Contending with the Rulers - Nehemiah 13:11

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field”, and in chapter thirteen and verse eleven of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how, “contended I with the rulers” where we read,

Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken?

And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

The verse reads, “Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken?” Nehemiah began with the words, “then contended I” which means “at that time I, Nehemiah, strove, quarreled and made a complaint” “with the rulers” or “together with the prefects, governors and officials”, “and said” which means “and uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked”, “why is the house of God forsaken” or “for what reason and cause is the habitation, abode and dwelling place belonging to the Supreme Deity Jehovah God left alone, abandoned and neglected”? Nehemiah shared how he complained against the governors and prefects by asking them for what reason the dwelling place of Jehovah God was being neglected.

The verse continues, “And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.” Nehemiah added the words, “and I gathered them together” or “and I, Nehemiah, assembled the rulers with one another”, “and set them in their place”which means “and fixed, established and assigned them to their spots or duties”. Nehemiah shared how he assembled the officials and stationed them in their posts and to their proper duties.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how Nehemiah noticed that the temple of Jehovah God was being neglected, and he asked the leaders to explain the reason. Without their acknowledgment, Nehemiah reestablished and stationed every “ruler” in their proper position. God's sacred worship place was not to be “forsaken”, and those in charge of it were to keep their responsibilities. God wants all of us to serve in His Kingdom, and He made access for us to be involved when we yield to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and rose from the dead after three days. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and establish us in our positions of service so no ministry or worship of Him becomes neglected and “forsaken”. 

Next time Nehemiah says, “then brought all Judah the tithe”, 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".