In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city.” Nehemiah included the children of many of the people of Israel in his census, and he added several of the men such as “the men of the other Nebo, the other Elam” and “the children of Harim, Jericho, Lod, Hadid, Ono and Senaah.” He also included, “the priests, the Levites, the singers, the porters, Nethinims” and “the children of Solomon's servants, these were they which went up also from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not show their father's house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel;” He added, “the children of Delaiah, Tobiah, Nekoda and of the priests” and those who “sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy” as well as what “the Tirshatha said unto them” as “the whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, beside their manservants and their maidservants, singing men and women, horses, mules camels and asses”, and in chapter seven and verse seventy of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how, “some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work” where we read,
And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty priests' garments.
The verse reads, “And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work.” Nehemiah began with the words, “and some of the chief of the fathers” which means “and a small number of the upper, top and highest male ancestors and progenitors” “gave unto the work” or “granted, entrusted, delivered up and bestowed upon the business, occupation, workmanship and service”. Nehemiah said a number of the top and highest male progenitors bestowed upon the workmanship and service performed in Jerusalem.
The verse continues, “The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty priests' garments.” Nehemiah added the words, “the Tirshatha” or “the governor or deputy” “gave to the treasure”which means “granted, entrusted, delivered up and bestowed upon the storehouse, supplies and depository” “a thousand drams of gold” or “one thousand drachma or units of gold metal”, “fifty basins” which means “fifty bowls or vessels for throwing or tossing a liquid”, “five hundred and thirty priest's garments” or “five hundred and thirty tunics or long shirt-like clothing usually of linen for the spiritual spokesmen and leaders”. Nehemiah said the “governor or deputy” which was Nehemiah himself, bestowed one thousand drachma of gold metal, fifty bowls and five hundred and thirty tunics for the spiritual spokesmen.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah that both he and the top male progenitors of Israel contributed to the workmanship that was being conducted in Jerusalem. Givers are important to the Kingdom of God, and when we realize God gives us everything we have, we can involve ourselves in His work when we return to Him what is rightfully His. God is the ultimate giver as He gave His Son Jesus to the world to be crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when He raised Him from the dead three days later, He made access for us to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and used as a contributor to His work when we put our faith and trust in Him. Let all who read these words yield themselves to Jesus and become givers in the Kingdom of God.
Next time Nehemiah shares about, “that which the rest of the people gave”, 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".
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