POSITIVE CHANGES. Nehemiah 9:28-39 “The rest of the people” committed themselves individually to the principles of the covenant, renewing their relationship with God as His chosen people to represent Him on earth. They took an oath to submit to, obey, follow, and live by the regulations of the Law of God given to them by Moses, and to carry out its decrees.
When God, by His sovereign electing grace, saved us, a relationship was formed between Him and us that is closer than the one He had with the Israelites. “Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch that which is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Our relationship with God goes far beyond church life, private devotional life, and other human relationships. It involves our motivation and priorities in life; our time and our resources. We keep our promises to Him in good faith, in both good and bad times.
The people's commitment bound them to the covenant principles as they were first established with God and Moses. The terms agreed upon affected relationships [v.30], time [v.31], and resources [v.32-39]. By their nature, covenants are promises to be kept, and the Jews of that day took steps to demonstrate their obedience to the covenant they had made with the Lord. In their relationships, they committed to united families who feared God and would be separate from the idolatrous people around them. They agreed to separate themselves to the Lord and His law and took an oath of commitment to be a separate people.
When separation is from the world and unto God, it means we fear God with reverential respect and honor. We are committed to obeying His word to give a positive witness of God's grace to the world, and we avoid idolatry and spiritual compromise in worship and service. When we turn away from God, we lose any positive influence for our faith as Christians and any spiritual prosperity we might have had, and in some cases even moral and financial prosperity. When we leave the high ground of faith, we lose our reputation for honesty and integrity, so that others are sure we can be trusted.
“The rest of the people” followed their leaders’ example by obeying the law and not intermarrying with the idol worshippers around them, so they would avoid the immoral enticements that idolatry fosters. They promised not to do business on the Sabbath days and to keep the seventh “sabbath year” to let the land recover. By giving honor to God as the priority of their lives, they would not allow money to be their god or profit to be the motive behind their labor. Forgiving debts every seventh year would keep their minds from “the love of money, which is the root of all evil.”
They also committed themselves to maintaining the house of God and supporting the work of God, dedicating and giving the “first-fruits” of each season to God. In this way, they acknowledged God’s grace toward them and their own unworthiness of all the mercies and goodness God had shown them. He had delivered them from slavery, made them an identifiable nation, and set them apart with unique characteristics so people around them would see what life with God was intended to be like. Life lived in such a covenant relationship with a holy God would be meaningful, righteous, solid, and satisfying.
On that day, the people of God took steps of obedience and commitment to marriage and to keeping the Sabbath Day. The step of testifying to the place our Lord holds in our affections is demonstrated in our commitment to marriage "in the Lord." The second term of the covenant they agreed to concerned the use of their time. Sabbath days were to be honored despite the culture in which they lived.
Convenience and profit are the primary motivators for how many people manage their time today. Some can earn time-and-a-half or double time on the Lord's Day, so they choose work over worship. Work and worship have distinct places in the lives of God's people. God is to come first, despite our personal preferences, pleasures, or advantages. The Lord's Day is the first day of the week for us, a day of remembrance of our Lord and His death and resurrection; of responsibility in giving our finances; of revelation of His word through teaching and preaching; and of reviewing the work of the Lord and the value of our heritage in Christ to our families.
We are also to act responsibly with the resources we have been given. The Jews paid a tenth for the temple and for the work of those associated with carrying on the work of worship and spiritual life. They were obligated to support the spiritual life of the nation with their resources. We too have a financial responsibility to support the work of the Lord with our resources. However, in the new covenant we have not been given a stated amount of obligation; what we give is based on our degree of appreciation for what we have received. Giving to God is an ongoing privilege of association with divine things in the work of the Lord. It is a privilege to participate in that which is eternal.
Some work is open and obvious, like the priests' service, which was in the public view. Other service is unseen and unappreciated, like cutting the wood needed to keep the altar-fire burning. We have been entrusted with money, land, and property of different kinds to use as God intended. The Lord's work is supported by a separated people who have set their seal to keep covenant with our Lord and all that is associated with the maintenance and furtherance of that work. May we always be reminded of the words of our Lord to "seek first the kingdom of God" in all we do.
But there are dangers when, instead of walking in the Spirit, we walk in the flesh. “We like each other; it may be love. Surely this cannot be wrong! And after all, God may save his soul! He seems so very strong!” Words like these often flow like water within a river’s banks. But if you agree and let her have her way, someday she’ll not give you thanks, because no matter how or what people say, when a yoke is unequal, grief, regret, remorse, and sorrow almost always follow. God has told us His ways, and they are always best; He knows the end from the beginning. If we submit to His wisdom and plans, He gives the strength to keep us from sinning.
God is the Source of all blessings in life; He sends the sun and the rain. In gratitude for the benefits we receive, we can show our appreciation by giving from our goods to Him. There are many ways for me to give a portion of my time and treasure. I find that when I give, He gives more – pressed down, running over, without measure. The grace He supplies meets the needs of my soul; I often need His grace. From the storehouse of His abundant supply, He feeds my body and soul. He is faithful to me in every possible way; may I always be faithful to Him. For in the little I pour into the cup in His hand, He, in turn, fills my cup to the brim.
There are principles and practices God expects of me; none are impossible to keep. For what has been wrong, I must change now, before this day is through. If there are instructions I have overlooked, Lord, help me follow them today. May I make clear what God wants from me; give me wisdom, I pray. The things I have grasped too tightly in my hand, I open to pass on from God’s bounty to me, and see that the will of the Lord be done. In my work and worship, may I always honor my Lord; how great is His love to me. From my eyes and heart, may there come praise and worship today, that God’s glory others may see.