Read: Nehemiah 7:61-9:21; 1 Corinthians 9:1-18; Psalm 33:12-22; Proverbs 21:11-12
Apparently, the only ones who could live in Jerusalem were priests and they had to be able to prove it by the records. That makes perfect sense since the only way we are to get into the holy Jerusalem is to have our names written in the book of life. Some of the people could not be found in the records and had to wait until they could determine their right to live there with the Urim and the Thummin - the priest’s lots.
On the Feast of Trumpets, they gathered all the people to hear the reading of the law. The priest explained what the law said to to the people and put it in words they could understand. The people stood for hours as they taught them the Word of the Lord. Ezra, the priest and Nehemiah, the governor stood on the platform and told the people not to be sad but this was a day to rejoice because the joy of the Lord was their strength.
They read where that month they were also to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles where they were to prepare booths to live in for a week. This temporary booth was to remind them that their lives here on earth were temporary but their real home was in heaven. They were to build these booths made of branches and live in them for that week. As they laid at night and could see the sky through the roof and they were to tell their children that this life on earth is temporary but their real home was in heaven.
On the twenty-fourth day they repented of their sins and praised the Lord - the God of the host of the heavens.
In Corinthians, Paul explained that just like we work for natural wages, our spiritual service will reap spiritual benefits for the kingdom.
Lord, may you bless your people and may we be a people who serve you with all our hearts.
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