Return from Exile: Nehemiah 10 (5)

Pray Psalm 40.4, 5
Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust,
And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works
Which You have done;
And Your thoughts toward us
Cannot be recounted to You in order;
If I would declare and speak of them,
They are more than can be numbered.

Sing Psalm 40.4, 5.
(Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth)
Blessed are all who trust in You, turning both from lies and pride.
Countless wonders, Lord, You do, and Your thoughts with us abide.
LORD, Your worth who can declare? None with You can e’er compare.

Read Nehemiah 10.1-38; meditate on verses 35-38.

Preparation
1. What did the people agree to in these verses?

2. Where would all these offerings be kept?

Meditation
I know I’m being a little hard on these folks who have just returned from exile and rebuilt the temple and the wall of Jerusalem. I’m skeptical about their motives, and I’m certain about their lack of power and, with good reason.

I do not doubt they meant well concerning all these promises they made in the covenant, but events would show that this was largely all talk. For the longer they continued in the land, the more they remained captive to self-interest. They still had years to go before they would wake up to the truth that is in Jesus and be freed from the power of sin. In the meantime, they would not be able to keep these promises. Or to paraphrase Robert Frost, For they had promises to break, and years to go before they’d wake, and years to go before they’d wake.

These verses (35-38) are the closest yet to Israel’s fulfilling exactly what the Law of God required. The people embraced the laws concerning the tithe and declared their intention of bringing the tithes and offerings to the Lord faithfully, year by year. Yet, as we see in Malachi, who began his ministry just about the time Nehemiah ended his, the people “robbed God” and did not keep their word concerning the tithes and offerings (Mal. 3.8-10). The lusts of self overruled obedience to the Word of God and their promises to Him.

These people may have been sincere in seeking to get back to the Law and covenant of God. But sincerity has no power in it, and without the power of God’s Spirit and the finished work of Christ, all the sincerity in the world will still leave you captive to sin and self. Just like the people of Nehemiah’s day.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Years ago, a politician running for president who had a religious bent, was asked by an interviewer if he tithed. His answer? “Oh no, I’m saving that money for my children’s education.”

Well, how does that strike you? I immediately took him off my list of possibilities.

On another occasion I was having a conversation with someone who did not believe in tithing. His reasoning? “All the money just keeps going around to all the believers.” How does that strike you? For me, in his anger, he nailed the beauty of tithing. All the money does keep circulating among God’s people.

The people tithed to keep the temple and the priests going (Neh. 10.35-37).
But the Levites also tithed what they received (Neh. 10.38).
Nobody is exempt from tithing! Everybody is required to tithe.

Not tithing is conflated with robbing God. And who in their right mind wants to do that?
“Will a man rob God?
Yet you have robbed Me!
But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’
In tithes and offerings.
You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me,
even this whole nation” (Mal. 3.8, 9).

And to those who think they cannot afford to tithe? The Bible says, This is not your money in the first place.  A tenth of what you receive belongs to God.

But to those who do give God what is rightfully His, He says:
“‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,’
says the LORD of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it’” (Mal. 3.10).

As Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Lk. 6.38). God will bless us in the same way that He cared for the widow who fed the prophet Elijah (1 Ki. 17.13-16).

This is a commandment that we can successfully obey. Our attitude needs to be in check, no doubt, but the doing of it is as simple as doing it. “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9.7).

And for those who are concerned about perceived financial hardships due to tithing, we have these words of comfort and assurance: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Cor. 9.8).

“We have promises to keep, and miles to go before we sleep.”

Trust and obey,
for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus,
but to trust and obey.
(John H. Sammis, 1887)

For reflection
1. What keeps us from simply doing what the Lord commands? How can we overcome this?

2. Why were the people of Nehemiah’s day unable to fulfill their promises to God? How should this warn us?

3. Merely making promises to God is not enough. What would you say are the keys to keeping the promises you make?

Having covenanted against the sins of which they had been guilty, they obliged themselves to observe the duties they had neglected. We must not only cease to do evil, but learn to do well. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Nehemiah 10.32-39

Pray Psalm 40.1-3, 6-10.
God wants you to offer yourself to Him as a living sacrifice day by day. What does that involve? Talk with the Lord about this as you offer Him your soul, your time, and your commitment to serve Him throughout this day.

Sing Psalm 40.1-3, 6-10.
(Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth)
I waited patiently for God; He inclined and heard my cry,
lifted me up above the sod, set me on a Rock on high!
New songs in my mouth He gave; may He through me many save.

Off’rings You do not require—open now my ears, O LORD!
What from me do You desire? Firm delight to do Your Word.
Take my life in ev’ry part; write Your Law upon my heart.

LORD, Your truth will I proclaim to Your people gathered ‘round,
nor will I my lips restrain—let Your precious ways resound!
Of Your saving grace and Word I would speak, most loving Lord.

T. M. and Susie Moore

Two books can help us understand our own captivity and lead us to seek revival and renewal in the Lord. The Church Captive asks us to consider the ways the Church today has become captive to the world. And Revived! can help us find the way to renewal. Learn more and order your free copies by clicking here and here.

Support for Scriptorium comes from our faithful and generous God, who moves our readers to share financially in our work. If this article was helpful, please give Him thanks and praise.

And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 103 Reynolds Lane, West Grove, PA 19390.

Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available free by clicking here.