “and the gatekeepers, doorkeepers or janitors” did the following. Ezra referred to how the spiritual leaders, the servants of the temple known as Levites, the men singers and songstresses as well as the doorkeepers and janitors did the following.
The verse goes on to say, “... and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.” Ezra continued with the words, “and the Nethinims” or “and the temple servants assigned to the Levites and priest for service in the sanctuary”, “dwelt in their cities” which means “inhabited and lived within their, the spiritual leaders, the servants of the temple known as Levites, the men singers and songstresses as well as the doorkeepers, janitors and servants, encampments and towns”, “and all Israel” or “and the totality and whole of Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob” “in their cities” which means “within their, the total of Israel's, encampments and towns”. Ezra said the servants of the temple and everyone within the nation of “Israel”who returned to their homeland lived within their villages, towns and habitations.
When we think through the words in this verse, we discover through Ezra that the “priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters and the Nethinims” returned as a one unit back to their homes in Jerusalem and Judah. God was leading His people to their homeland, and they would be equipped not only to establish themselves, but also to be used in bringing back the worship of Jehovah God in His temple. God loves the people of Israel, and He loves us. His desire is to have a personal relationship with us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins, and when we believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a desire to live in His Kingdom and be a part of His mission of salvation for the whole world.
Next time we begin a new chapter where Ezra shares what happened, “when the seventh month was come”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
No comments:
Post a Comment