In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt”, and in chapter ten and verse thirty-two of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “we made ordinances for us” where we read,
Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly
with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;
The verse reads, “Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “also we made ordinances for us” which means “even so and indeed we, the people of Israel, appointed commandments and codes of wisdom on behalf of us, the people of Israel”, “to charge ourselves” or “to consecrate and dedicate our, the people of Israel's, own selves” “yearly” which means “every annual division of sunrises to sunsets or measures of time”. Nehemiah shared how the people of Israel appointed commandments for themselves to dedicate themselves every year.
The verse continues, “... with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;” Nehemiah added the words, “with the third part” or “by the use of one third portion” “of a shekel” which means “pertaining to a chief unit, weight or measure of silver” “for the service” or “on behalf of the labor, work and ministering” “of the house” which means “pertaining to the habitation, abode and dwelling place” “of our God” or “belonging to our, the people of Israel's, Supreme Deity”. Nehemiah said the people of Israel committed to bringing one-third or about one-eighth of an ounce of silver to ministration within the sacred dwelling place of the Supreme Deity Jehovah.
When we consider Nehemiah's words in this verse, we discover how the people of Israel made a commitment to reinstate their annual “Temple tax” of a “third of a shekel” of silver. This again would demonstrate their desire to commit themselves to Jehovah God and His ways, and God wants this type of heart from us as well. The sacred work of God is to be supported by those who follow Him, and when we yield to Him in this manner, the gospel that God loves us, and He proved His love to us when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised three days later continues. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a desire to keep His commandments and ways even when the smallest amount of support for His sacred worship place is given.
Next time Nehemiah shares how the shekels will be used for, “the offerings”, 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".
No comments:
Post a Comment