Dedication

The single-minded devoting of a person, object or action to the honour of God.

Personal dedication to God must be wholehearted

Joshua 22:5 See also Deuteronomy 10:20; Joshua 24:14–15; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Nehemiah 10:28–29; Psalm 119:106; Matthew 22:37 parallels Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27; Deuteronomy 6:5

But be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

OT dedication to the worship and service of God

Dedication of individuals

Numbers 6:1–8 See also Judges 13:5, Judges 13:7, Judges 16:17; 1 Samuel 1:11; Proverbs 20:25

And the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD, he is to abstain from wine and strong drink. He must not drink vinegar made from wine or strong drink, and he must not drink any grape juice or eat fresh grapes or raisins. All the days of his separation, he is not to eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins. For the entire period of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head. He must be holy until the time of his separation to the LORD is complete; he must let the hair of his head grow long. Throughout the days of his separation to the LORD, he must not go near a dead body. Even if his father or mother or brother or sister should die, he is not to defile himself, because the symbol of consecration to his God is upon his head. Throughout the time of his separation, he is holy to the LORD.

Dedication of property

Leviticus 27:1–8 See also Leviticus 27:9–27

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘When someone makes a special vow to the LORD involving the value of persons, if the valuation concerns a male from twenty to sixty years of age, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel. Or if it is a female, then your valuation shall be thirty shekels. And if the person is from five to twenty years of age, then your valuation for the male shall be twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels. Now if the person is from one month to five years of age, then your valuation for the male shall be five shekels of silver, and for the female three shekels of silver. And if the person is sixty years of age or older, then your valuation shall be fifteen shekels for the male and ten shekels for the female. But if the one making the vow is too poor to pay the valuation, he is to present the person before the priest, who shall set the value according to what the one making the vow can afford.

Dedication of animals

Leviticus 1:1–4

Then the LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying, “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When any of you brings an offering to the LORD, you may bring as your offering an animal from the herd or the flock. If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to present an unblemished male. He must bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for its acceptance before the LORD. He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.

Dedication of the priesthood

Numbers 18:6 See also Exodus 28:41; Leviticus 21:10–12; Deuteronomy 10:8; 1 Chronicles 15:2, 1 Chronicles 23:13

Behold, I Myself have selected your fellow Levites from the Israelites as a gift to you, dedicated to the LORD to perform the service for the Tent of Meeting.

Dedication of the tabernacle and its furnishings

Numbers 7:1 See also Numbers 7:10, Numbers 7:84, Numbers 7:88

On the day Moses finished setting up the tabernacle, he anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings, along with the altar and all its utensils.

Dedication of the temple and its contents

1 Kings 7:51 parallel 2 Chronicles 5:1; 1 Kings 8:63–64, 1 Kings 15:15; 2 Chronicles 2:4, 2 Chronicles 7:9; Ezra 6:16–18; Luke 21:5

Dedication of particular items of value

1 Kings 7:51 parallel 2 Chronicles 5:1 See also 1 Kings 15:15; 1 Chronicles 29:1–5; 2 Chronicles 3:6

So all the work that King Solomon had performed for the house of the LORD was completed. Then Solomon brought in the items his father David had dedicated— the silver, the gold, and the furnishings— and he placed them in the treasuries of the house of the LORD.

Dedication of the booty of war

2 Samuel 8:11–12 parallel 1 Chronicles 18:11 See also Numbers 31:28; Joshua 6:19, Joshua 7:1, Joshua 7:10–13; 1 Chronicles 26:27

and King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued— from Edom and Moab, from the Ammonites and Philistines and Amalekites, and from the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

NT dedication to God and his service

Dedication is more usually applied to people than things

Romans 12:1 See also Matthew 6:24 parallel Luke 16:13; Matthew 19:29; Acts 4:36–37; Romans 6:13, Romans 6:16, Romans 6:19; 1 Corinthians 16:1–2; 1 Timothy 5:11; 1 Peter 1:15–16; Leviticus 11:44

Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Particular work and time may be given over to the service of God

Acts 6:1–4 See also Acts 1:14, Acts 13:2; Romans 1:1

In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, “It is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

Service for others is to be dedicated to God and done in his name

Colossians 3:17 See also 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 5:21, Ephesians 6:5–7

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.