In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city.” Nehemiah included the children of many of the people of Israel in his census, and he added several of the men such as “the men of the other Nebo, the other Elam” and “the children of Harim, Jericho, Lod, Hadid, Ono and Senaah.” He also counted, “the priests, the Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and the children of Hodevah seventy and four” and he included “the singers, the porters, Nethinims” and “the children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,the children of Barkos, Sisera, Tamah, Neziah, Jaala, Darkon, Giddel, Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth, Amon all the Nethinims, the children of Solomon's servants, And these were they which went up also from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not show their father's house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel;” He added, “the children of Delaiah, Tobiah, Nekoda and of the priests”, and in chapter seven and verse sixty-four of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “these sought their register”, where we read,
These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy,
but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.
The verse reads, “These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “these sought their register” which means “the priests whose offspring were from Habaiah, Kos and Barzillai desired to find, were seeking and searching for their enrollment, writing or document of authority” “among those that were reckoned” or “in the midst and middle of the people who were enrolled” “by genealogy” which means “through the means of their pedigree or ancestry”. Nehemiah shared how the offspring of the priests, “Habaiah, Kos and Barzillai”, were attempting to find their pedigree within the midst of the people of Israel.
The verse continues, “... but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.” Nehemiah added the words, “but it was not found” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the enrollment was not discovered, secured or attained”, “therefore were they” which means “wherefore, then and on this account they, the offspring of these priests existed”, “as polluted” or “similar and in likeness to people who defiled and desecrated”, “put from the priesthood” which means “separated and set apart from the office of a spiritual spokemen or leaders”. Nehemiah shared how these offspring of the “priests” who were unable to verify their pedigree were separated from “spiritual leadership” and made as those who were defiled.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah how the offspring of the “priests” named “Habaiah, Kos and Barzillai” were disqualified from spiritual leadership because they were unable to verify their pureblood lineage to the priestly line in the midst of the people of Israel. Because of this they were as those who are defiled and thereby unable to carry out the “priestly” duties. Failure in ministry is sometimes seen among spiritual leadership, and because an accurate recored was not kept of these offspring, they could not serve. This, however, did not disqualify them from being included in God's census of the people of Israel through Nehemiah. God knows we all sin. (See Romans 3:10,23) Sometimes those sins are deliberate, and other times they are happen because of ignorance. Either way God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when He raised Him from the dead after three days, everyone who humbles themselves, repents of their sins and receives Him as their “Savior and Lord” will have their sins forgiven, be granted everlasting life and allowed to serve in some capacity within His Kingdom both now and forevermore.
Next time Nehemiah shares what, “the Tirshatha said unto 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".
No comments:
Post a Comment