Read: Neh. 11-12; 1 Chron. 9
People started resettling inside Jerusalem. A tenth were chosen by lot and others could volunteer. This reminds me of divine selection. First Peter 2:9 says that we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people that we should show forth the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Jesus said, in John 15:16, that we didn’t chose Him, but He chose us, that we should go and bring forth fruit. These scriptures would pertain to the tenth that were chosen by lot. The volunteers represent people who take the option to follow Christ.
The Jews believe that there are three types of people: the totally wicked, the totally righteous, and the in-betweeners. The in-betweeners are the people whose lives are in the balance and can be persuaded either way. The Old Testament called them the foreigners. If they chose to become part of the Jewish traditions and religion, God told the Israelites to accept them and treat them like their own. I know this isn’t taught in church and it’s not even something we need to dwell on because we don’t know who is who. Only God knows the chosen and the ones that can be swayed. It is our part to love the world as Christ did.
I love to read of these families coming back to Jerusalem. It is like all the prodigals coming home. Don’t you know they had learned their lesson and were grateful for their own land and their own God now. This is so true of us!
Lord, thank you that you welcome the prodigal home with open arms. There is no condemnation with You!
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