Bring the Firstfruits - Nehemiah 10:35

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law”, and in chapter ten and verse thirty-five of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about bringing, “the firstfruits” where we read,

And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, 

and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD:

The verse reads, “And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “and to bring the firstfruits” which means “and to lead in and carry forth with the first of the crops and fruit that ripened which was gathered to offer to God” “of our ground” or “pertaining to our, the people of Israel's, land, region, district and territory”. Nehemiah said the people of Israel were also to carry forth an offering of the first reaping of the crops and fruit produced from their land. 

The verse goes on to say, “... and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD:” Nehemiah continued with the words, “and the firstfruits” or “ the first of the crops and fruit that ripened, was gathered and offer to God” “of all fruit of all trees” which means “belonging to each, every, the whole and everyone of the produce or bough from the timbers”, “year by year” or “from annual period of time to annual measure of time”, “unto the house of the LORD” which means “to the habitation, abode and dwelling place belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”. Nehemiah said the “firstfruit” produced from the timbers were to be brought to the sacred dwelling place of God every year. (See Exodus 23:19,26; Leviticus 19:23-26; Numbers 18:2, 12; Deuteronomy26:2)

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah that the people of Israel also re-instituted the annual giving of the “first” of the produce from their “trees”, and they carried them to the sacred dwelling place of God, the temple, where they would be distributed according to the needs. God loves cheerful givers, (See 2 Corinthians 9:7) and He demonstrated His love and giving to us when He sent His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the grave three days later. When we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us so we may discern His truth and be lead to return to Him the “first-fruits” of that which He has given to us. 

Next time Nehemiah shares about, “the firstborn”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".