Mon.’s Devo - Dedication of the Wall

Read: Nehemiah 12:27-13:31; 1 Corinthians 11!1-16; Psalm 35:1-16; Proverbs 21:17-18 It was time to dedicate the wall of Jerusalem so the Levites, singers and priests came together to prepare for the ceremony. They purified themselves first then the people, the gates and the wall. Two large choirs were formed to walk on the wall. Both began at the Dung Gate and went in opposite directions until they met and went to the Temple together. The whole time they walked on the wall they were singing, playing their instruments and praising the Lord. It was like having surround sound in the city. Many sacrifices were made and gifts given to the Lord that were placed in the treasury rooms around the Temple. They read the Law and heard that the Ammonites and the Moabites were not allowed in the Temple because they had refused to give Israel water when they come out of Egypt and they had hired Balaam to curse Israel. So they were asked to leave the celebration. Tobia, the man who had been Nehemiah’s adversary in building the wall had been given access to the Temple treasury. When Nehemiah returned from Babylon and heard of this he was furious and threw him out and demanded that the rooms be purified and brought back the articles of God’s Temple. He also learned that the Levites had not been paid for their service and the Temple had been neglected. Nehemiah saw that the people were working on the Sabbath so he confronted the nobles of Judah. He commanded that the gates of Jerusalem be shut for the Sabbath and not be allowed to open til it was over. He found out that the men of Judah had married foreign wives. One of the sons of the high priest had married a daughter of Sanballat, his adversary and he banished him from his presence. Nehemiah was constantly calling God to remember what he had done. In Corinthians, Paul tells his followers to imitate his walk because he was imitating Christ’s walk. He explained that everything God created represents who he is. God set up the man to represent Him and the woman to represent the Bride. We are covered by Jesus just as the woman wore a scarf over their heads to represent that they were married and covered by their husband. If we are in Christ we are covered by the Lord’s covering and nothing can harm us as long as we stay under his authority. Lord, help us to see that submission is safety and a good thing. Our marriage to Christ enables us to rule and reign with Christ over all the earth.