Nehemiah 9-10 Devotional

Introduction

Welcome to the Nehemiah 9-10  edition of Blogging Through the Bible.  If you missed our recent posts, you can catch up on them here:

StaceyLynn Wells @ Words From the Wheel

Angela @ No Longer Lukewarm

Tatiana @ The Musings of Mum

some  @ our collaborative blog Telling Hearts

Nehemiah 9-10

In the midst of the cycle of blessing, drifting away, rebelling, repenting, being forgiven, and blessed again, the Israelites are presently in the process of repentance, rebuilding, and revival under Nehemiah's leadership and encouragement.

I am particularly touched by the scene from Nehemiah chapter 9 where leaders are public and not shy to cause a scene:

4 Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the Lord their God.

5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the Lord your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

6 Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

The leaders, priests, and high officials have had meetings, made loud public admissions of repentance, and offerings of praise to God for His faithfulness and goodness.  In addition to this, they have made public and unified plans to do better, and to give their first fruits for Him, sealing their intentions in official document style and moreover:

Nehemiah 10:29

 "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;"

In these chapters there is discussion of specific names, details of the people's journey to this point and their plan going forward.  In summary and conclusion they unite to:

Nehemiah 10:39

"...not forsake the house of our God."

They are serious about dusting themselves off and trying to do better....

I think it would be super cool to make an itemized list of all the things, the people recalled in worship, that their Lord did for them to reveal His love and care.  Would you like to go through and do a tally count from those mentions from these chapters?

Make a tally count of the number of references to the people's unfaithfulness or rebellion?

When was the last time you saw ANYONE be public and loud about their repentance, or loud and public to worship?

 Would it be acceptable for everyone to be loud in worship at once, or should there be some order?  Knowing what you know about the place of women at this time in history, were women a part of this loud display unto God?  What is your basis for your judgement or opinion?  Is there still a place for humility, order, or customary order of practices?

Can giving first fruits apply today?  How so?  Do you need to improve?

Dear Father in Heaven, again I thank you for Your Word preserved.  Please have mercy on me, forgive me,  and guide me in Your wisdom and Your ways.  Show me how to give all of my first fruits.  Teach me to worship you appropriately and as pleases you.  In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

Disclaimer:  Obviously this is not an all inclusive, version or interpretation of these chapters.  It is simply me sharing my opinions, thoughts, and reflections hoping to encourage you in your own reading.  Read the chapters from your Bible, or Biblegateway.com, and you will be blessed !!