Commitment to the Lord Part 2
Nehemiah - Pray, Plan, Persevere • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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***Sermon title slide***
Last week we started covering chapter 10 and made it up to verse 31. I initially planned to cover the entire chapter, but realized as I got into it that it was going to be too much.
This chapter covers three main commitments the people of Israel made after being confronted with God’s word. Here are those three commitments:
They were...
Committing their family (9:38-10:30)
In the passage, they committed to keeping their families free from outside influence. That didn’t mean that they wouldn’t interact with the cultures around them. It did mean they commited to keeping their families pure and holy for the Lord.
Last week we spent some time in reflection asking if there were areas in our household or our families that were not glorifying to the Lord. We asked for God’s help in correcting those area that God would want us to give to him.
Next, they were...
Committing their Time (10:31)
Verse 31 primarily talks about the Sabbath, but it really applies to setting our schedule and routines of life to God’s ideas and designs for us. That includes taking a weekly Sabbath.
We spent some time in prayer about those of us who need to realign our priorities and schedule around God’s ideas. I hope you were challenged to find a time weekly to rest in the Lord.
Today we will cover the remainder of the chapter and see that they were
Committing their Resources (10:32-10:39)
Often when people think about what is to be given to God in terms of resources, we think of our tithes and offerings…essentially a portion of our income. As we’ll see in this passage, it is not quite that simple. There were several other components to their “giving”.
Let’s begin by reading the first two verses of this passage.
32 “We assume the responsibility for carrying out the commands to give a third of a shekel each year for the service of the house of our God:
33 for the bread set out on the table; for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings; for the offerings on the Sabbaths, at the New Moon feasts and at the appointed festivals; for the holy offerings; for sin offerings to make atonement for Israel; and for all the duties of the house of our God.
This offering was due from each person alike. It was not based on income, it was based on the need of keeping the temple up and running with all of the offerings, festivals and duties of those who took care of it.
These would be all of the costs that they knew would happen throughout the year. The third of shekel per person was a fixed cost and would be paid whether the economy was good or not. Just to give an idea of this cost, in today’s currency, this would be about $6 or $7.
The commitment of resources was to provide for the regular function of the temple - an offering that was the same per person.
Let’s read the next verse...
34 “We—the priests, the Levites and the people—have cast lots to determine when each of our families is to bring to the house of our God at set times each year a contribution of wood to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the Law.
This one is fascinating to me. Each of the families took a certain time of year in which they would bring the wood to be burned for the sacrifices on the altar. This is what Lev 6:12 says:
12 The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it.
This fire on the altar must burn 24/7. For reference, this altar was 30 feet square and a fire would burn night and day. I’m in the process of bringing in some wood for the winter and I have a nice sharp chainsaw and a pickup truck. I imagine this was quite the thing to commit to as a family.
In terms of the things that one might want to commit to, this is probably on the lesser end of the desires…this is manual, back breaking work that doesn’t result in something tangible.
I’ve seen this in the church today. It’s easier to write a $1,000 check than it is to commit to cleaning the toilets once a month. It just seems like every time you clean something, it just ends up dirty again. Every time you bring in a load of wood it just disappears..
Committing to ongoing regular labor for the temple function was just as important as the financial offering.
Let’s see what else they commit to...
Neh 10:35-37
Nehemiah 10:35–37a (NIV)
35 “We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the Lord each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree.
36 “As it is also written in the Law, we will bring the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, of our herds and of our flocks to the house of our God, to the priests ministering there.
37 “Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and olive oil.
Next is a commitment to bring in the firstfruits, firstborn and the first of all resources.
This commitment shows their desire to keep God first. This was also a very sacrificial process. Imagine this. You’ve plowed, planted and waited for the crop to be harvested. In the meantime, you are drawing down the food you’ve stored from the previous harvest.
By the time you get to the first of the new harvest, you are likely at the bottom of the reserves and according to this commitment, you don’t even get to enjoy the first of the harvest…instead you give it to the Lord as an offering.
I’ve seen as a principle that when we are faithful to honor God first, he blesses the rest in such unexpected ways.
So far we’ve seen the third of a shekel yearly giving, an offering of labor in keeping the fire and now an offering of the first…let’s see what’s next...
Nehemiah 10:37b–39 (NIV)
37 “And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work.
38 A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury.
39 The people of Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new wine and olive oil to the storerooms, where the articles for the sanctuary and for the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the musicians are also kept. “We will not neglect the house of our God.”
Lastly, we see the tithe which literally means a tenth. Not only do they commit to the giving of the tenth of all they get, they also commit to a regular process by which the tenth was collected.
We still use this term tithe in our language in the church today to represent our regular giving. I am not convinced that a tithe as a tenth is required, but it certainly is a good starting point. Instead I see a command to give generously and joyfully.
To bring this to a place of application for us…in their commitment of their resources, there were three main ways:
In their regular giving, whether it was a tithe or a yearly offering
In their time and energy as they brought wood to for the altar
And in the first of what they received - in doing this, they brought their best.
Just so we get an idea of what the New Testament has to say about these, I have two passages to read for you...
1 Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do.
2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
Paul in writing to the Corinthian church was encouraging both the idea of a regular giving, but giving as a portion of your income. Whether for you that is a tithe or a tenth or more, this is something we are all to participate in.
Lastly, turn with me to 2 Corinthians 9:6-8
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
When you give, be sure to do so not out of compulsion, but decide ahead of time and give cheerfully. Giving is a act of worship and thanksgiving to the Lord who has given you all that you have already.
Just a quick note about that last verse. This doesn’t say that God “will” bless you, it say that He is able to, but I do read a promise that he will provide all that you need in order for you to abound in every good work.
***Sermon Title Slide***
Close - Invitation
