Return from Exile: Nehemiah 10 (7)

Pray Psalm 95.1, 2, 6.
Oh come, let us sing to the LORD!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms…
Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

Sing Psalm 95.1, 2, 6.
(Tidings: O Zion Haste, Thy Mission High Fulfilling)
Come, let us sing with joy to God, our Savior!
Let us with joy to Him, our Rock, bow down!
Come now before Him, grateful for His favor;
let joyful psalms break forth from all around.
Refrain v. 6
Come let us worship, kneel to our LORD;
worship our Maker: Father, Holy Spirit, Word.

Review Nehemiah 10.1-39; meditate on verses 28, 29.

Preparation
1. What did the people do?

2. What did they promise?

Meditation
The moral of this covenant-making episode in Israel’s history can be concisely stated: Be careful what you promise. The curse invoked by the people as they sought to return to the Lord would come back to bite them. By their own words they would be judged and taken captive by a foreign power, this time Rome.

For now, we must believe the people were sincere, that they intended to keep their words. But as we shall see, they were not able to do so. They resolved to make a covenant with God (9.38). Just as they had built the temple, and they had built the wall, they would renew their covenant with God by making promises they were not able to keep.

But as sincere as they may have been, they were sincerely wrong in thinking they could do anything apart from the Presence and power of God. In many ways, the history of God’s people throughout the Old Testament is the same story. God grants them spiritual leaders who remind them of God’s Word and call them to turn from their sinful ways. They weep and repent, hear the Word of God afresh, and resolve to do His will thenceforward. It never works out, however, and they always end up in one or another form of captivity.

By their words they could not ensure obedience. Only God’s Word, and His Spirit working with that Word, can free us from our captivity to sin and self and grant the power we need for full covenant living (Jn. 6.63; 8.32). Whenever we hear ourselves saying things like, “Lord, this time I’m going to…” We need to stop, remember that we are but flesh, and cast ourselves on the mercy of God, seeking His help for His glory, that we might obey His words completely, depending only on Him.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Through the mercy of God, we are not consumed “because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (Lam. 3.22, 23). He is the Giver of the Holy Spirit, always, to those who ask: “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Lk. 11.13).

Now is the time in history when we can ask this of the Father. Jesus has come to earth. He has died for our sins. He is risen from the dead. He has been glorified. John explained the timing of the Gift concerning the Sprit, whom those believing in Jesus would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given during Jesus’ tenure on earth because He had not yet been glorified. (Jn. 7.39). “But now Christ is risen from the dead” (1 Cor. 15.20) and has ascended to heaven and has been glorified, so we are the recipients of His Holy Spirit to live out His Law through His power.

Like the unsuccessful people of Nehemiah’s age, we are unable to pull off living the Christian life without His power. Paul’s description of that person’s condition should be enough to drive us to life in the Spirit, because without Him we are duds: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing” (1 Cor. 13.1, 2).

This believer was to all observers an amazing person. Multitalented would not begin to cover it: they spoke in angel’s and people’s language, they prophesied, they understood all mysteries and knowledge, they had outstanding faith, they were generous to a fault, and were even martyrs for their beliefs. But alas, nothing. They were not filled with the Holy Spirit of love, mercy, grace, and truth. Their life profited neither them nor anyone else. For how can we ever love God and others properly without His Spirit to guide us? How else will we have the will to separate ourselves from captivity to the present age to the Law of God? (Neh. 10.29)

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” (Acts 1.8).
“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance…”
(Eph. 1.13, 14).

As the people of Nehemiah’s time entered a curse/blessing relationship with God, we too, must be careful to hear the words of warning accompanying the relationship we would establish with the Gift of the Holy Spirit. As Jesus said, “…he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation” (Mk. 3.29). “And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven” (Lk. 12.10).

There is more involved in living the Christian than a free ticket to heaven.

“We need to stop, remember that we are but flesh, and cast ourselves on the mercy of God, seeking His help for His glory, that we might obey His words completely, depending only on Him.” And asking for the Gift of His Holy Spirit to enable us to do…anything. And keep the clanging cymbals to a minimum.

For reflection
1. Why is the Holy Spirit essential to living the Christian life?

2. How do you experience the power of the Holy Spirit throughout the day?

3. Whom will you encourage today to seek the filling and power of the Spirit of God?

Conversion is separating from the course and custom of this world, devoting ourselves to the conduct directed by the word of God. 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 10.28, 29

Pray Psalm 95.3-11.
How do you need the Lord’s help and strength today? Praise Him for His greatness and His shepherding care. Call on Him for mercy and grace to help you in every moment of all your times of need.

Sing Psalm 95.3-11.
(Tidings: O Zion Haste, Thy Mission High Fulfilling)
Great are You, LORD, a King above all nations.
All of earth’s depths lie hidden in Your hand.
Yours are the mountains, Yours the sea, You made it;
You by Your hands created the dry land.
Refrain v. 6
Come let us worship, kneel to our LORD;
worship our Maker: Father, Holy Spirit, Word.

You are our God, we are Your sheep, Your people:
Speak, LORD, and we will hearken to Your Word.
Let not our hearts grow hard through sin, and feeble,
as when our fathers sinned against You, LORD.
Refrain

Long years You loathed that wicked generation,
who in their hearts, rebelled against Your path.
Them You forsook, and kept from Your salvation;
them You subjected to Your fearsome wrath.
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.