Bible Study on Nehemiah
Session 7::Nehemiah9:38-10:39
Covenant Renewaland the Reformation of God’s People
Pre-Study Reflections
- Share a past experience when you were moved to make a commitment to God. What was it that moved you; what commitment did you make and how did you carry them out?
Suggestion: CG Leaders might want to do a “think-pair-share” at this point to ready the members for
the study. Read the question. Pause and then ask them to pair up and share with each other. At the
end say, “in this session we will also see a commitment made; the nation of Israel renewed their
covenant with God and made a promise to keep the requirements of the covenant.
Review
We see in Nehemiah 1:1-2:10 that God is a sovereign God of steadfast love and mercy. He works to preserve his people by moving Nehemiah to return to rebuild the broken-down walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah responds in faithfulness and God works providentially to provide for the success of Nehemiah’s actions. We also see in Nehemiah 2:11-4:23; 6:1-7:3 the rebuilding of the city walls. In the midst of this, we see an episode in Nehemiah 5:1-19which shows that Nehemiah was not just interested in the physical building but he also cared about the spiritual health of God’s people as they live in a community. After the walls were rebuilt, Nehemiah and Ezra the priest focus on the spiritual reformation of the community of God’s people and they started first with God’s Word in Nehemiah 8. Last session in Nehemiah 9 we see the role of prayer and confession in the reformation of God’s people. Today we see how their confession was followed by their covenant renewal and their renewed commitment to the covenant, especially that of temple worship and sacrifice that God has established.
Study of Nehemiah 9:38-10:39
Covenant: A compact or agreement between two parties binding them mutually to undertakings on each other’s behalf. Theologically (used of relations between God and man) it denotes a gracious undertaking entered into by God for the benefit and blessing of humanity, and specifically of those who by faith receive the promises and commit themselves to the obligations which this undertaking involves.[1]
The Call for Covenant Commitment
Survey Neh 9:38-10:29
Chapter 9 describes the confession of the people of God when they recognise their sins. They demonstrated genuine repentance by turning to God and renewing their covenant with God.
Q1. Observe the list of names in Neh 10:1-29. Describe the people involved. What was required of them?
The list include the governer, the priests, the Levites, and the rest including gatekeepers, singers, temple workers, nobles and their families. The whole community is involved. All these people had separated themselves from the people of the lands and as a covenant community returned to the Law of God. They also have knowledge and understanding - they enter into the covenant commitment knowing why and what are the requirements of the covenant.
Q2. What was the covenant all about? What was the general requirementsand demands of the covenant? What did the people of Israel do at this gathering?
It was an curse and oath covenant: it was of very serious nature. They committed themselves to walk in God’s Law as given by Moses and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD. They joined hands together. It was corporate and public declaration.
Personalizing Truth into our Lives
Q3. The people of God responded to God’s gracious giving of the covenant by commiting to obey the covenant requirements. Jesus Christ has established a new convenant, whereby we receive forgiveness of sins by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross on our behalf. This calls for ourresponse of obedience and commitment.In what ways have you demonstrated your commitment to follow Christ?
Suggestions: CG Leaders might want to give time for personal answers from your members. In order to facilitate the discussion, you may want to bring up examples from your own lives or from your observations that demonstrate whole hearted or half-hearted commitment.
The Costs Of Commitment
Read Nehemiah 10:28-39
We see in vv. 28-39 the people of God renewing the Covenant with God, promising to obey the requirements of the convenant. They promised to keep 5 specific commitments.
Firstly, they committed themselves not to intermarry with the people of the lands (v. 32) – a commitment to be wholly devoted to God.
Q4. What dangers did intermarriage with the people of the land pose to the Israelites’ unique relationship with the LORD? The Israelites committed themselves to be devoted to the LORD. There a similar calling to Christians to be totally devoted to Christ (1 Peter 1:13-16, 2:9-10). What similar challenges are there today that tempt Christians to compromise and be drawn from a whole-hearted devotion to Christ?How do we stay devoted to Christ?
Intermarriage drew them away from God into pagan idolatry, as seen in the case of King Solomon. It would also tempt them into following the immoral practices of the foreigners. The end result would be the corruption of their faith and the loss of their witness as God’s people. They were to bring God’s blessing to the world. This is a commitment to be set apart as God’s people and to be wholley devoted to Him. They were to be a holy nation. As for Christians in contemporary times: materialism, succcess in your work and its demands, financial responsibility to family, religious pluralism etc., may put pressure on us to compromise in our devotion to God.
Secondly, they committed themselves to observe the Sabbath (v. 31) –a commitment to love God and men.
Q5. What are God’s purposes for his peoplein instituting the Sabbath? How is the Sabbath relevant to Christians today? How can we use the Lord’s day (Sunday) for expressing our love for God and people?
God commanded the Israelites to observe the Sabbath (Deu 5:12-15). It was to be a day set apart for the LORD. It was also to be a day of rest for everyone including the slaves and the animals. God did not want them to be enslaved again to labour as they did in Egypt. God’s care extended to the lowly slaves and even to the animals. This is a call to love and honour God and men. Our Christian fathers in the early days had set apart Resurrection Sunday as the Lord’s day. It is a day for believers to show honour and love for God through corporate worship and also to have fellowship with fellow believers. It should also a time of rest for everyone and to do good to others as the Lord did when He healed the woman possessed by disabling spirit (Luke 13:10-17).
Thirdly, they committed themselves to forgo the crops of the seventh year (v. 31b) –a commitment to take care of God’s creation as His stewards (See Lev 25:2-7 and Exo 23:10-11).This commandment has a few important implications. Firstly, it reminded the people that God is the creator and owner of thecreation and they were His stewards. Secondly, they were to take good care of God’s creation and to take care of the less fortunate. In addition, they have to trust the LORD for the provision in the seventh year.
Q6. How can we be better stewards of God’s creation (both environment and His creatures) to which has entrusted to us?
As Christians who are stewards of God’s creation, we need to be aware of and be involved in creation care - enviromental conservation and care of creatures. These will impact the welfare of other human beings e.g. sustainable food source to ensure that food is available to others, improving air and water quality to maintain better health and well-being. We can better steward the resources God created for the good of others and society.
Fourthly,they committed themselves to forgo the payment of all debts on the seventh year (v. 32c) – a commitment to show compassion and mercy (See Deut 15:1-5, 7-9). The basis for the commitment is because the LORD’s release (or Jubilee) has been proclaimed. He did not want anyone to fall into poverty and slavery. God shows His heart of compassion and mercy and He expects His people to do likewise.
Q7. What can we do to demonstrate compassion and mercy to the less fortunate in our church and in our society?
Christians can be involved in helping our fellows believers who are in need, and also do charity work for the needy in the society as part of our doing good to others. We should not be holding grudges against our brothers.
Fifthly, they committed themselves to support God’s house and the workers (vv. 32-39) – a commitment to support God’s work and His workers in the work of the gospel.
Q8. This passage describes how the people committed themselves to support the the work of God’s temple and the workers. Discuss the thoughts, scope, organization, depth of commitment, sacrifices, and exercise of love that were evident in the planning. What commitments are you making to support the ministries and the workers of Grace Baptist Church? What part can you play to support the work of gospel ministry?
The commitments they made include financial support for the essential function of the temple, the dedication of their first fruits, the firstborn and the tithes from the ground, and the support for the priests and the Levites. These plan reflected their thoughtfulness, responsibility, great sacrifices, and obedience to the demand of God’s Law. Similarly we are called to support God’s work by giving our money, time and effort. We all have to contribute and to build up one another. The church should not be viewed as just a service provider and we as consumers, but rather how we can be serving and spurring one another to Christ-likeness.
Personalizing Truth into our Lives
Obedience to the law anticipates the obligation of disciples of Christ to follow him in everything (Matt. 10:37–39; Luke 14:25–33; John 14:15, 23). Christ alone is perfectly obedient to God (Heb. 4:15).[2]No human being can be perfectly obedient to God’s requirements. However, when we by faith trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross, not only are our sins forgiven, the benefits of Christ perfect obedience is credited to us – there is a great exchange. Now as Christians, we obey out of gratitude and in response to the Holy Spirit ongoing work of changing us to be more and more Christ-like.
Remarks:
Grace comes first followed by the call for commitment. Gospel grace leads to gospel obedience. From the passage today we also learn that commitment to follow Christ goes beyond mere confession. We have to take concrete and costly steps that involves re-orientating our life-style, priorties and goals towards loving God expressed by obeying his commandments. These include total devotion to God, loving God and men, taking care of His creation, showing compassion to our fellow men and supporting the work of gospel ministry.
References:
- The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008.
- Elwell, Walter A. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology: Second Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2001.
- Raymond Brown. "The Message of Nehemiah" inThe Bible Speaks Today. Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1998.
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[1] Walter A. Elwell, Evangelical Dictionary of Theology: Second Edition (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2001), 299.
[2] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 840.