FRIDAY August 18, 2017

Consecration

For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.  In the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah all Israel gave the portions for the singers and the gatekeepers, a portion for each day. They also consecrated holy things for the Levites, and the Levites consecrated them for the children of Aaron. - >Nehemiah 12:46

Notice how the holy things were consecrated to the Lord for their use for the children of Aaron.  At this time, Nehemiah left to go back to Persia. He was accountable to the king to return after twelve years. He then came back again to Jerusalem as the governor of Judah (Nehemiah 13: 6-7).

Imagine, after the people of God had studied God’s Word, prayed, worshiped, and signed the covenant, Nehemiah now saw that the people had already begun to backslide––how sad. It had become chaotic! What had happened? When Nehemiah left, Eliashib the priest had compromised by allowing Tobiah the Ammorite to have a room in the house of God (verses 4-5). The Scriptures forbade it! (Deuteronomy 23:3-6)  Nehemiah was grieved; his well-known enemy was in the camp! Also, the Jews had intermarried with women of Ashod, Ammon and Moab (verse 23). The priesthood and the people should have remained consecrated to God.

How we need to live consecrated lives before the Lord! We should never compromise with the things of the world. God has set us apart from this world: …He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love… (Ephesians 1:4).

Nehemiah was a man who consecrated himself to the Lord. God heard his prayers and used his life to bring about a great revival. As governor of Judah, God would again use him to put things back in order. May we learn from the life of Nehemiah. If we consecrate our lives to God, He will hear our prayers and do a great work through us.

But know that the Lord has set apartfor Himself him who is godly; The Lord will hear when I call to Him.
~Psalm 4:3~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!