Return from Exile: Nehemiah 10 (2)

Pray Psalm 78.1-4.
Give ear, O my people, to my law;
Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings of old,
Which we have heard and known,
And our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children,
Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD,
And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.

Sing Psalm 78.1-4.
(Foundation: How Firm a Foundation)
Give ear, O my people, attend to my word,
dark sayings and parables sent from the LORD,
things we have before by our Fathers been told,
which we would not dare from our children withhold.

Read Nehemiah 10.1-29; meditate on verses 28, 29.

Preparation
1. How did the people respond to their leaders?

2. Into what did they enter?

Meditation
The effect of the leaders publicly entering the covenant with God was immediate, widespread, and profound. All the assembled people followed suit, and they did so with “knowledge and understanding” (v. 28).

We recall that this communal action was preceded by long readings, with interpretation, from the Law of God; sincere confession and deep contrition on the part of the people; and a lengthy litany of praise to the LORD. Every service of worship should contain these elements and end like this, with the people given an opportunity to recommit themselves to the Lord Jesus Christ and His covenant. It’s not clear whether the people assembled in Nehemiah 10 signed anything; perhaps, like the leaders of old, they must have declared some version of “All that the LORD has spoken, we will do” (cf. Ex. 19.8). Whether by corporate prayer, singing, or some other declaration, a service of worship that ends with a call to commitment is more likely to have lasting effects.

Verse 29 provides a summary of the people’s commitment and the content of the covenant. They swore an oath to obey and invoked curses on themselves for disobedience. They resolved to “walk in God’s Law…and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD …and all His ordinances and statutes” (v. 29). I believe that if we ended our worship services like this, we would see more impact for the Kingdom of God through the lives of our people day by day.

Likewise if we were to begin each day with such worship of and commitment to our great and glorious God.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
God sent Jonah to Nineveh with a message of revival: repent, be renewed, and change your behavior.

God’s concern was for all the people, and his message of compassion for them was clear when he spoke to Jonah: “And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?” (Jon. 4.11). All those children who did not even have “knowledge and understanding” (Neh. 10.28), God had mercy upon.

This group of people, who entered the covenant with God in Nehemiah’s and Ezra’s age, were old enough, did have knowledge of God’s Laws, and were able to understand them. Although each situation may be different, God shows no favoritism, as Peter pointed out: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (Acts 10.34, 35).

The psalmist instructs how to daily enter this same covenant with God:
“Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end.
Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it.
Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to covetousness.
Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way.
Establish Your word to Your servant, who is devoted to fearing You” (Ps. 119.33-38).

Paul wrote to Timothy about how he should proceed as a leader toward his own maturity in obedience, and the maturity of those over whom he was responsible:
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2.15 KJV).
“Give diligence…” (ASV)
“Study and do your best…” (AMP)
“Work hard so God can say to you, ‘Well done.’” (TLB)
“Be diligent…” (NKJV).

Apparently, this Christian life is hard work and requires much diligence on the part of those who sign up for it. And as we have signed up, let us diligently agree to begin each day “with such worship of and commitment to our great and glorious God.” Repentant, revived, renewed, and ready to live for God.

For reflection
1. Why is it important to begin each day this way: repentant, revived, renewed, and reoriented?

2. What can keep you from doing this? How can you make sure this doesn’t happen?

3. Whom will you encourage today to begin their day by renewing their covenant relationship with God?

The people took an oath to live by the Word of God. God’s Law: The Law was a gift of God, given by Moses. The Israelites swore that they would observe the law of God. Commandments … ordinances … statutes: This is a way of speaking of the whole law of God. Earl Radmacher (1933-2014), NKJV Study Bible Note on Nehemiah 10.29

Pray Psalm 78.4-7.
Renew your covenant relationship with God today. Praise and thank Him for His goodness. Rejoice in His works. Commit yourself afresh to learning and obeying all His Word.

Sing Psalm 78.4-7.
(Foundation: How Firm a Foundation)
The glorious deeds of our God in His might,
and all of the works He has done in our sight,
together with all of the words of His Law,
would we on ourselves and our children bestow.

LORD, let all our children arise and declare
the truth of the LORD every day, everywhere,
and set all their hopes in God’s wonderful Word,
and never forget all the works of the LORD.

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.