In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, … And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up. And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground”, and in chapter eight and verse seven of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how the priests and Levites, “caused the people to understand the law” where we read,
Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.
The verse reads, “Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “Also Jeshua” which means “even so and indeed Jeshua whose name means he is saved”, “and Bani” whose name means “built”, “and Sherebiah” which means “and Sherebiah whose name means Jehovah has scorched”, “Jamin” or “right hand”, “Akkub” which means “insidious”, “Shabbethai” or “sabbatical”, “Hodijah” whose name means “my majesty is Jehovah”, “Maaseiah” or “work of Jehovah” “Kelita” whose name means “crippled”, “Azariah” or “Jehovah has helped”, “Jozabad” or “Josabad” whose name means “Jehovah has endowed”, “Hanan” or “he is merciful”, “Pelaiah” whose name means “Jehovah does wonders”, “and the Levites” or “and the descendants of Levi whose name means joined to and were specially set aside by God for His service” did the following. Nehemiah shared how “the priests and Levites” did the following.
The verse goes on to say, “... caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “caused the people to understand” or “made the human beings of Israel to comprehend, discern and perceive” “the law” which means “the direction, instruction, precepts and statutes of God”: “and the people stood” or “and the human beings of Israel arose to their feet” “in their place” which means “within their spot and location”. Nehemiah shared how the “priests and Levites” helped the people of Israel to comprehend the precepts and statutes of Jehovah God while they remained standing “in their place”.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah that the priests and Levites involved themselves with the people of Israel who were assembled for the hearing of the word of God. These “priests and Levites”gave clarity and instruction in the “law of God” so the people could comprehend what was being declared. God wants us to know His word, and He often uses people to help us understand what He has said. God loves us, and He proved His love by sending His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for our sins, and He raised Him from the dead three days later so when we put our faith and trust in Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us understanding of His word through His Holy Spirit and through those whom the Holy Spirit uses to make His word clear.
Next time Nehemiah shares how the priests and Levites, “read in the book in the law of God distinctly”, 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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