Nehemiah 07 - Committed to Restoration

Nehemiah: Restoring A Nation:

“Committed to Restoration”

INTRODUCTION

Today, we are continuing our series on the book of Nehemiah, focusing on Nehemiah’s efforts to bring restoration among the remnant of God’s people in Jerusalem around 445BC. His work (and the work of others during this period) in restoring the nation physically and spiritually, serve as a good example for us in our own efforts of restoration.

WHAT IS RESTORATION?

Restoration is what we need to be aiming for as God’s people today. We have been defining this concept of restoration using the illustration of restoring an automobile.

WHAT IS RESTORATION?

Restoration is what we need to be aiming for as God’s people today. We have been defining this concept of restoration using the illustration of restoring an automobile.

The restoration that we desire as God’s people is like the process of restoring a car. The person restoring a car has the goal of getting the car back to it’s original condition — the condition it was in when it came off of the showroom floor.

This is what we are aiming for in our own lives — to be restored to what God first intended at the creation of mankind — that we would be individuals who submit to His rule as those who are made in His image. We are being transformed into the image of Christ so we can enjoy the relationship with Him that He made us to have. This is a daily process for all of us as we help others to be restored to God and grow in a relationship with Him and as we ourselves work in our hearts to accomplish the same.

We have not achieved this goal yet. There is still work to do for all of us in being restored to what God originally intended for us. It is a life-long process for us. And it is a life-long mission for God’s people to help others be restored to God.

This is what we are aiming for in our own lives — to be restored to what God first intended at the creation of mankind — that we would be individuals who submit to His rule as those who are made in His image. We are being transformed into the image of Christ so we can enjoy the relationship with Him that He made us to have. This is a daily process for all of us as we help others to be restored to God and grow in a relationship with Him and as we ourselves work in our hearts to accomplish the same.

We have not achieved this goal yet. There is still work to do for all of us in being restored to what God originally intended for us. It is a life-long process for us. And it is a life-long mission for God’s people to help others be restored to God.

REVIEW - LAST WEEK’S LESSONS

In our lessons last week, we focused on the events of . We began looking at the spiritual restoration of the people of God in Jerusalem. In chapter 8, we see the people gathered together at the Water Gate in Jerusalem. They ask Ezra to bring to their gathering the book of the law so that they could hear it read. While Ezra read it, other levites that were with him would give the people the understanding of it. Over the 4-6 hours they spent in God’s word, the people stood attentively and respectfully listened to the word. And when they came upon passages that revealed things that they were not doing, they were willing to make changes to their lives in order to honor and please the Lord.

Then in chapter 9, the people gathered again in order to hear the law read and to spend time together in prayer confessing their sins to the Lord. The time that they were spending in God’s word during the month led them to see more and more things that they needed to approach God’s throne about to receive His mercy.

Towards the end of our last lesson, we talked a little bit about the commitment they made to the Lord to change and to be devoted to His word. For our first lesson this morning, I would like to talk some more about this idea and consider with you some principles that we can learn from chapters 10 & 13 regarding making commitments to the Lord and keeping them as we seek restoration in our lives.

CHAPTER 10

Verse 38 of chapter 9 serves as a transitional text. It is talking about what happens in chapter 10.

“Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests” ().

You see in the remnant that they want to be different than their ancestors. They didn’t want to be those who receive God’s mercy and then respond by rejecting His laws and commandments to Israel. They want to, like the Lord, to be faithful to the covenant relationship. So they decided to make, it seems, a national covenant that they are going to be faithful to the Lord. They are making a public document in writing to change. And within this chapter they talk about specific things that they are going to change.

Now, verses 1-27 doesn’t seem like a fascinating passage to read, but it is an amazing passage. You see that the leaders of the people are willing to put their names on the covenant publicly. I appreciate this. This shows that these leaders are holding themselves accountable to make sure the covenant is kept. And they are doing it publicly so that everyone can know what they are going to be held accountable to.

You see in the remnant that they want to be different than their ancestors. They didn’t want to be those who receive God’s mercy and then respond by rejecting His laws and commandments to Israel. They want to, like the Lord, to be faithful to the covenant relationship. So they decided to make, it seems, a national covenant that they are going to be faithful to the Lord. They are making a public document in writing to change. And within this chapter they talk about specific things that they are going to change.

They are also putting down this covenant in writing (9:38). There cannot be a time during the line where someone can say, “that is not what I committed to.” It was put into writing so that you could go back and look at it if there is any question what you committed to.

Now, verses 1-27 doesn’t seem like a fascinating passage to read, but it is an amazing passage. You see that the leaders of the people are willing to put their names on the covenant publicly. I appreciate this. This shows that these leaders are holding themselves accountable to make sure the covenant is kept. And they are doing it publicly so that everyone can know what they are going to be held accountable to.

They are also putting down this covenant in writing (9:38). There cannot be a time during the line where someone can say, “that is not what I committed to.” It was put into writing so that you could go back and look at it if there is any question what you committed to.

One final thing we see in chapter 10 that their commitments were specific. Verses 28-39 give us the specifics of the covenant.

First, in verse 28, we first see the specifics of who is making this covenant. We see that his commitment is being made by those who are serving at the temple and the leaders. All of the people also: It is being made by the men and the women. It is being made by the young people who had understanding also.

THE SPECIFICS

In verse 29, they are obligating themselves to not just make an oath to be faithful, but are putting themselves under a curse if they do not obey the law of the Lord and to keep this covenant. So, there is a specific outcome for not keeping the covenant.

One other thing we see in chapter 10 that this commitment that was being made was specific. Verses 28-39 give us the specifics of the covenant.

Then they talk about some of the specific laws that they are devoting themselves to keep. Surely this is not their way of saying that they are only going to keep the laws of God in this specific covenant, but they are mentioning the ones that they could be especially tempted to violate in their situation — one’s where it would be harder to not trust in the Lord. There are three areas that are talked about in these verses.

First, in verse 28, we first see the specifics of who is making this covenant. We see that his commitment is being made by those who are serving at the temple and the leaders. All of the people also: It is being made by the men and the women. It is being made by the young people who had understanding also.

In verse 30: “We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons.” (). They are saying that they do not want to be influenced by other nations around them like their ancestors were. There was a problem with them intermarrying with the nations, contrary to the law. This was a problem already with those who returned from captivity in . This is a problem later on in Malachi. Foreigners would lead God’s people to abandon their religion and to serve idols. So they commit themselves to not intermarry with the nations.

In verse 29, we see the specific consequences to breaking the covenant. They are obligating themselves to not just make an oath to be faithful, but are putting themselves under a curse if they do not obey the law of the Lord and to keep this covenant. So, there is a specific outcome for not keeping the covenant.

Then, starting in verse 30, they talk about some of the specific laws that they are devoting themselves to keep. Surely this is not their way of saying that they are only going to keep the laws of God in this specific covenant, but they are mentioning the ones that they could be especially tempted to violate in their situation — one’s where it would be harder to not trust in the Lord. There are three areas that are talked about in these verses.

In verse 31, they committed not to allow the peoples of the land to bring any goods into Jerusalem to sell on the Sabbath or on any holy days recorded in the law. They were dedicating themselves to keeping the Sabbath holy and to not be greedy by working and buying and selling on that day. And they would also follow the 7th year Sabbath for the land and not work the land, trusting that the Lord would provide enough for them in years 1-6.

In verse 30: “We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons.” (). They are saying that they do not want to be influenced by other nations around them like their ancestors were. There was a problem with them intermarrying with the nations, contrary to the law. This was a problem already with those who returned from captivity in . This is a problem later on in Malachi. Foreigners would lead God’s people to abandon their religion and to serve idols. So they commit themselves to not intermarry with the nations.

And then in verses 32-39, they commit themselves to giving all of the necessary contributions to maintain the temple, to provide for the temple work, and to provide for those who are serving at the temple.

In all of these things — in their relationships, and how they use their time, and how they use their possessions, they are committing themselves to obey the Lord in these specific things publicly and in writing.

In verse 31, they committed not to allow the peoples of the land to bring any goods into Jerusalem to sell on the Sabbath or on any holy days recorded in the law. They were dedicating themselves to keeping the Sabbath holy and to not be greedy by working and buying and selling on that day. And they would also follow the 7th year Sabbath for the land and not work the land, trusting that the Lord would provide enough for them in years 1-6.

APPLICATION

And then in verses 32-39, they commit themselves to giving all of the necessary contributions to maintain the temple, to provide for the temple work, and to provide for those who are serving at the temple.

There are some good lessons in this for us as we continue to commit ourselves to restoration. First, let’s just think about our need in general to commit ourselves to restoration — remembering that what we mean by restoration is working in our lives to become more like Jesus as individuals — to become more of what Jesus designed us to be.

In all of these things — in their relationships, and how they use their time, and how they use their possessions, they are committing themselves to obey the Lord in these specific things publicly and in writing.

APPLICATION

If you have become a Christian, restoration is something that you committed yourself to. Multiple places in the New Testament we are told that our goal as Christians is to be like Jesus and to be conformed to His image. Our goal is to live by His example and to submit ourselves to His authority. If we have confessed Jesus as Lord, this will be a goal of ours. We will grow as disciples of Jesus, and we will make disciples of Jesus as we go out into the world.

We, as Christians, are restorationists, and if we have not yet committed ourselves to being what God originally intended us to be when He created man, we have been setting the bar way too low for ourselves. This is a tendency that we can often have. We get complacent. We become ok with the way things currently are. We accept a standard lower than the holiness of God. We get comfortable in making Christianity all about what happens when we are here in the building. We get ok with accepting things other than the word of God as the authority, such as manmade traditions (what we have always done before). We accept what other congregations do as the standard, or maybe even what the world does as the authority. If it works in other churches or in the world, of course it has got to be ok with the Lord, right? Or, it may be the case that we just count ourselves as the authority, thinking that if we feel it is ok or if we don’t see anything wrong with a practice or with something we are doing, it must be ok.

There are some good lessons in this for us as we commit ourselves to restoration. First, let’s just think about our need in general to commit ourselves to restoration — remembering that what we mean by restoration is working in our lives to become more like Jesus as individuals — to become more of what Jesus designed us to be.

If you have become a Christian, restoration is something that you committed yourself to. Multiple places in the New Testament we are told that our goal as Christians is to be like Jesus and to be conformed to His image. Our goal is to live by His example and to submit ourselves to His authority. If we have confessed Jesus as Lord, this will be a goal of ours. We will grow as disciples of Jesus, and we will make disciples of Jesus as we go out into the world.

But the person who has a heart that desires restoration does not do these things. They are not content with the status quo. They are always examining themselves and what they are doing to make sure they are submitting to the authority of Christ in all that they do as individuals and as they work together with other Christians. They open up God’s word and ask, “God, what do you want me to be?” They ask, “God, what do you want us to do? What pleases you?” There is no room for being presumptuous and to just assume something is pleasing to God. The restorationist commits themselves to what the word of God reveals is acceptable and pleasing to God.

We, as Christians, are restorationists, and if we have not yet committed ourselves to being what God originally intended us to be when He created man, we have been setting the bar way too low for ourselves. This is a tendency that we can often have. We get complacent. We become ok with the way things currently are. We accept a standard lower than the holiness of God. We get comfortable in making Christianity all about what happens when we are here in the building. We get ok with accepting things other than the word of God as the authority, such as manmade traditions (what we have always done before). We accept what other congregations do as the standard, or maybe even what the world does as the authority. If it works in other churches or in the world, of course it has got to be ok with the Lord, right? Or, it may be the case that we just count ourselves as the authority, thinking that if we feel it is ok or if we don’t see anything wrong with a practice or with something we are doing, it must be ok.

One more point of application: Sometimes it may also be good for us to, like the remnant here, to make some further commitments in areas that we struggle more with in our goal to be like Christ. It is all well and good to say, “I am committing myself to be faithful to Christ and more like Him, but if we are not going to get into specifics, and make goals to achieve, then often whatever commitments that we think we are making don’t come to pass. Nothing is done to move forward or to overcome a sin that is keeping us from being like Jesus.

But the person who has a heart that desires restoration does not do these things. They are not content with the status quo. They are always examining themselves and what they are doing to make sure they are submitting to the authority of Christ in all that they do as individuals and as they work together with other Christians. They open up God’s word and ask, “God, what do you want me to be?” They ask, “God, what do you want us to do? What pleases you?” There is no room for being presumptuous and to just assume something is pleasing to God. The restorationist commits themselves to what the word of God reveals is acceptable and pleasing to God.

It can be so helpful to make commitments in specific areas where we tend to struggle as individuals, and even as the remnant here, to put commitments into writing. Oftentimes, the things that we put into writing, we can see it and we put more effort into keeping it because we can be reminded about it time and time again if we go back and look at it and review what we have committed ourselves to. I believe this is important in regards to the commitments that are made whenever a couple gets married. It is important to go back and to remind yourself of the commitments you made to your spouse. It is important to make sure you are keeping your word — that you are doing the things that you promised before God and witnesses. Writing your commitments down is a good way to hold yourself accountable and even to get others to help you stay accountable to your commitments.

THE RELAPSE OF THE REMNANT

APPLICATION 2

Before we close I would like to consider how the people followed through on their commitment of restoration (or better, how they didn’t follow through). Unfortunately, we see in that many relapsed on all of the commitments they had made in some way. They did not stay committed to their word to remain faithful to the Lord, and Nehemiah holds their feet to the fire. He calls them to give an account of what they had done while he was away for some time.

One more point of application: Sometimes it may also be good for us to, like the remnant here, to make some further commitments in areas that we struggle more with in our goal to be like Christ. It is all well and good to say, “I am committing myself to be faithful to Christ and more like Him, but if we are not going to get into specifics, and make goals to achieve, then often whatever commitments that we think we are making don’t come to pass. Nothing is done to move forward or to overcome a sin that is keeping us from being like Jesus.

In 13:4-14, Nehemiah learned that the levites were not receiving their portions and one of the rooms where grain was kept was cleared out so one of the enemies of God, Tobiah, could have a place to stay while in Jerusalem. They were forsaking their commitment to the temple and its work. Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem after being gone for some time and cleansed the temple and confronted the officials.

It can be so helpful to make commitments in specific areas where we tend to struggle as individuals, and even as the remnant here, to put commitments into writing. Oftentimes, the things that we put into writing, we can see it and we put more effort into keeping it because we can be reminded about it time and time again if we go back and look at it and review what we have committed ourselves to. I believe this is important in regards to the commitments that are made whenever a couple gets married. It is important to go back and to remind yourself of the commitments you made to your spouse. It is important to make sure you are keeping your word — that you are doing the things that you promised before God and witnesses. Writing your commitments down is a good way to hold yourself accountable and even to get others to help you stay accountable to your commitments.

In 13:15-22, Nehemiah saw many of the people violating their commitment to keep the Sabbath. They were working on the Sabbath and bringing goods to Jerusalem to sell on the Sabbath. He confronts the leaders and asks them, “Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day? Did not your fathers act in this way, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Now you are bringing more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.” (). Nehemiah then made sure the gates were closed on the Sabbath and threatened to arrest those who came to Jerusalem to buy or sell on the Sabbath.

THE RELAPSE OF THE REMNANT

Before we close I would like to consider how the people followed through on their commitment of restoration (or better, how they didn’t follow through). Unfortunately, we see in that many relapsed on all of the commitments they had made in some way. They did not stay committed to their word to remain faithful to the Lord, and Nehemiah holds their feet to the fire. He calls them to give an account of what they had done while he was away for some time.

Then in 13:23-31, Nehemiah found out that there were Jews who had intermarried. Even among the priesthood this had happened. In Nehemiah’s words, they had desecrated the priesthood.

In 13:4-14, Nehemiah learned that the levites were not receiving their portions and one of the rooms where grain was kept was cleared out so one of the enemies of God and the remnant, Tobiah, could have a place to stay while in Jerusalem. They were forsaking their commitment to the temple and its work. Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem after being gone for some time and cleansed the temple and confronted the officials.

Obviously, this book ends on a bad note. The attempts for spiritual restoration seemed to have failed in many ways. They had not kept the commitments they made to the Lord.

CONCLUSION

In 13:15-22, Nehemiah saw many of the people violating their commitment to keep the Sabbath. They were working on the Sabbath and bringing goods to Jerusalem to sell on the Sabbath. He confronts the leaders and asks them, “Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day? Did not your fathers act in this way, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Now you are bringing more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.” (). Nehemiah then made sure the gates were closed on the Sabbath and threatened to arrest those who came to Jerusalem to buy or sell on the Sabbath.

The question we need to ask ourselves is, “are we going to be like those in who could not keep their word — those who did not do what they said they would. Are we going to be like them, or are we going to “let our yes be yes, and our no ‘no’? Are we going to do the things that we have committed ourselves to do as Christians — to be faithful to the covenant relationship that we entered with the Lord upon being baptized into Christ, and to be committed to grow in our spiritual lives in being more and more like Jesus?

Then in 13:23-31, Nehemiah found out that there were Jews who had intermarried. Even among the priesthood this had happened. In Nehemiah’s words, they had desecrated the priesthood.

Would you pray with me?

Obviously, this book ends on a bad note. The attempts for spiritual restoration seemed to have failed in many ways. They had not kept the commitments they made to the Lord, but Nehemiah does what He can to help the people get back on track in the admonishment he gives in this chapter.

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CONCLUSION

The question we need to ask ourselves is, “are we going to be like those in who could not keep their word — those who did not do what they said they would. Are we going to be like them, or are we going to “let our yes be yes, and our no ‘no’? Are we going to do the things that we have committed ourselves to do as Christians — to be faithful to the covenant relationship that we entered with the Lord upon being baptized into Christ, and to be committed to grow in our spiritual lives in being more and more like Jesus?

Would you pray with me?

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