THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE COVENANT

PROCLAMATION

“They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of The Lord our Lord, and His judgments and His statutes.”  Nehemiah 10:29 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

The Bible Book of Nehemiah was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Nehemiah, the cupbearer to Artaxerxes the king of Persia.  Chapter ten begins with a listing of the names of the people who sealed the new covenant. (Nehemiah 10:1-27)  The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, and the temple servants, along with all who separated themselves from the people of the land, took an oath not to give their daughters to the people of this land or to take their daughters for their sons. (Nehemiah 19:28-30)  They also agreed not to buy any goods or grain from the people of the land on the Sabbath or any holy day.  They pledged to bring money, bread, grain, and meat for burnt offerings and certain feasts.  They agreed to dedicate their first born sons to The Lord as it is written in the law.  They agreed to bring the first fruits of their crops, cattle, and herds to the house of The Lord as their tithes.  The children of Israel and the children of Levi agreed to bring offerings of new wine and oil to the temple to fill the vessels of the sanctuary. (Nehemiah 10:31-39)

 

APPLICATION

It is not good enough to just read The Word of God, or to listen to it being proclaimed, or to recite verses from it, we must also be committed to live by it.  “… Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)  Our actions will speak much louder than any words we will ever say.  When we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior, we agreed to follow Him and His teachings.  Our faith without works is dead. (James 2:26)  We must “walk the walk, and not just talk the talk.” (Unknown)  We need to walk in the way of righteousness. (Proverbs 2:20 and 8:20)  Our baptism will not save us; it is only an outward display of our inner commitment.  Our behavior and our lifestyle says more about us that our words.  Christ said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) 

 

THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL CONFESSED THEIR SINS

PROCLAMATION

“And they stood up in their place, and read the book of the law of The Lord their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped The Lord their God.”  Nehemiah 9:3 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

The Bible Book of Nehemiah was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Nehemiah, the cupbearer to Artaxerxes the king of Persia.  After Ezra had read the law to them and the Levites had taken them in small groups and explained the law to them, (Nehemiah 8:1-18) the children of Israel gathered in sackcloth and fasted, and the prayed and confessed unto The Lord their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. (Nehemiah 9:1-3)  They worshiped and praised The Lord.   The even recounted the blessing and mercies bestowed upon past generations after their sins. (Nehemiah 9:4-35)  They admitted that they were His servants and that they were enjoying the fruits of the land which He gave to their fathers.  They said that because of all of these things that they were writing a covenant which was to be sealed by their princes, priests, and the Levites. (Nehemiah 9:36-38)

 

APPLICATION

If we are honest with ourselves we will all admit that we have sinned.  We need to confess our sins to The Lord God and ask to be forgiven.  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)  Today we are in sad shape individually and as a country.  We need to humble ourselves, and we need to pray; and we also need to turn from our wicked ways. (2 Chronicles 7:14) 

 

 

THEY READ THE BOOK OF THE LAW

PROCLAMATION

“And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up; … So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”  Nehemiah 8:5-8 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

The Bible Book of Nehemiah was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Nehemiah, the cupbearer to Artaxerxes the king of Persia.  After Nehemiah had counted all of the people, they gathered in front of the water gate and Ezra the priest read to them from the book of the law of Moses. (Nehemiah 8:1-3)  Ezra stood upon a wooden pulpit so that he was above all of the people and could be seen by them.  When he opened the book all of the people stood up.  And as he read, the men standing with him explained it to the people so that all of them understood it. (Nehemiah 8:4-8)   Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites taught the people saying, “This day is holy unto The Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep.”  They said this because the people wept when they heard the words of the law.  They told the people to go their way, to eat and drink, and to give portions to the people for whom nothing had been prepared for the day was holy. (Nehemiah 8:9-12)  The next day they came together to study the words of the law.  They found that they were commanded to live in booths (temporary shelters) during the feast of the seventh month.  They published this and proclaimed it throughout the land and in all of the surrounding towns, and the people made themselves booths of tree branches for them to dwell in for the seven days of the feast. (Nehemiah 8:13-18)

 

APPLICATION

To paraphrase an old quote, “When we know better, we should do better.”   The quote actually said, “Do your best until you know better; then do better.” (Maya Angelou)  In order to know it for ourselves; we need to read and study The Word of God.  Then we ought to do what it says.  We are responsible for doing that which is right in the sight of The Lord.  “Ignorance of the law is no excuse…” (Thomas Jefferson and Oliver Wendell Holmes)  This quote is first revealed in The Bible as: “And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of The Lord; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.” (Leviticus 5:17)  We should be doers of The Word. (James 1:22)

 

 

NUMBERING THE PEOPLE THE ANIMALS AND THE GIFTS

PROCLAMATION

“The whole congregation together was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty.”  Nehemiah 7:68 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

The Bible Book of Nehemiah was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Nehemiah, the cupbearer to Artaxerxes the king of Persia.  After the wall had been rebuilt and the doors had been set, the gatekeepers and singers were appointed.  Nehemiah appointed his brother Hanani and Hananiah the ruler of the palace to be the rulers over Jerusalem, for they were faithful and God-fearing men. (Nehemiah 7:1-2)  Then he said let not the gates of Jerusalem be open until the sun is hot.  And while they are standing guard, let the gates remain closed.  He appointed guards from among the people of Jerusalem.  He noted that the city was large and great but there were very few people within it, and no houses had been rebuilt. (Nehemiah 7:3-4)  The remainder of chapter seven includes a listing of the genealogy of the people. (Nehemiah 7:5-65)  There were forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty people.  In addition to seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven manservants and maidservants; plus two hundred and forty-five singing men and women.  He also counted the horses, mules, camels, and donkeys. (Nehemiah 7:66-70)  There was a record kept of what the head of each of the families gave into the treasury. 

 

APPLICATION

It has been said that there is strength in numbers.  However, being on The Lord’s side puts us on the winning side.  If He is for us, then no one can stand against us. (Romans 8:31)  It is not always good to follow the crowd.  The crowd is fickle, easily influenced, and it can change on you very quickly.  Remember, one day they were shouting “Hosanna” for Jesus, The Christ, (Matthew 21:9, Mark 11:9-10, and John 12:13) and the next week they were shouting, “Crucify Him!” (Matthew 27:22-23, Mark 15:13-14, and John 19:6)  The majority of people will follow the crowd down the well-travelled road and it will lead them to their destruction. (Matthew 7:13)  It is the narrow, less-travelled road which leads to everlasting life but only the few will go that way. (Matthew 7:14)  Just because everyone is doing it does not make it right.  Let us follow The Lord God and go His way.

PEOPLE OF GOD DO NOT LIVE IN FEAR

PROCLAMATION

“And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me; for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.  Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid …”  Nehemiah 6:12-13 (KJV)

EXPLANATION

The Bible Book of Nehemiah was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Nehemiah, the cupbearer to Artaxerxes the king of Persia.  When Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that the Jews had rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem that they sent a message to Nehemiah saying that they wanted to meet with him in one of the surrounding towns.  However, Nehemiah replied that he was doing a great work on the wall and the he would not stop working and come down off of the wall.  They sent four such messages to Nehemiah and each time his reply was the same. (Nehemiah 6:1-4)  Then on the fifth time, Sanballat sent his servant with an open letter to Nehemiah stating that they were planning to rebel and that Nehemiah was to be the king of the Jews.  Nehemiah replied that none of that was true and that he was making it up in order to frighten them. (Nehemiah 6:5-9)  Afterwards Nehemiah went to see Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel.  He said for them to meet in the house of God, and to close the doors of the temple because those who were coming to kill him would come at night and slay him.  Nehemiah responded should a man such as he flee from his enemies; and what kind of man would hide in the temple?  So he did not go to the temple.  Then Nehemiah perceived that God had not sent Shemaiah, he was hired by Sanballat and Tobiah. (Nehemiah 6:10-13)  So when the wall was finished, all of the surrounding nations were afraid of them because they thought that this work could only have been accomplished by the help of God.  However, many of the nobles of Judah had sworn allegiance to Tobiah and sent letters to him because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah.  They reported the good deeds of Tobiah to Nehemiah, but Tobiah kept sending letters to Nehemiah to make him afraid. (Nehemiah 6:14-19)

APPLICATION

All of the attacks against us by our enemies are not physical.  Some of the time our enemies will say things or do things in order to strike fear in our hearts.  But The Lord God did not give believers the spirit of fear. (2 Timothy 1:7)  Psychological warfare can be very effective, it can weaken the resolve of some people.  That is why we must put on the whole armor of God in order to withstand all of the attacks against us including those of spiritual wickedness. (Ephesians 6:11-18)  The Bible says, “fear not” in seventy-five different verses.  “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

 

NEHEMIAH STOPS THE OPPRESSION OF THE POOR

PROCLAMATION

“Then … I rebuked the nobles and the rulers, and said unto them, ‘Ye exact usury, every one of his brother.  And I set a great assembly against them.”  Nehemiah 5:7 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

The Bible Book of Nehemiah was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Nehemiah, the cupbearer to Artaxerxes the king of Persia.  As the people were building the wall there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish brothers.  They felt that they were sacrificing for them but were being treated unfairly. (Nehemiah 5:1-5)  When Nehemiah heard this he was very angry.  He rebuked the nobles and the rulers.  He told them to restore that which they had taken from the people and to stop charging them for services. He also called the priest and had the leaders take an oath that they would do according to their promise. (Nehemiah 5:6-13)  Nehemiah would not take the rations from the people which former governors had taken because he feared The Lord God.  He and his men ate what was prepared for them but did not take anything extra.  And he continued to work on rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem.  He asked God to remember the good which he had done to the people. (Nehemiah 5:14-19)

 

APPLICATION

“Just because you can doesn’t mean that you should.” (Sherrilyn Kenyon and William Taylor)  Situations in life may put us in positions where we can take advantage of someone, but that does not mean that we have to do it.  We should do the right thing and be fair with others at all times.  “Character is determined by what you do when no one is looking.” (Unknown)  We should do what is right in the sight of The Lord. (Deuteronomy 21:9, 1 Kings 11:38, and 1 Peter 2:20)

 

NEHEMIAH GETS HELP BUILDING THE WALL

PROCLAMATION

“And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, from all places whence ye shall return unto us … Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.”  Nehemiah 4:12-13 (KJV)

EXPLANATION

The Bible Book of Nehemiah was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Nehemiah, the cupbearer to Artaxerxes the king of Persia.  Chapter three of Book of Nehemiah includes a listing of the men who went with Nehemiah to Jerusalem and the section of the wall which they were responsible for rebuilding.  Beginning with Eliashib the high priest and the sheep gate, then proceeding with the men of Jericho next to them.  Next to them was Zaccur the son of Imri.  And so they worked on the wall and the gates all around the city of Jerusalem all at the same time. (Nehemiah 3:1-32)  When Sanballat heard that they were rebuilding the wall he became angry.  He spoke with his brothers and with the army of Samaria about them and he criticized the wall they were building. (Nehemiah 4:1-3)  Nehemiah prayed to God that He would turn the reproach of their enemy back upon them.  The people continued to build the wall and all the sections were joined but they were only half of the planned height.  At this point Sanballat and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites were all upset and conspired against Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 4:4-8)  Nehemiah continued to pray, and he set a watch, day and night, because of them.  The people working on the wall complained that there was too much rubble to remove and that would prevent them from building the wall.  Then the Jews who lived in the surrounding towns offered their assistance and Nehemiah assigned each of the clans to certain stations to help and protect. (Nehemiah 4:9-13)  He told the nobles and the officials and the rest of the local people to remember The Lord and do not to be afraid of their enemies.  From that time forward half of the people worked on the construction of the wall and the other half held the spears, shields, and bows.  Those who were building the wall worked with one hand and held a weapon in the other hand.  They all had a sword strapped to their side.  He told them that because they were so spread out while working, if they hear the sound of the trumpet then they should rally to that point.  So that they were ready to fight if needed, the men slept fully dressed and kept their weapon close by. (Nehemiah 4:14-23)

APPLICATION

Sometimes our help can come from what may appear to be strange places.  The Lord God may move on the hearts of some people that we did not expect to cause them to be a blessing to us.  God can frustrate the plans of our enemies before they bring them to fruition. (Nehemiah 4:15)  We just need to continue to pray and to continue working for The Lord.