Have you forgotten prior truth?

Nehemiah 8:14

As they studied the Law, they discovered that the LORD had commanded through Moses that the Israelites should live in shelters during the festival to be held this month.

Have you ever felt bad for having fallen back in an area you have been trained in? Something that you really had victory over, and then some time later you realize that you have somehow forgotten the truth in that area you once grasped so well. Or the revelation you once had that was so real and a part of you ? Maybe found yourself somehow ‘missing the mark’?

Well guess what? So did the Israelites. Here we see they had done the same thing. In this verse in Nehemiah we see that somehow over the years they had forgotten a quite obvious part of the Law namely, ‘The festival of shelters’. Well you would think it would have been quite an obvious oversight. I mean they were supposed to live in shelters throughout this time of festival shelters. Kind of seems like a pretty obvious miss you would think, yes?

I love how in the old testament God would instruct his people to celebrate the things he had done for them, by instructing them to demonstrate a spiritual concept or victory in a natural way. Its as though he knows if we keep something before our eyes, by demonstrating it helps us to remember.

We see in this particular scripture, they were studying the Law when they discovered this truth they were missing. This is why I believe it is so important to read the word daily and study it. You see, even the most learned of people need to keep the word before them or they can somehow forgot things they have heard and previously learned. But aside from this we can discover new truths and keep growing. Lets face it, none of us have arrived, or finished the course. There is always more to learn.

Jesus said in John 8:31-32 “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

There is much talk of abiding in Jesus of late, and I believe this is what He meant in this instruction. You see the word of God IS God, so abiding in the word is abiding in Him. The same as we see in this scripture in Nehemiah. We discover truth as we read the word of God, just as they did. The word of God can bring us back into alignment with His will when that is what we are needing. So a key to keeping free and staying free is to read, study and meditate on his word daily.

So in summery, you may relate to having missed it somehow in what you have learned previously. But you mustn’t be discouraged. Even the Israelites somehow missed this obvious part to their feast. Therefore once again, there is no condemnation in Christ. However let’s be encouraged to have a daily reading schedule to read the bible in context. Not to read only the parts we enjoy and make us feel all warm and fuzzy. It’s wise to read the whole bible, of course in a way we choose, butt read it we must. As it gives us a better understanding of who God is. Plus our Lord speaks to us through reading all of His word, not just parts. There are things He wants to teach us daily that can be learned throughout the WHOLE of the bible. Like I said, the word of God is indeed God himself. Lets be encouraged to abide in His truth (His word) so we can be set free and then stay free! My prayer and desire is that you grow in your relationship with Him. Always. Amen