Judah Bringing the Tithe - Nehemiah 13:12

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place”, and in chapter thirteen and verse twelve of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “then brought all Judah the tithe” where we read,

Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

The verse reads, “Then brought all Judah the tithe ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “then brought all Judah” which means “at that time carried forth each, every, the whole and everyone from Judah whose name means praised and was the kingdom comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin which occupied the southern part of Canaan after the nation split upon the death of Solomon” “the tithe” or “the tenth portion or part of their increase”. Nehemiah shared how “all” the people within “Judah” carried forth the “tenth part” of the following. 

The verse goes on to say, “... of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “of the corn” or “pertaining to the grain and wheat” “and the new wine” which means “and the freshly pressed fruit of the vine” “and the oil” or “and the shining pure anointing oil” “unto the treasuries” which means “to the garners, armories and storehouses”. Nehemiah said the people of “Judah” carried forth the “tenth part” of their grain, freshly pressed fruit of the vine and the pure anointing oil to the storehouses. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah that everyone of the people of “Judah”carried the tenth-part of their grain, fresh fruit of the vine and pure oil to the storehouses of God. All of these should have been presented along the way, but they were finally being carried back to the house of God. God later gave the direction to “bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (See Malachi 3:10), and everyone should be involved in supporting His Kingdom work. God desires to have a personal intimate relationship with every person who yields their lives to His Son Jesus who was crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind and rose from the dead after three days. When we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put a desire and ability within us to support His Kingdom by obeying His law of bringing all the “tithes” to Him. 

Next time Nehemiah says, “I made treasurers over the treasuries”, 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".