2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
3 Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah,
4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests.
9 And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;
10 And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11 Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13 Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.
14 The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,
15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
17 Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,
18 Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,
19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
21 Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,
24 Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,
25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26 And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,
27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
28 And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding;
God's people make a commitment. Do you wonder by now if they are serious? Being that they have gone up and down with their walk with God since they left Egypt. It sounds like a valid question until God flips the mirror on us better yet me. The question should be or the request should be, Lord how do I keep from going up and down in my life. The answer is to stay in the word of God. As food is a nutrient to the body so is the Word of God is to our behavior. Make a decision that impresses God. We know he is always looking. So do what honors him because that is who you want to please. I am not saying do what is right because God is looking, I am saying since He is watching do what is right. But do it because this is how you show Him you love Him. When we do right by people, we do right by God.
29 They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;
Israel(Judah) understands the commitment they are making. I want to follow you knowing full well if I don't I will be cursed for my disobedience. God will not curse you because you sin, the curse is already in place when you don't stop sinning. When God made the blessings, he made the curses at the same time. Having made the curses, he extended the time for us to turn around before entering into that dreadful position of doing what we know is wrong. When we commit to God's Word, we do well. Judah who is also called Israel, is following God's guidelines for repentance. This is all God expect. We do not have to sware and give a token to prove we are serious. We say and do what we say and this is simply all God wants.
30 And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, not take their daughters for our sons:
31 And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.
32 Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;
33 For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.
34 And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the law:
35 And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the Lord:
36 Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God:
37 And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.
38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.
39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.
Judah made a covenant with God in broad daylight. They wanted the world to know that God was right and they wanted do what was right. All countries have guidelines that each citizen must follow. Judah spelled out God's Word in details and showed the world what to expect if they were to abide in their jurisdictions. We must boldly declare God's judgements and keep them. This is the only way we can change the world we live in. I was ignorant of God's covenant. I kept what man said keep, according to what they picked from scriptures, and it got me lost in this world. Some of the things I was taught to not do, were good. However, all of the right disciplines I tried to follow were selfish. I did them because I did not want to go to Hell! I did not do them because they were God merciful guidelines to improve the behavior of mankind. God does not govern us because we are bad people, God takes care for us because he loves us. God's way of regulating who we are, connects us. His ways demonstrates harmony in all mankind. Judah wanted the world to know we operate under rules that shows we care about ourselves and others. Judah is not thinking of Judah only, Judah is saying "world watch what God does through us so we can show you how God wants to do the same through you".
My Minute Song
When God’s Word is in place
When God’s Word is in place
People will obey
Everybody wants to live
In a world that is safe
God thought things through
Things that man must do
The Word of God still Work
Let’s teach them in every church
Let’s learn from Judah
They turned from sin to obey
In Nehemiah chapter 10
What they did still works today!
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