Nehemiah 10:30-31

[30] We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons. [31] And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. And we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.

We will not.

I wonder how many times I’ve said something like this.

I won’t do this sin again! I won’t!

I won’t curse anymore!

I won’t “forget” to do devotions anymore!

I won’t, I won’t, I won’t

So many broken promises, so many lost moments in failure to oaths made.

What should we say instead?

“By the grace of God, I will…”?

For me at least, when I forget to add God to the picture, I will almost always fail. Even if I do succeed I become so proud about it, that, well, I then fail anyway.

Instead, I should say, God I’m sorry. I need your help. I can’t do it on my own. Please help me, please help me submit to You and become more like you. Now, help me to stop being selfish, instead putting others first (thinking of others more highly than myself).

Focus on the “I” (yourself) and you will fail. Focus on doing things for others, instead, and you will succeed.

in Christ,

Isaiah

Nehemiah 10:28-29

[28] “The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, [29] join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God’s Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord and his rules and his statutes.

I can’t imagine this. I can’t imagine trying to follow and observe all of the commandments of the LORD. Every rule and statute.

I like to say that if I lived in Old Testament times, I’d be extremely poor… because I’d have to offer so many sacrifices for my sins.

Praise God that He has given grace.

Praise God that He has sacrificed, and forgiven.

Praise God that Jesus has experienced humanity, and understands. (Hebrews 2:17-18)

[17] Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. [18] For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Praise God that two commandments encapsulate the law, and they both involve love. (Matthew 22:35-40)

[35] And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. [36] “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” [37] And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. [38] This is the great and first commandment. [39] And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. [40] On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Lord, help us to follow those two commandments, and thank you for the grace given when we fall short.

AMEN!

Nehemiah 10:1-27

[1]  “On the seals are the names of Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, Zedekiah, [2] Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, [3] Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, [4] Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, [5] Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, [6] Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, [7] Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, [8] Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah; these are the priests. [9] And the Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel; [10] and their brothers, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, [11] Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, [12] Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, [13] Hodiah, Bani, Beninu. [14] The chiefs 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, Baanah.

The whole beginning of this chapter (verses 1-27) is simply a list of names. It reminds me of what most people assume the entire book of Numbers is. If you’ve actually read Numbers, there’s tons of good stuff in there, but most people just think its like this passage.

That being said, what do you get from this passage? This is like looking at the Declaration of Independence as a list of names, with John Hancock being the one that everyone remembers.

What application is there, that isn’t a stretch, like when youth ministers try to make the game apply to the lesson?

The men in these verses were standing for something.

They sealed their names, standing up, saying, I will follow God’s commands for my life.

We’ll read about all that they stood for tomorrow… but today, I ask you these questions:

What are you standing for?

Could someone tell what you really stand for by watching you, as you go through your day?

Nehemiah 9:34-38

[34] Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law or paid attention to your commandments and your warnings that you gave them. [35] Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works. [36] Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. [37] And its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please, and we are in great distress.

[38]  “Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests.

Today we come to the end of Nehemiah 9. The Israelites have gone through their history in a short chapter. One easily summarized as God is good, merciful and just; while we have been wicked, seeking after other gods.

Their rulers paid no attention to God’s commands, or His warnings. (34)

Despite the goodness and worldly blessings, they did not serve God or return to Him. (35)

Now they are slaves, giving up of their worldly possessions to kings, who they finally understand are ruling them because of their great sins (idolatry). (36-37)

Then they sign a covenant, stating they will walk in God’s law, observing all of His commands. (38) This will be further detailed in Chapter 10.

How similar are you and I today?

(34) – How much do I really listen to God, and His commands for my life?

(35) – Do I praise God, or someone else when I’m blessed? Do I use those blessings as if they were God’s and not mine? Do I turn to Him only when I feel need, or do I turn to Him because He is all that I need?

(36-37) The Israelites were literally slaves at different times in their history, but I share that with them, in that I have been, and sometimes still am, a slave to sin.

All these things questions and thoughts come against me, convicting me, making me realize how far from God I am. But then I remember this passage:

Romans 7:24-25

[24] Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? [25] Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

We have an advantage in Jesus Christ that the Israelites hadn’t known. We have a savior, in Jesus Christ our Lord! Thanks be to God!

Now let’s go live like we’ve been saved!

Nehemiah 9:32-33

[32] “Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day. [33] Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly.

The Israelites are getting to the nitty-gritty. Let not all the hardship seem little to you! You know what we’ve been through God! We’re feeling like we were nearly destroyed, that you’ve filled our lives with hardship and pain.

Now, they did have hardships, and it seems like in verse 33, they remember why. During the times of blessing and success, they continuously sought after other gods. Once they were given hardship, they returned, calling upon God to save them. You, Lord, have dealt with us faithfully (even in hardship), and we have acted wickedly.

Sound familiar?

When was the last time you really, truly prayed… without wanting something for yourself?

How many times do we put other things before God?

How many idols do you really have in your life?

Yet God is faithful and merciful. He is just, as well. The exile to Babylon was the final straw that broke the idolizing Israelites backs. They no longer sought after foreign gods after returning home.

Have you experienced your own “Babylonian exile” yet?

Nehemiah 9:30-31

[30] Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. [31] Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.

I stand in awe at the patience of God. I really shouldn’t be surprised, as He is not restrained by the concept of time, oh, and He’s God. It makes sense that He’s incredibly patient with us. It is part of who He is.

Yet the Israelites would not listen. They “would not give ear.”

He calls and calls and calls for His people to turn, but they don’t listen… I don’t listen.

God has put this idea of silent listening on my heart ever since I spoke in Alaska last March. The idea is that God is speaking to all of us, but we drown Him out.

When was the last time you had total silence in your life?

When was the last time you truly felt the leading of God in your life?

When was the last time you gave ear to what God was saying?

Bear with me, Lord. Bear with us… and help us to listen.

in Christ,

Isaiah

Nehemiah 9:28-29

[28] But after they had rest they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies. [29] And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules, which if a person does them, he shall live by them, and they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey.

The Isrealites continue the sick cycle of sin, oppression, calling to God, being saved by God, rest, and then sin again. Yet each time He heard from heaven, and delivered them.

The funny thing is that they knew they were doing wrong. Its not like they didn’t have this rule book, priests and levites. If they would have done wrong in ignorance, it would be one thing… but theirs was deliberate rebellion.

Then again, my actions are rebellion, too.

I know better, but still sin. I know I’m not supposed to be proud, but am – then I’m humbled. I know I’m not supposed to be selfish, but I am – and witness the pain it causes myself and others.

I sinned against His rules, “which if a person does them, he shall live…”

Thank God for sending His son, to be the sacrifice for my sins. For Grace – truly unmerited favor – to a sinner like me. For Loving the unlovely. For Forgiving me… and you. Amen.

in Christ,

Isaiah