In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how men came to him and said, “the remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire”, so 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”, and in chapter one and verse six of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “let your ear now be attentive”, where we read,
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.
The verse reads, “Let your ear now be attentive, and your eyes open, that you may hear the prayer of your servant, ...”. Nehemiah began with the words, “let your ear now be attentive” or “allow and permit your, Jehovah God's, organ for hearing, perceiving and discerning”, “and your eyes open” which means “and your sight, vision and mental and spiritual faculties to be let loose, free and unstopped”, “that you may hear the prayer” or “so you, Jehovah God, might be given the ability to listen to, perceive and discern the oration, intercession and interceding” “of your servant” which means “belonging to your, Jehovah God's, bondman, man of servile condition and slave”. Nehemiah called upon Jehovah God to allow His faculty for hearing and His vision to be freed so that He would perceive his oration and intercession.
The verse goes on to say, “... 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, ...” Nehemiah continued with the words, “which I pray” or “that I, Nehemiah, intervene, interpose and intercede” “before you now” which means “in front and in the presence of Jehovah God at the present time”, “day and night” or “from the early morning or dawn and dusk or nighttime”, “for the children of Israel”which means “on behalf of the offspring and progeny belonging to Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name for the descendants or nation of descendants of Jacob” “your servants” or “your, Jehovah God's, bondmen, men of servile condition and slaves”, “and confess the sins” which means “and bemoan, bewail and lament the missing of the marks, errors and wrong-doing” “of the children of Israel” or “belonging to the offspring and progeny belonging to Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name for the descendants or nation of descendants of Jacob”. Nehemiah wanted Jehovah God to hear and see his intercession at the present time and throughout every day and nighttime on account that the offspring of “Israel” bemoan and bewail their transgressions and wrong-doing.
Finally the verse says, “... which we have sinned against you: both I and my father's house have sinned.” Nehemiah concluded this verse with the words, “which we have sinned against you” or “that we, Nehemiah and the children of Israel have missed the mark, erred and committed wrong-doing in opposition to Jehovah God”: “both I and my father's house” which means “including I, Nehemiah, and my, Nehemiah's habitation, abode and dwelling place belonging to my, Nehemiah's, habitation, abode and dwelling place” “have sinned” or “have missed the marked, erred and done wrong”. Nehemiah ended this verse by declaring how he and the people of Israel erred in opposition to Jehovah God.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn more about Nehemiah's prayer to Jehovah God. He called upon God to pay attention to his words and ways because he made his appeal to God through his life and his words. He included himself in the admission of the offspring of Israel's transgressions and wrong, and he openly “confessed” their wickedness before God. God wants us to recognize and admit our sins, and because He knew we would sin, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross and to be resurrected from the dead after three days. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us the ability to get along with others even when they have not received Him or have strayed from their relationship with Him.
Next time Nehemiah tells God, “we have dealt very corruptly against 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".
No comments:
Post a Comment