1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:05,640 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Howdy and good morning friends and faithful listeners, 2 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:08,719 Speaker 1: and welcome to the Bible Explain podcast on this absolutely 3 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 1: lovely Monday morning. I hope you guys are enjoying it 4 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: so far. We're going to be in second chronicles thirty 5 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: one today talking about this reform that Hezekiah does in 6 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 1: Judah and specifically how he reinstitutes the positions for the 7 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 1: levitical priests and the tithes and the offerings that were 8 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 1: to go to the priests, and we'll talk about all 9 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 1: of that and how it relates to today in just 10 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 1: a second. So the weather today is absolutely beautiful. I 11 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 1: can see the little buds coming out on the trees. 12 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 1: The wind is blowing. The house smells really nice. In fact, 13 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:51,319 Speaker 1: it is warmer outside than it is inside, and I'm 14 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: really really excited about that because warm weather is long 15 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: overdue in my opinion, We've had a very long and 16 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: very cold winter this year. Except it is supposed to 17 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 1: know again tomorrow. You know, that is my great state 18 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 1: of Ohio. You never quite know what you're gonna get 19 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:07,640 Speaker 1: when it comes to the weather. But I love to 20 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: hear about you guys and where you all live and 21 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 1: what the weather is like, and I especially love to 22 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: live vicariously through all of you guys that are down south, 23 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 1: So contact me and tell me how the weather is 24 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 1: where you guys are. I'd love to hear of the 25 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 1: nice warm weather you're already having. All right, favor listeners, 26 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: Let's go ahead and read Second Chronicles thirty one. And 27 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:29,959 Speaker 1: while you're grabbing your delicious hot cup of coffee or 28 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,400 Speaker 1: your cup of tea for you crazy tea drinkers, I'll 29 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 1: move to an ad break, So grab your hot beverage 30 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:36,960 Speaker 1: and also your Bible out of the version that you prefer, 31 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 1: while you listen to the sponsored message. All right, so 32 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 1: today we're going to be reading the entire chapter of 33 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: Second Chronicles thirty one and discussing all of this reform 34 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 1: that is going on in Judah at this time. So 35 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: let's read this from the web or whatever version you 36 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 1: guys prefer. And as we read this, make sure to 37 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 1: bear with me because this is a chapter where there's 38 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 1: a lot of really unique names, and I always struggle 39 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 1: through chapters like this, and I know anybody who can 40 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 1: understand Hebrew knows that I am not pronouncing these names correctly, 41 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: but I do the best that I can so bear 42 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: with me on that again. This is the second Chronicles 43 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 1: thirty one one through twenty one. Now, when all this 44 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 1: was finished, all Israel who were present went out to 45 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: the cities of Judah and broke the pillars in pieces, 46 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 1: cut down the ashre poles, and broke down the high 47 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, 48 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 1: also in Ephrium and Manassa, until they had destroyed them all. 49 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:36,240 Speaker 1: Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to 50 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:40,640 Speaker 1: his possession, into their own cities. Hezekiah appointed the divisions 51 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:43,640 Speaker 1: of the priests and the levites. After their divisions, every 52 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 1: man according to his service, both the priests and the levites, 53 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 1: for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister to 54 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:53,080 Speaker 1: give thanks and to praise in the gates of Yahwei's camp. 55 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 1: He also appointed the king's portion of his possessions for 56 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: the burnt offerings for the morning and evening burnt offerings 57 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:02,640 Speaker 1: and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, for the new moons, 58 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 1: and for the set feasts, as it is written in 59 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 1: Yahwai's law. Moreover, he commanded the people who lived in 60 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, 61 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 1: that they might give themselves to Yahwai's law. As soon 62 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 1: as the commandment went out, the children of Israel gave 63 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: an abundance the first fruits of grain, new wine, oil, honey, 64 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:23,800 Speaker 1: and of all the increase of the field. And they 65 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 1: brought in the tithe of all things abundantly. The children 66 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 1: of Israel and Judah, who lived in the cities of Judah, 67 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:32,080 Speaker 1: also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and 68 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 1: the tithe of dedicated things, which were consecrated to Yahweh, 69 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 1: their god, and laid them in heaps. In the third month, 70 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 1: they began to lay the foundation of the heaps and 71 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 1: finished them in the seventh month. When Hezekiah and the 72 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed Yahweh and 73 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 1: his people Israel. Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the 74 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 1: Levites about the heaps. As Ariah, the chief priest of 75 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: the House of Zadik, answered him and said, since people 76 00:03:57,120 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: began to bring the offerings into Yahwai's house, we have 77 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 1: e and had enough, and have plenty left over. For 78 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 1: Yahweh has blessed his people, and that which is left 79 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 1: is this great store. Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare 80 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: rooms in Yahwai's house, and they prepared them. They brought 81 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 1: in the offerings, the tithes, and the dedicated things faithfully. 82 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:20,479 Speaker 1: Knanayah the Levite was ruler over them, and Shame his 83 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 1: brother was second. Jahel, Azaziah, Neyhath, Asael, Jeremath, josephad Eliel, Ismakia, 84 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 1: may Hath and Benea were overseers under the hand of 85 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:35,279 Speaker 1: Cononia and Shame his brother by the appointment of Hezekiah 86 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 1: the King and Azariah the ruler of God's house. Cora, 87 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: the son of Imnah the Levite, the gate keeper at 88 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:43,839 Speaker 1: the east gate, was over the free will offerings of 89 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,720 Speaker 1: God to distribute to Yawai's offerings and the most holy 90 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:53,839 Speaker 1: things under him were Eden Menayamine, Yeshua, Shamayah, Amarah, and Shaikania. 91 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 1: In the cities of the priests in their office of 92 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 1: trust to give to their brothers by divisions to the 93 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,720 Speaker 1: great as well as to the in addition to those 94 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 1: who are listed by genealogy of males from three years 95 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:07,679 Speaker 1: old and upward, even everyone who entered into Yawai's house 96 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 1: as the duty of every day required for their service 97 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 1: in their offices according to their divisions, and those who 98 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: are listed by genealogy of the priests by their father's houses, 99 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 1: and the Levites from twenty years old and upward in 100 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 1: their offices by their divisions, and those who are listed 101 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:25,040 Speaker 1: by genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, their sons, 102 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 1: and their daughters, through all the congregation. For in their 103 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 1: office of trust they sanctified themselves in holiness. Also for 104 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 1: the sons of er and the priests who were in 105 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 1: the fields of the pasture lands of their cities. In 106 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 1: every city there were men who were mentioned by name 107 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 1: to give portions to all males among the priests, and 108 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:44,039 Speaker 1: to all who are listed by genealogy among the Levites. 109 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: Hezekiah did so throughout all Judah. And he did that 110 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:50,240 Speaker 1: which was good, right and faithful before Yahweh, his God, 111 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:52,359 Speaker 1: in every work that he began in the service of 112 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 1: God's house, in the law and in the commandments to 113 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 1: seek his God. And he did it with all his 114 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 1: heart and prospered. You remember, in the last chapter we 115 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:06,279 Speaker 1: talked about how Hezekiah the King ended up doing a 116 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 1: Passover celebration basically for the first time in several hundred 117 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:14,839 Speaker 1: years of Israel's history, they never truly followed the passover 118 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,520 Speaker 1: the way God commanded it back in the Old Testament. 119 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: So finally, now that Hezekiah is the king, and he's 120 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:23,239 Speaker 1: very on fire for Yahweh by the way, he decides 121 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:25,000 Speaker 1: he's going to do a passover not just for the 122 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: people of Judah, but for the people of Israel as well. 123 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 1: So he invited everybody to this Passover celebration, and a 124 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 1: lot of people did, in fact come, even from Israel. 125 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 1: So this big Passover celebration happened, and everybody was super 126 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 1: on fire, super excited. There was a revival happening in 127 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 1: Judah that they ended up extending it for a whole 128 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 1: other week, and that was talked about in the last chapter. 129 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 1: So now that those two weeks of Passover are over, 130 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:53,600 Speaker 1: that's where we leave off in Second Chronicles thirty one, 131 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 1: verse one, which says, now, when all of this was finished, 132 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:59,119 Speaker 1: all Israel who are present went out to the cities 133 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 1: of Judah and broke the pillars in pieces, cut down 134 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 1: the asher poles, and broke down the high places and 135 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:07,279 Speaker 1: the altars out of Judah. And Benjamin also in Ephriam 136 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: and Manassa until they had destroyed them all. Then all 137 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 1: the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession 138 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 1: into their own cities. So that shows that not just Judah, 139 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 1: but the people of Israel as well were very, very 140 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 1: excited about this revival that was taking place, that they 141 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 1: ended up going into the various cities of both Judah 142 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 1: and Israel. Because it says they went into the tribe 143 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 1: of Ephriam and Manassa, which both of those tribes were 144 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 1: in Israel up north, and they broke down all of 145 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 1: the altars and the pillars that were for the foreign gods. 146 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 1: All of this was done in unity. Everybody was excited 147 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: about worshiping Yahweh once again, at least for a short 148 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 1: little while, because none of this ever lasted for very long, 149 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 1: but at least it happened. At least the people at 150 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 1: this point in time had a revival and decided they 151 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 1: no longer wanted to worship all of these foreign gods. 152 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 1: They knew that these gods did not help them, especially 153 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 1: the people of Israel, where the Assyrians were currently coming 154 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: into Israel and basically displacing all of the people, pretty 155 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: much destroying the entire country. Actually, so a lot of 156 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 1: the Israelites knew that getting back to God was an 157 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:22,400 Speaker 1: important thing to do. But now it says in verse 158 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 1: two that Hezekiah was not just going to end his 159 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 1: reform after the Passover was done. He was going to 160 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 1: continue with it. It says in verse two Hezekiah pointed 161 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 1: the divisions of the priests and the Levites. After their divisions, 162 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:36,200 Speaker 1: every man according to his service, both the priests and 163 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 1: the Levites, for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, 164 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:42,160 Speaker 1: to give thanks and to praise in the gates of 165 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 1: Yahweh's camp. So, I don't know if you guys remember 166 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:48,960 Speaker 1: us talking about this in the previous season, season nine, 167 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:52,240 Speaker 1: we discussed all of the different divisions of the Levites 168 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:55,200 Speaker 1: in First Chronicles twenty five, which I'm not going to 169 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 1: read that chapter because it is very long and there's 170 00:08:58,040 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: a lot of names in it that I do not 171 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 1: know how to pronounce. So instead I'll just read First 172 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:06,560 Speaker 1: Chronicles twenty five, verse eight, which says young and old alike, 173 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 1: teachers as well as students cast lots for their duties. 174 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 1: And that was something that David put in place so 175 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:17,320 Speaker 1: that priests and Levites would know what their specific duties 176 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 1: were now it mentions in our passage for today second 177 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 1: Chronicles thirty one that some of the duties were burnt 178 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:29,920 Speaker 1: offerings and peace offerings, to minister to people, which means 179 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:33,440 Speaker 1: basically to serve people that need served, to give thanks 180 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:37,320 Speaker 1: to God, I would guess through music or prayer, and 181 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: then also to offer praise in the gates of Yahweh's camp. 182 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 1: So those would be the musical levites that we've talked 183 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:49,679 Speaker 1: about at length before, the ones that specifically played instruments 184 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 1: or sang or wrote music for the congregational worship of Yahweh. 185 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 1: So that's just a few of the duties that the 186 00:09:57,360 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 1: levites and the priests have, which, by the way, levites 187 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:05,360 Speaker 1: and priests were different. A priest was always a levite, 188 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:07,920 Speaker 1: but a levite was not always a priest, if that 189 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 1: makes any sense. But levites, even though they weren't priests, 190 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 1: still had roles and responsibilities that they had to do. 191 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:18,840 Speaker 1: They could do things like administration in the temple. They 192 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:23,559 Speaker 1: could do things like service, you know, cleaning, making things 193 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 1: beautiful in the temple, building things upkeep and maintenance that 194 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 1: kind of stuff, and also just making sure the priests 195 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 1: had everything that they needed, and also that everything in 196 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:37,560 Speaker 1: the temple was running smoothly. That was the job of 197 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:40,200 Speaker 1: the levites. But the priests had a more public job. 198 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:42,200 Speaker 1: They were the ones that would bless the people and 199 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:45,559 Speaker 1: make atonement for the people. They would offer the sacrifices 200 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:47,960 Speaker 1: and burn the incense, and they were the only ones 201 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 1: that were allowed to go inside God's temple at least 202 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 1: that was the rules that God put in place. Even 203 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 1: though the people broke that myriads of time, God was like, no, 204 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,959 Speaker 1: only the Levites are supposed to go inside the temple. 205 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 1: So that was the difference between the priests and the levites. 206 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:04,600 Speaker 1: But both the priests and the levites had very important 207 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:07,960 Speaker 1: roles for the functionality of the temple to make sure 208 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 1: everything was going smoothly, kind of the same way that 209 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:13,680 Speaker 1: church is run today. You know, there's the pastor who 210 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:18,119 Speaker 1: oversees things and writes and preaches the sermons and counsels 211 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 1: people and everything else that the pastor does, and then 212 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:24,440 Speaker 1: there's other people that make sure the church services are 213 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:27,439 Speaker 1: running smoothly. You know, people behind the scenes, the finance team, 214 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:31,720 Speaker 1: the security team, the worship team, the youth group leaders, 215 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 1: the children's ministers, the you know, coffee bar, the greeters. 216 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:39,120 Speaker 1: There's so many things that go into the running of 217 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:41,599 Speaker 1: the church because the pastor can't do everything. So the 218 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:44,680 Speaker 1: levites were kind of like the ministers, the servants inside 219 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:47,440 Speaker 1: the temple, and the priests did a lot of the 220 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 1: public work, specifically for the people who would bring the 221 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 1: offerings and things like that. But getting back to the passage, basically, 222 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:58,640 Speaker 1: Hezekiah appointed all of these different positions in the temple 223 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 1: once again, because don't forget that during the reign of 224 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 1: the previous kings, Yahwism was not as prevalent. The people 225 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:09,800 Speaker 1: were worshiping all of these other gods, especially under the 226 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 1: rule of a Has who was Hezekiah's father. A Has 227 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:16,440 Speaker 1: actually shuddered the doors to the temple and erected all 228 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:19,520 Speaker 1: of these different altars all around Jerusalem and Judah to 229 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:22,280 Speaker 1: these foreign idols. So Hezekiah got rid of all that, 230 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:26,200 Speaker 1: opened the temple back up, and once again reinstituted the 231 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:29,839 Speaker 1: positions for the levites and for the priests. It says 232 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:31,959 Speaker 1: in verse three that he also appointed the king's portion 233 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 1: of his possessions for the burnt offerings for the morning 234 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:38,160 Speaker 1: and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, 235 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 1: for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as 236 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:44,000 Speaker 1: it is written in Yahweh's law. So that's important right there. 237 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:47,080 Speaker 1: It says that he did this according to Yahwei's law 238 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:49,680 Speaker 1: as it is written. That's really good. You know, a 239 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 1: lot of kings did not follow Yahwei's law. So Hezekiah 240 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 1: was going back to the law. He was doing his 241 00:12:55,880 --> 00:13:00,160 Speaker 1: best to bring everything back the way God initially wanted it. 242 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:02,320 Speaker 1: And one of the things God told the people to 243 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:07,439 Speaker 1: do was a daily sacrifice, a morning and an evening sacrifice, 244 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:09,800 Speaker 1: and then there are supposed to be special sacrifices on 245 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 1: like Passover and Yam Kapor and all the other ones 246 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 1: that the Israelites had. The king actually gave of his 247 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 1: own possession of his animals as a tithe essentially to 248 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:25,880 Speaker 1: the temple, and that was him showing his dedication to 249 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:29,240 Speaker 1: God and also to the Temple. So this was a 250 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 1: really good thing that Hezekiah was doing, bringing people back 251 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 1: to Yahwei's law, and not just commanding the people to 252 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:39,920 Speaker 1: do it, but also doing it himself. First, he gave 253 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 1: of his own possessions, his own flocks to I guess 254 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 1: kind of lead the people in this kind of service 255 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 1: of giving and tithing to the temple. Moreover, verse four, 256 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 1: he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give 257 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 1: the portion of the priests and the Levites that they 258 00:13:56,559 --> 00:14:00,839 Speaker 1: might give themselves to Yahwei's law. So there you go. 259 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:04,840 Speaker 1: Hezekiah did it first before he commanded the people to 260 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:08,080 Speaker 1: do it. But he did command the people. He said, yeah, 261 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:10,360 Speaker 1: you guys are going to tithe. And you know, all 262 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:14,400 Speaker 1: of us nowadays probably cringe thinking about that because we're like, 263 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 1: how could you command somebody to tithe? But actually it 264 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: was God that initially commanded this. That's talked about in 265 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 1: Numbers chapter eighteen, and this goes into all of the 266 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:28,920 Speaker 1: tithes and the offerings. But God had a very good 267 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:32,040 Speaker 1: reason for commanding his people to tithe. It was so 268 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 1: that the Levites and the priests would actually be supported 269 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: because don't forget that the Levites and the priests had 270 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 1: no real way to support themselves. They were the only 271 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 1: tribe out of the twelve tribes that did not get 272 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 1: any inheritance of the land. So the other tribes had 273 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 1: to support the Levites in their work of ministry, which 274 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 1: is why the Levites completely relied on the tithes and 275 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: the offerings that came in. This is Numbers chapter eighteen, 276 00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:05,960 Speaker 1: starting in verse eight, you always spoke to Aaron. Behold, 277 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:09,359 Speaker 1: I myself have given you the command of my wave offerings, 278 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 1: even all the holy things of the children of Israel. 279 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 1: I have given them to you by reason of the anointing, 280 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:19,400 Speaker 1: and to your sons as a portion forever, This shall 281 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:21,560 Speaker 1: be yours of the most holy things from the fire. 282 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:24,720 Speaker 1: Every offering of theirs, every meal offering of theirs, and 283 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 1: every sin offering of theirs, every trespass offering of theirs, 284 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 1: which they shall render to me, shall be most holy 285 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 1: for you and for your sons. You shall eat of 286 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 1: it like the most holy things. Every male shall eat 287 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 1: of it. It shall be holy to you. Okay. So 288 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:42,720 Speaker 1: the first time that the levitical priests would get was 289 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 1: a portion of meat from all of the different offerings 290 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:51,000 Speaker 1: that came in, specifically the sin offerings, the meal offerings, 291 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 1: and the trespass offerings. All of those offerings only the 292 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:59,239 Speaker 1: priests could eat. But then God continues because he understands 293 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 1: that the priests also need to feed their families as well. Right, 294 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 1: Because yes, it's important for the priests to eat, but 295 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 1: they need to feed their families. It says in verse eleven, 296 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:11,480 Speaker 1: this is yours too, the wave offering of their gift, 297 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:14,040 Speaker 1: even all the wave offerings of the children of Israel. 298 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:16,400 Speaker 1: I have given them to you and to your sons 299 00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 1: and to your daughters with you as a portion forever. 300 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:21,280 Speaker 1: Everyone who is clean in your house shall eat of it. 301 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:24,760 Speaker 1: So now the priests get to take some home to 302 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 1: their families. And that was the wave offerings. And a 303 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 1: wave offering was like a really bizarre kind of offering 304 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 1: where you'd like wave it in front of God, like 305 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 1: up in the air. You'd like wave it around and 306 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:38,920 Speaker 1: be like, hey, God, here's your offering, like you're waving 307 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 1: a God. So the wave offerings would go to the priests, 308 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 1: and I'm pretty sure it was usually a grain of 309 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 1: some sort. And then it says in verse twelve. God 310 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 1: also gives them the best of the oil, all the 311 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 1: best of the vintage, and of the grain, the first 312 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 1: fruits of them which they have given to Yahweh, the 313 00:16:57,200 --> 00:16:59,320 Speaker 1: first ripe fruits of all that is in their land, 314 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 1: which they bring to you, Yahweh, shall be yours. Everyone 315 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:04,359 Speaker 1: who is clean in your house shall eat of it. 316 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:07,360 Speaker 1: So now not only do they get the wave offerings, 317 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: but they also get the best of the oil, the 318 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:13,280 Speaker 1: best of the wine, the best of the grain. Every 319 00:17:13,359 --> 00:17:16,400 Speaker 1: first fruits that comes in goes to the priest, and 320 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:19,360 Speaker 1: every single person in the priest family could eat of 321 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:23,719 Speaker 1: these tithes that they receive. And then in verse fourteen, 322 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:27,679 Speaker 1: it also mentions that everything devoted in Israel shall be yours. 323 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:32,400 Speaker 1: A devoted animal was one that somebody would devote specifically 324 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:35,400 Speaker 1: to God. They'd be like, oh, you know, my goat 325 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:38,680 Speaker 1: is pregnant. When that goat has the baby, I'm going 326 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:41,199 Speaker 1: to give that to Yahweh as a free will offering, 327 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:43,679 Speaker 1: as a devoted thing, because I love God and I 328 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 1: just want to do this. It says in verse eighteen 329 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:49,479 Speaker 1: that their meat shall be yours as the wave offering 330 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 1: breast and as the right thigh. It shall be Okay, 331 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:55,160 Speaker 1: I was wrong about the wave offering. It says right 332 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:57,600 Speaker 1: here what it was a wave offering was a breast 333 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:01,879 Speaker 1: or a right thigh. Anyway, the meat of the wave 334 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:06,000 Speaker 1: offering and also the meat of the devoted things would 335 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 1: go straight to the priests and their families as well. 336 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:12,639 Speaker 1: Now continuing in numbers eighteen, verse twenty, it says, you 337 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 1: always said to Aarin, you shall have no inheritance in 338 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 1: their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. 339 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:20,840 Speaker 1: I am your portion and your inheritance among the children 340 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 1: of Israel. So that was another thing God gave to 341 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 1: the Levites. He said, I am yours, I am your inheritance. 342 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 1: You don't get a piece of land, but you get me, 343 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:34,840 Speaker 1: and that, of course is the best inheritance anybody could get. 344 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:36,639 Speaker 1: And continuing in verse twenty one, it says to the 345 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:39,560 Speaker 1: children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe 346 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:42,640 Speaker 1: in Israel for an inheritance. So now the priest got 347 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 1: all the meat and everything, But now the tithes, which 348 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:49,080 Speaker 1: God is commanding his people to do. He says, I 349 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:52,199 Speaker 1: have given all the tithes in Israel to the Levites 350 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:55,680 Speaker 1: for an inheritance in return for their service which they 351 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:58,639 Speaker 1: are to serve. And God was pretty serious about this. 352 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 1: He wanted him people to give these tithes and offerings 353 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 1: because this supported like literally supported the Levites. But unfortunately 354 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 1: the people did not want to give, which is why 355 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:14,359 Speaker 1: God says in Malachia chapter three, starting in verse eight, 356 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:18,800 Speaker 1: will a man rob God? Yet you rob me? But 357 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:22,880 Speaker 1: you say, how have we robbed you in tithes and offerings? 358 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:25,720 Speaker 1: You are cursed with the curse for you rob me 359 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:30,159 Speaker 1: even this whole nation. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, 360 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:33,400 Speaker 1: that there may be food in my house. So God 361 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:36,439 Speaker 1: right there he is upset over the fact that the 362 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:39,919 Speaker 1: people refused to give tithes and offerings. And God actually 363 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:43,160 Speaker 1: said that the people were robbing him of what they 364 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 1: owed to him. If the people didn't bring the tithes 365 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:50,119 Speaker 1: and the offerings to the temple, that meant the levites 366 00:19:50,359 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 1: could not eat, could not be supported. So basically from 367 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:57,160 Speaker 1: the beginning of time, we've had the exact same problems. 368 00:19:57,359 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 1: People don't want to pay their pastors. Tithing is a 369 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:03,480 Speaker 1: very good thing, but that being said, there is no 370 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:07,280 Speaker 1: command in the New Testament that you should tithe, which 371 00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 1: tithing is just giving ten percent of your income. But 372 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:15,560 Speaker 1: you can't ignore the myriad of verses in all of 373 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 1: Paul's letters that say you need to give. In fact, 374 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 1: multiple times Paul said this verse you shall not muzzle 375 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:26,800 Speaker 1: the ox while he treads out the grain, And that 376 00:20:26,920 --> 00:20:30,719 Speaker 1: was a analogy to say that you're overworking the ox 377 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:34,879 Speaker 1: and not giving him any payment. That's how Paul felt 378 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:38,120 Speaker 1: about the ministers of his day, that they were overworked 379 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:41,240 Speaker 1: and underpaid. And like I said, that's been a problem 380 00:20:41,320 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 1: since the very beginning. People have not wanted to pay 381 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:47,440 Speaker 1: their pastors, or their ministers, or their teachers. They don't 382 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:49,639 Speaker 1: want to pay these people because they don't really think 383 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 1: that that's a job worthy of payment. And I would argue, 384 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:57,920 Speaker 1: if you believe that, you have no clue how much 385 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:01,359 Speaker 1: time goes into being a past master or a ministry leader, 386 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:05,399 Speaker 1: it is a full time job. And because God is 387 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:08,720 Speaker 1: the same yesterday, today, and forever, and because there's both 388 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 1: evidence in the Old Testament and the New Testament where 389 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:14,480 Speaker 1: God says you need to pay the overseers of your church, 390 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 1: that we absolutely should be supporting the pastors, the overseers, 391 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:23,600 Speaker 1: and the teachers in our churches. But going back to 392 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:28,080 Speaker 1: Second Chronicles thirty one, Hezekiah commanded the people to finally 393 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:33,400 Speaker 1: give the tithes again to the Levites, and the people listened. 394 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:35,320 Speaker 1: It says as soon as the commandment went out, the 395 00:21:35,359 --> 00:21:38,680 Speaker 1: children of Israel gave an abundance the first fruits of grain, 396 00:21:39,119 --> 00:21:42,119 Speaker 1: new wine, oil, honey, and the increase of the field. 397 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:44,800 Speaker 1: And they brought in the ties of all things abundantly. 398 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 1: The children of Israel and Judah, who lived in the 399 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:49,800 Speaker 1: cities of Judah, also brought in the tithe of the 400 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 1: cattle and the sheep, and the tithe of the dedicated 401 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:54,760 Speaker 1: things which were consecrated to Yahweh, their God, and laid 402 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:58,919 Speaker 1: them in heaps. So suddenly all of this food is 403 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 1: coming in for the Levites and for the priests. The 404 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: people gave abundantly, because don't forget, this spiritual revival is 405 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:10,120 Speaker 1: happening in Judah. And it also says in Israel as well, 406 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:14,160 Speaker 1: in verse six, the children of Israel and Judah, who 407 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:15,960 Speaker 1: lived in the cities of Judah, brought the tithe of 408 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:18,119 Speaker 1: the cattle in the sheep. It says, in the third 409 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:20,600 Speaker 1: month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps 410 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 1: and finished them in the seventh month. So essentially, these 411 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:28,399 Speaker 1: gifts of food and offerings are coming in so much 412 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 1: that they're being laid in these big heaps. And it 413 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 1: took seven months to collect all of this beautiful food. 414 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:39,240 Speaker 1: The people were just giving that much, it says. When 415 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:41,840 Speaker 1: Hezekiah and the priest came and saw the heaps, they 416 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:44,960 Speaker 1: blessed Yahweh and his people Israel. So that's how much 417 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 1: food there was. They were overjoyed of how much had 418 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 1: come in of all of these tithes. Then Hezekiah questioned 419 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:54,720 Speaker 1: the priests and the levites about the heaps. As Ariah, 420 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:57,239 Speaker 1: the chief priest of the House of Zadig, answered him 421 00:22:57,280 --> 00:22:59,680 Speaker 1: and said, since people began to bring the offerings into 422 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:02,879 Speaker 1: yawa house, we have eaten and had enough and have 423 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:06,879 Speaker 1: plenty left over for Yahweh has blessed his people, and 424 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:10,560 Speaker 1: that which is left is this great store. So essentially, 425 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:13,560 Speaker 1: the high priest is like, yeah, the people are giving 426 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:16,359 Speaker 1: so much that all of the priests are full of food, 427 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:19,960 Speaker 1: all of the levites are full of food. We're still 428 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:25,760 Speaker 1: paying them, and there's this much leftover. So Hezekiah immediately 429 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:30,160 Speaker 1: tells the high priest to prepare rooms in Yahweh's house 430 00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:33,439 Speaker 1: specifically so that this food does not go bad. So 431 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:35,480 Speaker 1: Hezekia didn't want any of this to go to waste. 432 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:38,760 Speaker 1: You know, these were charitable givings, These were tithes from 433 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:42,000 Speaker 1: the people. These things were considered holy once they entered 434 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:45,639 Speaker 1: the temple. They were considered holy things, things of God 435 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:49,000 Speaker 1: which God was giving to the priests, So Hezekiah had 436 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 1: the priest prepare rooms in the temple for them, so 437 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:55,040 Speaker 1: that would be potentially fixing up the rooms that were 438 00:23:55,080 --> 00:24:01,199 Speaker 1: already connected to the temple, or possibly building additions or 439 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:05,280 Speaker 1: building new rooms to store all of this food. And 440 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 1: then in verses twelve through eighteen, it mentions the organization 441 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:12,040 Speaker 1: of all of these tithes that the people brought. It 442 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:14,520 Speaker 1: says they brought in the offerings, the tithes, and the 443 00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:17,560 Speaker 1: dedicated things faithfully, which, by the way, that verse right 444 00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:20,919 Speaker 1: there shows that people were bringing more than just tithes, 445 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:25,199 Speaker 1: like they weren't just doing the command of Hezekiah. They 446 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 1: were going above and beyond. They were bringing offerings and 447 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:31,440 Speaker 1: dedicated things as well. It says Konania the Levites, was 448 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:35,960 Speaker 1: ruler over these gifts, and Shemi, his brother, was second. 449 00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:38,119 Speaker 1: Then in verse thirteen, it mentions a whole bunch of 450 00:24:38,119 --> 00:24:42,920 Speaker 1: other names that were overseers under these two men. And 451 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:46,720 Speaker 1: then in verse fourteen it mentions this one guy named Corey, 452 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:51,399 Speaker 1: who was a gatekeeper, was over all the free will 453 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:55,480 Speaker 1: offerings to God, so even more offerings, and he distributed 454 00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:59,760 Speaker 1: all of God's offerings to the Levites, not to mention 455 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:01,720 Speaker 1: all the people that were under him. It says in 456 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:04,840 Speaker 1: verse fifteen that they gave to their brothers by divisions, 457 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:07,560 Speaker 1: to the great as well as to the small, and 458 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:10,199 Speaker 1: then in verses sixteen through nineteen, it mentions all of 459 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:14,679 Speaker 1: these different divisions of Levites that received the offerings and 460 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:18,680 Speaker 1: the tithes that the people brought in. So now finally 461 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:22,040 Speaker 1: the Levites are back at the temple, they are doing 462 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:25,360 Speaker 1: their jobs, and they're finally getting paid for the service 463 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:28,200 Speaker 1: that they do. So this is a good time in 464 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:31,280 Speaker 1: Israel's history. And we actually find out later on that 465 00:25:31,359 --> 00:25:35,400 Speaker 1: Hezekiah did this for fifteen years before he really had 466 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:40,320 Speaker 1: any serious problems really hit Judah. So God truly blessed 467 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:44,560 Speaker 1: Judah with a ton of abundance during this time because 468 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:49,000 Speaker 1: the people were really on fire for Yahweh at this point. 469 00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:53,520 Speaker 1: It mentions in verse twenty and twenty one that Hezekiah 470 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:58,239 Speaker 1: did this with all his heart and he prospered. So 471 00:25:58,280 --> 00:26:02,640 Speaker 1: that takes me back to Malachi chapter three, verses eight 472 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:07,600 Speaker 1: through twelve, where God says to bring in the tithes, 473 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:11,560 Speaker 1: to stop robbing him of these things, and to also 474 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:15,880 Speaker 1: watch how God is going to bless if you actually 475 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:19,840 Speaker 1: do tithe with a joyful heart. God says in verse ten, 476 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:23,200 Speaker 1: bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there might 477 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:26,159 Speaker 1: be food in my house. Test me now in this 478 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:29,520 Speaker 1: if I will not open you the windows of heaven 479 00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:31,960 Speaker 1: and pour out on you a blessing that there will 480 00:26:31,960 --> 00:26:33,919 Speaker 1: not be enough room for This is one of the 481 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:37,479 Speaker 1: few times in scripture where we actually see God asking 482 00:26:37,560 --> 00:26:40,080 Speaker 1: us to test him. Of course, God does want these 483 00:26:40,080 --> 00:26:42,640 Speaker 1: things to be done with a cheerful heart, But when 484 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:46,679 Speaker 1: we actually do give of our finances with a cheerful heart, 485 00:26:47,359 --> 00:26:51,439 Speaker 1: God sees that, and he says he is going to 486 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:57,600 Speaker 1: pour out a blessing on you, faithful listeners. Before we go, 487 00:26:57,800 --> 00:27:02,840 Speaker 1: here's a quick word from a sponsor or two. You know, 488 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:05,920 Speaker 1: I've heard people actually tell me personal stories of how 489 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:09,719 Speaker 1: they decided they wanted to start giving, even though they 490 00:27:09,720 --> 00:27:12,720 Speaker 1: weren't quite sure where to get the money from, but 491 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:15,919 Speaker 1: they started giving and God just blessed them. That actually 492 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:19,520 Speaker 1: happened to my husband and I when we were first 493 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:23,680 Speaker 1: going to the church. My husband really hated tithing. You know, 494 00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:26,000 Speaker 1: a lot of people don't like it because they think 495 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 1: it's like the church being you know, greedy for money, 496 00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:32,119 Speaker 1: which sometimes it is not gonna lie. There are greedy 497 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:35,040 Speaker 1: churches out there, obviously, but my husband felt that way 498 00:27:35,080 --> 00:27:36,960 Speaker 1: for a long time and so he didn't want to tithe. 499 00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:41,440 Speaker 1: But then once he started tithing, he started selling equipment 500 00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:44,480 Speaker 1: at work, and that was after we were married. I do 501 00:27:44,560 --> 00:27:48,720 Speaker 1: remember that, and my husband associated his tithing with the 502 00:27:48,760 --> 00:27:51,800 Speaker 1: blessing of being able to actually make money and sell 503 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:55,239 Speaker 1: things at his job, which is kind of interesting. But 504 00:27:55,320 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 1: like I said, I do think that tithing has to 505 00:27:57,320 --> 00:28:00,000 Speaker 1: be done with a cheerful heart. You know that's pretty 506 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:02,360 Speaker 1: clear in the New Testament. Well, faithful listeners, I hope 507 00:28:02,359 --> 00:28:05,280 Speaker 1: you enjoyed this episode and that it may be convicted 508 00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:07,280 Speaker 1: you and if it did, share it on their social 509 00:28:07,320 --> 00:28:11,320 Speaker 1: media platforms and tell people that the Bible Explained Podcast exists. 510 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:14,480 Speaker 1: I will see you guys all tomorrow on the podcast 511 00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:17,080 Speaker 1: six am or whenever you choose to wake up and listen. 512 00:28:17,800 --> 00:28:26,920 Speaker 1: Until then, happy listening, and God bless. I just want 513 00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:28,640 Speaker 1: to take a second to thank the team at Life 514 00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:31,560 Speaker 1: Audio for their partnership with me on the Bible Explain Podcast. 515 00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:34,200 Speaker 1: In fact, if you go to lifeaudio dot com you'll 516 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:37,080 Speaker 1: find dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. 517 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 1: They've got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more.