Inspiration and action

Nehemiah 10:1-39

Those who sealed it were: 
Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah. Zedekiah, 2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 3 Pashhur, Amariah, Malkijah, 4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, 5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, 6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,8 Maaziah, Bilgai and Shemaiah. These were the priests. 9 The Levites: Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel,10 and their associates: Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, 11 Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, 12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 13 Hodiah, Bani and Beninu.14 The leaders of the people: Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,17 Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,18 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, 20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, 21 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, 22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, 24 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, 25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, 26 Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, 27 Malluch, Harim and Baanah. 28 "The rest of the people—priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples for the sake of the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand- 29 all these now join their brothers the nobles, and bind themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God given through Moses the servant of God and to obey carefully all the commands, regulations and decrees of the LORD our Lord. 30 "We promise not to give our daughters in marriage to the peoples around us or take their daughters for our sons. 31 "When the neighboring peoples bring merchandise or grain to sell on the Sabbath, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day. Every seventh year we will forgo working the land and will cancel all debts. 32 "We assume the responsibility for carrying out the commands to give a third of a shekel each year for the service of the house of our God: 33 for the bread set out on the table; for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings; for the offerings on the Sabbaths, New Moon festivals and appointed feasts; for the holy offerings; for sin offerings to make atonement for Israel; and for all the duties of the house of our God. 34 "We---the priests, the Levites and the people--- have cast lots to determine when each of our families is to bring to the house of our God at set times each year a contribution of wood to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law. 35 "We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the LORD each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree. 36 "As it is also written in the Law, we will bring the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, of our herds and of our flocks to the house of our God, to the priests ministering there. 37 "Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and oil. And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work. 38 A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury. 39 The people of Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new wine and oil to the storerooms where the articles for the sanctuary are kept and where the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the singers stay. "We will not neglect the house of our God."

I. Message

Content

1. The list of those who made the covenant with God. (v1-27)
2. Renewed once again their determination to follow God’s law. (v28-29)
3. A firm covenant with God. (v30-39)

Theme

1. Inspiration and action.
2. Adjustment of relationship.

II. Who is God? Who is Jesus? Who is the Holy Spirit?

1. God who decrees the law (v28, 29)
2. God who is worthy of worship and offering (v36)

III. What is God teaching me (command, promise, model, rebuke, warning)?

1. Names on the sealed document of the written covenant

The scripture says at the end of chapter 9, “In view of all this, we (the people) make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests. (9:38) Chapter 10 opens with “Those who sealed it were: Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah. Zedekiah.” (v.1)

The people were enthusiastic to renew the covenant with God. They participated in great numbers in sealing the documents with their names. Especially the governor, Nehemiah, he led by signing his own name first, thus setting a good example. Consequently, the people all signed their names.

In verse 1 to 27, among the list of names, we find 21 priests (v.2-8), 17 Levites (v.9-13), and 44 lay leaders (v.14-27). They all showed their willingness to abide once again by the law decreed by God through Moses. Obviously, making a firm covenant incite great enthusiasm among the people .

Reflection: If you are called to renew the covenant with the Lord. Would you be willing and enthusiastic in signing up?

2. Content of the covenant

1. Not to inter-marry: We promise not to give our daughters in marriage to the peoples around us or take their daughters for our sons. (v.30)
2. To observe the Sabbath Day: When the neighboring peoples bring merchandise or grain to sell on the Sabbath, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day. (v.31a)
3. To observe the Sabbath Year: Every seventh year we will forgo working the land and will cancel all debts. (v.31b)
4. To support the house of God: We assume the responsibility for carrying out the commands to give a third of a shekel each year for the service of the house of our God: 33 for the bread set out on the table; for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings; for the offerings on the Sabbaths, New Moon festivals and appointed feasts; for the holy offerings; for sin offerings to make atonement for Israel; and for all the duties of the house of our God. (v.32-33)
5. To give burn offering: We—the priests, the Levites and the people—have cast lots to determine when each of our families is to bring to the house of our God at set times each year a contribution of wood to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law. (v.34)
6. To offer firstfruits: We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the LORD each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree. As it is also written in the Law, we will bring the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, of our herds and of our flocks to the house of our God, to the priests ministering there. Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and oil.
7. To tithe: And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work. (v.37b)
8. To not neglect the house of God: A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury. 39 The people of Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new wine and oil to the storerooms where the articles for the sanctuary are kept and where the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the singers stay. "We will not neglect the house of our God." (v.38-39)

Reflection: Using the content of ‘the covenants that Israelites made with God’, assess your own relationship with God. Are you satisfied and content, or do you think there this relationship could be strengthened?

3. A completely new relationship

Based on the content of the written covenant, we discover the renewal of two relationships: A) the relationship between people: the relationship between people are renewed, because debts are cancelled, the distinction between debtors and slaves is abolished. Debts are replaced by love and forgiveness in the new relationship. B) The relationship between people and God: not only was the relationship between people changed, the relationship with God is also renewed. For example, observing the Sabbath, contributing to the maintenance of the temple, caring for the duties at the house of the Lord, offering of the firstfruits, tithing, etc.

Reflection: In my faith journey, am I improving in both my relationship with God and with people?