They read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading. Nehemiah 8:8 WEB
Nehemiah was a secular Jewish leader. He was not a prophet or a priest but participated in rebuilding the city of Jerusalem. Nehemiah lived in the time of the exile of the Jews in Babylon. He served the king of the Persians as a trusted member of his court which indicates his ability and trustworthiness. After Ezra returned to Jerusalem as the remnant attempted to repopulate the capital, Nehemiah asked for permission to do the same in efforts to rebuild the city walls and restore the city itself.
The Book of Nehemiah is largely written in the first person as a narrative by Nehemiah himself. It demonstrates Nehemiah’s work in restoring the city while leading his people into a greater understanding of service to the will of God. The scattering of the Jews resulted from their rebelliousness and disobedience to the law of God.
Keep the Commandments
Beyond restoring city walls and infrastructure, Nehemiah knew that protecting and prospering the city meant restoring faithful submission to the law of God among the remnant that repopulated Jerusalem. Nehemiah’s prayerful words to the Lord acknowledge sins against God as he prays in Nehemiah 1:7 saying, “We have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which you commanded your servant Moses. WEB”
The words from today’s scripture demonstrate Nehemiah’s leadership after his promotion to governor. Here, in the presence of Nehemiah, the prophet Ezra and the Levites led the remnant in reading and explaining the law of God. As part of their program to restore the city, the leaders expressed the importance of repentance from sin and restoring obedience to the law. They taught the importance of the Lord’s promise to reward obedience and the reality that God promises to punish disobedience. These promises are recorded in chapter twenty-six of the Book of Leviticus.
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for making clear both the benefits of keeping your word and the consequences for violating your commands. Forgive me for my sins as I turn from them in faithful submission to your will. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: The Kingdom of Heaven
