Look at Nehemiah 10:32-39 again. Why were the temple’s practices essential for the Israelites, as shown by “we will not neglect the house of our God” (Neh. 10:39, NKJV)? Why was the Temple so important for the faith as a whole? (See also Heb. 8:1-7).

The Israelites pledged to take care of the temple. Even though they were a small group financially oppressed by the kings, they decided they needed to give from the little they had in order for the temple to thrive and not just survive. Therefore, they chose to give a third of a shekel for the temple service every year, instead of just when the census happened, as the law commanded. The nation saw a need to go beyond what was required. Additionally, they allotted the responsibility for burning firewood on the altar to specific families, as they recognized that without organization the practice would wane.

Firstfruits, firstborns, and tithes and offerings were aspects of the temple service that provided for the ministry of the priests and Levites. A tenth of everything was to go to the Levites. Also, firstborns were redeemed by money, adding to the amount the Levites received. However, a tenth of the Levites’ tenth went to the priests.

The temple served as the heartbeat of the Israelite nation. It was so central to their faith that the greatest tragedy occurred when Nebuchadnezzar tore down the temple and carried away the sacred objects.

When the temple was properly managed, it gave the nation a vibrant spiritual life because it pointed the people to the ultimate solution to the sin problem, which was through the death of a lamb. When Jesus died on the cross, that solution was provided (Rom. 5:5-10). Moreover, through the yearly service of the Day of Atonement, the people learned that ultimately God has a plan to get rid of evil and sin for good. In other words, the temple served as the setting for revealing to the people the entire plan of salvation. The lessons we can gain through looking at the temple services are immense and necessary to give us a bigger picture of God’s character and to illuminate the plan of salvation.

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Read Nehemiah 10:30-39. What are four things the Israelites pledged to do as part of the renewed covenant?

The people pledged the following:

1. No mixed marriages (no marriage to an individual who could lead one into idolatry);

2. True Sabbath observance (no distractions through business transactions);

3. Debt cancelation and Sabbatical year observance to care for the poor and give them freedom;

4. Financially supporting the temple, its services, and personnel through bringing the firstfruits, the firstborn, and the tithe, thus ensuring the continuation of true worship.

Image © Provident Collection Goodsalt.com

The first three pledges related to relationships with others (marriage and debt cancellation) and with God (Sabbath), while the last one (Neh. 10:32-39) deals with temple regulations.

The goal of the community was to demonstrate that they were committed to the covenant, and therefore would implement practical ways of building their relationship with God and others. Even if they didn’t always keep the covenant perfectly, they understood that right habits and practices would influence the future. If the Israelite nation was going to get on the right path, they had to establish practices and habits that would be conducive to where they wanted to be. If they wanted to have a close walk with God, then making the Sabbath important and taking care of the temple were important steps in that direction.

Unfortunately, they didn’t keep their pledges very well, as demonstrated in the last chapters of Nehemiah. Yet, even if everyone didn’t keep them, some or many people did. With God’s help and keeping our focus on Him, we can develop the right habits and stick to the right path.

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You can view an in-depth discussion of “God and the Covenant” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. Click on the image to view:

You may download an MP4 video file, and audio file or a PDF lesson outline from the HopeSS site.

With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

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1. A sure covenant. We have agreements, pacts, contracts, and other forms that lead to a commitment to carry out certain duties or fill requirements in business and other activities of life. What is the difference between the legal documents we use in business and the agreements we seal in our spiritual walk with Jesus? Are you encouraged about the beauty and finality we see in a covenant relationship as it applies to our daily life in Jesus? Are you ever tempted to resent having to agree to conditions of being a member of God’s family and long instead for freedom from all agreements? 
2. a.  The idea of the covenant. How does our covenant relationship with God shed light on the experience of God’s creation of human beings? Was there a time when Adam and Eve were so new that they didn’t fully understand what a covenant meant in their new life? Or did they have full understanding from the moment of their creation? Considering the magnificence of life without sin and the power of God as revealed to our forefathers, are you ever puzzled about how our people could fall so soon and so far from the plan God had in mind for them? Has there ever been a time in your life when you drifted away and are full of bewilderment today about how that could have happened? 
   b.  Choosing evil over good. Is it hard for you, as it is for me, to imagine God’s children at the beginning preferring evil to God’s goodness? The flood, our lesson author declares, was God’s method of intervention. He desperately wanted a family of love and joy. What did He have instead? The flood was a matter of de-creation. By their bad choices, humans ruined life as God created it. Nearly every human being on earth was destroyed. And God started over. Does that account ever install a sense of awe in your thinking? 
3. Covenants in history.  This section of the lesson lists seven covenants of love as defined in the Old Testament. What is the difference between these covenants and the “everlasting covenant”? What is the relationship between these covenants and the plan of salvation? A suggestion: Covenantal structure. Choose one of the four elements in the everlasting covenant and spend an hour contemplating what that aspect of salvation means to you. (1) a preamble; (2) a long historical prologue; (3) blessings and curses; (4) special provision.
4. Pledges. Think about each of these and ask the question: Is there any way these pledges can apply to our church life today? Even with minor changes for clarity? Do you ever encounter criticism about the way we Adventists set standards for not working on the Sabbath? Which of the standards listed in the lesson are the most valuable to you in your daily walk with God? Is it possible for you or for me to follow even one of those pledges with full dedication? What does our friend from the past, Ellen White,have to say about the possibility of our living a life of faith? 
5. The temple. Some churches are elaborate in their structure and design while others are simple and even run down and in need of repair or re-building. What do you think God wants us to do to improve the appearance and functionality of His churches around the world? Or does it matter to Him? Can a church building give the heavenly impression of “a vibrant spiritual life”? There may be changes that could be made in the church where you worship. Maybe it’s a rundown parking space, or furnishings that seem old and out of place. Is God pleased or upset when we work to build elements of beauty and praise into the sanctuaries where we worship him? 

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The covenant, in the Memory Text, was sealed by the leaders, Levites and the priests, just as much as God sealed the covenant with Abram in
Hymn 264, “O for That Flame of Living Fire”.

The Children of Israel had their special way of putting their covenant in place with God.
Hymn 347, “Built on the Rock” and
Hymn 522, “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less” show us the way we are able to do this today. God promised to be faithful to the covenant, even when people were not:
Hymn 100, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”. Let us all remain faithful to our God,
Hymn 602, “O Brother, Be Faithful”.

God has made a pledge with His people (Wednesday):
Hymn 532, “Day by Day” and Hymn 635, “Lord of All Good”.

The hymn representing The Temple (Thursday’s study) is one that can be used to draw us into our prayer time:
Hymn 692, “The Lord Is in His Holy Temple” or the alternate melody in
Hymn 687.

We are led finally to the plan for salvation at the end of the Thursday’s study:
Hymn 339, “God Is My Strong Salvation” and
Hymn 646, “To the Name That Brings Salvation”.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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