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” and others including, “the priests, and the Levites, and their brethren” which included, “Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai, Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua, Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub, Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek, Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, Ahijah, Hanan, Anan, Malluch, Harim, Baanah”, and in chapter ten and verse twenty-eight of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about, “they that had separated themselves” where we read,
And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding;
The verse reads, “And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “and the rest of the people” which means “and the remainder or remnant belonging to the human beings both male and female”, “the priests” or “the spiritual spokesmen and leaders”, “the Levites” which means “the descendants of Levi whose name means joined to and were specially set aside by God for His service”, “the porters” or “the gatekeepers or doorkeepers”, “the singers” which refers to “the people who make music with their voices”, “the Nethinims” or “the temple servants or slaves who were assigned to the Levites and priests for service in the sanctuary”, “and all they that had separated themselves” which means “and each, every, the whole and everyone who severed, divided, set apart and made a distinction and difference of themselves” according to the following. Nehemiah shared how the people of Israel set themselves apart from the following.
The verse goes on to say, “from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, ...” Nehemiah continued with the words, “from the people” or “separate and apart from the human beings” “of the lands”which means “belonging to the regions, territories, countries and districts” “unto the law of God” or “to the direction, instruction, custom, manner and codes of law the belonging to the Supreme Deity”, “their wives” which means including “their, the people's, female spouses”, “their sons” or “the people's, male progeny or offspring”, “and their daughters” which refers to “and their, the people's, female progeny or offspring”. Nehemiah said the “people of Israel” set themselves apart from the foreign “people” and toward Jehovah God's direction and instruction, along with their female spouses and their male and female offspring.
Finally the verse reads, “every one having knowledge, and having understanding;” Nehemiah concluded this verse with the words, “every one” or “each, all and the whole people” “having knowledge” which means “holding, possessing and owning perception, discernment and recognition”, “and having understanding” or “and holding, possessing and owning discrimination, skill and and instruction”. Nehemiah ended this verse by referring to how all the people of Israel possessed discernment, discrimination and skill which kept them from the influence of people from foreign “lands”.
When we think through words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah how the people of Israel forsook the ways of the people of distant territories and countries, and they began to be committed to Jehovah God and His ways along with their families. God wants us to do the same, when we yield to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead three days later, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a desire to forsake all other influences and and cleave only unto Him and His ways.
Next time Nehemiah shares how the people of Israel, “entered into a curse, and into an oath”, 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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