VIII. God’s Resources for Rebuilding (Nehemiah 10:1-39)
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VIII. God’s Resources for Rebuilding (10:1-39)
10:1-27 The list of those who signed and sealed the pledge to obey God included Nehemiah, who had been granted the position of governor (10:1), plus twenty-two priests (10:2-8), seventeen Levites (10:9-13), and forty-four leaders (10:14-27). God brought all these influential people together so they could encourage each other to stick to their convictions. If one Levite began to weaken, a priest might inspire him to carry on. If the governor became downhearted, a leader could come alongside to motivate and invigorate him. God had provided all the resources they needed to fulfill their obligations to him, to get their community back on track.
10:28-29 The rest of the people didn’t sign the pledge, but they still separated themselves from the ungodly people around them and determined in their hearts to obey God’s law. The group included gatekeepers, who could remind people every time they left the city that they had an obligation to come back and rebuild it. They included temple servants, who could tell the Jews every Sabbath day to honor God and his agenda for the sake of their wives and children.
10:30-31 God had told them everything they needed to know to build a solid and secure community, and now they promised to obey his commands. They would not intermarry with the surrounding peoples (10:30). They remembered that Solomon had brought wicked, idolatrous ideas into his life and into the nation by marrying women who did not worship the Lord. They, by contrast, would honor God by obeying his commands about the Sabbath day, fallow fields, and the year of jubilee (10:31).
10:32-34 The people realized that God had richly blessed them with all the resources they needed, and they could use a portion of it to improve God’s house (10:32). Likewise, God has provided his people with all the money and talents needed to rebuild our churches and our communities. We have the gospel of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. He will bless our submission to his program, but we must step out in obedience and give to access those blessings.
10:35-39 The Jews had a firstfruits mentality. They didn’t think of themselves first and leave God until second—or last! They made it a priority to bring their offerings to the Lord’s house (10:35) and not neglect it (10:39). They brought their riches: fruit, livestock, bread, grain, wine, and oil. Then, the storerooms of the treasury were equipped to fulfill God’s kingdom agenda (10:38). This is the mindset our churches need, too. God supplies the resources. Will we commit them to his work?