Priests and Levites Purifying Themselves - Nehemiah 12:30

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps. And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi. Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem”, and in chapter twelve and verse thirty of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how, “the priests and the Levites purified themselves” where we read,

And the priests and the Levites purified themselves,

and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.

The verse reads, “And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “and the priests” which means “and the spiritual leaders and spokesmen” “and the Levites” or “and the descendants of Levi whose name means joined to and were specially set aside by God for His service” “purified themselves” which means “cleansed morally and ceremonially their own selves”. Nehemiah shared how the “priests and Levites” ceremonially cleansed their own selves. 

The verse continues, “... and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.” Nehemiah added the words, “and purified the people” or “and cleansed ceremonially and morally the human beings both male and female”, “and the gates” which means “and the portals and entrances into the city”, “and the wall” or “and the barrier wall which surrounded Jerusalem”. Nehemiah said the “priests and Levites” also ceremonially cleansed the “people, the entrances and the barrier wall to Jerusalem”. 

When we meditate upon words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah that the spiritual leaders caused themselves, the people, the gates and the wall to be morally and ceremonially clean at the beginning of the dedication of the “wall”. Gathering the people together was the first step, and afterward they needed to be morally clean. God does the same with everyone who comes to Him through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we humble ourselves, repent of our sins and believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and “cleanse us from all unrighteousness” so we may live with Him in Heaven for all eternity. (See 1 John 1:9) 

Next time Nehemiah says, “then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall”, 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".