Cleansing the Chambers - Nehemiah 13:9

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber”, and in chapter thirteen and verse nine of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers” where we read,

Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.

The verse reads, “Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers:” Nehemiah began with the words, “then I commanded” which means “therefore and at that time I, Nehemiah, spoke, charged and demanded”, “and they cleansed the chambers” or “and they, the servants in the house, physically cleaned and purified the rooms”. Nehemiah said he gave forth an order, and the attendants cleanse and purified the room where “Tobiah” was staying. 

The verse continues, “and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.” Nehemiah added the words, “and thither brought I again” or “and there or at that place I, Nehemiah, returned” “the vessels” which means “the articles, implements, utensils and equipment” “of the house of God” or “pertaining to the habitation, abode and dwelling place belonging to the Supreme Deity”, “with the meat offering” which means “alongside and accompanying the grain present, oblation, sacrifice and tribute” “and the frankincense” or “and the white resin ceremonially burned as fragrant incense”. Nehemiah shared how he returned the articles, implements, sacrificial grain and fragrant incense of “frankincense” to the dwelling place of Jehovah God. 

When we think through Nehemiah's words in this verse, we discover how he returned the implements of worship back to the room where “Tobiah” was staying after it was cleansed and purified. These vessels, implements, grains and incense were to be used in the worship of God, and because they were sacred, they would only be returned after their storehouse was purified. Jesus cleansed the temple when wicked acts were being carried out within it, (See Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; John 2:13-16) and He will do the same for every person who yields their life to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead. God will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and cleanse us from all unrighteousness when we believe and trust in His Son Jesus as our personal “Savior and Lord”. (See 1 John 1:9)

Next time Nehemiah says, “I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them”, 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".