In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah prayed, “I beseech you, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keeps covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments. Let your ear now be attentive, and your eyes open, that you may hear the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you now, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against you: both I and my father's house have sinned”, and in chapter one and verse seven of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said to God, “we have dealt very corruptly against you”, where we read,
We have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the commandments,
nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which you commanded your servant Moses.
The verse reads, “We have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the commandments, ...”. Nehemiah began with the words, “we have dealt very corruptly” or “we, Nehemiah, and the people of Israel have been spoiled, corrupt, offensive and ruinous” “against you” which means “in opposition to you, Jehovah God”, “and have not kept the commandments” or “and have in no way or manner observed, protected or given heed to the laws, ordinances and precepts”. Nehemiah confessed that he and the people of Israel acted in offensive and corrupt ways in opposition to Jehovah God, and they in no way observed His precepts and ordinances.
The verse continues, “... nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which you commanded your servant Moses.” Nehemiah added the words, “nor the statutes” or “not in any way the prescribed tasks, portions, limits, boundaries or decrees”, “nor the judgments” which means “not in any way the acts of deciding a case, procedures, processes or litigations”, “which you commanded” or “that you, Jehovah God, lay charge, gave orders and enjoined to” “your servant Moses” which means “your, Jehovah God's, man of servile condition, slave or bondman named Moses which means drawn or drawing out and was the prophet, lawgiver and leader of the exodus”. Nehemiah said he and the people of Israel did not observe Jehovah God's boundaries or litigations that He gave to them through “Moses” the prophet and lawgiver of God.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how Nehemiah confessed and admitted he and the people of Israel's sin and transgression against God, His laws and His commands which were given to them through “Moses”. Confession of sin and humility is a good place to begin a personal relationship with God. God knows we have sinned and come short of His glory, and sin leads to death. (See Romans 3:23; 6:23) He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross to pay the price for our sins, and He was resurrected from the dead three days later. When we believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us a desire and ability to observe and obey His precepts, ordinances, statutes, judgments and commands throughout our lives.
Next time Nehemiah tells God, “Remember, I beseech you” 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".
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