Living God’s Way (#Your Best Life)
Many a parent has said to their child, “If you’re going to live in my house, you’re going to live by my rules!”. In Nehemiah 10:28–39, the Israelites living in Judah, including the returned exiles, had rebuilt the walls and gates around Jerusalem. They had also rebuilt the temple to restore worship there. Now Nehemiah and Ezra called upon them to commit to restoring themselves back to God. So, they vowed a commitment of obedience to the Mosaic Law. This vow required them to sacrifice of relationships, money and time in order to go back to living as a people fully committed to the Lord. I pray that we too would commit ourselves to living the way that the Lord has called us to live as His children. Amen
The rest of the people—priests, Levites, gatekeepers, musicians, temple servants and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples for the sake of the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand— all these now join their fellow Israelites the nobles, and bind themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God given through Moses the servant of God and to obey carefully all the commands, regulations and decrees of the LORD our Lord. (Nehemiah 10:28-29)
While Nehemiah is generally known as leading the restoration of the city walls and gates around Jerusalem, he was also instrumental (along with Ezra) in restoring the Israelites in Jerusalem back into spiritual obedience to God’s law. He, Ezra and other leaders signed a written agreement to obey the Mosaic law (see Nehemiah 9:38-10:27). Here in vv 28-29, the rest of those who had separated themselves from the people around them (non Israelites), also committed themselves to obey God’s law. They vowed obedience to God’s law and a curse on any who reneged on that commitment.
“We promise not to give our daughters in marriage to the peoples around us or take their daughters for our sons.
“When the neighboring peoples bring merchandise or grain to sell on the Sabbath, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day. Every seventh year we will forgo working the land and will cancel all debts. (Nehemiah 20:30-31)
Among the specific vows that the people made, was a vow not to intermarry with non Israelites. This was a particular problem that resulted from the policy of Assyria to intermingle people from various nations they had conquered. Thus, many who were not taken away into captivity from Israel and Judah had intermarried with people from other nations who worshiped other gods. Intermarriage had therefore deepened Israel’s violation of God’s command to have no other gods before Him. The restoration of obedience to God’s law obviously precluded any worship of foreign gods and required Israelites to sever any relationships that might tempt them back into those idolitrous practices.
Additionally, they vowed to observe the Sabbath laws which required that they rest from work and commerce every seventh day, as well as give their fields rest from producing crops every seventh year. God originally set The Sabbath for man to give us rest from work and activity and to create time for us to focus on fellowship with Him. Neglect of the Sabbath led to estrangement of God’s people from Him. Debts were also to be canceled every seventh year, thus avoiding long term poverty and indentured servitude and oppression of God’s people.
“We assume the responsibility for carrying out the commands to give a third of a shekel each year for the service of the house of our God: for the bread set out on the table; for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings; for the offerings on the Sabbaths, at the New Moon feasts and at the appointed festivals; for the holy offerings; for sin offerings to make atonement for Israel; and for all the duties of the house of our God.
“We—the priests, the Levites and the people—have cast lots to determine when each of our families is to bring to the house of our God at set times each year a contribution of wood to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law.
“We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the LORD each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree.
“As it is also written in the Law, we will bring the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, of our herds and of our flocks to the house of our God, to the priests ministering there.
“Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and olive oil. And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work. A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury. The people of Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new wine and olive oil to the storerooms, where the articles for the sanctuary and for the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the musicians are also kept.
“We will not neglect the house of our God.” (Nehemiah 10:32-39)
Finally, they vowed not to neglect God’s house. The restoration of the temple had been accomplished, but it required the support of the people to keep it operational according to the requirements of the law. The rest of the vows made by the people were commitments of money and other ongoing support (including wood for the burnt offerings on the altar) required for the Priests and Levites to maintain the temple and make the required sacrificial offerings. They also committed to bring the first fruits (tithes) of their crops, the first born of their animals and dedicate the first born of their male children. The Levites were also to tithe a tenth of the tithes they received.
After living in captivity for 70 years in Babylon, God’s people returned to Jerusalem to find everything in shambles. The temple was destroyed… the walls and gates around the city were torn down…. and the people had lost their way. Rebuilding the temple and the city walls and gates was not enough. Nehemiah and Ezra needed Israel to see that they needed to rebuild and restore their relationship and commitment to God. That required them to commit to living God’s way. Only then would they have the kind of life, protection and worship that they truly desired. God calls us to live according to His word, because His word has a purpose. God’s word provides us with wisdom, joy, peace, protection, understanding and so many other benefits we need for living. Failing to live according to what God has prescribed for us in His word leads us into pain, suffering, loss and despair. That’s what Israel came to realize during all her years in captivity. Living His way gives us peace with God and provides us with the peace and protection of God. It’s just the best way of living…. not just in this world, but for a life in eternity too!
Blessings, Rev. Glenn
