Verse 39 We will not forsake the house of our God - Here was a glorious resolution; and had they been faithful to it, they had been a great and good people to the present day. But what is implied in, We will not forsake the house of our God? I answer: - I. The Church of God is the house of God; there he has his constant dwelling-place. II. True believers are his family in this house; and this family consists of, 1. Fathers and mothers; 2. Young persons; 3. Little children; And 4. Servants. III. The ministers of the word of God are the officers and overseers of this house and family. IV. The worship of God is the grand employment of this family. V. The ordinances of God are the food of the members of this family; or the means of their spiritual support. VI. Those who do not forsake the house of their God are those, 1. Who continue in the faith; 2. Who grow in grace; 3. Who labor in the vineyard; 4. Who bring forth fruit; 5. Who conscientiously attend all the ordinances; and 6. Who take care that the offerings of the house of God shall be duly made, providing for those who labor in the word and doctrine. Reader, 1. Art thou of this house? 2. Art thou in this house? 3. To what part of the family dost thou belong? 4. Art thou still an infant in this house? 5. Dost thou attend the ordinances of this house? 6. Hast thou forsaken this house? These questions are of great importance; answer them as in the sight of God.

Neh 10:39

The children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering. The priests were not to be troubled with the conveyance of any of the offerings. The first-fruits and other oblations of the people were to be brought to the temple by the people themselves; .and the "tithe of the tithe,’ which was the priests’ due, by the Levites. Thus the priests would not be drawn away from their duty of ministering in the temple by secular employments and matters of mere worldly business. We will not forsake, or neglect, the house of our God. We will not suffer, that is, any interruption of the continual service of the temple, we will not be parties to any neglect or slovenliness in the conduct of it. So far as we are concerned, everything shall be done to enable the priests and Levites to remain constantly at Jerusalem in full numbers, and to devote themselves wholly to their sacred duties in God’s house. With this emphatic declaration of their intentions the people concluded the engagements by which they voluntarily bound themselves.

HOMILETICS