In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said to the people of Judah who were abusing their fellow Jews, “It is not good that you do: ought you not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury. Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that you exact of them”, and in chapter five and verse twelve of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how the people said, “we will restore them, and will require nothing of them”, where we read,
Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as you say. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.
The verse reads, “Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them;” Nehemiah began with the words, “then said they” or “at that time uttered, declared and proclaimed them, the nobles of Judah”, “we will restore them” which means “we, the nobles of Judah, shall give back and return them, that which they took”, “and will require”or “and shall seek, desire and exact” “nothing of them” which means “not one thing from them, the people of Judah who were abused”. Nehemiah shared how the nobles of Judah declared that they would return what they took from the abused people of Judah and would not seek anything from them.
The verse goes on to say, “so will we do as you say. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “so will we do” or “even and indeed shall we, the nobles of Judah, fashion, accomplish, effect and perform” “as you say” which means “in the manner and way you, Nehemiah, utter, declare and proclaim”. “Then I called the priests” or “at that time I, Nehemiah, proclaimed, uttered and cried out to the spiritual spokesmen and leaders”, “and took an oath of them” which means “and adjured, swore and promised from the nobles of Judah”, “that they should do” or “that they, the nobles of Judah, were to perform and produce” “according to this promise” which means “in keeping with the speech, utterance, act, business, vow and oath the nobles of Judah declared”. Nehemiah shared how the nobles of Judah said they would act in the manner that he instructed, so Nehemiah cried out to the spiritual leaders in Jerusalem to witness their words that they would perform in keeping with their vows.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah how the nobles of Judah agreed to do as he instructed them, and they declared that they would return what they exacted from the abused Jewish people and not demand anything from them. This caused Nehemiah to cry out to the spiritual leaders so the nobles of Judah could swear that they would keep their word. This was repentance and change within the nobles of Judah, and in like manner, God wants us to humble ourselves and repent of our sinful ways. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to be crucified on the cross and raised from the dead three days later so all who believe and trust in Him as their “Savior and Lord” may be forgiven of their sins, granted everlasting life and turned from their wicked ways to be more like Him. God loves us, forgives us, helps us and is kind to us, and we are to be the same to our fellow man as an example of His love to others in this world.
Next time Nehemiah shares how the people say, “God shake out every man from his house”, 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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