In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab. And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people. And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, You shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves”, and in chapter thirteen and verse twenty-six of Nehemiah, Nehemiah asked, “did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things?” where we read,
Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.
The verse reads, “Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things?” Nehemiah began with the words, “did not Solomon” which means “was it not so that Solomon whose name means peace” “king of Israel” or “the royal ruler and leader belonging to Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and nation of descendants of Jacob” “sin by these things” which means “miss the mark, go wrong, incur guilt and bear loss through the means of intermarrying with foreign women”? Nehemiah asked the Jewish men who married foreign women whether they remembered how “king Solomon” missed the mark and bore loss when he intermarried with foreign women.
The verse continues, “yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel:” Nehemiah added the words, “yet among many nations” or “still in the midst and middle of numerous and an abundant number of non-Hebrew people” “was there not king like him” which means “there did not exist a royal ruler or leader similar and in likeness to him, Solomon”, “who was beloved of his God” or “who existed as affectionately loved pertaining to his, Solomon's, Supreme Deity”, “and God made him king” which means “and the Supreme Deity Jehovah caused him, Solomon, to exist as royal ruler and leader” “over all Israel” or “above and overseeing every part of Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and nation of descendants of Jacob”. Nehemiah recalled how “Solomon” was superior to every other royal ruler because no one was similar to him who was well-loved and given affection by the Supreme Deity Jehovah, and Jehovah God caused him to be the royal ruler overseeing every part of “Israel”.
Finally the verse says, “nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.” Nehemiah concluded this verse with the words, “nevertheless even him” or “however, notwithstanding and moreover indeed and also him, Solomon” “did outlandish women” which means “did foreign, alien and unknown female human beings” “cause to sin” or “make to miss the mark, go wrong, incur guilt and make unclean”. Nehemiah ended this verse by referring how foreign and alien “women” induced and prompted “Solomon” to go wrong and incur guilt in his life.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we discover how Nehemiah called to remembrance “Solomon” who was the well-loved royal ruler of Israel and was influenced to do wrong because he intermarried with foreign women. This was exactly what the current people of Israel were doing. Nehemiah reminded them of the difficulties that were incurred by “Solomon” because he forsook the ways of God and went after his own passions and desires. (See 1 Kings 11:1-8) God gives us His law and ways because He knows what is best for us, and when we sin against Him, we bring trouble and difficulty upon ourselves. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and He was raised from the dead three days later because we all have sinned against Him. (See Romans 3:23) When we yield to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and help us by His Holy Spirit to follow His ways and not to sin against Him or ourselves.
Next time Nehemiah asked, “shall we then hearken unto you to do all this evil?”, 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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