Yielding Much Increase - Nehemiah 9:37

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how the Levites said to Jehovah God, “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”, and in chapter nine and verse thirty-seven of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how the Levites said, “it yields much increase unto the kings" where we read,

And it yields much increase unto the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.

The verse reads, “And it yields much increase unto the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins:” Nehemiah began with the words, “and it yields much increase” which means “and it, the land given to the people of Israel by God, produces and gains numerous, enlarged and exceedingly abundant crops”, “unto the kings” or “to the royal rulers and leaders” “whom you have set over us” which means “that you, Jehovah God established and fixed above us, the Levites and the people of Israel” “because of our sins” or “since and on account of our, the Levites and the people of Israels, errors, wrongs, mistakes and missing of the mark”. Nehemiah shared how the Levites said the royal rulers of foreign regions were enjoying the abundant produce within the land of Israel because the people of Israel sinned against God.

The verse goes on to say, “also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “also they have dominion” or “even so and indeed they, the foreign rulers and leaders, rule and reign” “over our bodies” which means “above our, the Levites and the people of Israel's, physical carcasses, corpses or bodies”, “and over our cattle” or “and above our, the Levites and the people of Israel's, beasts, animals and livestock”, “at their pleasure” which means “in keeping with their delight and will”, “and we are in great distress” or “and we, the Levites and the people of Israel, exist within exceedingly intense straits, trouble and vexation”. Nehemiah shared how the Levites said the foreign rulers even so rule and reign over the people of Israel's physical bodies, their livestock, according to their delight, acceptance and will, and the result was the Levites and the people of Israel experienced exceeding distress, trouble and vexation. 

When we meditate upon Nehemiah's words in this verse, we discover how the “land” given to the people of Israel by Jehovah God was given to foreign rulers who enjoyed the produce and prosperity within it. These blessing were designed to be given to Israel, and they were to enjoy what God provided. They forfeited God's enrichment when they would not listen to Him and forsook His commandments. The same may be true for us as well. God wants to bless us because He loves us, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to be crucified on the cross for the sins of everyone, and He raised Him from the dead three days later to seal our place in Heaven with Him. We must respond to His provision in faith and trust in Jesus, and when we yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and to empower us to live according to that truth so our lives will be pleasing to Him. 

Next time Nehemiah shares how the Levites declare, “because of all this we make a sure covenant”, 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".