The Offerings - Nehemiah 10:33

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “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”, and in chapter ten and verse thirty-three of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how the shekels would be used for, “the offerings” where we read,

For the showbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. 

The verse reads, “For the showbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “for the showbread” which means “on behalf of the grain, corn and food which was arranged in loaves within the sanctuary”, “and for the continual meat offering” or “and on behalf of the continuous, constant and perpetual tribute, oblation, sacrifice and gift to God”, “and for the continual burnt offering” which means “and on behalf of the continuous, constant and perpetual whole ascending, smoking and burning tribute, oblation and sacrifice”, “of the sabbaths” or “pertaining to the sacred intermission and rest days”, “of the new moons” which means “belonging to the first days of the month or lunar month”. Nehemiah said the “temple tax” was to be used to purchase the grain and food implemented within the constant bread, “sabbath” day and first day of the lunar moon sacrifices. 

The verse goes on to say, “... for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. ” Nehemiah continued with the words, “for the set feasts” or “on behalf of the appointed time, season and meeting festivals”, “for the holy things” which means “on behalf of the sacred, set apart and separated items”, “and for the sin offerings” or “and on behalf of the purifying, expiation and punishment for errors, wrongs and mistakes sacrifices” “to make an atonement” which means “to cover, make reconciliation and propitiate” “for Israel” or “on behalf of Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”, “and for all the work” which means “and on behalf of each, every, the whole and every part of the occupation, business and labor” “of the house of our God” or “pertaining to the habitation, abode and dwelling place belonging to our, the people of Israel's, Supreme Deity”. Nehemiah added that the “temple tax” was also used for the appointed festivals, the sacred vessels and “sin” sacrifices to make reconciliation for the people of Israel and on behalf of all the labor within the sacred dwelling place of Jehovah God. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah how the “Temple tax” received every year from the people of Israel was to be used for all the implements which were necessary to carry out the sacred sacrifices for “feasts” or festivals, the “sin” sacrifice and everything that was used by the priests to make “offerings” to God. God wants people to be involved in His labor, and when we yield to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead three days later as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and allow us to be involved in His Kingdom work of sharing the gospel of salvation from sins with everyone. 

Next time Nehemiah says, “we cast the lots”, 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".