Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

Once order is restored we must put first things first. Nehemiah tells us that Judah rejoiced over the Priests and the Levites who ministered (12:44b). It is interesting that Judah rejoiced or praised God. The meaning of Judah is “praise”. Judah was one of the tree tribes, along with Levi and Benjamin who did not rebel against Moses in worshipping the golden calf in the wilderness (Numbers 1:47ff). They worshipped the Lord instead. Let us look a bit into this. Jacob’s seven children with Leah had prophetic implications then and still do now. The first was called Reuben which means “behold” or to “look” in Hebrew. The second, Simeon means to “listen to”. The third, Levi means to be “Joined to” and the fourth “Judah” means “to praise”. After having four children Leah’s womb stops for a while. What are the significances for us today? Well firstly we must understand that God sees our hearts and knows our motives. Secondly he hears our cries and will listen to them. Thirdly he wants us to draw near to him so that he can lavish his blessings on us and lastly he wants us to praise him and to be ‘a praise’ for him. It was always God’s intention for us his people to Look to him, listen to him be joined to him and to praise him. When we fail to do this, we do not fulfil his prophetic purpose and declare his glory to the nations. Jesus was from the tribe of Judah and everything he did in his ministry brought glory and praise to God. Let us resolve that everything we do in our ministries will bring glory and praise to our God and will bring us near to him as his priests and kings (Exodus 19:6). Read Nehemiah 13:1-3.