Wise Master Builder #19 | Covenant Renewal

Introduction 

Modern machinery has produced great marvels of strength. But none compares to a toddler who grasps something they shouldn’t! All too often we are found grasping things, even good things, too tightly. God invites us to loosen our grip on all those trifles in order to lay hold of an everlasting treasure.

The Text

Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah, […] And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding; They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes […]
Nehemiah 10:1, 28ff

Summary of the Text

The prayer of confession (Cf. Neh. 9) concluded with an appeal to the Lord to remember His covenant mercies and a commitment from the people to bind themselves once more to a sure covenant with Him (9:38). The family heads that signed the covenant are listed in vv1-27. As the kingly figure, Nehemiah is listed first, along with Zidkijah, both were civic rulers (v1). Then follows the priestly families, Ezra’s family is listed first: Seraiah (vv2-8); then the Levitical households (vv9-13); lastly, the principle families, matching the earlier lists (vv14-27, Ezr. 2, Neh. 7). This list of covenant participants is quite comprehensive: priests, Levites, temple servants, all those who had separated themselves from the people of the land along with their wives and sons and daughters.

Next the substance of this covenant renewal is laid out. While this covenant is a renewal of the duties that already rested upon them as God’s covenant people, they renew their vow, on pain of a curse, to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord (v29). There are three particular areas where the people are conscientious of their own negligence. First, is the vow to refrain from mixed marriages (v30). Second, is to not find sabbath loopholes by allowing the heathen to do the heavy lifting (v31). Third, was to better organize themselves to support the worship of God (v32).

This renewed zeal for the house of the Lord took shape in some practical ways. An annual temple tax (v32) to support all the logistics of the service of God in the temple (v33). They made a schedule for who was responsible to chop the wood each month (v34). Then they recommit themselves to dutifully bring their firstfruits offerings to the Lord (vv35-39). The crowning jewel of this covenant is really the pinnacle of the book of Ezra and Nehemiah: we will not forsake the house of our God (v39). All the construction projects, all the moral reforms, and all the resistance to their enemies was done out of a zeal for the house of God.

How God Covenants

How does the Uncreated God make Himself known to His creation? Scripture answers that God deals with mankind via covenant. God’s covenant making was the rebar that held together the prayer of confession in Nehemiah 9. A covenant is a solemn oath between two or more parties, with accompanying blessings for faithfulness and curses for breaking the covenant. Jeffrey Meyers has wonderfully traced the five-fold pattern of God’s covenant making in Scripture:

1. God draws near and lays hold by His Word.
2. God cuts (or separates) from the old order.
3. God speaks the terms of the new order.
4. God prepares a covenant feast.
5. God makes provision for the succession of the new covenant order.

These elements are also found here. God laid hold of His people through the Word reading ceremony (Neh. 8:1). The seed of Israel is separated from the strangers (Neh. 9:2, 10:28). The prayer goes over the history of Israel’s failures to keep the covenant and God’s mercy towards them despite their unfaithfulness; the prayer concluded with a plea for God to deliver them from the current distress in order that they might serve Him in the land out from under the yoke and capriciousness of pagan rulers. This prayer then leads to an oath-taking ceremony with terms for the new covenant order (10:29). The merry feast (8:12), the weeklong Feast of Booths (8:16-18), along with the renewed commitment to furnish the temple with all the firstfruits offerings reminds us that the whole sacrificial system was an indication of God inviting His people to break bread in loving fellowship with Him. Lastly, we see God preparing His people for renewed service to Him and devotion to His house (10:30-39). If we peek ahead into chapter 11 this revived spiritual energy takes the shape of organizing the community around the priority of worship and faithfulness to the Law of the Lord.

Was any of this deserved? Of course not. Everything from Cyrus’ decree to this moment has been kindness after kindness from God to a people that had not honored Him as they ought. The kindness of God is plainly displayed in how He raised up capable men to spur God’s people on in this work, to rebuke them in their sin, and to encourage them in persevering in the glory of serving God. This chapter really crowns the whole project. The confession, along with the renewed covenant, set the people to action. But not just any action, action in conformity to God’s Law. True reformation is not found in lip-service but in actual obedience. 

The Law & Life

Ezra’s prayer quoted a line from Leviticus 18:5 regarding obeying the commandments of God, “Which if a man do, he shall live in them (Neh. 9:29).” Ezekiel quotes this as well (Eze 20:11). When a shrewd lawyer asked Jesus what one must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus quotes Leviticus as well (Luk 10:28). Paul quotes it twice (Rom 10:5, Gal 3:12), to underscore that obedience to the law leads to life. However, it must be a perfect obedience. Since this is not the case with any of us, it means that the just must live by faith in the One who did keep the Law perfectly in our stead. But this faith in Christ’s perfect righteousness also so works in us as to lead us to order our lives, by His Spirit, according to the Word of God. 

Under Ezra’s eagle-eyed oversight this covenant was drawn from good exegesis of the Torah. Ezra puts His faith in God’s Word, then bears the fruit of obedience by applying that Word to fresh circumstances. What Ezra & Nehemiah are doing here is what can be called the general equity of the Law. Which can be briefly defined as “the application of God’s Law to new circumstances.” One example of this exegetical application to new circumstances is seen in the temple tax. Moses required a half-shekel every time there was a census (Ex. 30:11-16), Ezra and Nehemiah here require a third of a shekel annually (Neh. 10:32). This was not a deviation from the Law, but an application of it to new circumstances (the infrequency and logistical difficulty of the census-taking, the possible difference in shekel value, etc.).

Particular Sins

Whenever God revives His people there are obvious similarities, but there will also be differences due to what sin has prevailed amongst God’s people. Consider the sins that seem to have been most deeply felt in Nehemiah’s day: first, the marriages with idolaters, second, the concoction of Sabbath loopholes, and third, the neglect of God’s house (Cf. Hag. 1).

When the truth of God takes hold of you it compels you to live differently. These saints, renewed by the truth of the Word, turn to alter their way of life. So then, this leaves us with a few uncomfortable questions. 

First, what are you doing to ensure your children and grandchildren walk faithfully in the truth of God’s word? The perpetual sin of the Israelite sin this regard was tolerating idolatry. We see this in more ancient times as they offered their children to Molech, but in Ezra’s time it looked like the marriages to idolatrous peoples, who would then offer their (often unwanted) children to temple prostitution. Two ways modern Christians have allowed idolatry to infect our child-rearing is through travel sports, where we sacrifice worship of the Living God for potential scholarships at godless universities. A more subtle way, however, is by adopting a view of our children that turns them into badges of our own vanity. Posting perfectly posed pictures & stories online to present an image of your family that flatters your own vanity. This often turns your children into an accessory to your own self-idolatry. Your kids will one day see and read everything you post about them online and you want to make sure they don’t call your bluff.

Second, are there any ways that you’ve cheated on God, either by neglecting to obey His good commands, or by inventing loopholes to accommodate my sin? Here in Nehemiah the issue was that of allowing the heathen to come set up markets on the Sabbath day and the Jews could continue their commerce but through an intermediary. You should ask yourself whether your Lord’s Day observation really is devoted first and foremost to the restful worship and renewing meditation on the things of the Lord. Don’t be the sort of Christian who is always looking for loopholes to allow you to technically obey God’s Word in letter, but not in Spirit. That attitude is what the movement which Ezra began turned into by the time of Christ: tithing mint and cumin, but disregarding the weightier matters of the Law.

Third, have you been withholding something from God? The people here in Nehemiah’s time commit themselves to joyful sacrifice, giving the best of their wealth in service to the Lord. Audit your time, energy, and material wealth and ask yourself whether you really are giving of the firstfruits to God, or is He an afterthought. Are you smashing the snooze button and so missing time in the Word each morning? Are you staying up late on Saturday and arriving to church frenzied, disheveled, and sleepy? If we looked at your budget would it reveal a priority of generosity, frugality, wisdom, and charity?

Consumed with Zeal

When Jesus drove the money changers out of the temple, John records that the disciples were reminded of Psalm 69:9, “For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.” All the rebuilding and reformation under Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah anticipates the zeal which Christ would have for the house of God.

How do these moral reforms and building reconstructions pertain to you? If you are a Christian you are compelled to be zealous for the house of the Lord. Which is simply to say, “Look to Christ alone.” Christ’s body was the temple torn down and rebuilt for your salvation from sin. Christ is the true temple, priest, and sacrifice whereby you might serve God in righteousness. Christ is the true city of God, and so you can be assured that by grace you dwell as an adopted citizen in that city of peace. Christ is the head of the body, which means that along with all the saints you are a member of that body. 

So, what’s that in your hand that you’re grasping so tightly? Give it to Him.

Charge and Benediction

Remember the words of the Apostle James, don’t be a hearer of the Word only, but a doer of it. You’ve heard the Word proclaimed, now find at least one practical way to make a change to how you live in order to walk in closer obedience to the Word.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessings of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon, and remain with you always.
Amen