In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how the Levites said of Jehovah God that He cared for the people of Israel by delivering them from Egypt, “but they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments”, and in chapter nine and verse seventeen of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how the Levites said the fathers of Israel, “refused to obey” where we read,
And refused to obey, neither were mindful of your wonders that you did among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsook them not.
The verse reads, “And refused to obey, neither were mindful of your wonders that you did among them;” Nehemiah began with the words, “and refused to obey” which means “and utterly rejected hearing, listening to, perceiving and taking heed to Jehovah God”, “neither were mindful” or “and not in any way remembering, recalling and bringing to mind” “of your wonders” which means “pertaining to your, Jehovah God's, marvelous, wonderful, surpassing and extraordinary actions” “that you did among them” or “that you, Jehovah God, performed and produced in the midst and middle of them, the people of Israel”. Nehemiah shared how the Levites referred to the way the people of Israel rejected taking heed to Jehovah God, and they were not bringing to mind His extraordinary actions which He performed in the midst of them.
The verse continues, “.... but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage:” Nehemiah added the words, “but hardened their necks” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the people of Israel made their physical necks stiffened, severe, fierce, hard and difficult”, “and in their rebellion” which means “and within their, the people of Israel's, bitter resistance and insurrections” “appointed a captain” or “put, set, ascribed and established a head, chief and top person” “to return to their bondage” which means “to go back to their, the people of Israel's, servitude”. Nehemiah shared how the Levites remembered the way the people of Israel stiffened their “necks” in resistance to Jehovah God, and within their insurrection, they established a head leader who was to take them back to their servitude in Egypt. (See Numbers 14:3-4)
Finally the verse says, “but you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsook them not.” Nehemiah concluded this verse with the words, “but you are a God” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover you, Jehovah God, exist as a Supreme Deity” “ready to pardon” which means “prepared to forgive”, “gracious” or “filled with unmerited favor” “and merciful” which means “and full of compassion”, “slow to anger” or “long and patient to wrath that wrinkles the nostrils and nose”, “and of great kindness” which means “and with exceedingly abundant goodness, faithfulness and pity”. Nehemiah ended this verse by sharing how the Levites referred to the way Jehovah God exists as prepared to forgive, filled with unmerited favor, compassionate, patient to being wrathful and with abundant faithfulness and pity. (See Exodus 34:7)
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah how the Levites referred to Jehovah God's character which includes being prepared to forgive, giving unmerited favor, full of compassion, patient toward wrath and abundantly pitiful. God loves people, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with everyone through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When He raised Jesus from the dead three days later, He made the way for us to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and able to enjoy His character for all eternity when we put our faith and trust in Him.
Next time Nehemiah shares how the Levites referred to, “when they had made them a molten calf”, 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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