We are Servants This Day - Nehemiah 9:36

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how the Levites said, “neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept your law, nor hearkened unto your commandments and your testimonies, wherewith you did testify against them. For they have not served you in their kingdom, and in your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and fat land which you gave before them, neither turned they from their wicked works”, and in chapter nine and verse thirty-six of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how the Levites said, “they have not served you in their kingdom” where we read,

Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that you gave unto our fathers

to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it:

The verse reads, “Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that you gave unto our fathers ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “behold, we are servants this day” which means “lo, look and consider, we, the Levites and the people of Israel, exist as men of servile condition, slaves and bondmen within this sunrise to sunset, season or time period”, “and for the land” or “and on behalf of the ground, territory, region and district” “that you gave unto our fathers” which means “that you, Jehovah God, granted, bestowed, assigned and delivered to our, the Levites and the people of Israel's, male progenitors and ancestors”. Nehemiah shared how the Levites invited the people of Israel to consider that they were “men of servile condition and bondmen” upon that particular “day”, and on behalf of the territory that Jehovah God granted to their male ancestors. 

The verse goes on to say, “... to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it:” Nehemiah continued with the words, “to eat the fruit thereof” or “to consume and devour the produce and bounty within the land”“and the good thereof” which means “and the property, beauty, fairness and prosperity within the land”, “behold” or “lo, look and consider”, “we are servants in it” which means “we, the Levites and people of Israel, exist as men of servile condition, slaves and bondmen within the land”. Nehemiah shared how the Levites recognized that the territory was given to them by Jehovah God to consume the produce within it, and he called upon the people of Israel to consider once again that they were the bondmen of Jehovah God within the territory. 

When we think through words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah how the Levites drew the people of Israel to the understanding that they were the bondmen belonging to Jehovah God within the territory that He provided for them. They were to consume the produce, beauty and prosperity within the territory, and they affirmed once again that they were the bondmen of God within the “land”. God provided for the people of Israel, and they served Him. God provides for us as well, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for our sins and to be raised from the dead three days later, so when we believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a desire to “serve” Him both in this life and in the eternal life to come. (See Luke 12:37-38)

Next time Nehemiah shares how the Levites said, “it yields much increase unto the kings”, 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".