Be Sure to Keep Your Word
The Children of Israel Need to Walk their Talk!
THE VOW TO GOD (10:1–39): A special document is written up and signed by the leaders of the people.
A. The parties (10:1–28): The document is signed by Nehemiah, the priests, the Levites, the political leaders, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Temple servants, and others.
B. The promises (10:29–39): The document records six promises the people made to God.
1. They will not intermarry with non-Jews (10:30).
2. They will obey all the Sabbath laws (10:31).
3. They will take care of the Temple (10:32, 34, 39).
4. They will observe all the sacred festivals (10:33).
5. They will dedicate to the Lord the firstborn of their sons and animals (10:36).
6. They will pay their tithes (10:35, 37–38).
Introduction
The story may be apocryphal, but it illustrates the point that this chapter makes.
In a certain church, there was a man who always ended his prayers with, “And, Lord, clean the cobwebs out of my life! Clean the cobwebs out of my life!”
One of the members of the church became weary of hearing this same insincere request week after week, because he saw no change in the petitioner’s life. So, the next time he heard the man pray, “Lord, clean the cobwebs out of my life!” he interrupted with, “And while you’re at it, Lord, kill the spider!”
It’s one thing to offer the Lord a passionate prayer of confession, such as we have in chapter 9, and quite something else to live an obedient life after we say “Amen.” But the people in the assembly were serious about their praying and were determined, by God’s grace, to make a new beginning and live to please the Lord.
Main Idea - A Heart of Confession Leads to a Walk of Repentance
Main Idea - A Heart of Confession Leads to a Walk of Repentance
1. A Walk of Repentance Starts with the Leadership (10:1–28)
2. A Walk of Repentance is a Walk in Holiness for All (10:29–39)
a. They will walk in Purity (vs. 30)
Separation is simply total devotion to God, no matter what the cost. When a man and woman get married, they separate themselves from all other possible mates and give themselves completely to each other. It is total commitment motivated by love, and it is a balanced decision: We separate from others to the one who is to be our life’s mate.
Only the Holy Spirit can give us the kind of balance we need to live a godly life in this ungodly world. The legalist wants to live by rules, but that style of life only keeps you immature and dependent on your spiritual leaders. The only way to grow in a balanced life is to give yourself totally to God and follow Him by faith.