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”, and in chapter nine and verse thirty of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how the Levites said of Jehovah God, “many years did you forbear them” where we read,
Yet many years did you forbear them, and testified against them by your spirit in your prophets:
yet would they not give ear: therefore gave you them into the hand of the people of the lands.
The verse reads, “Yet many years did you forbear them, and testified against them by your spirit in your prophets:”Nehemiah began with the words, “yet many years” which means “even so and still numerous and multiplied annual sets of days” “did you forbear them” or “seized, marched and lead them, the people of Israel”, “and testified against them” which means “and bore witness, admonished and warned in opposition to them, the people of Israel” “by your spirit”which means “through the means of your, Jehovah God's, vigor, vivacity and force” “in your prophets” or “within your, Jehovah God's, inspired spokesmen”. Nehemiah shared how the Levites said for a great amount of annual sets of days Jehovah God lead the people of Israel and warned them with His vigor and force through His inspired spokesmen.
The verse goes on to say, “yet would they not give ear: therefore gave you them into the hand of the people of the lands.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “yet would they not give ear” or “even so and still they, the people of Israel, would in no way listen, hearken, perceive or take heed”: “therefore gave you them” which means “wherefore, then and on this account you, Jehovah God, bestowed, granted and delivered them, the people of Israel” “in the hand” or “within the hand of power, might and authority”, “of the people of the lands” which means “pertaining to the human beings belonging to the districts, regions and territories”. Nehemiah said the Levites recalled how the people of Israel would not listen to God, so He delivered them over to the power and might belonging to the people in other districts and regions.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah that the Levites continued to relay the history of the people of Israel and their relationship with Jehovah God. God warned them to observe His law and ways, however, they were insolent and arrogantly prideful so they did not hearken to Him. This caused Him to turn them over to the power and might of the people from foreign regions and territories. God loves the people of Israel, and this was never His desire for them. He loves us as well, and when we yield our lives to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead three days later, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a passion to observe and keep His commandments and laws. Let all who read these words submit to Him and allow God to do within us what we cannot do for ourselves.
Next time Nehemiah shares how the Levites said Jehovah God, “did not utterly consume them”, 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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