A Covenant Community

Commit To God.

The lengthy list of names is intended to show whole-hearted support from the community. Many of the names have been mentioned previously (see ch.3).

The names listed are similar to the priests who returned with Zerubbabel in Neh.12:1. This could be a list of the founders of various priestly divisions. The chiefs probably includes family names and individuals alike, and in general, it mirrors the names in Ezra 2 and Neh.7.

The list here is a legally binding list with official seals from eighty-four men from the leaders, priests, Levites, and laymen. One name of an unflattering nature: Hezir. It means swine and would have been a rather insulting nickname. (Yet, he made the book!!!)

Nehemiah's name appears first on the list, likely placing his name first to lead in pledging obedience to the proposed reforms. The list is broken up by leaders, priests...Levites and chiefs. All of these groups were important in Hebrew society. It may be best to understand these names as family names, not particular individuals.

Let’s not forget for a moment that Israel was founded on this idea of covenant, starting with Abraham’s call in Genesis. It’s more than a contractual agreement. It could be defined as “a sacred kinship bond between two parties” which is then “ratified by swearing and oath,” accompanied by signs, ceremonies, and promises. Biblically, blood solidifies covenants in quite the graphic portrayal.

From the sacrificed and halved animals to the sign of circumcision to the NT covering of Christ’s blood, we enter into a committed and binding relationship with Christ.

Obey God.

Verse 28-29

While there is selective inclusion here, the implication is that the people will keep the whole Law of God. The items included possibly indicate particular issues that Israel was currently struggling to uphold. The two-fold promise, curse and an oath, express the seriousness of the promise. THIS IS COVENANT EXPRESSED! Often when rules, laws, statutes, and commandments appear together, it recalls the fact that God's Word applies His commands to everyday life.

Those who separated themselves from the peoples of the lands quite possibly refers to those who are Jewish by practice but not by birth/blood. While the leaders of the community bound themselves by seals, the rest of the community committed verbally, through a curse and an oath. In essence, they vowed faithfulness to the covenant and accepted any penalty for breaking the covenant.

Verse 30

Intermarriage proved to be a problem both in Israel's recent (Ezra 9-10) and distant pasts. It posed a danger because of the introduction of foreign gods. Pagan worship and foreign practices proved to be continual stumbling blocks for Israel, and separation from foreign marriages was intended to protect Israel's holiness/separation.

Verse 31

The reinstitution of the Sabbath would be a key cog in reestablishing Israel's covenant faithfulness and re-identifying the people with YHWH worship. The term Sabbath means cessation, though it has become/is synonymous with the seventh day. Buying from the peoples of the land seems to be a temptation, (and refusing to buy from them on the Sabbath or...a holy day would further their separation). The practice of a seventh-year-Sabbatical for the land would also be reinstituted. The Law only prohibited work on the Sabbath, but the prohibitions now extend to buying as well.

As the Law is expanded to include not buying on the Sabbath or on a holy day, it is a subtle reminder that God's Law must frequently be read, understood, and applied to current situations. Sabbath rest was established at creation, and in Exod.23:12, it was expanded as the Jews were reminded that the livestock and servants needed rest as well. God's wisdom establishes much-needed rest for His creation (it's even been said that the six-days-of-work, one-day-of-rest model is the most productive model).

Verse 32-39

While the third part of a shekel is not commanded in the Pentateuch, it mimmics Moses' levy in Ex.30:11-16. It was meant to support God's house, a reminder that Israel was to be a worshiping community. The list here is rather comprehensive concerning offerings and occasions for worship in the temple. The Temple tax was birthed out of historical occurrences and practical need. Committing to this tax ensured the house of...God would be cared for.

The wood offering is likewise not commanded, but necessary and implied in Lev.6:12-13. Much wood was required to keep the fire burning on the altar continually (Lev.6:13). The burden to bring wood was shared by the entire community.

A number of verses concerning agricultural offerings are summarized, and the firstborn...sons were redeemed by the herds...flocks. The Jews final pledge was to offer God their best, the firstfruits of...every tree , the firstborn, both from among their sons, their herds, and their flocks. Bringing the firstfruits was a symbolic reminder that God owns everything, even their sons and...cattle.

The Levites received the tithes and were then responsible for delivering part of the tithe to the priests. Even those who minister in the Temple were expected to give. The showbread was a thank offering signifying Israel's twelve tribes. The grain and burnt offering was given daily for sacrifice. Holy day/occasions were celebrated throughout the year. Through it all, the temple tax would support the Temple's upkeep and see to any repairs. Maintaining the Temple also involves caring for her servants which promotes covenant fidelity.

Part of the offering and tithes supported the servants of the Temple, especially the priests who had no inheritances in the land other than the Lord. Instead, the tithes were to be the Levites' inheritance. Why the presence of the priests? The priests may have been there for the sake of accountability. Verse 39 proves to be a sort of summary verse as the people conclude by vowing to not neglect the house of...God.

Covenant faithful through obedience was necessary for Israel. Ex.19:4-6 “‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.””

Further, Deut.4:32-33 ““For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of. Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live?” This coming just after Moses calls the people together and declares Deut.4:1 ““And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you.”

The holiness of God’s people is always undergirded by obedience to His Word.

Marvel at the Grace of God.

Hamilton makes an interesting note: the people return to the old covenant because God has not yet done anything about initiating the new covenant He promised in (Jer.31:31-34 ““Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.””).

Throughout Nehemiah we’ve been reminded over and over again — this isn’t it. Something more is coming. That something more is Jesus. We live surrendered to His authority in our lives. We are committed to Christ the King, and we walk in obedience to Him and His Word and His will.

Jesus would say: Matt.7:24-27 ““Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.””

John reminds us: Jn.3:36 “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

James 2:17-19 “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!”

Or Paul, when we suppose upon grace reminds us: Rom.6:1-4 “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” and Rom.6:12 “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.”

This is what it means to be a part of the NT covenant community. We have been brought from death to life solely through the grace of Christ, and now we live this life as new creatures who die daily in order to bring Him glory!

Richard Baxter, a pastor in the 1600’s, sums it up, “A converted man....loves a holy life, and longs to be more holy. He has no sin but what he hates, and longs, and prays, and strives to be rid of.”

Do you love a holy life?

Do we have no sin except that which we hate and long to be rid of?

May the Spirit bring conviction upon our souls for every pocket of unrepentant disobedience.