In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how the Levites said Jehovah God cared for the people of Israel by delivering them from Egypt, however God's prophets, “testified against them, that you might bring them again unto your law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto your commandments, but sinned against your judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear. Yet many years did you forbear them, and testified against them by thy spirit in your prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gave you them into the hand of the people of the lands”, and in chapter nine and verse thirty-one of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how the Levites said Jehovah God, “did not utterly consume them” where we read,
Nevertheless for your great mercies' sake you did not utterly consume them, nor forsake them;
for you are a gracious and merciful God.
The verse reads, “Nevertheless for your great mercies' sake you did not utterly consume them, nor forsake them;”Nehemiah began with the words, “nevertheless for your great mercies' sake” which means “notwithstanding, moreover and on this account on behalf of your, Jehovah God's, numerous, abundant and abounding compassion, tender love and pity” “you did not utterly consume them” or “you, Jehovah God, in no way or manner totally devoured, annihilate or end them, the people of Israel”, “nor forsake them” which means “no and not in any way leave, neglect or relinquish them, the people of Israel”. Nehemiah shared how the Levites said because of Jehovah God's abounding compassion, He did not annihilate the people of Israel nor neglect them.
The verse continues, “for you are a gracious and merciful God.” Nehemiah added the words, “for you are a gracious” or “because, since and on account that you, Jehovah God, exist as benignant and with favor” “and merciful God” which means “and a pitiful, compassionate and tender loving Supreme Deity”. Nehemiah shared how the Levites declared Jehovah God to be a compassionate and favor filled Supreme Deity.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah how the Levites continued to recall the history of the people of Israel. They told of Jehovah God's abundant favor and compassion that caused Him not to destroy the people of Israel when they were insolent against Him. God wants a personal intimate relationship with every person through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we surrender to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us His Holy Spirit so we may enjoy His unmerited favor and compassion for all eternity.
Next time Nehemiah shares how the Levites said Jehovah God, “keeps covenant and mercy”, 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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