Nehemiah 12:44 - Meaning and Application

Here we are told of the lasting good effects that followed the great joy at the dedication of the wall. When a day of public thanksgiving leaves both ministers and people more faithful and more cheerful in their duties afterward, that is a sign the day was pleasing to God and brought real blessing. That was the case here.

The ministers became more careful in their work. The respect the people showed them on that day encouraged them to be diligent and watchful (Nehemiah 12:45). The singers kept their charge before God, meaning they attended faithfully to the work of their office at the proper time. The gatekeepers also kept the charge of purification, meaning they helped preserve the temple’s purity by keeping ceremonially unclean people from entering. When the joy of the Lord moves us to duty and makes us more willing in it, that is a foretaste of the joy that will be ours forever, joined with perfect holiness.

The people also became more careful about supporting their ministers. At the dedication of the wall, they rejoiced for the priests and Levites who were serving (Nehemiah 12:44). They took comfort in their ministers and were glad to have them. When they saw how faithfully the priests and Levites waited on their work and how much effort they put into it, they were moved to honor them. The safest way for ministers to win the love of their people is to serve faithfully in their ministry (Romans 12:7), with humility and hard work, keeping close to their calling.

The law had already provided for the priests’ and Levites’ portions (Nehemiah 12:44), but that would not help if the gifts were not collected or were not fairly given out. So care was taken to gather their due into the storehouses from the fields of the cities, so their share would not be lost for lack of being asked for. This was a real help to both ministers and people, so the one side would not lack support and the other would not fail in duty.

Care was also taken to make sure the gifts were paid out properly (Nehemiah 12:47). The singers and gatekeepers received their daily portion in addition to what belonged to them as Levites. We may think David and Solomon had set apart extra support for them because their work was above the ordinary Levite service (Nehemiah 12:45, Nehemiah 12:46). Those who labor more heavily in teaching God’s word should be counted worthy of special honor.

As for the other Levites, the tithes, here called the holy things, were set apart for them, and from that they paid the priests their tithe according to the law. Both the gifts and the receiving of them are spoken of as holy, because what is given for the support of religion and the ministry, whether by law or freely, is offered with an eye to God and his honor. Such giving is accepted by him, and it brings blessing on the house and on all that belongs to it (Ezekiel 44:30).