"..Learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.” ~ Jesus
Got some moments to read through Nehemiah? How about through chapters 8 through 10 today? In this passage what do we see?
We see the beginning of a revival as God’s people gathered, perked up their ears and really listened to God's Word being read and then explained. Both are important -- the reading and the explaining so we can understand God's main point, His sub-points and what to do with it in our world gone sideways.
In chapter 9, the people turned.. yes, they repented as they said they were sorry to God while confessed their sins. In chapter 10, the people make a corporate commitment of love.. a passionate covenant to wisely put God’s Scriptures into practice in a number of specific areas. Sure, cuz you know how too many so called believers and others too, unwisely apply the truth only to hurt others.. or drive them away from the Lord who they religiously (sadly) misrepresent.
I have found, in my own spiritual life, that the more rules I lay down for myself, the more sins I commit. The habit of regular morning and evening prayer is one which is indispensable to a believer’s life, but the prescribing of the length of prayer, and the constrained remembrance of so many persons and subjects, may gender unto bondage, and strangle prayer rather than assist it. To say I will humble myself at such a time, and rejoice at such another season, is nearly as much an affectation as when the preacher wrote in the margin of his sermon, “Cry here,” “Smile here.” Why, if the man preached from his heart, he would be sure to cry in the right place, and to smile at a suitable moment; and when the spiritual life is sound, it produces prayer at the right time, and humiliation of soul and sacred joy spring forth spontaneously, apart from rules and vows. ~ Charles H. Spurgeon, who wroteAutobiography (Banner of Truth)
The Jews made a covenant following the fervor they felt -- yes, they put their agreement in writing (9:38), spelling out the details of their commitment (10:30-39).
What's the context of Nehemiah 10? (I always say read at least 20 verses before and the 20 verses after those key verses you love for the context): Well, gobs of spiritual fervor is the context, both with joy in the Lord and sincere mourning over personal sins.
And you know personal practical application of God’s Word really needs to begin with the leaders as we see in this context (9:38-10:27) and it begins with personal holiness based on understanding of God's truth (see 10:28-29). Jesus lived it -- He exampled what He taught people.
"COME TO ME, ALL YOU who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU and LEARN FROM ME; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” ~ Jesus, Matthew 11:28-30 application emphasis mine.
Wise application needs to begin with local Christian church leaders today. Let it start with us all!
Did you notice how Nehemiah and (his assistant?) Zedekiah committed themselves first. Next to commit and sign the covenant were 21 priests, the heads of priestly households (10:2-8). Ezra’s name is not here because the head of his household was Seraiah (10:2). Then come the names of 17 heads of Levitical households (10:9-13), followed by 44 heads of leading families (10:14-27). Some of these names are identical to those on the lists in Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7. Others represent either new families that have branched off of those from Zerubbabel’s time, or more recent arrivals from Babylon.
Here's a way to apply the truth. Believers aren't called to cloister themselves away from influencing and winning the lost to Christ, but indeed we are called to separate ourselves unto the Lord.. away from the evil influences of this world so as not to be pulled down into sin. Why head back to Egypt so to speak -- to our old worldly lifestyle that was lame?
"Malluch, Harim, Baanah. Now the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, all those who had knowledge and understanding.." Nehemiah 10:27-28
I say we prayerfully go to and spend time befriending unregenerate people tactfully sharing the Gospel, sure, as long as we are influencing them toward righteousness, but get away from they start to influence us towards their pet sins, or other wrongdoins. Hey Buckeroo, this separation-idea doesn't need to be all religious or in vain, and it wasn't merely for the Old Testament Jews. The Apostle Paul also taught it to us born again gentiles as well, so that we cold by faith maintain our victory. Living all religious or backslidden like with some vice in defeat; that ain't a good witness for Christ at all! He said...
“Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 nkjv
All are called to exit out of this dark corrupt worldly system, and to enter in -- on into the Kingdom of light and life in the Lord.
"For He (God) has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.." Colossians 1:13 nlt
And the point for those in Christian leadership is to wisely set a loving example for others while not compromising the truth of God's Word. We pray for a biblical revival --an authentic nation-changing awakening. And if we want to experience such ongoing spiritual revival, then we need to get practical and personal in applying God’s Word in a truly wise way.
"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." ~ James (1:19-25) Like us at Facebook.com/shareJesus
