Taking Strong Cities and Fat Land - Nehemiah 9:25

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, “you gave them kingdoms and nations, and did divide them into corners: so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan. Their children also multiplied you as the stars of heaven, and brought them into the land, concerning which you had promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it. So the children went in and possessed the land, and thou subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hands, with their kings, and the people of the land, that they might do with them as they would”, and in chapter nine and verse twenty-five of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how the Levites said, “they took strong cities, and a fat land” where we read,

And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells dug, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness.

The verse reads, “And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells dug, vineyards, and oliveyards, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “and they took strong cities” which means “and they, the people of Israel, captured, seized and occupied powerful and mighty towns and villages”, “and a fat land” or “and a rich, stout and robust district, region and territory”, “and possessed houses” which means “and seized, inherited and occupied habitations, abodes and dwelling places” “full of all goods” or “filled with wares which included each, every, the whole and everything that is pleasant, agreeable and beautiful”, “wells dug” which means “cisterns and pits cleaved, cut and hewn out”, “vineyards” or “gardens or vines”, “and olive-yards” or “and trees with olives”. Nehemiah shared how the Levites recalled they way the people of Israel seized powerful and mighty towns, robust districts and dwelling places which were filled with each and every type of ware, hewn cisterns, gardens of vines and trees bearing olives. 

The verse continues, “... and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness.” Nehemiah added the words, “and fruit trees in abundance” or “and trees that bore fruit in large amounts”: “so they did eat” which means “therefore, then and wherefore they, the people of Israel, devoured and consumed”, “and were filled” or “and were satisfied and sated”, “and became fat” which means “and grew in fatness”, “and delighted themselves” or “and luxuriated and pleased their own selves” “in your great goodness” which means “within your, Jehovah God's, large, intense and important fairness, joy and prosperity”. Nehemiah shared how the Levites referred to the way Jehovah God provided trees that bore “fruit” in an abundant way so that the people of Israel devoured, consumed and were satisfied to the point of becoming enlarged and pleased within God's valuable joy and prosperity. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah how the Levites continued to shared how Jehovah God provided for the people of Israel. He gave them mighty towns, robust regions, dwelling places which were filled with wares, hewn out cisterns, gardens of vines and trees that bore “fruit” abundantly. There was such a great supply of food that they consumed it until they were satisfied, enlarged and pleased within Jehovah God's abundant joy and prosperity. God loves the people of Israel, and He more than abundantly supplied everything they needed. He will do the same for every person who yields their life to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected from the dead three days later. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give to us exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. (See Ephesians 3:20) 

Next time Nehemiah shares how the Levites said, “they were disobedient, and rebelled against you”, 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".