September 24 - Nehemiah 10:35

We obligate ourselves to bring

the first fruits of our soil and

the first fruits of all fruit of every tree,

year by year, to the house of the Lord

Nehemiah 10:35

Oath and obligation. Those were two key words as Israel returned from exile and renewed their covenant before God.

Listen to their oaths and obligations as they reconstituted their nation:

1. They begin by promising not to separate themselves from foreigners -- and really the foreign religions (v 10:28).
2. They promise that they will "29 enter into an oath to walk by God's law."
3. They clarify what walking in God's law means: "29 observ[ing] and do[ing] all the commandments of the Lord our Lord."
4. They promise not intermarry because that brings foreign influences and foreign religions into their homes (v 30).
5. They pledge to trust in the Lord, even that might mean risking their livlihood! How do they do that? They acknowledge that the rest of the world may do business on the Sabbath, but even if it cost them in a worldly sense, they would "not buy from ... the peoples of the land ... on the Sabbath or on a holy day."
6. They promised to re-institute God's plan of cancelling debts every few years (v 31) -- a plan that may appear to cost them, but would keep the nation from enslaving themselves with debt.
7. And finally they promise that "39 we will not neglect the house of our God."

Money is the hardest part of our lives to trust God with. We say we "need" things, but things wither, rust, breakdown, and decay. What we really need is God. And giving says, "Lord, I trust in you more than I trust in money, earth, or things."

Therefore, their financial promises included bringing to God and his house ...

• "35 the first fruits of every tree"
• "36 the firstborn of our sons"
• "36 the firstborn of our livestock"
• and on top of that, "37 the tithes from our soil"
• and on top of that, an additional financial gift -- "32 one third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God."

Which of these -- walking by God's law, not being swayed by the influences of the world around you, risking your livlihood to keep God's commands (including the Sabbath), and giving your first and best generously to the Lord -- is your biggest challenge?

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's definitely challenged