Nehemiah: Rebuilding A Community, The Covenant: Nehemiah 10:1-39

Nehemiah: Rebuilding A Community
The Covenant

Nehemiah 10:1-39

 

The Sealers & Swearers (v. 1-29)

• A list of those who sealed the Covenant scrolls is given:
  • Nehemiah, the governor (v. 1)
  • The priests (v. 2-8)
  • The Levites (v. 9-13)
  • The leaders of families (v. 14-27)
• Everyone swore an oath to obey God’s commands given to Moses (v. 28-29)
  • Including calling down a curse on themselves if they failed to keep the Law
    • See the curses in Deut. 27:15–26; 30:19
  • Following the form of a suzerain covenant between a king and his vassals

 

The Specifics (v. 30-39)

• Not intermarry with foreigners (v. 30)
  • Not about ethnicity
    • ) Rahab & Ruth
  • About being pulled away to false gods (Ex. 34:11–16; Deut. 7:1–4; 20:10–18)
• Keep the Sabbath (v. 31)
  • Weekly, by foregoing commerce on that day
  • Every 7 years, by giving the land rest (Ex. 23:10–11) and forgiving debts (Ex. 21:2–6; Deut. 15:1–2)
• Taking care of the Temple (v. 32-34)
  • By giving money (v. 32-33)
    • 1/3 shekel = $176 today
      • $45 million/year (Neh. 7:66)
    • This was for regular operations
      • Not including other tithes and offerings
    • By providing wood for the offerings (v. 34)
  • Taking care of the Priests & Levites (v. 35-36)
    • Firstfruits= best of everything
    • Levites & priests didn’t have land
      • It was the rest of Israel’s job to take care of them
    • 10% of everything went to the Levites
      • The priests & the Temple were taken care of by the tithe of the Levites (Num. 18:25–32)

The Law’s Role for Us

• As followers of Jesus, we are under a different covenant than the Israelites were (Luke 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25; 2 Cor. 3:6; Heb 7:22; 8:6, 8-10, 13; 9:15; 10:16; 12:24; 13:20)
  • Thus, the Law does not directly apply to us
  • However, it is still God’s word for us
    • Because it shows us God’s character and concerns
  • Christians are called to not marry non-Christians (1 Cor. 6:14)
    • So that we are not pulled away from our devotion to Christ
  • Christians are called to enter into the Sabbath rest provided by Jesus (Heb. 4:9-11)
    • Which, in practice, means taking time to rest from our work
  • Christians are called to take care of the Temple of God
    • The Church as a people (1 Co 3:16-17; 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:21; 1 Pet. 2:5)
    • Including those in full-time ministry (1 Cor. 9:9ff; 1 Tim. 5:17-18)
    • Including giving to fund the ministries of the Church (2 Cor. 9:7)

 

So What?

• The people committed themselves to obey God fully
• Are we committed to do the same?
• Or do we pick and choose how we are obedient?

Meditation Verse: Nehemiah 10:29