06.20.2014 Old Testament: Neh 12.44

To read the Bible in a year, read Nehemiah 12–13 on June 20, In the year of our Lord 2014

By Don Ruhl

Since the Babylonians had wiped out Jerusalem and the temple, Ezra and Nehemiah worked to restore the temple and its services, and to rebuild the wall. Part of organizing for the work of the temple included this,

And at the same time some were appointed over the rooms of the storehouse for the offerings, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered (Nehemiah 12.44). 

They needed overseers to store the offerings that the Israelites brought to the temple, something that the Law had specified for the priests and Levites. The nation of Judah brought these offerings, because the nation rejoiced over the priests and Levites who gave themselves to minister in and for the temple.

Let that be our example when anyone gives him or herself to minister in the Lord’s temple today, the church.