Day 17 - 40 Days in the Old Testament
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Old Testament
Day 17 | WORSHIPPING THE LORD
40 Days in the Old Testament
Day 17 | WORSHIPPING THE LORD

WORSHIPPING THE LORD
Nehemiah 9:3
“They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day, then spent another quarter confessing and worshipping the LORD their God.”
Nehemiah was the Cupbearer to the Persian King Artaxerxes. Thus, he was in a strategic position and had earned favor with the King. One day after he prayed to God, he asked the King and was granted permission to lead more Israeli exiles back to Jerusalem. In addition, he was given financial and material support from the King, authorization to become the Governor of Judea and Jerusalem, and then permission to lead the Israeli people in rebuilding the Jerusalem walls.
The walls around Jerusalem – that Ezra (the spiritual leader) and Nehemiah (the Governor) led in rebuilding – were to protect the people and allow them to settle peacefully once again in the land. The walls represented God's protection and care for His people. The Law of Moses (aka the Torah) showed God's desire to consecrate His people and make them holy.
Jesus prayed similarly for us to His Father in John 17 – "My prayer is not that You take them out of this world, but that You protect them from the Evil One. They are not of this world, even as I am not. Sanctify them by the Truth, Your Word is Truth."
Do you feel protected? Are you aware that our Enemy is alive and active? 1 Peter 5:8-9 says, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your adversary – the devil – roams about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith."
Reread today's verse and note what God's people did back then. That was a serious "church service"!
We today know nothing of that kind of time spent in Scripture reading, confessing to God, and then worshipping. Maybe we should.
Prayer: LORD, I do love you and worship you. Forgive me for spending too little time in worship with You. You are the LORD, my God. Amen.
Nehemiah 9:3
“They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day, then spent another quarter confessing and worshipping the LORD their God.”
Nehemiah was the Cupbearer to the Persian King Artaxerxes. Thus, he was in a strategic position and had earned favor with the King. One day after he prayed to God, he asked the King and was granted permission to lead more Israeli exiles back to Jerusalem. In addition, he was given financial and material support from the King, authorization to become the Governor of Judea and Jerusalem, and then permission to lead the Israeli people in rebuilding the Jerusalem walls.
The walls around Jerusalem – that Ezra (the spiritual leader) and Nehemiah (the Governor) led in rebuilding – were to protect the people and allow them to settle peacefully once again in the land. The walls represented God's protection and care for His people. The Law of Moses (aka the Torah) showed God's desire to consecrate His people and make them holy.
Jesus prayed similarly for us to His Father in John 17 – "My prayer is not that You take them out of this world, but that You protect them from the Evil One. They are not of this world, even as I am not. Sanctify them by the Truth, Your Word is Truth."
Do you feel protected? Are you aware that our Enemy is alive and active? 1 Peter 5:8-9 says, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your adversary – the devil – roams about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith."
Reread today's verse and note what God's people did back then. That was a serious "church service"!
We today know nothing of that kind of time spent in Scripture reading, confessing to God, and then worshipping. Maybe we should.
Prayer: LORD, I do love you and worship you. Forgive me for spending too little time in worship with You. You are the LORD, my God. Amen.
Recent
Categories
Archive
2026
February
40 Days with Jesus - 0140 Days with Jesus - 0240 Days with Jesus - 0340 Days with Jesus - 0440 Days with Jesus - 0540 Days with Jesus - 0640 Days with Jesus - 0740 Days with Jesus - 0840 Days with Jesus - 0940 Days with Jesus - 1040 Days with Jesus - 1140 Days with Jesus - 1240 Days with Jesus - 1340 Days with Jesus - 1440 Days with Jesus - 1540 Days with Jesus - 1640 Days with Jesus - 1740 Days with Jesus - 1840 Days with Jesus - 1940 Days with Jesus - 20
2025
January
40 DAYS OF NEW - 0340 DAYS OF NEW - 0440 DAYS OF NEW - 0540 DAYS OF NEW - 0640 DAYS OF NEW - 0740 DAYS OF NEW - 0840 DAYS OF NEW - 0940 DAYS OF NEW - 1040 DAYS OF NEW - 1140 DAYS OF NEW - 1240 DAYS OF NEW - 1340 DAYS OF NEW - 1440 DAYS OF NEW - 1540 DAYS OF NEW - 1640 DAYS OF NEW - 1740 DAYS OF NEW - 1840 DAYS OF NEW - 1940 DAYS OF NEW - 2040 DAYS OF NEW - 2140 DAYS OF NEW - 2240 DAYS OF NEW - 2340 DAYS OF NEW - 2440 DAYS OF NEW - 25
February
40 DAYS OF NEW - 2640 DAYS OF NEW - 2740 DAYS OF NEW - 2840 DAYS OF NEW - 2940 DAYS OF NEW - 3040 DAYS OF NEW - 3140 DAYS OF NEW - 3240 DAYS OF NEW - 3340 DAYS OF NEW - 3440 DAYS OF NEW - 3540 DAYS OF NEW - 3640 DAYS OF NEW - 3740 DAYS OF NEW - 3840 DAYS OF NEW - 3940 DAYS OF NEW - 4040 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0140 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0240 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0340 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0440 DAYS OF PROMISE - 05
March
40 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0640 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0740 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0840 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0940 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1040 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1140 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1240 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1340 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1440 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1540 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1640 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1740 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1840 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1940 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2040 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2140 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2240 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2340 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2440 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2540 DAYS OF PROMISE - 26
