Jude 1:14 It was about these that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied: “Look! The Lord comes with tens of thousands of his devoted ones Jude 1:15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly concerning all the ungodly acts that they have done in an ungodly way and concerning all the harsh things ungodly sinners have said against him.” Jude 1:16 These people are discontented grumblers, living according to their desires; their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering people for their own advantage.
ungodly pretenders
Jude reaches far back in time, quoting a prophecy that first saw fulfilment in the flood’s destruction. But now he applies that prophecy to the judgment of hypocritical ungodly pretenders in the church.
How can we spot such pretenders among us? They complain, seek their own way, speak arrogantly, and praise people only when it benefits themselves.
Jude’s message is that those who act this way will be judged by the Lord at his coming. We should not allow them to destroy our congregations today.
Jude 1:11 Tragedy to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, have plunged into Balaam’s error for profit, and have destroyed themselves by Korah’s rebellion. Jude 1:12 These people are dangerous reefs at your care feasts as they eat with you without reverence. They are shepherds who only look after themselves. They are waterless clouds carried along by winds; trees in late autumn — fruitless, twice dead and uprooted. Jude 1:13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shameful deeds; wandering stars for whom the blackness of darkness is reserved permanently.
irreverence
Jude pours on metaphor after metaphor to explain how dangerous it is to have these false teachers among the congregations. They are lost themselves, and being among Christians gives others the impression that this is what being a Christian is. Their missing ingredient: reverence. They do not fear the God they claim to believe in. They have no respect for the holy things of God.
LORD, forgive us for our past irreverence. We resolve to discipline our lives so that the reverence you deserve is clearly manifested in them.
Jude 1:7 Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns committed sexual immorality and perversions and serve as an example by undergoing the punishment of permanent fire. Jude 1:8 In the same way these people — relying on their dreams — defile their flesh, reject authority, and slander glorious ones. Jude 1:9 Yet when Michael the archangel was disputing with the devil in an argument about Moses’s body, he did not dare utter a slanderous condemnation against him but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Jude 1:10 But these people blaspheme anything they do not understand. And what they do understand by instinct — like irrational animals — by these things they are ruined.
relying on errors
Jesus warned his disciples to make sure that they are not misled. Jude wrote of some at his time who were doing the misleading. They were relying on their dreams instead of relying on the sure word of God. The inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah relied on their passions instead of God’s word. What you rely on matters. Don’t rely on errors.
Jude 1:5 Now I want to remind you, although you came to know all these things once and for all, that Jesus saved a people out of Egypt and later destroyed those who did not believe; Jude 1:6 and the angels who did not keep their own position but abandoned their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deep darkness for the judgment on the great day.
rescued and destroyed
It is posible to have a posision that seems secure and still get lost and destroyed in the end. Jude reminds us of that by pointing to those Israelites who were rescued from Egypt, but later destroyed because of their unbelief. He also gave as an example the angels who abandoned their proper dwelling and are now reserved for the judgment and the lake of fire.
Eternal security can be comforting for those who persevere in their faith, but it is no security for those who choose to abandon it. James is writing to believers who will be challenged to rebel against their faith. His reminder is appropriate. God knows those who are his for eternity, but we do not. True faith and faithfulness are the same thing.
Jude 1:1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James: To those who are the called, cared about by God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ. Jude 1:2 May mercy, peace, and care be multiplied to you. Jude 1:3 Dear friends, although I was eager to write you about the salvation we share, I found it necessary to write, appealing to you to contend for the faith that was delivered to the devotees once for all. Jude 1:4 For some people, who were designated for this judgment long ago, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into sensuality and denying Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.
fake faith
We have only this one letter from Jude, and it was a letter he was reluctant to write. He wanted to write about a topic that would bring comfort and gladness. But he felt compelled to write a warning about fake Christians. They could be spotted by how they lived. They would be ungodly. They might consent to the doctrines of the church, but their lifestlyle would be a denial of Christ.
Jude instructed his listeners to contend for the faith. Real faith in Christ responds to grace by obedience to his commands — not to get saved, but to get others saved. Fake faith uses grace as a license to sin more.
Nehemiah 13:1 At that time the book of Moses was read publicly to the people. The command was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, Nehemiah 13:2 because they did not meet the Israelites with food and water. Instead, they hired Balaam against them to curse them, but our God turned the curse into a blessing. Nehemiah 13:3 When they heard the law, they separated all those of mixed descent from Israel. Nehemiah 13:4 Before this, the priest Eliashib had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was a relative of Tobiah Nehemiah 13:5 and had prepared a large room for him where they had previously stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, and the tenths of grain, new wine, and fresh oil prescribed for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, along with the contributions for the priests. Nehemiah 13:6 While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem because I had returned to King Artaxerxes of Babylon in the thirty-second year of his reign. It was only later that I asked the king for a leave of absence Nehemiah 13:7 so I could return to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah by providing him a room in the courts of God’s house. Nehemiah 13:8 I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah’s household possessions out of the room. Nehemiah 13:9 I ordered that the rooms be purified, and I had the articles of the house of God restored there, along with the grain offering and frankincense. Nehemiah 13:10 I also found out that because the portions for the Levites had not been given, each of the Levites and the singers performing the service had gone back to his own field. Nehemiah 13:11 Therefore, I rebuked the officials, asking, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts. Nehemiah 13:12 Then all Judah brought a tenth of the grain, new wine, and fresh oil into the storehouses. Nehemiah 13:13 I appointed the priest Shelemiah, the scribe Zadok, and Pedaiah of the Levites as treasurers over the storehouses, with Hanan, son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, to assist them because they were considered trustworthy. They were responsible for the distribution to their colleagues. Nehemiah 13:14 Remember me for this, my God, and don’t erase the deeds of faithful love I have done for the house of my God and for its services. Nehemiah 13:15 At that time, I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath. They were also bringing in stores of grain and loading them on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought to Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, so I warned them against selling food on that day. Nehemiah 13:16 The Tyrians living there were importing fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah in Jerusalem. Nehemiah 13:17 I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them: “What is this evil you are doing — profaning the Sabbath day? Nehemiah 13:18 Didn’t your ancestors do the same so that our God brought all this disaster on us and on this city? And now you are rekindling his anger against Israel by profaning the Sabbath!” Nehemiah 13:19 When shadows began to fall on the city gates of Jerusalem just before the Sabbath, I gave orders that they be closed and not opened until after the Sabbath. I posted some of my men at the gates so that no goods could enter during the Sabbath day. Nehemiah 13:20 Once or twice the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem, Nehemiah 13:21 but I warned them, “Why are you camping in front of the wall? If you do it again, I’ll use force against you.” After that, they did not come again on the Sabbath. Nehemiah 13:22 Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the city gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this also, my God, and look on me with compassion according to the abundance of your faithful love. Nehemiah 13:23 In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. Nehemiah 13:24 Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples but could not speak Hebrew. Nehemiah 13:25 I rebuked them, cursed them, beat some of their men, and pulled out their hair. I forced them to take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or yourselves! Nehemiah 13:26 Didn’t King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, yet foreign women drew him into sin. Nehemiah 13:27 Why then should we hear about you doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?” Nehemiah 13:28 Even one of the sons of Jehoiada, son of the high priest Eliashib, had become a son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. So I drove him away from me. Nehemiah 13:29 Remember them, my God, for defiling the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. Nehemiah 13:30 So I purified them from everything foreign and assigned specific duties to each priest and Levite. Nehemiah 13:31 I also arranged for the donation of wood at the appointed times and for the first fruits. Remember me, my God, with favor.
another cleansing
Nehemiah’s life story ends with one more attempt to cleanse the temple, much like the life story of Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29). The temple was significant because it represented the presence of God before men. The church – not the buildings, but the people – is supposed to do that today. That is why we should strive to be pure and undefiled. It is not ethnic diversity that defiles the church. Jesus commanded us to make disciples of all nations. He wants ethnic diversity. What he doesn’t want is divided loyalty. That is what makes any temple impure.
Nehemiah 12:27 At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sent for the Levites wherever they lived and brought them to Jerusalem to celebrate the joyous dedication with thanksgiving and singing accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres. Nehemiah 12:28 The singers gathered from the region around Jerusalem, from the settlements of the Netophathites, Nehemiah 12:29 from Beth-gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth, for they had built settlements for themselves around Jerusalem. Nehemiah 12:30 After the priests and Levites had purified themselves, they purified the people, the city gates, and the wall. Nehemiah 12:31 Then I brought the leaders of Judah up on top of the wall and appointed two large processions that gave thanks. One went to the right on the wall, toward the Dung Gate. Nehemiah 12:32 Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed, Nehemiah 12:33 along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, Nehemiah 12:34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, Nehemiah 12:35 and some of the priests’ sons with trumpets, and Zechariah son of Jonathan, son of Shemaiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micaiah, son of Zaccur, son of Asaph followed Nehemiah 12:36 as well as his relatives– Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David, the man of God. Ezra the scribe went in front of them. Nehemiah 12:37 At the Fountain Gate they climbed the steps of the city of David on the ascent of the wall and went above the house of David to the Water Gate on the east. Nehemiah 12:38 The second thanksgiving procession went to the left, and I followed it with half the people along the top of the wall, past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, Nehemiah 12:39 above the Ephraim Gate, and by the Old Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate. They stopped at the Gate of the Guard. Nehemiah 12:40 The two thanksgiving processions stood in the house of God. So did I and half of the officials accompanying me, Nehemiah 12:41 as well as the priests: Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; Nehemiah 12:42 and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. Then the singers sang, with Jezrahiah as the leader. Nehemiah 12:43 On that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy. The women and children also celebrated, and Jerusalem’s rejoicing was heard far away. Nehemiah 12:44 On that same day men were placed in charge of the rooms that housed the supplies, contributions, firstfruits, and tenths. The legally required portions for the priests and Levites were gathered from the village fields, because Judah was grateful to the priests and Levites who were serving. Nehemiah 12:45 They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, along with the singers and gatekeepers, as David and his son Solomon had prescribed. Nehemiah 12:46 For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there were heads of the singers and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. Nehemiah 12:47 So in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the singers and gatekeepers. They also set aside daily portions for the Levites, and the Levites set aside daily portions for Aaron’s descendants.
thanksgiving processions
When they celebrated the dedication of the newly rebuilt wall in Jerusalem, all the leaders were there, and they formed two processions, each headed by a large choir for singing praises. Instead of sitting around congratulating each other on their success, and bragging about their hard work, the leaders spent the day worshipping the LORD who had called them to that work.
LORD, inspire us to magnify you as a response to our successes, because they all come from you.
Nehemiah 11:1 Now the leaders of the people stayed in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots for one out of ten to come and live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine-tenths remained in their towns. Nehemiah 11:2 The people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. Nehemiah 11:3 These are the heads of the province who stayed in Jerusalem (but in the villages of Judah each lived on his own property in their towns– the Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants — Nehemiah 11:4 while some of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin settled in Jerusalem): Judah’s descendants: Athaiah son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of Perez’s descendants; Nehemiah 11:5 and Maaseiah son of Baruch, son of Col-hozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, a descendant of the Shilonite. Nehemiah 11:6 The total number of Perez’s descendants who settled in Jerusalem was 468 capable men. Nehemiah 11:7 These were Benjamin’s descendants: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah, Nehemiah 11:8 and after him Gabbai and Sallai: 928. Nehemiah 11:9 Joel, son of Zichri, was the officer over them, and Judah, son of Hassenuah, was second in command over the city. Nehemiah 11:10 The priests: Jedaiah son of Joiarib, Jachin, and Nehemiah 11:11 Seraiah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the chief official of God’s temple, Nehemiah 11:12 and their relatives who did the work at the temple: 822. Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah Nehemiah 11:13 and his relatives, the heads of families: 242. Amashsai son of Azarel, son of Ahzai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer, Nehemiah 11:14 and their relatives, capable men: 128. Zabdiel son of Haggedolim, was their chief. Nehemiah 11:15 The Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni; Nehemiah 11:16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, from the heads of the Levites, who supervised the work outside the house of God; Nehemiah 11:17 Mattaniah the son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, the one who began the thanksgiving in prayer; Bakbukiah, second among his relatives; and Abda, son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun. Nehemiah 11:18 All the Levites in the holy city: 284. Nehemiah 11:19 The gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon, and their relatives, who guarded the city gates: 172. Nehemiah 11:20 The rest of Israel, the priests, and the Levites were in all the villages of Judah, each on his own inherited property. Nehemiah 11:21 The temple servants lived on Ophel; Ziha and Gishpa supervised the temple servants. Nehemiah 11:22 The leader of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica, of the descendants of Asaph, who were singers for the service of God’s house. Nehemiah 11:23 There was, in fact, a command of the king regarding them, and an ordinance regulating the singers’ daily tasks. Nehemiah 11:24 Pethahiah, son of Meshezabel, of the descendants of Zerah, son of Judah, was the king’s agent in every matter concerning the people. Nehemiah 11:25 As for the farming settlements with their fields: Some of Judah’s descendants lived in Kiriath-arba and Dibon and their surrounding villages, and Jekabzeel and its settlements; Nehemiah 11:26 in Jeshua, Moladah, Beth-pelet, Nehemiah 11:27 Hazar-shual, and Beer-sheba and its surrounding villages; Nehemiah 11:28 in Ziklag and Meconah and its surrounding villages; Nehemiah 11:29 in En-rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth, and Nehemiah 11:30 Zanoah and Adullam with their settlements; in Lachish with its fields, Azekah, and surrounding villages. So they settled from Beer-sheba to Hinnom Valley. Nehemiah 11:31 Benjamin’s descendants: from Geba, Michmash, Aija, and Bethel and its surrounding villages, Nehemiah 11:32 Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, Nehemiah 11:33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, Nehemiah 11:34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, Nehemiah 11:35 Lod, and Ono, in Craftsmen’s Valley. Nehemiah 11:36 Some of the Judean divisions of Levites were in Benjamin. Nehemiah 12:1 These are the priests and Levites who went up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, Nehemiah 12:2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, Nehemiah 12:3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, Nehemiah 12:4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, Nehemiah 12:5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, Nehemiah 12:6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, Nehemiah 12:7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the heads of the priests and their relatives in the days of Jeshua. Nehemiah 12:8 The Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah — he and his relatives were in charge of the songs of praise. Nehemiah 12:9 Bakbukiah, Unni, and their relatives stood opposite them in the services. Nehemiah 12:10 Jeshua fathered Joiakim, Joiakim fathered Eliashib, Eliashib fathered Joiada, Nehemiah 12:11 Joiada fathered Jonathan, and Jonathan fathered Jaddua. Nehemiah 12:12 In the days of Joiakim, the heads of the priestly families were Meraiah of Seraiah, Hananiah of Jeremiah, Nehemiah 12:13 Meshullam of Ezra, Jehohanan of Amariah, Nehemiah 12:14 Jonathan of Malluchi, Joseph of Shebaniah, Nehemiah 12:15 Adna of Harim, Helkai of Meraioth, Nehemiah 12:16 Zechariah of Iddo, Meshullam of Ginnethon, Nehemiah 12:17 Zichri of Abijah, Piltai of Moadiah, of Miniamin, Nehemiah 12:18 Shammua of Bilgah, Jehonathan of Shemaiah, Nehemiah 12:19 Mattenai of Joiarib, Uzzi of Jedaiah, Nehemiah 12:20 Kallai of Sallai, Eber of Amok, Nehemiah 12:21 Hashabiah of Hilkiah, and Nethanel of Jedaiah. Nehemiah 12:22 In the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, the heads of the families of the Levites and priests were recorded while Darius the Persian ruled. Nehemiah 12:23 Levi’s descendants, the family heads, were recorded in the Book of the Historical Events during the days of Johanan son of Eliashib. Nehemiah 12:24 The heads of the Levites—Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel, along with their relatives opposite them—gave praise and thanks, division by division, as David, the man of God, had prescribed. Nehemiah 12:25 This included Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, and Obadiah. Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the city gates. Nehemiah 12:26 These served in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua, son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the priest and scribe.
a tithe of the people
This section records the effort to repopulate Jerusalem, and the proof that levitical duties were carried out during the entire time of the restoration. It is interesting that the goal was to put a tithe of the people itself into the city. Not everyone could go and live there, but everyone was to bless those whom they sent to represent them. In a similar way, only a small percentage of us will know the joy and privilege of foreign missionary work. Under the new covenant, the blessing goes not to those who go to the holy city, but for those who go to reach others with the message of the gospel. Have we given ten percent? What would happen if we did?
Nehemiah 10:1 Those whose seals were on the document were the governor Nehemiah son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah, Nehemiah 10:2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, Nehemiah 10:3 Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, Nehemiah 10:4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, Nehemiah 10:5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, Nehemiah 10:6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, Nehemiah 10:7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, Nehemiah 10:8 Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests. Nehemiah 10:9 The Levites were Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel, Nehemiah 10:10 and their brothers Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, Nehemiah 10:11 Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, Nehemiah 10:12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, Nehemiah 10:13 Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu. Nehemiah 10:14 The heads of the people were Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, Nehemiah 10:15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, Nehemiah 10:16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, Nehemiah 10:17 Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, Nehemiah 10:18 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, Nehemiah 10:19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, Nehemiah 10:20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, Nehemiah 10:21 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, Nehemiah 10:22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, Nehemiah 10:23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, Nehemiah 10:24 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, Nehemiah 10:25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, Nehemiah 10:26 Ahijah, Hanan, Anan, Nehemiah 10:27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah. Nehemiah 10:28 The rest of the people — the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants, along with their wives, sons, and daughters, everyone who is able to understand and who has separated themselves from the surrounding peoples to obey the law of God — Nehemiah 10:29 joins with their noble brothers and commits themselves with a sworn oath to follow the law of God given through God’s servant Moses and to obey carefully all the commands, ordinances, and statutes of Yahweh, our Lord. Nehemiah 10:30 We will not give our daughters in marriage to the surrounding peoples and will not take their daughters as wives for our sons. Nehemiah 10:31 When the surrounding peoples bring merchandise or any grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or a holy day. We will also leave the land uncultivated in the seventh year and cancel every debt. Nehemiah 10:32 We will impose the following commands on ourselves: To give an eighth of an ounce of silver yearly for the service of the house of our God: Nehemiah 10:33 the bread displayed before Yahveh, the daily grain offering, the regular burnt offering, the Sabbath and New Moon offerings, the appointed festivals, the holy things, the sin offerings to atone for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. Nehemiah 10:34 We have cast lots among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation of wood by our ancestral families at the appointed times each year. They are to bring the wood to our God’s house to burn on the altar of Yahveh our God, as it is written in the law. Nehemiah 10:35 We will bring the firstfruits of our land and of every fruit tree to Yahveh ‘s house year by year. Nehemiah 10:36 We will also bring the firstborn of our sons and our livestock, as prescribed by the law, and will bring the firstborn of our herds and flocks to the house of our God, to the priests who serve in our God’s house. Nehemiah 10:37 We will bring a loaf from our first We will also bring a batch of dough to the priests at the storerooms of the house of our God. We will also bring the first fruits of our grain offerings, every fruit tree, and the new wine and fresh oil. A tenth of our land’s produce belongs to the Levites, for the Levites are to collect the one-tenth offering in all our agricultural towns. Nehemiah 10:38 A priest from Aaron’s descendants is to accompany the Levites when they collect the tenth, and the Levites are to take a tenth of this offering to the storerooms of the treasury in the house of our God. Nehemiah 10:39 For the Israelites and the Levites are to bring the contributions of grain, new wine, and fresh oil to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are kept and where the priests who minister are, along with the gatekeepers and singers. We will not neglect the house of our God.
one percent
The people swear an oath of loyalty to the covenant, agreeing to do what the law requires. Among the requirements of this commitment was to give a tithe, and a tithe of that tithe (1%) went to the chambers of the temple storehouse.
Tithing is not required under the new covenant, but it is a great idea if you can afford it, and most can. One of the blessings of regularly giving a percentage of what you make is that you can see in your tithe check a visual reminder of how well the Lord is taking care of you. As your income increases, your tithe increases. One local church I attended tithed the offerings, and that went to missions. What a great way to say thank-you to the LORD – helping to bring others into his church.
Nehemiah 9:1 On the twenty-fourth day of this month, the Israelites assembled; they were fasting, wearing sackcloth, and putting dust on their heads. Nehemiah 9:2 Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and their fathers’ iniquities. Nehemiah 9:3 While they stood in their places, they read from the book of the law of Yahveh their God for a fourth of the day and spent another fourth of the day in confession and worship of Yahveh their God. Nehemiah 9:4 Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani stood on the raised platform built for the Levites and cried out loudly to Yahveh their God. Nehemiah 9:5 Then the Levites —Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—said, “Stand up. Blessed be Yahveh your God from everlasting to everlasting.” Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. Nehemiah 9:6 You, Yahveh, are the only God. You created the sky, the highest sky with all their stars, the land and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them, and all the sky’s stars worship you. Nehemiah 9:7 You, Yahveh, are the God who chose Abram, brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans, and changed his name to Abraham. Nehemiah 9:8 You found his heart faithful in your sight and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites– to give it to his descendants. You have fulfilled your promise, for you are righteous. Nehemiah 9:9 You saw the oppression of our ancestors in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea. Nehemiah 9:10 You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the people of his land, for you knew how arrogantly they treated our ancestors. You made a name for yourself that endures to this day. Nehemiah 9:11 You divided the sea before them, and they crossed through it on dry ground. You hurled their pursuers into the depths like a stone into the raging water. Nehemiah 9:12 You led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to illuminate the way they should go. Nehemiah 9:13 You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke to them from the sky. You gave them impartial ordinances, reliable instructions, and good statutes and commands. Nehemiah 9:14 You revealed your holy Sabbath to them and gave them commands, statutes, and instruction through your servant Moses. Nehemiah 9:15 You provided bread from the sky for their hunger; you brought them water from the rock for their thirst. You told them to go in and possess the land you had sworn to give them. Nehemiah 9:16 But our ancestors acted arrogantly; they became stiff-necked and did not listen to your commands. Nehemiah 9:17 They refused to listen and did not remember the wonders you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love, and you did not abandon them. Nehemiah 9:18 Even after they had cast an image of a calf for themselves and said, “This is your god who brought you out of Egypt,” and they had committed terrible blasphemies, Nehemiah 9:19 you did not abandon them in the wilderness because of your great compassion. During the day the pillar of cloud never turned away from them, guiding them on their journey. And during the night the pillar of fire illuminated the way they should go. Nehemiah 9:20 You sent your good Breath to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths and gave them water for their thirst. Nehemiah 9:21 You provided for them in the wilderness forty years, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell. Nehemiah 9:22 You gave them kingdoms and peoples and established boundaries for them. They took possession of the land of King Sihon of Heshbon and of the land of King Og of Bashan. Nehemiah 9:23 You multiplied their descendants like the stars of the sky and brought them to the land you told their ancestors to go in and possess. Nehemiah 9:24 So their descendants went in and possessed the land: You subdued the Canaanites who inhabited the land before them and handed their kings and the surrounding peoples over to them, to do as they pleased with them. Nehemiah 9:25 They captured fortified cities and fertile land and took possession of well-supplied houses, cisterns cut out of rock, vineyards, olive groves, and abundant fruit trees. They ate, were filled, became prosperous, and delighted in your great goodness. Nehemiah 9:26 But they were disobedient and rebelled against you. They flung your law behind their backs and killed your prophets who warned them in order to turn them back to you. They committed terrible blasphemies. Nehemiah 9:27 So you handed them over to their enemies, who oppressed them. In their time of distress, they cried out to you, and you heard from the sky. In your abundant compassion, you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the power of their enemies. Nehemiah 9:28 But as soon as they had relief, they again did what was evil in your sight. So you abandoned them to the power of their enemies, who dominated them. When they cried out to you again, you heard from the sky and rescued them many times in your compassion. Nehemiah 9:29 You warned them to turn back to your law, but they acted arrogantly and would not obey your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, which a person will live by if he does them. They stubbornly resisted, stiffened their necks, and would not obey. Nehemiah 9:30 You were patient with them for many years, and your Breath warned them through your prophets, but they would not listen. Therefore, you handed them over to the surrounding people. Nehemiah 9:31 However, you did not destroy or abandon them in your abundant compassion, for you are a gracious and compassionate God. Nehemiah 9:32 So now, our God– the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God who keeps his gracious covenant– do not view lightly all the hardships that have afflicted us, our kings and leaders, our priests and prophets, our ancestors and all your people, from the days of the Assyrian kings until today. Nehemiah 9:33 You are righteous concerning all that has happened to us because you have acted faithfully, while we have acted wickedly. Nehemiah 9:34 Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did not obey your law or listen to your commands and warnings you gave them. Nehemiah 9:35 When they were in their kingdom, with the abundant goodness you gave them, and in the spacious and fertile land you set before them, they would not serve you or turn from their wicked ways. Nehemiah 9:36 Here we are today, slaves in the land you gave our ancestors so that they could enjoy its fruit and its goodness. Here we are– slaves in it! Nehemiah 9:37 Its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have set over us, because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and our livestock as they please. We are in great distress. Nehemiah 9:38 In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement in writing on a sealed document containing the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests.
confessing truth
This long confession gives readers insight into what God wants of us when we come to him. Often our confessions seem empty and selfish. We know more about our failures and needs than God’s desires. After hearing God’s word read and explained, the returning Israelites were able to confess their true situation. They confessed God’s grace, and how they had rebelled against it.
LORD, teach us how to confess the truth, not just our truth.
Devotions 