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Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Study Headquarters
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Speaker 1: I'm John Stangi, and today we're in Neemiah chapter ten,
Speaker 1: and we'll be reading from the New Living Translation. The
Speaker 1: document was ratified and sealed with the following names the
Speaker 1: governor Neemiah, son of Hakklaiah and also Zetekiyah. The following
Speaker 1: priests Sarayah, Azariah, Jeremiah, Pashur, Amariah, Malkaija Hattush, Sheebaniah, Malik, Hareem, Merramoth, Obadiah, Daniel, Ginnathon, Barruk,
Speaker 1: meshulm Abijah, Mijaman, Messiah, Bill Guy and Shamayah. These were
Speaker 1: the priests. The following levites Jeshuah son of Azanaiah, Benui
Speaker 1: from the family of Hennadad Cadmil and their fellow levites Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kalita, Pelaiah,
Speaker 1: Hanan Micah, rayhab Hashebiah, Zakour, she Abiah, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Bonnie
Speaker 1: and Benanu. The following leaders Parosh, payhaf moab elam Ze two, Bonnie, Bunny,
Speaker 1: asgad Biebai, Adenaijah, big Vi Adin Attur, Hezekiah, azure Hodaiah, Hashem, Bezi,
Speaker 1: Haref Anathoth Neebei, magpiash Mishulem, Hazir, Mischezebel Zadok Jaduah Peletaiah,
Speaker 1: Hainin Anaiah, Hoshiah, Hannanayah, Hashub Halohesh, Pilha, shobek Rehum, Hashabna Messiah, Ahiah,
Speaker 1: hainin Anin, maluk Hareem and Benah. Then the rest of
Speaker 1: the people, the priests, levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, and
Speaker 1: all who had separated themselves from the pagan people of
Speaker 1: the land in order to obey the law of God,
Speaker 1: together with their wives, sons, daughters, and all who were
Speaker 1: old enough to understand, join their leaders and bound themselves
Speaker 1: with an oath. They swore a curse on themselves if
Speaker 1: they failed to obey the law of God as issued
Speaker 1: by his servant Moses. They solemnly promise to carefully follow
Speaker 1: all the commands, regulations, and decrees of the Lord, our Lord.
Speaker 1: We promise not to let our daughters marry the pagan
Speaker 1: people of the land, and not to let our sons
Speaker 1: marry their daughters. We also promise that if the people
Speaker 1: of the land should bring any merchandise or grain to
Speaker 1: be sold on the Sabbath or on any other holy day,
Speaker 1: we will refuse to buy it. Every seventh year, we
Speaker 1: will let our land rest, and we will cancel all
Speaker 1: debts owed to us. In addition, we promise to obey
Speaker 1: the command to pay the annual temple tax of one
Speaker 1: eighth of an ounce of silver for the care of
Speaker 1: the Temple of our God. This will provide for the
Speaker 1: bread of the presence, for the regular grain offerings and
Speaker 1: burnt offerings, for the offerings on the Sabbaths, the New
Speaker 1: Moon celebrations and the annual festivals, for the holy offerings,
Speaker 1: and for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel.
Speaker 1: It will provide for everything necessary for the work of
Speaker 1: the Temple of Our God. We have cast sacred lots
Speaker 1: to determine when, at regular times each year, the families
Speaker 1: of the priests, levites and the common people should bring
Speaker 1: wood to God's Temple to be burned on the altar
Speaker 1: of the Lord, our God. As is written in the law.
Speaker 1: We promise to bring the first part of every harvest
Speaker 1: to the Lord's temple year after year, whether it be
Speaker 1: a crop from the soil or from our fruit trees.
Speaker 1: We agree to give God our oldest sons and the
Speaker 1: firstborn of all our herds and flocks, as prescribed in
Speaker 1: the law. We will present them to the priests who
Speaker 1: minister in the Temple of our God. We will store
Speaker 1: the produce in the store rooms of the Temple of
Speaker 1: our God. We will bring the best of our flower
Speaker 1: and other grain offerings, the best of our fruit, and
Speaker 1: the best of our new wine and olive oil. And
Speaker 1: we promise to bring to the levites a tenth of
Speaker 1: everything our land produces, For it is the Levites who
Speaker 1: collect the tithes in all our rural towns. A priest,
Speaker 1: a descendant of Erin, will be with the Levites as
Speaker 1: they receive these tithes, and a tenth of all that
Speaker 1: is collected as tithes will be delivered by the Levites
Speaker 1: to the Temple of our God and placed in the storerooms.
Speaker 1: The people and the levites must bring these offerings of grain,
Speaker 1: new wine, and olive oil to the storerooms and place
Speaker 1: them in the sacred containers near the ministering priests. The
Speaker 1: gatekeepers and the singers we promise together not to neglect
Speaker 1: the temple of our God. Let's pray. Lord, we thank
Speaker 1: you for your word, and we thank you for the
Speaker 1: privilege of being able to look at it together today. Lord,
Speaker 1: we thank you as we see your people in this
Speaker 1: passage of Scripture committing themselves to be men and women
Speaker 1: and children who obey your law. Lord. For generations, this
Speaker 1: group of people recognized that their ancestors and even they
Speaker 1: had gone their own ways in many respects, and there's
Speaker 1: lots of illustrations of that throughout the scriptures. Their kings
Speaker 1: had done so, their priests had done so, the rest
Speaker 1: of the people had done so. But now they were
Speaker 1: committing themselves to being faithful to you and to keep
Speaker 1: the requirements of your law as you had communicated to
Speaker 1: them in your word. Lord. We're grateful for this example,
Speaker 1: but were also mindful of the fact that the generations
Speaker 1: that came after them went their own way, just like
Speaker 1: the generations that had come before. And the truth is,
Speaker 1: we know that there's only one who could keep the
Speaker 1: law perfectly, and that's your son, Jesus Christ, who came
Speaker 1: to this earth to fulfill all righteousness on our bay.
Speaker 1: He kept the law because we couldn't. But now through
Speaker 1: faith in your son Jesus Christ, were granted the gift
Speaker 1: of his righteousness. And we know that it's not because
Speaker 1: of anything we've done. It's because of what He's done
Speaker 1: on our behalf. So we're grateful for this reality. And
Speaker 1: we pray Lord that we would be mindful of this
Speaker 1: aspect of the gospel, that your son Jesus Christ fulfilled
Speaker 1: all righteousness for us, and that we don't find righteousness
Speaker 1: as something that finds its source in us. True righteousness
Speaker 1: finds its source in your son Jesus Christ. Lord, thank
Speaker 1: you for these reminders from your word, and we thank
Speaker 1: you for your presence with us today. We pray this
Speaker 1: all in Jesus's name. Amen.