In the past 2 chapters we see a nation’s attempts at re-connecting with God.
• It started with the reading of the Book of the Law (Torah, Pentateuch), the Word of God.
• They were convicted by the Spirit of God and convinced of a need to change.
Last week, we saw the gathering of the people in prayer. Led by the Levites, the prayed a prayer of confession. They repented before God.
• TRUE CHANGE or spiritual renewal can only happen when 3 things are present:
(1) Confession (admit our sin) – agreeing with God that a change is needed.
(2) Repentance (acknowledge God’s ways) – this set the direction of change. God’s Word is the benchmark, the blessed way.
(3) Commitment (act on it).
All of these happen through the work of the Holy Spirit. He takes the Word of God and impresses it upon our heart.
• Jesus says the Spirit convicts the world of sin, and righteousness and judgement (John 16:8).
• So let’s be quick to confess before God.
WHY CONFESS? Surely not to inform Him of something He does not already now.
(1) It is to agree with God so that the Holy Spirit can aid us as we can take the steps toward change. If we do not “come to our senses” and be convinced of the need for change, we won’t.
(2) Confession makes us authentic. We are fully honest before God, honest with self, and honest towards people. This is the secret to happiness and fellowship with God.
The BASIS of our confession is the greatness, goodness and the forgiving grace of God.
• 9:17c “But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.”
The people were determined to act on it. Let’s read Neh 9:38, 10:28-39.
• They made a “binding agreement” in Chap 10 to follow the Lord wholeheartedly. No one asked them to do it; they wanted it.
• They put it in writing and sealed it. Putting a seal on a document is a serious matter because it meant taking a solemn oath before the Lord.
Without this, confession and repentance means nothing. You can express sorrow for sin and understand the need to change, but NOT change.
• This third step is critical. It expresses their commitment to God, a commitment to change.
• They signed a covenant with God – the list of signatories are the leaders (Nehemiah, Zedekiah), the priests (21 names), the Levites (17 names), and the heads of noble families (44 names). There were 84 signatories.
• They represented the entire nation in making a commitment to God – to SUBMIT to God’s Word, to SEPARATE as God’s People, and they SUPPORT God’s work (needs of the Temple).
Commitment is what we need today. But sadly this is a word few likes to hear.
• Few like to talk about commitment, because it feels that we are binding ourselves to something, or to someone, if we are talking about marriage.
• We want to be free to change, to do whatever we like, as and when we want. We want liberty, not obligation. We prefer to go by how we FEEL than what is RIGHT.
Why COMMITMENT? Why ask for commitment?
• At baptism, we vowed to follow Jesus and be His faithful disciples, never to leave Him.
• At wedding, we exchange vows, to stay faithful to each other, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish each other till death do us part.
• Why don’t we do it without commitment, without making any vows?
(1) We commit because commitment reflects the character of Christ
• Commitment is a virtue. It is a characteristic of God, who is always faithful and true.
• Commitment starts not with us, but with God. He has committed himself toward us, to call us and save us and build us up and give us an eternal inheritance.
• We need His mercy. We need His grace. We are able to trust Him today because He is unchanging in His character and His promises.
Commitment is the basis of our relationship with God. It is the basis of our faith in God.
• And it is the basis of any good relationships with people. Relationships break down when commitment is absent, when we start to find it difficult to trust.
The Lord says in Matt 5:36-37 “And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37Simply let your `Yes' be `Yes,' and your `No,' `No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
• We should be like Christ. His yes is YES and His no is NO. His yes is ALWAYS YES and His no is ALWAYS NO.
• Our conduct should be such that when we say something, we should not need to swear by it to get people to believe us. When I say something, I do not have to back it up with all kinds of oaths or promises to have people trust me.
(2) We commit because commitment helps us stay on the right track
Rules aren’t necessarily bad. They keep us safe and protected. They make us ‘do the right thing.’
• The people are not obligated to make a ‘binding agreement’ before God, but they wanted to. Not just for themselves, but for the generations to come.
• They wanted to make sure that they will stay on course, and their children and children after them will do the same.
• They did stay on course until Jesus comes.
If we DO NOT commit, we will find it easy NOT to do what is good. If we DO NOT commit to God, we will find it easy NOT to do what God wants.
• It would be like the days of judges (in Israel’s history) “where everyone did as he saw fit” (Judges 21:25) and they sinned, again and again.
Commitment helps us stay on the right track.
• That is why it is not easy signing on the dotted line – whatever declaration or contract you may have.
• Signing on the dotted line makes you responsible; it makes you accountable to your words. But it also keeps you on track.
I am doing something that will “bind” me to certain obligations, responsibilities, that are RIGHT, true and good.
• It is a “binding agreement” (9:38) that they are making before God.
• I want to be committed, because I do not want to run my life basing on feelings or what I like, but what is true, good and right; what is God’s will for me.
(3) Making a Commitment to God helps me stay FOCUSED on God.
It is the recognition that He is all I need in life.
• Ps 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
• Everything revolves around Him, because He does not change.
It’s like the Commander of a battleship seeing a light in the distance straight ahead of him. He signalled it to move out of his path. The reply he got was, “You’ve got to move.”
He messaged back that his was a battleship, so you must move. The answer was the same, NO.
The commander was angry and signalled a strong message: “I am the Commander of the US Navy, and I order you now to move aside!”
The reply came: “This is a lighthouse.”
We align our lives to His will; we obey His Word and keep to His ways. Not the other way around.
• Heb 12:2 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…”
During the crisis this past week, I’ve seen the faith of my family.
• This week, we spent more time at the ICU then at home. We stood around the bed and spoke to and prayed for my father-in-law.
• We were helpless, so were the doctors. Yet we were deeply aware of God’s presence. We have peace. Everyone prayed. At times, one of us will lead. My mom-in-law prayed many times, aloud (it was the first time I heard her pray).
• All that was spoken and prayed about revolves around Jesus, we pleaded for His grace, we asked for His mercy. We may be helpless but God is never helpless and we pray for Him to grant mercy and grace, and then we just leave it to Him.
When everything around you crumples, hang on to is Jesus.
• That was what we did and we really experience God’s presence and His peace.
• That’s what commitment does – it reflects the beauty of Christ (faithful and true); it keeps us on the right track (doing His will); and it helps us stay focused on God.
