Return from Exile: Nehemiah 10 (1)

Pray Psalm 107.1-3.
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
And gathered out of the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the south.

Sing Psalm 107.1-3.
(Faithfulness: Great Is Thy Faithfulness)
LORD, You are good, we give thanks and we praise You!
Your steadfast love will forever endure.
Let the redeemed, who from trouble You rescue,
gather and say that Your mercy is sure!
Refrain vv. 1-3
LORD, for Your wondrous works, and for Your steadfast love,
we give You thanks, we exalt Your great Name!
We who from east and west, north and south gather,
boldly redemption in Christ we proclaim!

Read and meditate on Nehemiah 10.1-27.

Preparation
1. Do you recognize any of these names?

2. What did these people do?

Meditation
Signing your name to something can be a little risky. You’re making a commitment. Some who don’t agree with you might not be pleased to see your name on a list. Then again, signing on the dotted line can draw out commitment, create camaraderie, and even help to get things done more efficiently.

Signing this covenant—the details of which we will review throughout chapter 10—was an important step for the people of Jerusalem. We recognize some of the “big names” who signed this covenant renewal document: Nehemiah, Zedekiah, Jeshua. Zerubbabel was probably already dead (since now Nehemiah was governor). All these signers signed not only for themselves but for all the people as well. Curious by his absence among the signers is Ezra. I like to think that, when he came to sign the covenant, the leaders all said, “No, no, Ezra. You don’t need to sign. We know where you stand.”

Acts of covenant renewal can be useful. They can reorient us to God, help us in putting aside frivolous or unnecessary activities, remind us that we are a chosen people and a royal priesthood, and strengthen our commitment to encourage one another in love and good works. When you come to the Lord in prayer each day, renew your covenant with Him. Use the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostle’s Creed, or a favorite hymn to devote yourself afresh to God as a living sacrifice and Kingdom ambassador. Sign on the dotted line every day. Then, renewed in the Lord, go forth into your Personal Mission Field and say so.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
Spoken covenant renewal is corporately done in many churches around the world.
It is a time of rejoicing together, with one voice, to remember God’s mighty works on His people’s behalf,
and to praise Him for His love and mercy.

In a book I read years ago, the author recounted the solemn details of how religious prisoners during World War II, would begin reciting the Apostle’s Creed as they were led away to their execution. These truths were the last words on their lips. But they can daily be the reorienting words we speak, for as long as we live.

“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!” (Ps. 27.13, 14). “For this reason I also suffer those things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Tim. 1.13).

Christian, what do you believe?

“I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord;
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried.
He descended into hell;
The third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
The holy catholic church,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins;
The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting. Amen.”

Signed up, reoriented, and ready to “Say So!”

For reflection
1. What do you do, each day, to start your day reoriented to God? How might you improve this?

2. How do you keep oriented to God throughout the day? Could you improve this, too?

3. How can believers help one another in being rightly oriented to God and in His covenant? For whom will you do this today?

When we bind ourselves to do the commandments of God, it is to do all his commandments, and to look to him as the Lord, and our Lord. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Nehemiah 10.1-31

Pray Psalm 107.33-43.
Pray that God will multiply His blessings to you and through you to the people you encounter today. Ask Him for wisdom to follow in His way.

Sing Psalm 107.33-43.
(Faithfulness: Great Is Thy Faithfulness)
You make the desert a river o’erflowing;
You make a wasted life fruitful and strong!
You bless the hungry with fields for the sowing;
bless and increase us who to You belong!
Refrain vv. 1-3
LORD, for Your wondrous works, and for Your steadfast love,
we give You thanks, we exalt Your great Name!
We who from east and west, north and south gather,
boldly redemption in Christ we proclaim!

When we are low, are oppressed and in sorrow,
You pour contempt on our fierce, angry foes.
We will rejoice at the hope of tomorrow:
He shall be wise who Your steadfast love knows!
Refrain

T. M. and Susie Moore

Two books can help us understand our own captivity and lead us to seek revival and renewal in the Lord. The Church Captive asks us to consider the ways the Church today has become captive to the world. And Revived! can help us find the way to renewal. Learn more and order your free copies by clicking here and here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available free by clicking here.