Sun.’s Devo - Returning to Jerusalem

Read: Nehemiah 11-12:26; 1 Corinthians 10:14-33; Psalm 34:11-22; Proverbs 21:14-16 When the exiles came back from Babylon and Persia they settled in their own land but the ones listed today settled in Jerusalem. Those listed from the tribe of Judah were all outstanding men. The ones from Benjamin were 928 and of them was the chief officer and the second in command over Jerusalem. There were 822 priests who supervised the Temple of God. The Levites were in charge of the work outside the Temple and led in thanksgiving and prayer. The gatekeepers guarded the gates. Other priests, Levites and Israelites lived wherever their family inheritance was in other towns of Judah. Another group of exiles came with Zerubbabel and Jeshua the high priest. A record of all the priests and Levites. All the names and information about them was kept in The Book of History. It was a picture of God’s Book of Life which holds the names and lives of all his children that will accept him as their Lord. It will be opened in the end and read for all to hear. In Corinthians, Paul was trying to get them to prioritize others above themselves. It had nothing to do with whether you ate food offered to idols as it had to do with giving up your freedom to help someone weaker. Eating food offered to idols was not going to cost someone their salvation but exercising that right might hurt the conscience of someone who it was a big deal to. Sometimes being “right” is not always “right”. Lord, give us discernment to walk out or convictions but not crush someone weaker than us in the process. Thank you that our names are written in your book. May that book expand more and more.