In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah went back to the city of Jerusalem and said to the rulers, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach”, and in chapter two and verse eighteen of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “I told them of the hand of my God”, where we read,
Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
The verse reads, “Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me.” Nehemiah began with the words, “then I told them of the hand of my God” or “at that time I, Nehemiah, declared, made known and expounded to them, the rulers and officials about the power, authority and might belonging to my, Nehemiah's, Supreme Deity” “which was good upon me” which means “that was pleasant, agreeable and favorable on or toward me, Nehemiah”; “as also the king's words” or “similar and in likeness even so and indeed the royal ruler and leader's utterances, speeches and decrees” “that he had spoken unto me” which means “that he, the Supreme Deity, had uttered, declared and proclaimed to me, Nehemiah”. Nehemiah shared how Jehovah God, the Supreme Deity's, power and authority was favorable toward him, and he spoke to them about the royal leader's declarations he received.
The verse continues, “And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.” Nehemiah added the words, “and they said” or “and they, the officials and people of Jerusalem, uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “let us rise up and build” which means “allow and permit us, Nehemiah and the people of Israel, to stand and arise and rebuild, establish and cause construction to continue”. “So they strengthened their hands” or “therefore they, the officials and the people of Jerusalem encouraged, made strong, firm and hard their physical hands” “for this good work” which means “on behalf of the pleasant, favorable and agreeable effort and production”. Nehemiah shared how he charged the officials and people of Jerusalem to get up, perform construction and make their physical hands strong on behalf of the rebuilding of the wall around the city.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Nehemiah disclosed the source and authority of his venture as he shared with the officials in Jerusalem about his mission. He directed them to get up and begin building, and they made their physical hands powerful to begin producing. God's plan was well underway, and all of these people were to be employed to rebuild the barrier wall of Jerusalem. God loves the people of Israel, and He will protect and provide for them. He loves us as well, and when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be resurrected from the dead three days later, He provided the way for us to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and used in His Kingdom according to His perfect will and purpose for our lives.
Next time Nehemiah shares about, “Sanballat and Tobiah” again, 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