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More Nehemiah commentaries
Nehemiah 7:1-38
The Captives Who Returned to Jerusalem
Nehemiah 7:39-73
The Living Link Between the Past and the Future
Nehemiah 8:1-12
Nehemiah Called for a “Bible conference”
Nehemiah 8:13-18
The Feast of Tabernacles
Nehemiah 9:1-8
The Greatness of God
Nehemiah 9:9-25
The Goodness of God When they Didn’t Deserve it
Nehemiah 9:26-31
The Results of Rebellion
Nehemiah 9:32-39
Slaves in Their Own Land
Nehemiah 10:1-31
The Agreement of The People
Nehemiah 10:32-39
Importance of Giving The First Fruits to God
Nehemiah 11:1-19
People Asked to Move Inside The City
Nehemiah 11:20-36
The Israelites Who Lived Outside The City
Nehemiah 12:1-26
Priests and Levites Serving in The Temple
Nehemiah 12:27-47
Nehemiah Dedicates the Wall
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Importance of Giving The First Fruits to God
Nehemiah 10:32–39
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
Donald Grey Barnhouse writes: After the first world war, I traveled extensively in Europe, and I often sent gifts to my mother-a bit of lace from Brussels, a marble vase from Rome, and so on. Suppose I had written to her, “I am sending you these gifts so that you will love m … More
The people recognized the importance of supporting the worship of the temple (vv. 32-39). This was a part of obedience to God’s law. They recognized the need of financially supporting the continuing services of the temple (v. 32). This offering was to be used in taking care of the general expenses of the Temple. The people also needed to relearn the importance of dedicating the first fruits of their yield to God. Nehemiah was simply restarting the practice from the early days of the nation (Ex. 13:1,2). Although this principle is not a New Testament requirement, the concept of giving God the first portion of our time, treasure and talent is still a valid principle.
After the people had brought their tithes, then the Levites brought all the tithes to the temple (Mal. 3:8-12). Tithing was the minimum basis for giving to God in the Old Testament. In the New Testament we are to give as God prospers us which should be at least as much as the Old Testament required. A tenth of what the Levites received went to the priests for their support.
The principle at work was to ensure that god’s work was supported by God’s people and His workers were to be cared for. The people recognized the importance of their loyalty and support of the Temple worship. They were determined to not let down in their commitment. We as New Testament Christians need to feel the same obligation to the work of God.
Application
A question I need to ask myself is: On a scale of 1-10, do I give God my first and best or merely what is left over?
Nehemiah 10:32-39 (English Standard Version)
""We also take on ourselves the obligation to give yearly a third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God: for the showbread, the regular grain offering, the regular burnt offering, the Sabbaths, the new moons, the appointed feasts, the holy things, and the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. We, the priests, the Levites, and the people, have likewise cast lots for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, according to our fathers' houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law. We obligate ourselves to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to the house of the LORD; also to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God, the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks; and to bring the first of our dough, and our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the wine and the oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and to bring to the Levites the tithes from our ground, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all our towns where we labor. And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive the tithes. And the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse. For the people of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of grain, wine, and oil to the chambers, where the vessels of the sanctuary are, as well as the priests who minister, and the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not neglect the house of our God."
View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »
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