National Covenant
The heart of a prophet - Book of Nehemiah • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 1:00:37
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From Confession to Covenant
From Confession to Covenant
Neh9 we looked at Israel’s confession of sins.
We looked at the history of rebellion against God and the graciousness and compassion of God.
And finished with making a covenant, an agreement with God (Neh9:38)
38 “Now because of all this We are making an agreement in writing; And on the sealed document are the names of our leaders, our Levites and our priests.”
From Great distress (Neh9:37) to making a decision, to make an agreement, a covenant with God.
So, now tonight we look at the signers of the covenant, then the terms of the covenant.
Nehemiah and the priest sign the covenant
Nehemiah and the priest sign the covenant
1 Now on the sealed document were the names of: Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah, 2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
3 Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, 4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, 5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, 6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, 8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah. These were the priests. 9 And the Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;
The nation came to the place of decision (Neh9:38) and now they were doing something with it, signing their name to it.
38 “And because of all this, We make a sure covenant and write it; Our leaders, our Levites, and our priests seal it.”
In those days you would not make a covenant for the most part, you would cut a covenant. There was typically a sacrifice, a cost for the covenant, most were sealed with blood. Here this covenant it being cut with the names of the priests who signed the document (84 names in all) willing to put their name on the line.
The people, the nation came to understand they needed to do something about the sin problem. Identifying the problem and doing something is different. They were willing to cut a covenant, enter an agreement with the Lord and put their name on the dotted line, personally, starting with Nehemiah and the priests.
God made covenant with Abraham, promising a great seed, great land
God made covenant with Moses that he would lead people out of captivity to the promised land
God made a covenant with King David, promising that the Messiah would come from his family
Yet the greatest covenant, the new covenant was yet to come in the sacrifice of the Messiah, Jesus for our sins.
The Levites and the covenant
The Levites and the covenant
9 And the Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel; 10 also their brothers Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11 Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, 12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 13 Hodiah, Bani, Beninu.
The temple servants, the Levites sign their names to the covenant.
The civic leaders and the covenant
The civic leaders and the covenant
14 The leaders of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, 15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, 17 Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, 18 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,
19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, 20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, 21 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, 22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, 24 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,
25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, 26 Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, 27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
So, we have representation of the leaders, the servants and the people (civic leaders) all putting their name on the covenant being cut with God.
(Transition) a covenant has terms and conditions, so let’s now look at the terms.
Terms of the covenant
Terms of the covenant
28 Now the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, all those who had knowledge and understanding, 29 are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God’s law, which was given through Moses, God’s servant, and to keep and to observe all the commandments of God our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes;
30 and that we will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons. 31 As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the sabbath or a holy day; and we will forego the crops the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.
32 We also placed ourselves under obligation to contribute yearly one third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God: 33 for the showbread, for the continual grain offering, for the continual burnt offering, the sabbaths, the new moon, for the appointed times, for the holy things and for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and all the work of the house of our God.
34 Likewise we cast lots for the supply of wood among the priests, the Levites and the people so that they might bring it to the house of our God, according to our fathers’ households, at fixed times annually, to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the law; 35 and that they might bring the first fruits of our ground and the first fruits of all the fruit of every tree to the house of the Lord annually,
36 and bring to the house of our God the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, and the firstborn of our herds and our flocks as it is written in the law, for the priests who are ministering in the house of our God. 37 We will also bring the first of our dough, our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the new wine and the oil to the priests at the chambers of the house of our God, and the tithe of our ground to the Levites, for the Levites are they who receive the tithes in all the rural towns.
38 The priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes, and the Levites shall bring up the tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse. 39 For the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of the grain, the new wine and the oil to the chambers; there are the utensils of the sanctuary, the priests who are ministering, the gatekeepers and the singers. Thus we will not neglect the house of our God.
Anything stick out to you in this portion of the scripture?
According to (v.28-29) who all signed the covenant?
The rest of people, the priests, Levites, gateskeepers, singers, temple servants
THe separated people, the wives, son’s daughters, kinsmen, nobles
They took on themselves something if they did not keep God’s law (v.29), what was it?
Taking on themselves a curse, and an oath to walk in God’s law.
In (v.29) we see the first term of the covenant, what is it?
To observe all the commandments of God and His ordinances and statutes.
Commandments: A divine rule, such as the ten commandments
Ordinances: A rule established by authority a permanent rule of action
Statutes: Mandates, precepts, rules, engraved or permanent
Now looking at (vv.30-31) what terms do you see?
Not give daughters in marriage to peoples of the land
Not to buy, sell, trade on Sabbath or holy day
Forego crops the seventh year
Forego the exaction of every debt.
Doing good, look now (vv. 32-33), same question.
Contribute yearly for service in house of God.
Then defines what the third of a shekel given was to be used for.
More terms given (vv.34-35)?
Casting lots for supply of wood, and why
Also, the first fruits to be brought in.
Almost done, keep looking now (vv.36-37) what more terms do you see?
Firstborn, Sons, cattle, herds, flocks
dough, contributions fruit, wine, and oil.
Finally, the purpose for the giving, the offering (v.39)?
That the house of God would not be neglected.
Some facts to glean from the covenant terms
Some facts to glean from the covenant terms
The covenant makers, the people cutting covenant with God (vv.28-29).
As mentioned before 84 names sealed the covenant, real people
The people were willing to accept a curse from God if they did not keep the covenant, in other words, keep His Law.
Covenant was made publically, first the person then the people collectively.
The covenant started with their marriages (v.30)
The covenant was to be faithful to God in conducting business, keeping the Sabbath day holy as well as other holy days (v.31).
The covenant including to be faithful in supporting God’s work. (vv.32-39). (also see Pro3:9-10)
They simply agreed to give God as commanded (firstborn, firstfruits, and the tithe. God promised to bless the tithe if given in faith.
9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
They simply agreed to give as need (temple tax, wood)
God is the greatest giver, and God commands that we give as purposed, faithfully and with cheerful heart. (1Cor16:1-4; 2Cor9)
(Summary/conclusion)
All the 54 names are important because people are important, not just groups of people, but the person is important. May we always remember we collectively may be good, but each person makes us the collective and are important!
Cutting a covenant was serious business, so is you making any promise or oath to God. We may say “Lord I will do whatever it takes to show my love, and dedicate my life to you.” and with it we need to mean it, for it can be costly to do it.
Israel, the people were willing to put their names on the line. To hold themselves accountable to God and to each other.
(Prayer) (Close)