The people make a covenant and agree to dedicating themselves to building the house of the Lord.
Nehemiah 10: The People Who Sealed the Covenant
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 Obligations of the Covenant
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.
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.
32 "We also take on ourselves the obligation to give yearly a third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God:
33 for the showbread, the regular grain offering, the regular burnt offering, the Sabbaths, the new moons, the appointed feasts, the holy things, and the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.
34 We, the priests, the Levites, and the people, have likewise cast lots for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, according to our fathers' houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law.
35 We obligate ourselves to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to the house of the LORD;
36 also to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God, the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks;
37 and to bring the first of our dough, and our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the wine and the oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and to bring to the Levites the tithes from our ground, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all our towns where we labour.
38 And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive the tithes. And the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse.
39 For the people of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of grain, wine, and oil to the chambers, where the vessels of the sanctuary are, as well as the priests who minister, and the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not neglect the house of our God."
Things to think about…
1. In Neh 10:1-10 we just see a list of names. I am fascinated that in Scripture these names are recorded and have every right to be part of the bible just as much as chapters like John 3 or Romans 8. Genealogies and names are important as they attest to the factual history of the characters of the day. Names recorded in the scripture when found in archaeology attest to its faithfulness. The Pilate stone discovered in 1961 is one such example.
2. Neh 10:28 says that all those who had ‘knowledge and understanding’ joined in this covenant of blessing and cursing, vs 29. Who are those who do not have ‘knowledge and understanding’? Consider this question as to who you believe is accountable before God. Jesus says those knew the master’s will and did not do it are more accountable, Luke 12:47,48. Thos covenant of agreeing to blessing and cursing is similar to what the Israelites agree to as they crossed over into the land of Canaan initially after 40 years in the wilderness. The blessing and curing was read out on Mt Gerizim (blessings read) and Mt Ebal (curses read), Dt 27.
3. Words are cheap as they say. The real ‘mettle’ of our words comes when they are tested to see how genuine they were. In Neh 10:30 the exiles agree not to allow their sons and daughters to marry foreigners. But what about their current marriages, does this also apply to them? This would be severely tested before too long as we shall see. What is the hardest test the Lord has put you through with respect to what you have agreed to in the past?
4. In Neh 10:31 the resolve with respect to not trading and keeping the Sabbath would be tested before too long. Remember the ‘Sunday trading’ issue. What do you think about this with respect to church attendance, having a day off and the declining values of our society? How do we keep the Sabbath today? Hint – Jesus is our Sabbath. While having a day off is important and attending church is a blessing and encouraged in scripture – only Jesus, our Sabbath rest, makes us inheritors of His kingdom – not any work, including religious activities.
5. In Neh 10:32-39 we see the agreement surrounding tithes, firstfruits and sacrifices. The Law of Moses stated that the Lord’s blessing or cursing was determined by whether these laws were being obeyed. How do you reconcile this with your New Testament understanding of giving/tithes/offerings and the Lord’s blessing or otherwise? Mt 23:23 has some answers here. With respect to tithes and offerings to the church, Neh 10:39 is relevant “We will not neglect the house of our God”. May we see the church of God arise in Australia to have a far greater influence than it presently does.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Prayer Points
1. Pray for new people to step into ministries at CBC – eg worship, café, sound/technical, giving.
2. Revival over our city.
3. Finances to cover our needs
4. Pray for PlayPatch, Kids church, Creche and Kids Hope at Karalee State school.
5. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to increase.
Praise Points
1. Podcast area almost completed – Thanks Aart and Jacquiline
2. Kids church divider almost done – thanks Aart
3. The Lord’s grace over our lives and country
4. Café, music, kids church, admin, sound and technical team every week
5. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Ministries this week. Life groups, Kids@Church, Kids Hope - Karalee.
2. PlayPatch 1-5yos, Fridays 9:30am at church.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
4. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for June...
Q. 33. Who can change a sinner's heart? A. The Holy Spirit alone.
