In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “and it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge you about the wall? if you do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath”, and in chapter thirteen and verse twenty-two of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves” where we read,
And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your mercy.
The verse reads, “And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day.” Nehemiah began with the words, “and I commanded the Levites” which means “and I, Nehemiah, ordered and charged the descendants of Levi whose name means joined to and were specially set aside by God for His service” “that they should cleanse themselves” or “that they, the Levites, were to be purified and made clean”, “and that they should come” which means “and that they, the Levites, were to come forth and be led” “and keep the gates” or “and watch over, protect, observe and guard the entry portals to the city”, “to sanctify the sabbath day”which means “to set apart and as sacred the day of intermission and rest”. Nehemiah shared how he ordered the descendants of Levi to purify themselves, come and be watchers over the entry portals to the city of Jerusalem and set apart the “Sabbath” as a sacred day.
The verse goes on to say, “remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your mercy.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “remember me” or “”recall, call to mind and bring to remembrance me, Nehemiah, “O my God” which means “O my, Nehemiah's, Supreme Deity”, “concerning this also” or “about establishing the Levites as watchers and guards over the gates of Jerusalem even so and indeed”, “and spare me” which means “and look upon me, Nehemiah, with compassion” “according to the greatness of your mercy” or “in keeping with the pertaining to your, the Supreme Deity Jehovah's, goodness, kindness and faithfulness”. Nehemiah asked Jehovah God to call him to mind about establishing the “Levites” over the entrances to the city and to look upon him with compassion that was comparable to His goodness and faithfulness.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah how he set in place the “Levites” who were to watch over the “gates” of the city of Jerusalem after purifying themselves. He desired that “God” note his efforts in this matter, and He desired that “God” would extend to him His compassion, goodness and faithfulness. God knows the efforts we make in service to Him, and when we receive His Son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins and was raised from the dead three days later as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us the wisdom to establish authority wherever it is needed and know that He acknowledges whatever we do for Him and in His name.
Next time Nehemiah says, “saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod”, 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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