Sun.’s Devo - Dedicating the Wall

Read: Nehemiah 12:27-13:31; 1 Corinthians 11:1-16; Psalms 35:1-16; Proverbs 21:17-18 Nehemiah had asked Artexerxes for 12 years to build the wall in Jerusalem and to govern it till it was operating like the city of God. In those years, the people had built the wall and it was time to dedicate it to the Lord. They did so with great celebration and song. *** The singers were divided into two groups who left at the same place on the wall and walked all the way around Jerusalem singing and praising God. They met up on the opposite side causing the whole city to be filled with “surround sound”. *** Sacrifices and gifts were given to the Lord. The sounds of praises and thanks-giving could be heard for miles. The book of Moses was read to the people. It said that no Ammonite or Moabite was allowed to enter the assembly of God, ever, because they refused to give the Israelites food or water when they came out of Egypt. *** Nehemiah then returned to serve Artexerxes in Babylon. When he came back to visit to see how things were going, he found that Tobiah, the enemy of God had been given a room in the Temple. Nehemiah threw all his things out of the room and had it purified. He also learned that the Levites and not been paid so they had had to go back to earning a living by farming. Once again the people had neglected the Temple. Nehemiah brought the priests and Levites back to the Temple and made sure the people paid their tithes to keep them fed and supplied. He appointed honest supervisors over the storerooms. *** Nehemiah noticed that everyone was working on the Sabbath so he had the gates closed the gates so they couldn’t bring merchandise in on the Sabbath. He made the Sabbath holy once again. He also noticed that the men of Judah had married foreign women. He reminded them that this very deed was the reason for Solomon’s downfall. One of the priest’s sons had married a daughter of Tobiah. Nehemiah had him banished. He made sure the altar was in working condition and every one was doing their job. *** Nehemiah reminded the Lord all he had done for his Temple. He prayed for God to have favor and compassion and on him according to His great love. *** In Corinthians, Paul set himself up as an example for the people to follow because he was following Christ’s example. He explained that men represent Christ and women represent the Body of Christ. Men should be living and loving like Jesus was and women should honor their husbands like the Church should honor Christ. They are to be an example of how the kingdom of God works. They showed this in their head coverings. Men wore nothing on their head to show that, like Christ, there was nothing between him and God. Man was made in the image of God and reflects God’s glory. Women did wear a covering on their head to show that they were under God’s authority. Woman was made for man and reflects man’s glory. *** The man needs the woman just as much as the woman needs the man. It is one big cycle of love and respect. Men are to love women as God loves Christ and women are to love their husbands as the Church loves God. *** Lord, may we learn the true meaning of marriage, love, and family. May we live our lives to reflect your glory to the world.