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. 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”, and in chapter thirteen and verse ten of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them” where we read,
And 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.
The verse reads, “And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them:” Nehemiah began with the words, “and I perceived” which means “and I, Nehemiah, discerned, discriminated and found out” “that the portions of the Levites” or “that the parts and allotments belonging to the descendants of Levi whose name means joined to and were specially set aside by God for His service” “had not been given them” which means “were not bestowed, granted, ascribed and committed to them, the Levites”. Nehemiah shared he discovered that the allotments that were due to the “Levites” were not committed to them.
The verse goes on to say, “for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “for the Levites” or “because, since and on account that the descendants of Levi whose name means joined to and were specially set aside by God for His service” “and the singers” which means “and the ones who made music with their voices”, “that did the work” or “who performed and produced the labor, business, occupation and service”, “were fled every one” which means “passed through quickly and hastened each, all and the whole of them” “to his field” or “to his, the Levite's, cultivated plain”. Nehemiah shared how the descendants of Levi as well as the people who made music with their voices and thereby performed the business and service within the temple, went back to their cultivated plains.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah that he discovered the “Levites and the singers”who performed the service in the temple were being neglected in the provisions that were expected to be given to them. This caused them to leave the business of the temple to return to their cultivated plains. In other words, there was no support given to them for their work in the temple. God does not want it this way, and those who minister His word and serve His people should receive their fair share of support. God wants us to be in His Kingdom work, and He will be our provision when we believe and trust in His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days as our “Savior and Lord”. As we yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us the wisdom and support we need to continue in our service to Him. (See Philippians 4:19)
Next time Nehemiah says, “contended I with the rulers”, 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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