Nehemiah 10 A BINDING AGREEMENT By definition covenants are fixed and binding, so when the people of Israel mad a "sure covenant," the were agreeing to the principles of the covenant God had made with the nation of Israel through Moses. The act of setting a "seal" to it meant that they were signing it with a written "Amen." That indicated the agreement of the people to what Ezra had prayed in his review of Israel history before the Lord. The concern of the people to get back in fellowship with the Lord was what initiated this "sure covenant" as they testified to their intention to obey the Lord.
A review of the history of the Lord's dealing with us is one thing. To go back over and face our failures in contrast to God's faithfulness is quite another thing. It is then we have to humble ourselves in repentance and consider the consequences of our sin in the light of God's holiness. Sincerity is a good beginning, but wishful thinking does not bring reality in practice. Resolve and reality sound good together, but until there is an inward change of heart and character in a person, or an assembly, reality is still missing. There may be cosmetic changes that look good for awhile but they only cover the underlying problems that are hidden from public view.
The review of the character, the words and the covenants of God given by Ezra as the spiritual leader of the people, was in great contrast to the character, words and breaking of covenants by the people of God. There had been national covenants made by God with Abraham, Moses and David - which they had broken. The finishing of the wall was a high spot in their national life and they became conscious of God working with them to complete the project in spite of outward and inward opposition. As a result, they seemed to sincerely want to get back in a real covenant-relationship with Him. The reading of the scriptures and sincere prayer is fundamental to keeping in fellowship with God. We cannot rely on memories or past victories to give us power over sin and its consequences. It is God Himself who has to work in us to do His will and bring pleasure to Him.
We are blessed with being part of a new covenant made on the highest and best possible terms. God's covenant with us is made in "the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you." This covenant does not depend on human resolve, but on a righteous act of God in which "Christ died for us," and we died with Christ. Now the new birth has brought a new creation in Christ, with a divine nature of which we have been made partakers. A real, lasting covenant has been formed that is a reality now and forever.
In the binding agreement the Jews made with God, the signatories moved forward to sign as a public testimony to obey the terms of the covenant. Nehemiah stepped forward at the fist one to sign. That would have been appropriate for the governor, and he was one whose sincerity and commitment was without question. Following him priests signed on behalf of their families as the representatives of the people before God. Probably Ezra had a family member sign for him as he was of a priestly family. Levites signed for their families as spiritual leaders. Chief leaders signed for their families as those who represented the business and government part of the nation. Then the people gave their verbal assent in the form of an oath to obey the terms of the covenant
The commitment of the people bound them to the covenant principles as it was made first with God and Moses. The terms agreed on 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 demonstrated their obedience to the covenant they had made with the Lord. In their relationships they committed to united families who feared God and were going to 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 if from the world and unto God, that means we fear God with reverential respect and honor. We are committed to obey His word in order 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 a Christian and lose any spiritual prosperity we might have had, and even in some cases, 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 that we can be trusted.
The people of God that day took steps of obedience and commitment to marriage and to keeping the Sabbath Day. The step to testify to the place our Lord holds in our affections personally is demonstrated in our commitment to marriage "in the Lord." The second term of the covenant they agreed to was to the use of their time. Sabbath days were to be honored in spite of the culture among whom they lived. Convenience and profit is the nature of present-day use of time. Some are able to make time-and-a-half or double time on the Lord's Day, so they opt for work rather than worship. Work and worship have separate places in the lives of God's people. God is to come first in spite of our personal preferences, pleasures or advantages. The Lord's Day. The first day of the week for us is a day of remembrance of our Lord and showing His death; resurrection of our Lord; responsibility in giving our finances; revelation of His word through teaching and preaching; 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 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, but what we give is based on our degree of appreciation for what we have received. Giving to God is an on-going 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 service of the priests was our 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.