In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah referred to, “the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding. They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes”, and in chapter ten and verse thirty of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how the people of Israel vowed, “that we would not give our daughters … nor take their daughters” where we read,
And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land,
nor take their daughters for our sons:
The verse reads, “And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “and that we would not give our daughters” which means “and that we, the people of Israel, in no way or manner would grant, bestow or ascribe our, the people of Israel's, female offspring and progeny” “unto the people” or “to the human beings” “of the land” which means “belonging to the country, territory, region and district”. Nehemiah said the people of Israel would not provide their “daughters” to be given in marriage to the foreigners' sons.
The verse continues, “... nor take their daughters for our sons:” Nehemiah added the words, “nor take their daughters”or “no and not in any way receive or accept their, the people of the foreign lands', female offspring and progeny” “for our sons” which means “on behalf of our, the people of Israel's, male offspring and progeny”. Nehemiah said the people of Israel would not receive any of the foreigners' “daughters” to be married to their sons.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we discover through Nehemiah that the people of Israel separated themselves from the foreign people so completely that they would not allow their children to intermarry with them. This is similar to what Paul the apostle wrote, when he said, “what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be you separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (See 2 Corinthians 6:16-18) The people of Israel were to separate themselves completely from people from foreign nations, and we are to separate ourselves from the world. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be raised from the grave three days later, and when we submit ourselves to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us the value of separating from the world and it's influence regardless of the relationships it offers.
Next time Nehemiah tells the people of Israel what not to do, “if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell”, 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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