SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/22/2011 7:54:16 AM
My Worship Time Focus: “Establishing Citizenship”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Nehemiah 7:4-69
Message
of the verses: I believe that I
mentioned in yesterday’s SD that these list of names if very similar to the
list that was compiled from Ezra chapter two and verses one through
sixty-four. I have chosen not to copy
and paste these verses into this SD because the names are many and very
difficult to pronounce, however that does not mean that these names are not
important. Dr. Wiersbe compares these
names to those listed in Hebrews eleven and that is a great compliment to these
people. He writes this about these
names, “The important thing is not to count the people but to realize that these people counted. There are some
differences in this list and the list found in Ezra, and this could be
attributed to the scribes who copied the list, for that list was over a century
earlier. In the Hebrew language I am
told that numbers are depicted by letters and if someone missed a letter it
could mean the number is wrong. However
this has nothing to do with the theology that is contained in the Bible. I will mention the “Dead Sea Scrolls,” as
proof of the accuracy of the Scriptures, for when those scrolls were found
which were written very early and when they were compared to scrolls that were
written later there was no difference between them. Everyone who picks up a Bible can rest
assured that this is the written Word of God, for after all if it was God,
through the Person of the Holy Spirit who breathed into the writers of the
Bible what He wanted to say, He surely can make sure that His Word will remain
accurate for those who read it today. I
have no doubts that when I read God’s Word that I am reading exactly what was
written when it was written.
Personally when I come to a list of
difficult names in the OT that I have no idea of how to pronounce I will listen
to them from a recording so that I can understand how to pronounce them. I have found recording of the entire Bible
online that are free, all I had to do was download them and listen to them.
As I look at these names I have to
remember that these people were people who came from a life of less difficulty
as they lived in Babylon to a life that was much more difficult when they moved
to Israel. However they were a bridge
from the past to be a part of rebuilding the temple and the walls of the city
in order to have the King of Glory visit planet earth in the very place where
they were living and preparing for Him to arrive some 400 years later. What an important job they had to do.
The names on this list are divided
into different categories and I will briefly mention these different
categories. In verse seven we see the leaders,
who returned with Zerubbable, and there are twelve men listed and they very
well could have represented the twelve tribes of Israel. Some think that there were ten tribes lost
after the Assyrians conquered the northern tribes of Israel in 722BC, but if
one reads the Bible correctly they will find that after the kingdom was divided
that many of the people from the north came to live in Judah in the south
because of the idolatry that was going on in the north.
Next listed are various families or
clans from verses 8-25, and then in verses 27-38 we see listed people according
to the villages.
The temple personnel are next being
listed and these can be found in verses 39-42: The Levites in verse 43, temple
singers in verse 44, gatekeepers in verse 45 and various temple servants in
verses 46-60.
There was a group of priest that
could not find proof their genealogies and they are listed in verses 62-65.
Finally there was a miscellaneous assembly
of over 7000 servants listed in verse 67.
Then animals are listed last and are found in verses 68-69. These were very important to those who came
to Jerusalem for they were needed for various things including for the animal
sacrifices.
I will end this portion of this SD
with a very important quote from “Be Determined,” the commentary from Warren
Wiersbe on the book of Nehemiah. It is
probably the most important quote that I will ever use from him.
“Before we leave this section, it
might be good to ask yourself, ‘If I had to prove my genealogy in order to get
into God’s city, could I do it.’ You are heading for one of two destines—heaven
or hell—and only those who belong to God’s family can enter heaven. You enter God’s family be receiving Jesus
Christ as your own Savior, and this alone guarantees your entrance into heaven
(John 1:11-12; 3:16; 14:6).”
John 1:11-12, ‘He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But
as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God,
even to those who believe in His name.’
John 3:16 “"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no
one comes to the Father but through Me.”
Spiritual
meaning for my life today: As I look
at this list of names, and at times I kind of dread trying to pronounce them, I
have to think about another list of names that because of the sacrifice of
Jesus Christ for me on the cross my name is found. The book of life that is mentioned in the
book of Revelations is where all believers of Jesus Christ are written. I did not do anything to have my name written
there for Jesus paid it all, and because of that all to Him I owe. One cannot work for their salvation, but one
is to work after the free gift of salvation is given to them as seen in
Ephesians 2:10.
Yes lists of names are important and
not boring when one thinks of the importance of them, especially the book of
life.
My Steps of Faith for Today:
1.
Trust the Lord for wisdom to get ready for the long
trip back to Ohio, for there are many things yet to accomplish.
2.
Continue to learn contentment.
8/22/2011
9:03:04 AM
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