Nehemiah 10 Questions & Answers. Covenanting for Righteousness

1 What covenants have you made in your lifetime? What is the difference between a covenant and a contract?

Marriage and Church memberships are covenants. A contract is only enforceable by both parties until it is broken. If the first party breaks the contract, the second party can go to court and claim damages from the first party but the second party is no longer bound by the contract when the first party is proven to have broken it. A covenant is binding whether one of the parties breaks the covenant or not. God made a covenant with Abraham in Gen 15. God kept the covenant even when the Israelites disobeyed and broke the covenant.

2 What did the people do in response to the sermon they heard in Chapter 9?

They created a covenant between them and the Lord. It had a curse and a section outlining specifically they would do.

3 Who took the lead to sign the covenant with God?

Nehemiah the governor signed this covenant first. He took the spiritual lead here as well.

4 Who joined in with them, binding themselves with an oath and a curse? (v. 28, 29)

First 22 named and other unnamed priests, 17 names and other unnamed Levites, and 44 named heads of families made this pledge. Then the people committed themselves by the same pledge.

5 What were the other promises that the people made? V 29 ff

• v.29 Obey the law of God,
• v.30 not allow children to intermarry with unbelievers,
• v.31 no buying and selling on the sabbath, allow land to lie idle every 7 years, cancel debts,
• v.32 regular giving 1/3 of shekel to the Temple, (down from 1/2 in Ex 30:11-16, Mt 17:24-27) One shekel was about a month's wage so 1/3 of a shekel was about 10 days wages. It is possible that Nehemiah had the temple tax reduced to 1/3 because of the poverty and oppressive taxation by the foreign government.)
• v.33 bread & grain and animals for the burnt offerings,
• v.34 provide firewood
• v.35 - 37 firstfruits, filling the storehouse in the Temple
• v.39 care of God's house

6 What do you think about their stand on not buying and selling on the Sabbath? Is that outdated?

If we make a commitment to worship God and not work on Sunday, is it legalistic or just a wise way to spend time with God?

7 What about not working on the Sabbath?

If you work on Sunday do you take a day to worship and rest? Do you make others work by shopping? When do you get to know God and spend time with HIM? Can you grow deep spiritually by just spending a couple hours a week in the bible, listening to sermons or praying?

8 What was the significance of the sabbatical year and the cancelling of debt? v 31 (see also Ex 20:8 - 10; Lev 25:1 - 7; Deut 5:15; 15:1 - 4, Ps 24:1)

The land needed to rest. There were provisions to take fruit from the land on those years but to allow land to go fallow. Cancelling debt kept people from making long term bondage. They had a fresh financial start every 7 years.

9 Why do you think a priest went with a Levite to collect the tithe?

This would keep honesty and integrity in that the Levite and the priest would hold each other accountable. Note that only 1/10 was to be brought to the temple in Jerusalem. (V.38)

10 What was the bottom line in verse 39?

We will not neglect the Temple of our God.

11 Is the commitment to give our best and a tithe or more an option for New Testament givers?

Verses that deal with the tithe: Mal 3:9,10; Lev 27:30; Deut 14:22- 28; Mat 6:3,4; 22:21; Acts 20:35; 1 Cor 16:1,2; 2 Cor 9:7,8

• 2Co 9:5-15 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given. Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!