May 18 2025 // Nehemiah 10-11
APPLICATION: Read & watch/listen to Nehemiah 10-11
Sermon Title: A Community of Covenant Believers
1.The Covenant That Was Made - Chapter 10
2. The Community That Was Formed
Life Application:
Community life depends on covenants—some written, some spoken, some assumed. But no group can function without agreement among its members about specific behaviors, values, and objectives.
Marriage is a covenant between two people, and witnessed and supported by friends; it is a pledge of honor and faithfulness, an agreement to live in exclusive love for each other. Companies write mission statements that become the goals of the business and its employees; they are values that everyone agrees to follow.
In many ways church membership is a covenant. The members commit to one another and to the group to work responsibly in carrying out the goals and purposes of the church.
A family performs best when its members promise to act for the welfare of each individual as well as the entire family unit. Some families even write out specific goals and agreements in order to live purposefully and responsibly, holding one another accountable for their commitments. But promises, pledges, and documents are only as good as the integrity and commitment of the people involved. Our courts are clogged with individuals and groups who treat their commitments lightly.
The people gathered with Nehemiah and pledged themselves to specific instructions within the law; they committed themselves to action. Let us commit ourselves first to Jesus Christ and then to one another—not just with words but with love and obedience.[1]
Praise 24–7
We often talk about “songs of praise,” or “times of praise,” or even “praise services.” But God desires that our lives progress into continual praise—that life now will reflect the life to come. Paul, in writing to the Ephesians, emphasized that every aspect of our life in Christ has as its fundamental purpose, the “praise of his glory” (Eph. 1:12). We have been granted salvation and given the Holy Spirit for this purpose. How do we exhibit this praise?
1. Giving our bodies as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1–2). Paul urges us to “offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” Literally, the word present means to “stand beside.” In other words, whatever we do in our body—all the activities, habits, and choices in which the body participates—should stand beside Christ. This means obedience, but it stretches us to consider absolutely everything in relation to his presence. Rather than viewing obedience as something we do for someone, this pictures us working alongside Jesus Christ in solidarity with him.
2. Affirming Christ as Lord (Heb. 13:15). We have heard that “actions speak louder than words.” Certainly if there is conflict between what we say and what we do, our actions are the more believable since actions spring from our beliefs. But silence never convinced anyone to trust in Christ or follow him. At some point words become necessary to explain the hope that drives our lives. “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Pet. 3:15).
3. Doing good (Heb. 13:16). It hardly needs explanation; it’s not a difficult concept. We are to do good to all people. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph. 2:10).
4. Giving money (1 Tim. 6:17–18). Warnings against greed and the entrapment of riches occur throughout the New Testament. Paul wrote to Timothy to “command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth.… Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” God blesses us not so we can keep accumulating but so we can share with those in need and partake in the privilege of sending the gospel throughout the world. This increases praise for his glory.
Digging Deeper:
A. Intermarriage (10:30)
The promise of the Israelites not to marry from among the neighboring peoples was a spiritual commitment between them and God. The Jews were separated to God (sanctified) for his purposes; they were holy to God. Because of this, they were to remain independent from pagan cultures. It was about this same time that the prophet Malachi spoke to Judah, saying, “Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the Lord loves, by marrying the daughter of a foreign god” (Mal. 2:11). God looks on people with other beliefs as children of another god. The Hebrew people were first of all united to God through the covenant. Because of this, they profaned the holy pledge when they joined themselves to pagan peoples.
The same principle is applied by Paul in 1 Corinthians 6 about sexual immorality when he states:
He who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body.… But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.… Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price” (1 Cor. 6:16–17, 19–20).
Paul also wrote, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?… What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God” (2 Cor. 6:14–16).
The issue has never been racial but spiritual—and it is a principle that should guide us today.
B. Offerings (10:32–33)
In the Old Testament there were two different types of offerings: those for atonement (sin offerings) and those that celebrated God’s goodness (thank offerings). Nehemiah and all the people promised to continue or renew all of these.
The sin offering required the shedding of blood, the sacrifice of an animal on the altar. It was a judicial act to cover the offense made before God. Forgiveness was not found in the blood of an animal but in the act of obedience and the faith exercised, and in recognition that sin deserved death. The animal substituted for the person, symbolically taking his sins and suffering his death.
These sin offerings pointed to the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who took upon himself the sins of humankind; he suffered our death; his blood covered all sin for all time. As the perfect and acceptable sin offering, Jesus demolished the system of animal sacrifice. After Jesus “offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God … because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Heb. 10:12, 14).
Nothing more can be added to the sacrifice Christ has made for us. But we can celebrate and offer “sacrifices” of praise, doing good deeds and honoring God with our lives for his glory.[2]
Questions to Consider:
Prayer:
[1] Knute Larson and Kathy Dahlen, Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, ed. Max Anders (Broadman & Holman Publishers., 2005), 247–248.
[2] Knute Larson and Kathy Dahlen, Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, ed. Max Anders (Broadman & Holman Publishers., 2005), 248–249.
[3] Knute Larson and Kathy Dahlen, Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, ed. Max Anders (Broadman & Holman Publishers., 2005), 250.
[4] Knute Larson and Kathy Dahlen, Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, ed. Max Anders (Broadman & Holman Publishers., 2005), 264.
Sermon Title: A Community of Covenant Believers
1.The Covenant That Was Made - Chapter 10
a. The Participants of the Covenant-
- The leaders – “Princes” vs. 1-27
- The rest of the people vs. 28
b. The Particulars of the Covenant– vs. 28-29
Separated themselves vs. 28
Gathered their families vs. 28-29
Entered into a curse and an oath vs. 29
c. The Pledges of the Covenant– vs. 29-39
- Authority of God’s Word in their lives vs. 29
- Continued separation vs. 31
- Upholding the Sabbath vs. 32
- Giving vs. 32-39
- Funds vs. 32
- Service vs. 34-39
a. All the people pull together and fill the city
Life Application:
I Do, We Will … Maybe
Marriage is a covenant between two people, and witnessed and supported by friends; it is a pledge of honor and faithfulness, an agreement to live in exclusive love for each other. Companies write mission statements that become the goals of the business and its employees; they are values that everyone agrees to follow.
In many ways church membership is a covenant. The members commit to one another and to the group to work responsibly in carrying out the goals and purposes of the church.
A family performs best when its members promise to act for the welfare of each individual as well as the entire family unit. Some families even write out specific goals and agreements in order to live purposefully and responsibly, holding one another accountable for their commitments. But promises, pledges, and documents are only as good as the integrity and commitment of the people involved. Our courts are clogged with individuals and groups who treat their commitments lightly.
The people gathered with Nehemiah and pledged themselves to specific instructions within the law; they committed themselves to action. Let us commit ourselves first to Jesus Christ and then to one another—not just with words but with love and obedience.[1]
Praise 24–7
We often talk about “songs of praise,” or “times of praise,” or even “praise services.” But God desires that our lives progress into continual praise—that life now will reflect the life to come. Paul, in writing to the Ephesians, emphasized that every aspect of our life in Christ has as its fundamental purpose, the “praise of his glory” (Eph. 1:12). We have been granted salvation and given the Holy Spirit for this purpose. How do we exhibit this praise?
1. Giving our bodies as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1–2). Paul urges us to “offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” Literally, the word present means to “stand beside.” In other words, whatever we do in our body—all the activities, habits, and choices in which the body participates—should stand beside Christ. This means obedience, but it stretches us to consider absolutely everything in relation to his presence. Rather than viewing obedience as something we do for someone, this pictures us working alongside Jesus Christ in solidarity with him.
2. Affirming Christ as Lord (Heb. 13:15). We have heard that “actions speak louder than words.” Certainly if there is conflict between what we say and what we do, our actions are the more believable since actions spring from our beliefs. But silence never convinced anyone to trust in Christ or follow him. At some point words become necessary to explain the hope that drives our lives. “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Pet. 3:15).
3. Doing good (Heb. 13:16). It hardly needs explanation; it’s not a difficult concept. We are to do good to all people. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph. 2:10).
4. Giving money (1 Tim. 6:17–18). Warnings against greed and the entrapment of riches occur throughout the New Testament. Paul wrote to Timothy to “command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth.… Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” God blesses us not so we can keep accumulating but so we can share with those in need and partake in the privilege of sending the gospel throughout the world. This increases praise for his glory.
Digging Deeper:
A. Intermarriage (10:30)
The promise of the Israelites not to marry from among the neighboring peoples was a spiritual commitment between them and God. The Jews were separated to God (sanctified) for his purposes; they were holy to God. Because of this, they were to remain independent from pagan cultures. It was about this same time that the prophet Malachi spoke to Judah, saying, “Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the Lord loves, by marrying the daughter of a foreign god” (Mal. 2:11). God looks on people with other beliefs as children of another god. The Hebrew people were first of all united to God through the covenant. Because of this, they profaned the holy pledge when they joined themselves to pagan peoples.
The same principle is applied by Paul in 1 Corinthians 6 about sexual immorality when he states:
He who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body.… But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.… Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price” (1 Cor. 6:16–17, 19–20).
Paul also wrote, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?… What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God” (2 Cor. 6:14–16).
The issue has never been racial but spiritual—and it is a principle that should guide us today.
B. Offerings (10:32–33)
In the Old Testament there were two different types of offerings: those for atonement (sin offerings) and those that celebrated God’s goodness (thank offerings). Nehemiah and all the people promised to continue or renew all of these.
The sin offering required the shedding of blood, the sacrifice of an animal on the altar. It was a judicial act to cover the offense made before God. Forgiveness was not found in the blood of an animal but in the act of obedience and the faith exercised, and in recognition that sin deserved death. The animal substituted for the person, symbolically taking his sins and suffering his death.
These sin offerings pointed to the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who took upon himself the sins of humankind; he suffered our death; his blood covered all sin for all time. As the perfect and acceptable sin offering, Jesus demolished the system of animal sacrifice. After Jesus “offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God … because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Heb. 10:12, 14).
Nothing more can be added to the sacrifice Christ has made for us. But we can celebrate and offer “sacrifices” of praise, doing good deeds and honoring God with our lives for his glory.[2]
Questions to Consider:
- Is “Sabbath rest” appropriate for today, even though we are no longer regulated by the law’s stipulations? If not, defend your position biblically. If so, list some practical ways in which it can be observed.
- The law required giving God the “firstfruits” of one’s labor. Since we no longer live in an agricultural economy, what are some modern “firstfruits” that Christians can give?
- Can you think of any situations within the church when a public commitment might be appropriate? Why?[13]
- Why do you suppose was important to catalog the generational lists of the priests and Levites?
- Some of the Jews were chosen to move from their country towns to Jerusalem in order to safeguard the city and the nation. Can you think of any circumstances when, as Christians, we should move or give up personal possessions for the welfare of the church? Explain.[4]
Prayer:
[1] Knute Larson and Kathy Dahlen, Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, ed. Max Anders (Broadman & Holman Publishers., 2005), 247–248.
[2] Knute Larson and Kathy Dahlen, Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, ed. Max Anders (Broadman & Holman Publishers., 2005), 248–249.
[3] Knute Larson and Kathy Dahlen, Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, ed. Max Anders (Broadman & Holman Publishers., 2005), 250.
[4] Knute Larson and Kathy Dahlen, Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, ed. Max Anders (Broadman & Holman Publishers., 2005), 264.