In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah speaking of the “sealing” of the “sure covenant” the people of Israel made with Jehovah God said, “Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah, Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah, Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, Meshullam, Abijah and Mijamin ...”, and in chapter ten and verse eight of Nehemiah, Nehemiah named, “Maaziah, Bilgai and Shemaiah: these were the priests” where we read,
Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests.
The verse reads, “Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah:” Nehemiah began with the word, “Maaziah” whose name means “consolation of Jehovah”, “Bilgai” or “my cheerfulness”, “Shemaiah” whose name means “heard by Jehovah”. Nehemiah included the names of “Maaziah, Bilgai and Shemaiah” who were among the men of Israel that “sealed” the “sure covenant” with Jehovah God.
The verse continues, “these were the priests.” Nehemiah added the word, “these” which refers to “Maaziah, Bilgai and Shemaiah” “were the priests” or “existed as the spiritual spokesmen and leaders”. Nehemiah said “ Maaziah, Bilgai and Shemaiah” existed as the spiritual leaders among the people of Israel.
When we consider the words in this verse, we discover through Nehemiah more of the names of the people of Israel who signed the “sure covenant”. “Maaziah, Bilgai and Shemaiah” were “priests” or spiritual spokesmen and leaders of the people of Israel. Leadership from among the people of Israel were coming forward to document their agreement with Jehovah God, and their willingness to comply with God's ways was being made evident. God wants everyone to love Him and follow His ways, because when they do, their lives are better. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and He resurrected Him from the dead three days later so when we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and bring us into His Heaven to live and be accounted with Him forever.
Next time Nehemiah mentions, “the Levites”, 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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