Nehemiah 10: A Covenant with God
MUCH OF THE world thinks that Christianity is a rip-off. Because Christians see God as the Creator and therefore the owner of everything there is, we give a tithe, and even more, to the Lord as an appropriate response. Part of the confusion is that the non-Christian sees the church or Christian leaders as getting that money. While serious Christians see all they have as belonging to God, non-Christians basically see all they have as a result of their hard work! Christians must be very honest and responsible with the money they control. Otherwise they open the body of Christ to ridicule and suspicion by the non-Christian world. There is no way the body of Christ can function well unless all God's people support those who have forgone a secular job to do the full-time work of the Lord and the body. This chapter of Nehemiah is about making such a covenant of support.
Warming Up to God
What promises have you made or do you need to make with the Lord? Discuss them with him and ask for renewed energy for renewed faithfulness.
Read Nehemiah 10. »
Discovering the Word
- The result of hearing the Law read (chapter 8) and the result of obeying the Law (chapter 9) now produce a written agreement in chapter 10 to obey God and his commandments. Who were the groups of people mentioned in this chapter?
- What evidence is there that everyone was included in the covenant agreement (vv. 28-29)?
- Make a list of the things that the people covenant to do before the Lord (vv. 30-39).
- Why would it be very important in their situation not to intermarry?
- Do you think verse 29 is still binding on us today as it was on the people in Nehemiah's day? Explain why you give the answer that you do.
- Who collected the tithe, and to whom did these people tithe?
Applying the Word
- What effect would the actions the people commit to have on their life and worship?
- Do you feel you take material things and the tithing of them as seriously as they did in this passage? Why or why not?
Responding in Prayer
Reflect upon your commitments to the Lord with family, at work or school, or in your times of fellowship with him alone. Rededicate yourself in specific ways to these commitments—and promise the Lord to have renewed effort and obedience.
For Further Study
The Cost of Commitment by John White