All things bear record · Nehemiah

Nehemiah 10

2 witnesses of Christ here, and 3 further echoes from the reading.

Jehovah our Lord

LORD our Lord — Jehovah our Master (Adonai)

They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes; Nehemiah 10:29

The people swear to keep the commandments of "the LORD our Lord": Jehovah, the premortal Christ, is both the covenant God and their Master.

AttestedJehovah — the LORDA divine name

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

  • the same title in Psalm 8:1 — "O LORD our Lord"

Shewbread

For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. Nehemiah 10:33

The shewbread, the "bread of the presence," sat always before the LORD in the holy place. It is widely taught as a type of Jesus, the Bread of Life who brings us into God's presence.

A readingProphecy or typeAn object that is a type of Him
  • alludes to Exodus 25:30 — shewbread before me alway
  • a type of what is in John 6:35 — "I am the bread of life"

Sin Offerings for Atonement

For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. Nehemiah 10:33–34

The people pledge to fund the offerings that made atonement for Israel. Every such sacrifice was a similitude of the Only Begotten's great and last sacrifice.

A readingProphecy or typeAn ordinance that points to Him
  • interpreted by Moses 5:7 — sacrifice is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten
  • interpreted by Alma 34:13-14 — the whole meaning of the law points to that great and last sacrifice
  • fulfilled by Hebrews 10:10-12 — Christ offered one sacrifice for sins for ever

Firstfruits

And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD: Nehemiah 10:35

The first and best of the harvest was given to the LORD. Scripture calls the risen Christ the firstfruits of them that slept, the first of the great harvest of resurrection.

A readingProphecy or typeAn ordinance that points to Him
  • alludes to Leviticus 23:10-11 — the sheaf of the firstfruits waved before the LORD
  • a type of what is in 1 Corinthians 15:20 — Christ the firstfruits of them that slept
  • a type of what is in 2 Nephi 2:9 — the Messiah the firstfruits unto God

The Firstborn

Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God: Nehemiah 10:36

The law claimed every firstborn for the LORD, remembering the Passover when the firstborn were spared by the lamb's blood. Jesus is the Firstborn of the Father, fully consecrated to God.

AttestedEchoAn ordinance that points to Him

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

  • alludes to Exodus 13:2 — sanctify unto me all the firstborn
  • a type of what is in D&C 93:21 — Christ: "I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn"
  • a type of what is in Colossians 1:15 — the firstborn of every creature