As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Nehemiah 10
This chapter continues the record of those Jews who gave their seal to a written promise to serve the LORD. It included Levites, priests, chiefs, those who were doorkeepers and singers in the temple, Nethinims, and those who had separated themselves from the local inhabitants and knew and understood God's laws.
As part of their promise to God they committed to not intermarrying with the locals, not buying on the sabbath or holy days, observance of the seventh year ordinances, tithing and offerings.
I noticed that in this promise to follow the LORD that the Jews pledged to give of 'the firstfruits' or 'firstborn' of their ground, trees, sons, cattle, herds, flocks, dough, wine and oil to the house of God (verse 35-39). This followed the law as set out in Exodus 22:29-30, 'Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors; the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me. Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen...'
In Proverbs we read of this precept again - with a promise, which is repeated in Malachi:
'Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine' (Proverbs 3:9,10).
'Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not pour out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it' (Malachi 3:10).
I wondered how this applies to us today. We are no longer under the Levitical law - we don't have to bring a tenth of our income or the firstfruits of our dough etc to the house of God, and we don't all worship at one ordained temple. Does it speak to us then of prioritising God, or giving our best to the Lord, or simply of giving to him of our financial increase?
I remember reading in a biography of Hudson Taylor, missionary to China that before he was born his parents felt so impressed when reading about this setting apart of the firstborn for the Lord that they knelt before the Lord to give him their best gift, 'asking for the rich influence of the Holy Spirit, that their firstborn might be set apart indeed from that hour'. The Lord so worked in them that they felt that this law did apply to them in regard to their firstborn son and couldn't be purely relegated to Hebrew parents of old. The biographer writes:
'And just as definitely the Lord responded, giving them faith to realise that He had accepted the gift; that henceforth the life so dear to them was their own no longer, but must be held at the disposal of a higher claim, a deeper love than theirs.' And how we see in Hudson's life how the Lord greatly used him to perform his work in China. Perhaps there are others in whom the Lord also speaks in this way today.
But on looking at Matthew Henry's comments on this chapter more generally, we are reminded that giving of firstfruits and tithes provided the priests and Levites with the necessities they needed to live, so that they could then be free to attend to the duties of the temple, and not be tempted to neglect serving the Lord because of needing to support themselves.
Wanting to understand more I looked for references in the New Testament: The references I found seem to speak of firstfruits as being the first evidence of more which is to come. For example:
'Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept...in Christ shall all be made alive, But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming' (1 Corinthians 15: 20-23).
'Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures' (James 1:18)
The word firstfruits is being used to show that Jesus was the first resurrected of all his people who shall also be resurrected, and the apostles were the first believers of the new covenant.
So it seems that giving firstfruits to the temple had a twofold meaning - firstly, it honoured God by obeying his command to do so (thus providing food etc for the Levites and priests so that they could keep God's commands to serve him in the temple duties); and secondly, it honoured God by recognising that he had given them the first fruits in harvests etc, and they were trusting that he would continue to bless with more.
How do we give the Lord our firstfruits then? And what are they?
Well, I see an application in how we give of our finances, time, natural talents and possessions firstly for our public worship of God and place of worship, secondly for the support of fellow believers - who are today's 'temple', God dwelling in them - and thirdly in regard to our lives and eternity.
(This week I will share with you thoughts on the first point as this post has got a bit lengthy!)
As the Israelites were to bring their firstfruits to provide for those serving God in the temple duties, so today we can give support to our ministers and their families financially. This practical support can help facilitate them being able to use their time to meditate and prepare for the services. We can also give back to the Lord a portion of the time he has given us in prayer for the ministers, that they may be helped in their meditation, journeys to the services, delivery of the sermon, pastoral duties and health. As we give to God by giving to them, so God may bless us spiritually by giving the minister messages, understanding and instruction to bring to us and as believers uniting us in love to each other.
Additionally giving the Lord a portion of our finances can help provide upkeep of our buildings where we worship him. Giving of our time in prayer for others who take part in the services and hold responsibility, additionally supports those who take part in the 'temple duties'. We can give of the talents the Lord has given us by helping out with music/singing, give of our time to help with cleaning, repairs, gardening; give of our knowledge to help with finances and so forth.
Our financial contributions may be in the collections, private gifts or 'in kind'. In the Old Testament there was a set amount of what each person was to bring in tithes, but in verse 32 of this chapter my study Bible notes that their tithe to the service of the temple was reduced perhaps in recognition of their reduced circumstances. So it speaks to us of prayerfully asking the Lord to show us what we should each give, depending on our circumstances, but perhaps suggests that like the Israelites were to set aside a determined amount that we too should have a designated amount for willingly giving back to the Lord, trusting that he will bless us in giving more.
But this searches me! Does it you, dear reader? It searches me regarding my attitude and current actions. I think how much I take for granted - that we will have ministers to preach to us, that our buildings will stay open, that all is taken care of. How slovenly I can be in praying for all of this!
I ask myself - what do I give back to the Lord financially from what he has blessed me with, in order that our ministers may be able to dedicate time meditating and preparing for the services? How much do I pray for their wives and children whose attitude to their husband/father going out to preach will be a support or a trouble? Do I hold all my money with a tight fist, feeling that I have rightfully earned it? Do I begrudgingly give to the collection, not recognising that it is only lent to me by the Lord? - he gave any ability to earn it, or prompted the gift of it to me. Do I take care to notice signs of any needs that the minister may have? Do I love the minister as he brings messages from my loving Lord? Do I pray earnestly for ministers when I hear they are sick, thank the Lord for giving them to us and ask him to maintain a ministry to us?
And how much time from what the Lord has given me do I spend praying that the Lord will be with the minister in their meditation, journeys and delivery of their sermons? Do I squeeze in a quick prayer on my way to the service, as I rush out the door, as I sit down in the chapel pew or church? Do I suddenly remember as the minister comes out the vestry door that I had even forgotten who was preaching that service?
And what about those who take part in the service? Choosing hymns, sermons, tunes, praying... do I spend time praying that they too will be helped? Do I begrudge being asked to give of the musical gifts given to me in playing an instrument? Do I count it a privilege to contribute to the worship of the Lord?
And then after the services, particularly if the Lord has given me a blessing or some instruction or help in the service what do I give back in praise and thanks to him and in encouraging the minister?
And what is my attitude in regard to hospitality to the minister - am I like the Shunammite woman who saw the man of God's need and prepared a little room where he could rest or eat (2 Kings 4:10)? Perhaps I am not in a position to do that, but can I lovingly and thoughtfully prepare for the minister, give of what I have been given to feed him, make him comfortable, give him space to rest and quietly think?
And what about the very fact of giving back to the Lord, this first day of the week in worship to him. Do I secretly resent giving up every Sunday - the day that always seems to be the sunniest day of the week - the extra day in which I could get so much more done? Do I enviously look at our neighbours lounging in their garden, relaxing, whilst I am tired from the strain of being polite to people all day, perhaps taking part in the service, or worrying that I had entertained the minister well?
Dear reader, what sinners we are! May the Lord forgive us, and fill us with love towards his ministers, places of worship and services that we might willingly and lovingly give of our finances, time and talents to prioritise and cherish the privilege of worshipping God. 'For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure' (Philippians 2: 13).
To be continued...
Enjoyed this post?
Subscribe for weekly content
Comments
Post a Comment