In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah began his book by declaring, “The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachallah, and it came to pass in the month of Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace”, and in chapter one and verse two of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “Hanani … came and certain men of Judah”, where we read,
That Hanani, one of my brethren, came he and certain men of Judah;
and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped,
which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
The verse reads, “That Hanani, one of my brethren, came he and certain men of Judah;”. Nehemiah began with the words, “that Hanani” or “and Hanani whose name means gracious”, “one of my brethren” which means “a certain and particular person pertaining to my, Nehemiah's, relatives, kinship and kindred”, “came he” or “Hanani lead in and entered” “and certain men of Judah” which means “and particular male human beings belonging to Judah whose name means praised”. Nehemiah shared how his relative named “Hanani” and other “men” belonging to Judah entered the place he was serving.
The verse continues, “and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, ...” Nehemiah added the words, “and I asked them” or “and I, Nehemiah, inquired of and questioned Hanani and the men with him” “concerning the Jews”which means “about the Jehudaites or Judaites or descendants of Judah” “that had escaped” or “who were delivered”. Nehemiah questioned “Hanani and the men with him” about the people of Israel who were delivered from bondage in Babylon.
Finally the verse says, “which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.” Nehemiah concluded this verse with the words, “which were left” which means “who remained and were a remnant” “of the captivity” or “belonging to the exiled, captured ones and prisoners”, “and concerning Jerusalem” which means “and about Jerusalem whose name means teaching of peace and is the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split”. Nehemiah ended this verse by sharing how he also questioned “Hanani and the men with him” about the people of Israel who were captured and the condition of the city of “Jerusalem”.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah how a relative named “Hanani” along with particular men from “Judah” came to see him. While visiting with Nehemiah, he asked Hanani and the men about the people of Israel who were delivered from captivity and the state of the city of Jerusalem. We can imagine Nehemiah's interest and concern for his people and land even while he served a pagan king, Artaxerxes. God was going to use “Nehemiah” greatly among His people Israel, and “Nehemiah” needed to be aware of what was happening with them before he could address their need. God makes us aware of our sinful condition and the penalty of death for violating His laws, and when we humble ourselves, turn away from our sins and put our faith in Jesus as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and set within us a desire to follow Him and His ways every day of our lives.
Next time Nehemiah shares how Hanani told him, “the wall is broken down” 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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