Nehemiah 10 Verses 28-31 Leading by Example

Nehemiah 10 Verses 28-31 Leading by Example September 14, 2025 Lesson 11 The Relentless Pursuit of Obedience Class Presentation Notes AAAAAA

Background Scriptures:

· Nehemiah 9:38-10:39

Main Idea:

· Nehemiah had consistently led the people.  He was the first to sign the pledge committing to be faithful to God’s expectations for His covenant people.

Study Aim:

· To understand that effective leaders must model the way.  Nehemiah consistently followed the Lord, leading by example through his words and deeds.

Create Interest:

· Everyone who had knowledge and understanding—made the covenant with God, along with Nehemiah, entered into a curse and an oath to walk in God’s law.

· Many of us have prayed, “Lord, whatever it takes I want to follow You. Whatever it takes I want to be your man/woman.” That is essentially praying the same thing, and that is a good prayer![1]  Let’s look at and learn from this.

Lesson in Historical Context:

· Though the walls were completed, more needed to be done. Nehemiah appointed leaders to oversee the city’s security, and then he looked at the census of those who first returned to Jerusalem as he contemplated the repopulation of the city (7:1–73).

· Next, the people gathered together to listen to Ezra read the law. As they listened, they began weeping over their sin, but their leaders encourage them to rejoice over hearing God’s law. (8:1–18).

· Moreover, as they continued to hear God’s law, they confessed their sins and made a written covenant to obey it (9:1–10:39). This set the stage for the repopulation of Jerusalem and a reformation among the people.[2]

Bible Study:

Nehemiah 9:38 (NASB95)A Covenant Results

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.”

· We learned in our last lesson that after the Festival of the Booths, reminding them of all God had done for His people in the wilderness wandering after being saved from Egypt, the people separated themselves from foreigners, stood and confessed their sins and that of their fathers.

· From a raised platform at the request of the people, Ezra read from the book of the law for three hours and then the people prayed for three hours.

· In Nehemiah 9:5-37 we the people shared the longest prayer in the Bible reflecting on the lives of God’s people up to that time.

· The Covenant which resulted from the people because of the focus on God’s word is what is referenced in verse 38 as “an agreement in writing.”

Nehemiah 10:1-27  Signers of the Document

· With Nehemiah’s name heading the list, eighty-four people put their seal on the covenant that they made with the Lord. This list included priests (vv. 2–8; see 12:1–7), Levites (10:9–13), and the leaders of the people (vv. 14–27).

o Many other citizens subscribed to the covenant who didn’t “sign their names” individually (v. 28), including wives and children who didn’t have the legal right to put a personal seal on an official document. All the people who had heard the Word of God read and explained were now committing themselves to obey what they had heard.

o Putting a seal on this document was a serious matter because it meant taking a solemn oath before the Lord (v. 29; see 5:13

· The law governing vows and oaths is found in Numbers 30 and is introduced with these words: “When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said” (v. 2, NIV). Since an oath involved the name and possible judgment of God, it was not to be taken lightly.

o Jesus warned against using empty oaths (Matt. 5:33–37; 23:16–22), and Solomon gave a similar warning (Ecc. 5:1–7).

o Putting this into 2025 terms, it means having the integrity to do what you said, regardless of whether it was put in writing.

Thoughts to Soak on extremely important to our speech.

· Should believers today bind themselves with oaths as they seek to walk with the Lord and serve Him? Probably not.  See what James had to say.

o James 5:12 (NASB95)

          12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.[3]

· The New Testament view is that every word is spoken in the presence of God and ought, therefore, to be true; and it would agree that the Christian must be known to be a man of such honor that it will be quite unnecessary ever to put him on oath.

o The New Testament would not entirely condemn oaths, but it would condemn the human tendency to falsehood which on occasion makes oaths necessary.[4]

· Following Jesus is supposed to be the path to a genuine human existence; and genuine human life should issue in clear, straight, honest speaking. To add oaths or other similar embellishments to what we are saying has the effect of debasing the coinage. It makes it look as though a plain statement isn’t enough. The one time we are told in the Bible that someone began to curse and swear was when Peter was insisting that he didn’t know Jesus. That should give us pause for thought.[5]

· Note three points to consider implied by this Scripture:

o By being honest and transparent in our speech, we mirror the character of Christ, who is the embodiment of truth.

o The Scripture teaches that our words hold significance and power, demonstrating the call for Christians to uphold integrity and veracity, not only in formal vows but in everyday conversation. By living in truth, we embody the character of Christ.

o This passage challenges Christians to reflect on the truthfulness of their words and commitments, fostering trust within the community and authenticity in their relationships. It encourages a life where one's yes means yes, and no means no, thus alleviating the burden of dishonesty and its consequences.

· Our relationship to the Lord is that of children to a Father, and our Father wants our obedience to be based on love, not a written agreement.

o I don’t know of any examples in the New Testament of believers taking oaths of obedience to the Lord.

o Our obedience should be a joyful response to all that He has done for us in Christ (Col. 3:1ff).

o We don’t succeed as Christians because we make promises to God, but because we believe the promises of God and act upon them.

o Oaths are often based on fear (“I had better do it or God will judge me!”), and fear is not the highest motivation for godly living, although it does play a part (2 Cor. 7:1).[6]

· The people's recommitment to the covenant mirrors our own need to renew our dedication to God, highlighting their decision to separate themselves from the surrounding people to fully follow God's laws and share His love with the world. It shows the importance of making conscious choices to align our lives with God’s will, much like Jesus did during His life on earth.

o Through Christ’s example, we see the embodiment of perfect commitment, encouraging believers to pursue purity of speech and holiness in their own lives as a light of Christ love to share with others.

Nehemiah 10:28–30 (NASB95)  Obligations of the Document

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.[7]

· Vs. 28: The people indicated that they were prepared to accompany confession with repentance by putting their commitment in writing.The Levites’ prayer identified God as one who made a covenant with Abraham and as one who keeps covenant, and, in effect, the people now make their covenantal response to God.

o They “confirmed” it, taking up the odd use of a verb that literally means “cut” and was a common way to speak of confirming a covenant. Yet they did not use the actual word covenant, as Shekaniah did in Ezra 10.

o Instead, they used a different word meaning a pledge or true commitment, one related to words in the Levites’ prayer that described God as acting truly and that described Abraham as true.

o Not using the word covenantpreserves the distinctiveness of the commitment that God makes to them, a commitment that is not conditioned by them or conditional on their response but that issues from God’s grace (as the prayer emphasized).

o Yet using this novel word for “pledge” means they recognize that they are not let off the hook by the uniqueness of God’s commitment to them. They are saying they will be like God and like Abraham. Their commitment is underlined by the talk of a curse and an oath.

o The oath is a solemn promise made in God’s name; the curseis a prayer for trouble to come on them if they fail to keep their pledge.

Thought to Soak on:

· Once again the community as a whole is involved. They are “holding fast” to one another in making their pledge. But this also implies the participation of every individual—men and women, and not only the heads of families but everyone in the family who is old enough to understand what is going on.

· Judah relates to God as a corporate entity but also as a collection of individuals. The political, administrative, and religious leaders of Judah are mostly men, but the relationship with God belongs to everyone. The list of names hints at another sense in which this is true. The names are familiar from other parts of Ezra and Nehemiah and form a kind of illustrative cross-section of names from the two books, and some are the names of families, not of individuals.

o The list thus sets up links between individuals both horizontally (the present members of families) and vertically (the members of families through the generations).

o Yes, the whole community makes this commitment.[8]

v What prompted the Israelites to renew their commitment to God?

v Why did the people separate themselves from their neighbors? (10:28)

· Verse 29:  They take a curse upon themselves if, the implication is, they fail to keep the terms of this covenant. In addition, they make an oath, a promise to obey which is found in Verses 30–39.

· In general, however, 10:29 states that the terms of this covenant are the same terms Israel received at Sinai. They make an oath “to walk in the Torah of God which was given by the hand of Moses” (my trans.).

o This commits them to obey everything set forth in the Pentateuch. Then to make it clear, they use language that is reminiscent of Deuteronomy when they promise “to keep and to do all the commandments of Yahweh our Lord, with His judgments and statutes” (my trans.).

· The terms of the covenant in verse 29 remain the terms of the old covenant made with Moses at Sinai, so this is a kind of covenant renewal. The returnees are covenanting together to keep the Sinai covenant. There seems to have been a precedent for this, as we read of earlier generations who entered into the Sinai covenant for themselves (e.g., Deut 29:1, 10–14).[9]

· Note:  It was an important oath that the Jews had taken. All in the community who were clean and thus separated from the foreigners took on themselves to keep andpractice the law of God, the Pentateuch. With the renewal of the covenant, they came into a renewed relationship with God, a relationship of obedience to the precepts of his law.[10]

Thoughts to soak on:   This is a very big thought……………..

· The foundation of human life and society is to be God’s Holy Word, His commandments. God expects every one of us and every society to obey Him, to keep His Holy Word. It is the Word of God that instructs us how to live. It is His Word that tells us how to build a successful society, a society that is …

o moral, righteous, and just

o productive and economically sound

o caring and compassionate

o peaceful and secure

o respectful of human life and property

· A permanent society of peace and prosperity can be built only if people look to God and His Holy Word for direction.

o It is God who teaches us to treat one another as we ourselves wish to be treated.

o It is God who tells us that we should love our neighbors as ourselves.

o If we love our neighbors, we will respect human life and the property and rights of others.

o Instead of being selfish, greedy, and covetous, we would be giving and reaching out to help others meet whatever needs they have.

· The unity of the community is demonstrated as they pledge together to uphold the covenant, reflecting the communal aspect of faith where believers support each other in spiritual growth and accountability.

o This unity reflects Christ's prayer for his followers to be one, as He and the Father are one.

§ It encourages believers to appreciate their roles within the community of faith, committing to support each other in the journey of obedience to God’s commandments.

· This is the kind of life and society that God’s Word structures, the kind of society that Nehemiah and the returnees desired.

o And this should be the kind of lives and society we crave.

o But a society of permanent peace and prosperity can come only if we base our lives upon His Word.[11]

· Verse 30:  The first rule forbids intermarriage with foreigners. Here it is somewhat modified from the original laws in the Pentateuch (Exod 34:11–16; Deut 7:1–4; 20:10–18), which prohibited intermarriage with the nations of Canaan because that would lead to apostasy.

o These prohibitions against intermarriage were for religious reasons. Converts like Rahab and Ruth were accepted in the community.

§ 2 Corinthians 6:14 (NASB95)   Discuss

          14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

o The prohibition against intermarriage emphasizes the need for purity and dedication in relationships. This commitment prevents dilution of faith and practices that may lead to idolatry.  Christ’s relationship with the church is pure and holy as He wants us to be.    Discuss….

§ It calls for believers today to commit to relationships that honor God, serving as examples of Christ's commitment to His church, and choosing partnerships that edify and uphold spiritual integrity.

· Verse 31: The laws regarding the Sabbath and Sabbatical Year are based on the laws of the Pentateuch, but they define new cases. The Jews would not have bought and sold among themselves.

o However, living so close to non-Jews who brought merchandise to sell on the Sabbath presented a new situation. Likewise, the decision about the seventh year combines older laws. Exodus 23:10–11 says the land was to rest each seventh year; Exod 21:2–6 includes the release of slaves (who were slaves because of debts); and the cancelation of debts is found in Deut 15:1–2.

· This point could focus on the economic and societal obligations the Israelites embraced, like observing the Sabbath and canceling debts, as an expression of trust in God.

o This parallels Jesus’ teaching to seek first the Kingdom of God, putting God's principles above worldly gains.

§ It challenges Christians to let their business practices and everyday lives reflect godly priorities, thereby leading by example and showing others the transformative power of living a life committed to God’s ways.   What do you think?

Are these laws relevant for us today?

· As Christians in the new covenant we are not under the “law,” but the Old Testament is still God’s word for our lives. The Old Testament laws contain ethical principles that are valid at all times.

o The principle of dedicating one day of the week especially to the Lord is still valid.

§ We have nothing directly corresponding to the Sabbatical Year, but certainly it teaches us that commitment to the Lord must influence our social thinking.

o The prophets pointed out that when the Israelites neglected God’s laws (which maintained social equality), they fell into unjust economic practices that resulted in an unjust society.

§ This in turn brought God’s judgment on the nation.

o Although we are saved by grace (John 1:15–18), Jesus did not teach us to live outside of the law but within it (Matt 5:17–20).

o It is not the letter of the law we live by but the spirit of the law (2 Cor 3:1–6).[12]

John 1:15–18 (NASB95)

15     John *testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I

         said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before

         me.’ ”

16       For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.

17      For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized

          through Jesus Christ.

18      No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the

          bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

Matthew 5:17–20 (NASB95)

17     “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

18     “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

19     “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20     “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses thatof the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

2 Corinthians 3:1–6 (NASB95)  Ministers of a New Covenant

   1     Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you?

   2     You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men;

   3     being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

   4     Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.

   5     Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,

   6     who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

v What area of your life do you need to recommit to the Lord?

v What methods can we use to keep ourselves accountable to the promises we make to the Lord?

Thoughts in closing to apply to your life as exampled by Nehemiah.

· Nehemiah’s journey started with prayerful reflection and deep concern for his people. His bold request to the king was rooted in his commitment to a greater cause. Leaders must show integrity and steadfastness by rooting their vision in a higher purpose and demonstrating through their lives what it means to place God first. Just as Nehemiah did, your example can inspire others to follow God's call in their own lives.

· In times of distress, effective leaders emerge not from their titles but from their actions. Nehemiah inspired the people of Jerusalem by physically working alongside them to rebuild the wall. His sweat and toil demonstrated leadership grounded in humility. Just as Christ washed the feet of His disciples, leaders are called to model humility and hard work, reminding us that true authority lies in service, not in status.

· In Nehemiah’s story, we observe how leadership requires vulnerability. By openly grieving for his city's plight and praying for guidance, Nehemiah showed that a good leader acknowledges challenges. Leaders are not infallible; they lead from a place of honesty, which fosters genuine connection and trust with their followers. When leaders humbly share their struggles and seek divine help, they encourage others to do the same, fortifying the community through shared faith.

Wrapping all this up a bow:

· Israel’s overall commitment was thus something very much to admire. It was an expression of radical repentance, which meant a change of mind, heart, and life; a gesture of full consecration, which meant being separated from other peoples to be the people of God; and a gateway into the life of faith, in which God would be relied on for everything.

· It models the commitment that should mark the Christian church today—

o Christians marrying Christians and setting up Christian homes;

o Christians viewing their time, life, health, wealth, abilities, and influence as gifts from God of which they are stewards and on which God himself always has first claim;

o Christians being generous in the face of human need and responsible in giving (tithing? at least!—and when one can, doing more) to maintain the church’s ministries and personnel.[13]

Grace and Peace to you this day………….

[1]David Guzik, Nehemiah, David Guzik’s Commentaries on the Bible (Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik, 2000), Ne 10:28–29.

[2]Douglas Mangum, ed., Lexham Context Commentary: Old Testament, Lexham Context Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020), Ne 1:1–10:39.

[3]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jas 5:12.

[4]William Barclay, ed., The Letters of James and Peter, The Daily Study Bible Series (Philadelphia: Westminster John Knox Press, 1976), 127.

[5]Tom Wright, Early Christian Letters for Everyone: James, Peter, John and Judah, For Everyone Bible Study Guides (London; Louisville, KY: SPCK; Westminster John Knox Press, 2011), 40.

[6]Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Determined, “Be” Commentary Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 120–121.

[7]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ne 10:31.

[8]John Goldingay, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther for Everyone, Old Testament for Everyone (Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press; Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2012), 136–137.

[9]James M. Hamilton Jr. et al., Exalting Jesus in Ezra-Nehemiah (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2014), 191–192.

[10]F. Charles Fensham, The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1982), 238.

[11]Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2004), 186–187.

[12]Mervin Breneman, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, electronic ed., vol. 10, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1993), 247–248.

[13]J. I. Packer, A Passion for Faithfulness: Wisdom from the Book of Nehemiah (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1995), 162–163.