KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Sunday, May 22, 2016
Chapters: Nehemiah 8-10
Message: The Joy Of The Lord
Hello My Friend,
As difficult as things get sometimes, if you look closely past the blinders, you can see the hand of God touching you. I caught myself in the midst of thinking how mysterious God works saying to myself, “You better not get too confident just yet.” Why is is that we have this doubt that no matter how much we know that God can do the impossible, we cannot see Him doing it is us? It is the devil who makes us think that the difficulties will never go away, that we deserve to suffer because of our past, and that God will never do anything good in our lives. The truth is, while God rarely does things the way we expect, He does great things in our lives everyday. “There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.” – Ecclesiastes 2:24.
The ultimate purpose God had for His people returning to Jerusalem was more than just the restoration of the temple and walls. These were man made structures and powerless to protect them from their enemies unless they knew God and obeyed His word. Unfortunately, the Book of the Law was written in Hebrew, which many of the new generation did not understand. However, Nehemiah and thousands of Jews assembled at sunrise in Jerusalem to hear Ezra, read the Law of God to them for the first time. And a huge revival took place.
“And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place. So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” – Nehemiah 8:6-10.
“neither be ye sorry;” We all have a past, and sometimes it comes back to try and haunt us. We cannot do anything about the past, so stop letting it control you, God has already forgiven you, let it go and let God fill your heart with joy. I have a confession to make, I spent a good hour crying through my house yesterday, going over everything I ever did and asking God why things are so difficult for me. Then after I calmed down, God showed me that I was the one punishing myself and it was time to let it go, and He kept me from saying something to someone that I would have regretted. Do not be sorry for what you did in the past, it’s over, move on, it is all in God’s hands His joy is our strength. “I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” – Psalms 16:8-11.
The people were so excited about having the word of God with them that they began having it read to them daily, one forth of the day was devoted just to reading and another forth was just to worship and praise God for His word. The the Levites stood up and began to praise God for His mercy upon their fathers.
“Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies. But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies; And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear. Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands. Nevertheless for thy great mercies’ sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.” – Nehemiah 9:27-31.
“for thou art a gracious and merciful God.” If anyone can tell you how merciful God is it is the Jews. They literally saw God part the seas, bring fire down from heaven, fed food from heaven, and still they forsook Him for other gods. There is barely one day that goes by that I do praise God for being merciful and gracious. It is really hard to stay mad or frustrated about the difficulties we face when rwe ealize where we would be if Jesus was not a part of our lives. God does not condemn those who know His Son because He never goes back on His promise to never leave nor forsake us. I never could comprehend that until one day I realize something, a saved soul cannot sin because it is saved, it is protected under the blood of Christ. It is the flesh that sins, which is why God may chasten the flesh, but He will never punish the soul because it is sin free. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” – 1 John 3:2-6.
The completion of the wall provided them with protection from surrounding enemies and provided them with peace of mind to hear what God had to say. Many became sealed that day, or saved, they wanted to know all of God’s word. Little by little they learned about the generations before them and how they came to be where they were at present. An account was given and the people began bringing in their tithes and offerings to the Levites.
“And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding; They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes; And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD: Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God: And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.” – Nehemiah 10:28,29,35-37.
“Also the firstborn of our sons,” This does not mean that the people gave their first born sons as a sacrifice to be redeemed for their sins. I means that they dedicated them to God for His service, all the first born belong to God. “Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.” – Exodus 13:2. Those who know Jesus Christ as their Saviour are sealed with His blood, we no longer have to be a Levite or first born to be sanctified and belong to God, we just need to believe in His Son. “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” – 2 Corinthians 1:21,22.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Ezra, who stood before the people and read the Law of God. Jesus, who is the Word made flesh stood in the temple reading the Law with great authority and the people were attentive. “And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” – Matthew 7:28,29.
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for the sacrifice You made by giving Your life so that I can have eternal life. You shed Your blood so that I did not have to spend eternity in hell, and that means I am sealed by Your blood and am forever grateful for what You have done for me. I’m sorry for the times I became weary and despondent bacause of difficulties. You have done great things for me and continue to do so in my life. Help me to stay in Your word and follow it so that I have the best life You can give me. My joy comes from Your strength. I love You and pray in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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