We Promise

Scripture:

29 now all heartily bound themselves with an oath. They vowed to accept the curse of God if they failed to obey the law of God as issued by his servant Moses. They solemnly promised to carefully follow all the commands, laws, and regulations of the LORD their Lord. 30 “We promise not to let our daughters marry the pagan people of the land, nor to let our sons marry their daughters. 31 We further promise that if the people of the land should bring any merchandise or grain to be sold on the Sabbath or on any other holy day, we will refuse to buy it. And we promise not to do any work every seventh year and to cancel the debts owed to us by other Jews. 32 “In addition, we promise to obey the command to pay the annual Temple tax of an eighth of an ounce of silver, so that there will be enough money to care for the Temple of our God. 33 This will provide for the Bread of the Presence; for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings; for the offerings on the Sabbaths, the new moon celebrations, and the annual festivals; for the holy offerings; and for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel. It will also provide for the other items necessary for the work of the Temple of our God. 34 “We have cast sacred lots to determine when—at regular times each year—the families of the priests, Levites, and the common people should bring wood to God’s Temple to be burned on the altar of the LORD our God, as required in the law. 35 “We promise always to bring the first part of every harvest to the LORD’s Temple—whether it be a crop from the soil or from our fruit trees. 36 We agree to give to God our oldest sons and the firstborn of all our herds and flocks, just as the law requires. We will present them to the priests who minister in the Temple of our God. 37 We will store the produce in the storerooms of the Temple of our God. We will bring the best of our flour and other grain offerings, the best of our fruit, and the best of our new wine and olive oil. And we promise to bring to the Levites a tenth of everything our land produces, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all our rural towns. 38 A priest—a descendant of Aaron—will be with the Levites as they receive these tithes. And a tenth of all that is collected as tithes will be delivered by the Levites to the Temple of our God and placed in the storerooms. 39 The people and the Levites must bring these offerings of grain, new wine, and olive oil to the Temple and place them in the sacred containers near the ministering priests, the gatekeepers, and the singers. “So we promise together not to neglect the Temple of our God.” (Nehemiah 10:29-39 NLT)

Amazing things had been done in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. And then the people agreed to obey the laws of God. They were so serious about it that they swore a curse on themselves if they did not follow through. It can be so easy to make promises; too easy sometimes. A promise is a promise, and if it is given to God, it becomes so important! I want to be careful what I promise to people, and most of all what I promise to God. I want to be a person known as someone who does what she promises to do.

Lord, You are so true to Your promises! Help me as I determine to always be true to the promises I make. You are my God, and I love You. AMEN

Lord, You are a Father to me, Your child. You are tender and compassionate to me and Your unfailing love is great. Psalm 103

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