In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how the Levites said Jehovah God cared for the people of Israel by delivering them from Egypt, and they said of Jehovah God that the people of Israel, “were disobedient, and rebelled against you, and cast your law behind their backs, and slew your prophets which testified against them to turn them to you, and they wrought great provocations. Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto you, you heard them from heaven; and according to your manifold mercies you gave them saviors, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies. But after they had rest, they did evil again before you: therefore left you them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto you, you heard them from heaven; and many times did you deliver them according to your mercies”, and in chapter nine and verse twenty-nine of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how the Levites said Jehovah God, “testified against them” where we read,
And 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.
The verse reads, “And testified against them, that you might bring them again unto your law:” Nehemiah began with the words, “and testified against them” which means “and warned them, the people of Israel”, “that you might bring them again” or “in order that you, Jehovah God, could turn them, the people of Israel, yet another time” “unto your law”which means “toward your, Jehovah God's, direction, instruction and codes of conduct”. Nehemiah shared how the Levites recalled the way Jehovah God attempted to warn the people of Israel so they would return to His direction and code of conduct.
The verse continues, “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;) ” Nehemiah added the words, “yet they dealt proudly” or “still and even so they, the people of Israel, acted arrogantly, presumptuously and with insolence”, “and hearkened not unto your commandments” which means “and did not listen, take heed or perceive your, Jehovah God's, ordinances, precepts and laws”, “but sinned against your judgments” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover missed the mark, erred and committed wrong and mistakes in opposition to your, Jehovah God's, ordinances, procedures and plan”, “(which if a man do, ...” which means “that whether and in case a person whether male or female fashion, accomplish and produce” “he shall live in them”) or “he, that person, will sustain life, remain and be alive within them, the laws and commandments of God”. Nehemiah shared how the Levites noted the arrogance of the people of Israel who refused to listen to Jehovah God's laws, committed errors and wrongs in opposition to God's laws and noted how anyone who lives within the law of God will obey and keep what He has to say.
Finally the verse says, “and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.” Nehemiah concluded this verse with the words, “and withdrew” or “and turned away” “the shoulder” which means “the back”, “and hardened their neck” or “and made hard, firm, severe and difficult their, the people of Israel's, physical neck”, “and would not hear” which means “and would in no way or manner perceive, pay attention or listen to what God said”. Nehemiah ended this verse by sharing how the Levites mentioned they way the people of Israel turned their backs upon God even though He warned them so they could return to His commandments and direction. They acted with arrogance and did not listen to God and missed the mark in opposition to His instruction even through knowing and living within God's law is available to all who submit to Him. Rather they turned their “backs” upon Jehovah God, made their necks stiff and were insolent to what God had to say.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah how the Levites recalled the way Jehovah God warned the people of Israel, however they acted with arrogance and did not listen to Him. They missed the mark in opposition to God's instruction even though knowing and living within God's law is available to all who submit to Him. They turned their “backs” upon Jehovah God, made their necks stiff and were insolent to what God had to say. God does not want us to be this way, and because He knew we would violate His law and sin against Him, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and establish within us a willingness to heed His warnings and comply with His commandments with the help of His Holy Spirit.
Next time Nehemiah shares how the Levites say of Jehovah God, “many years did you forbear 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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