38e “Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names off our princes, our Levites, and our priests.
1a “On the seals are the names ofb Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, Zedekiah, 2Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 3Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, 4Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, 5Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, 6Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, 7Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, 8Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah; these are the priests. 9And the Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel; 10and their brothers, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, 11Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, 12Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 13Hodiah, Bani, Beninu. 14The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, 15Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 16Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, 17Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, 18Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, 19Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, 20Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, 21Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, 22Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 23Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, 24Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, 25Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, 26Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, 27Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
28“The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, 29join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God’s Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord and his rules and his statutes.
What are the good things and bad things about writing down your promise to God as what these people did here for accountability?
Share your opinion to the group, the ideas could be very different from one another, so please keep everything in love
These verses includes a list of what might be termed the company of the committed. These people see a need for preserving and perpetuating the changes in their lifestyles so as to keep in step with God; thus, they sign this agreement to bind themselves to that end. This agreement represents a kind of universal urge found among humans to publicly pledge themselves to be loyal to a cause they feel is right.
When the Pilgrims were about to land at Plymouth, they formed what they called the Mayflower Compact. They drew up rules for living in the new land, and they all signed it as an agreement to live by these principles and laws.
Probably the most famous document in American history is the Declaration of Independence. Our forefathers signed that great statement setting forth the reasons they felt God was leading them to establish a new nation upon this continent. Recall the closing words of that document: For the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor. History records that most of those signers of the Declaration actually did have to give up their lives. Those who did not lost their fortunes. But all of them retained their sacred honor. Perhaps you have done something like that in your own life. There came a time when you realized you needed to make some changes in your behavior. Some of the greatest saints of the past did this. They drew up rules for their own conduct that they felt would help them to walk with God and to grow in grace and favor before Him.
But there is one other very important point here. Ultimately these people failed to follow through with their commitment. Subsequent history reveals that all the old habits returned. The nation once again lost the blessing of God upon it. Why? We discover the key in Nehemiah 10:29. They said, All these now join their brothers the nobles, and bind themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God given through Moses. They were depending on their own efforts to obey. They bound themselves with a curse and an oath. They were saying, We will do this or else. They were relying upon their own will power. They were gritting their teeth and swearing to perform. There is no expression of any need of help from God or of any provision for failure and return.
That is what the New Testament adds. It is right to vow. It is right to write it down for your own benefit and remind yourself frequently of your goal. But we must always add the words that Paul uses of himself, I can do everything through him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13). That is what makes the difference.
How fully set apart and committed are we to knowing Jesus Christ? When we consent to God’s will, do we fully count on His power to keep us faithful and fruitful?
The good thing about writing down your promise to God is that it is a confirmed commitment that you’re making to Him and it will keep you accountable to keep that promise. However, the downside is that we are prone to failure so if we do not include God within those promises and if we are trying to depend on our own effort to keep that promise, we will fail – no question about it. People make promises a lot, but realistically how many times is that promise kept? We are setting ourselves up for failure if we think we can do it on our own.
Accountability! I think that writing things down is great for accountability with God and with others. I do think that this accountability can be really hard because it means committing fully.
Writing down your promise to God can be good in several ways. 1) it means that you’re serious about it, that it’s not just empty promises/words. 2) it serves as a visual reminder 3) it clarifies/highlights your values
Writing down your promises to God, however can be a source of discouragement if/when you fail to live up to that promise. It can also serve as a source of pride if you do live up to it, a form of self-righteousness.
Jesus called the Pharisees “white-washed tombs” in Matthew 23:27-28 who outwardly obeyed an exhaustive list of their own contrived rules yet their hearts were far from God.
External obedience without internal heart transformation is pharisaical and empty and short-lived.
The gospel declares that we are dearly loved and accepted by God and even adopted as his sons/daughters not by our good works but solely by faith in Christ’s redemptive and completed work on Calvary. This results in obedience and good works motivated by gratitude and Christ-centered identity.
Remember, as John baptized our Lord, God the Father affirmed that “this is my son, in whom I am well-pleased” BEFORE Jesus had embarked on any formal ministry deeds.
Like the people in the passage, they wrote down a covenant for accountability so that they may live in obedience. I think when something is written & set in stone, it may be a good thing to keep us accountable of keeping the covenant. It can also be difficult when we fail and break the covenant, it could be pretty embarrassing and discouraging. I’m thankful for a perfect God who keeps His promises. Although we may fail, God remains gracious & He never fails.
Good thing about writing down our promises is that we have to fulfill them. The bad thing is that we have to fulfill them or else we’re playing ourselves haha.
It’s great to have goals written down for their Lord, but than fulfilling is very difficult. It takes discipline and time to execute any plan. So all in all, I think it’s great to write down plans. However when they aren’t achieved, it makes you feel really bad that couldn’t accomplish it.
From brother Don
It seems to me that one good thing about writing down a promise to God, as the people did here in Nehemiah 10, would be the way in which it would help to keep one another accountable to their promise. A “covenant” is a binding relationship between two parties- a formalized relationship with commitments to loyalty. Writing it down would help to solidify the promise, giving a point of reference to turn to when necessary, and allowing all those involved to encourage one another to live up to the commitment. I think of our own commitment here, to go through Nehemiah together as a group, holding each other accountable and encouraging one another to stay true to our commitment. (I think of Brian’s reminders of the prize that lies ahead- Korean BBQ?)
One bad thing about writing down a promise to God, (especially one so lofty as “to observe and do ALL the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes,”) is that we may set ourselves up for failure, since we are flawed, sinful creatures. I can think of many times I made promises to God in the past, and can think of very few that I have kept! These days, the only promise I typically allow myself to make to God is to remember His goodness and faithfulness. After all- He is the promise keeper!
One thing I noted in this passage of Nehemiah- Ezra’s name is not on the list of those that signed this covenant. Why do you think that is?
Lord, help me to live to glorify You in all that I think, say, and do, and forgive me for all the times I fall short. I may lack faith, but You are faithful and true. So, “let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful,” (Hebrews 10:23).
When speaking our commitment aloud to God can definitely help in overcoming alongside with Him. It also allow us to speak of these commitments such as overcoming sins with our brothers and sisters so that they can keep us accountable. Bad things that can occur when speaking of these commitments is not doing alongside God and using our strength instead which can end up leaving us tired out or drained. I pray that we may be bold in stating sins or emotions we may be hiding and to bring it to God and our brothers. In addition, to also speak truth to our brother or sister to keep them accountable with a Christlike heart.