That Prepared Daily - Nehemiah 5:18

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered there unto the work. Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us”, and in chapter five and verse eighteen of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about, “that which was prepared for me daily”, where we read,

Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.

The verse reads, “Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep;” Nehemiah began with the words, “now that which was prepared for me daily” or “the provision of food that was fashioned, accomplished, made and produced on behalf of me, Nehemiah, on a day period” “was one ox” which means “was a single oxen or bull” “and six choice sheep” or “and six chosen, selected and cleansed small cattle known as sheep”. Nehemiah shared how every day there was a single oxen and six chosen and selected “sheep” in addition to the following produced for him. 

The verse goes on to say, “also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine:” Nehemiah continued with the words, “also fowls were prepared for me” or “even so and indeed birds or swallows were fashioned, made and produced on behalf of me, Nehemiah”, “and once in ten days store” which means “and one time within ten sunrises to sunsets' increase” “of all sorts of wine” or “pertaining to the whole and every type of fruit of the vine”. Nehemiah shared how there were birds fashioned for him along with many different types of fruit of the vine provided every ten sunrises to sunsets. 

Finally the verse says, “yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.” Nehemiah concluded this verse with the words, “yet for all this required not I” which means “even though all of these provisions were needed, Nehemiah did not request, desire or ask for” “the bread of the governor” or “the food belonging to the prefect, captain or deputy”, “because the bondage” which means “since and on account that the labor and service work” “was heavy upon this people” or “existed as weighty and grievous on this people group”. Nehemiah ended this verse by stating that he did not request or desire the food from the prefect or captain since the time of labor and service was grievous to the people of Judah. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah how there were many mouths to feed within his area of service. The “daily” amount of food included an “oxen”, six clean “sheep”, birds and many kinds of fruit of the vine. In all this, Nehemiah did not ask for or desire any provision from the prefects in that region since they were laboring and working at that time. Nehemiah was an example for how the nobles of Judah were to be. God gave Nehemiah his provision, and he did not have to rely upon others for his support even though he had many people who depended upon Him. God wants to be our provider and protector, and He becomes our source when we yield to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead three days later. As we put our faith and trust in Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us to rely upon Him for all our needs according to His riches in glory. (See Philippians 4:19)

Next time Nehemiah says, “think upon me, my God”, 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".