They Have Defiled the Priesthood - Nehemiah 13:29

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me”, and in chapter thirteen and verse twenty-nine of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said “remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood” where we read,

Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, 

and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. 

The verse reads, “Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “remember them” which means “recall and bring to mind and remembrance the son of Joiada, Eliashib and Sanballat”, “O my God” or “O my, Nehemiah's, Supreme Deity”, “because they have defiled” which means “since and on account that they, the son of Joiada, Eliashib and Sanballat, have profaned” “the priesthood” or “the spiritual leaders and spokesmen's office”. Nehemiah prayed to Jehovah God that He would call to mind “the son of Joiada, Eliashib and Sanballat” on account that they profaned the office of the spiritual spokesmen and leaders.

The verse goes on to say, “... and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “and the covenant”  or “and the alliance, pledge, agreement and ordinance” “of the priesthood” which means “pertaining to the office of the spiritual leaders and spokesmen”, “and of the Levites” or “and pertaining to the office of the descendants of Levi whose name means joined to and were specially set aside by God for His service”. Nehemiah included in his prayer how “the son of Joiada, Eliashib and Sanballat” had violated the pledge and agreement pertaining to the office of the spiritual spokesmen and descendants of Levi. (See Leviticus 21:1-7)

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we discover how Nehemiah went to God in prayer once again as he did previously in this book, and this time he asked God to bring to remembrance “the son of Joiada, Eliashib and Sanballat”who profaned the office of the “priesthood and Levites”. God wants a pure, holy and sacred representation before people, and those within the office of “spiritual leadership” are to keep themselves from the influences of the world. The standard is the holiness of God, (See Leviticus 20:7; 1 Peter 1:15-16) and because this is true, everyone needs the help of God's Holy Spirit. God will provide His Holy Spirit to anyone who humbles themselves, repents of their sins and receives His Son Jesus as their “Savior and Lord” who was crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected from the dead three days later. When we yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and replace it with His righteousness for His name's sake. (See 2 Corinthians 5:21) 

Next time Nehemiah said, “thus cleansed I them from all strangers”, 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".