In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah wrote, “And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be you sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength”, and in chapter eight and verse eleven of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “the Levites stilled all the people” where we read,
So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy;
neither be you grieved.
The verse reads, “So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy;” Nehemiah began with the words, “so the Levites” which means “therefore, wherefore, then and on this account the descendants of Levi whose name means joined to and were specially set aside by God for His service” “stilled all the people” or “silenced and made quiet each, every, the whole and everyone of the human beings belonging to Israel”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “hold your peace” or “you, the people of Israel be silent, still, quiet and hushed”,“for the day is holy” which means “because the sunrise to sunset exists as set apart and sacred”. Nehemiah shared how the “Levites” were responsible for quieting the people of Israel who gathered by instructing them to hush because the “day” was set apart and sacred.
The verse goes on to say, “neither be you grieved.” Nehemiah continued the words, “neither be you” or “no and not in any way exist you, the people of Israel, as” “grieved” which means “hurt, pained, displeased and vexed”. Nehemiah said the “Levites” also instructed the people of Israel not to exist as displeased and vexed.
When we think through the words in this verse, we discover through Nehemiah how the “Levites” were called upon to quiet the people of Israel who were crying aloud and weeping after hearing the word of God, and they were to instruct them to be quiet because the “day” they were in was sacred. They were not to be vexed, because God delivered them. God loves people, and He desires to remove vexation and troubled hearts and minds from their difficulties when they yield to His Son Jesus who was crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we put our faith and trust in Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His “peace” so we may be relieved of our vexation and pain produced by sin and this world.
Next time Nehemiah shares how, “all the people went their way to eat, and to drink”, 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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