SERMON OUTLINE:
(A). The Document of Promise.
• (1). A document of dedication
• (2). A document they agreed to
• (3). A document of importance
(B). The Promise in The Document.
• (1). Generally (vs 28-29).
• (2). Specifically (vs 30-39).
• (a). domestic - mixed marriages (vs 30)
• (b). commercial - Sabbath trading (vs 31)
• (c). agricultural - seventh-year laws (vs 31)
• (d). social - cancellation of debts (vs 31)
• (e). religious - support of God’s house (vs 32)
• (f). economic - regular contributions (vs 38).
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• Listen to a person pray in Chinese or Japanese or Swahili or Maninka,
• Or German or French or Russian or Arabic,
• And very likely there is at least one word you will understand: “Amen”
• It may be pronounced slightly differently but it is always discernible.
• Because in most languages of the world the word “Amen”
• Has been adopted into their languages - transliterated rather than translated.
• The word, “Amen” simply means, `So be it!' or 'So it is!'
• Or 'Steadfast!' Meaning we are determined to stick by the words just spoken!
• TRANSITION: The theme of our last talk (chapter 9) was confession,
• The people repented and confessed their sins in order to get right with God.
Ill:
• As an aside: when I go on mission to Moldova,
• The believers there never ask, “When did you become a Christian?”
• Instead they ask, “When did you repent?”
• Repentance is a key factor is salvation, it reminds us why we need to be saved!
• But repentance is never a ‘one-off’ we all need times of reflection and repentance.
In Nehemiah chapter 9, the people showed their repentance was more than just words,
• They backed up their words with actions,
• e.g. They put on sackcloth and ashes and they fasted.
• And the chapter concluded with the people making an agreement with God.
• They were determined that this was a new start, a new way of living.
• (Chapter 9 verse 38):
“‘In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are affixing their seals to it.’”
• And that is where the word, “Amen” comes into the story.
• Although the word “Amen” is not literally recorded in the chapter.
• The meaning of it is very clear that these people were 'Steadfast!'
• Meaning they were determined to stick by the words just spoken!
(A). The Document of Promise.
Ill:
• In Thornton Wilder’s play The Skin of Our Teeth (Harper Collins Perennial Classics).
• The character Mrs. Antrobus says to her husband,
“I didn’t marry you because you were perfect.
I married you because you gave me a promise.”
She takes off her ring and looks at it.
“That promise made up for your faults and the promise I gave you made up for mine.
Two imperfect people got married, and it was the promise that made the marriage.”
• TRANSITION: Very insightful words,
• In this chapter (#10) the imperfect people make a promise to a perfect God.
• When it comes to a promise, we can be sure of this,
• If God makes it, then he will keep it!
• Sadly, when we make a promise, too often we end up saying,
• “Sorry but promises are meant to be broken”
• Quote: Danish Proverb: “Eggs and oaths are easily broken”
• Quote: Norman Vincent Peale
• “Promises are like crying babies in a theatre, they should be carried out at once.”
• In this chapter the people waste no time acting on their promise,
• They put ink to paper as a reminder of their commitment to keep their promises.
(1). A document of Dedication.
• Chapter 9 verse 38 describes it as,
• “a binding agreement, putting it in writing”
• It was an official contract between the people and the Lord,
• Written to re-establish new priorities built on God’s laws.
• Note: That is the big idea in this chapter, don’t miss it!
• The people make a commitment to God, putting him first in ALL areas of their lives.
Scan down to verse 29 of chapter 10 and you get 2 more words describing the document:
• “Bind themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God given through Moses”
• “Curse” and “Oath”
• Curse might seem a strange word, it carries the idea that if you break the oath,
• You get all the negatives of a curse, a punishment, a penalty.
• It again illustrates the point that these people,
• We aware of the seriousness of making a promise, a vow to God.
• Quote: the German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche:
• “One must have a good memory to be able to keep the promises one makes.”
• Because the weakest ink is more powerful than most of our memories,
• They chose to write down their commitment to God.
Application #1: Should a Christian make vows to God?
• Well you will not be surprised to know that Christians are divided on this issue,
• Some say, “Yes” and others, “No”
Ill:
• Personally, I have only made three vows or promises to God that I can think of.
• The first at my conversion, I promised to follow him all the days of my life!
• The second at a missionary meeting,
• I promised that I would obey his call on my life and serve him in ‘full-time’ ministry.
• (we are of course all in full-time ministry, but you know what I mean)
• The third was on my wedding day 26th May 1997,
• When Penny and I made promises to each other before God and those gathered.
Quote:
• I like what the great Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon wrote many years ago,
• (Autobiography [Banner of Truth], 1:103):
“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.”
• TRANSITION: Like Spurgeon I would suggest that a daily walk with God,
• Will keep our faith fresh and deepen our love for the Lord,
• And motivate us to want to please and obey him.
Ill:
• One night a man came to faith in Christ,
• When he went home, he picked up a pen and a sheet of plain A4 paper.
• He started to write down all the things in his life that were wrong and need to change,
• He soon fills both sides of the paper.
• He was going to sign the paper as a commitment to Christ,
• But felt uncomfortable about it.
• So, he screwed up the paper and threw it in the bin.
• Then he picked up another sheet of blanc paper,
• He signed it and prayer, “Lord you fill it in!”
• TRANSITION: That man knew his life was not right,
• But he allowed the Lord to change him day by day,
• As he sought to walk and obey him.
• Well as Christians are divided on this issue, some say, “Yes” and others, “No”
• You will have to follow your own conscience on making promises/vows to God.
• But remember the words of Solomon (Ecclesiastes chapter 5 verses 4-6b):
“When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfil it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfil your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfil it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin.”
(2). A document they agreed to
Ill:
• In the UK one of the great documents ever signed was on 15 June 1215.
• It is commonly called The Magna Carta (also Magna Charta; "Great Charter").
• It is a charter of rights agreed to by King John of England.
• And as the old joke goes,
• Where was the Magna Carta signed?
• (Answer: at the bottom! Correct answer: Runnymede, near Windsor, England).
• TRANSITION:
• The chapter lists the names of the leaders who signed the agreement/covenant.
• Nehemiah’s name is first on the list,
• Another 83 people write on the dotted line and make an agreement with the Lord.
• Verses 1-10: We have the names of twenty-two priests.
• Verses 9-13: We have the names of seventeen Levites.
• Verses 14-27: We have the names of forty-four leaders of the people.
• In verses 28 & 29, the rest of the people join their leaders in making the promise,
• Quote/Paraphrase verse 28a from The Living Translation:
“These men signed on behalf of the entire nation—for the common people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the choir members, the Temple servants, and all the rest who, with their wives and sons and daughters who were old enough to understand.”
The point for us is that those in leadership set the example for the others:
• They put their names on the dotted line,
• And committed themselves to do what they expected the people under them to do.
• It was a case of follow our example and not a case of do as I say and not as I do!
Ill:
• A mother was telling-off her teenage son for not telling the truth.
• “Johnny,” she said sternly, “do you know what happens teenage boys who tell lies?”
• The cheeky chap looked her in the eye and responded,
• “Yes, they get into the cinema for half price”
• TRANSITION: If as parents we want our kids to tell the truth,
• They must see that quality lived out in us.
• Good parenting is always following our example,
• And never a case of do as I say and not as I do!
In the family, in the church, or in the business world,
• Leaders must set the example by applying God’s truth to their everyday lives.
• To preach one message and live differently is hypocrisy,
• And people will only follow hypocrites in hypocrisy, and not in true godliness.
(3). A document of importance.
Ill:
• Just as our own Magna Carta, was one of the most important documents in history,
• It established the principle that everyone is subject to the law, even the king,
• And it guarantees the rights of individuals, the right to justice and the right to a fair trial.
• TRANSITION: So also, this document was very important,
• It has been described as the birth certificate of a spiritually reborn nation.
• It told friends and enemies alike of the people’s decision to change their ways.
• That these people meant business with their God.
Ill:
• A man in a second-hand book shop came across a very old book.
• Even though the cover was damaged, and spine broken and some of the pages loose,
• He still felt he had to have it.
• Two weeks after he purchased the book, he received an envelope through the post,
• It contained three yellow and worn pages from the book he had bought.
• A note from the shop keeper said,
"These pages belong to you. While tidying up the area of my shop where the book had been kept, I found these pages that had fallen out of your book.
When you purchased the book, I thought I was selling it to you complete, so you must have these pages too."
• TRANSITION: When we come to Christ for salvation,
• We come giving our all, our total selves, according to our understanding at that time.
• As we grow in understanding and experience other matters come to light,
• And we find that we must make further commitments to God.
• We say, in effect,
"Lord, I meant to give you all, but I’ve found these other matters in the tiding process you carry on in my life. Now these things belong to you."
• That is what is happening in this document,
• They are tidying up their lives and committing themselves to God.
(A). The Document of Promise.
(B). The Promise in The Document.
• As we look inside this document,
• We will take a quick general look and then a more specific look at their promises.
(1). Generally: The Word of God (vs 28-29).
“The rest of the people – priests, Levites, gatekeepers, musicians, temple servants and all who separated themselves from the neighbouring peoples for the sake of the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand – all these now join their fellow Israelites the nobles, and bind themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God given through Moses the servant of God and to obey carefully all the commands, regulations and decrees of the Lord our Lord”
• Twice in these two verses the, “Law of God,” is referred to,
• And verse 29 concludes with the words,
• “to obey carefully all the commands, regulations and decrees of the Lord our Lord”
• These people are separating themselves from the other nations,
• And from the nation where they had been living in captivity for seventy years.
• They are clearly saying, “The others may live like this, but not us!
• From now on we march to the beat of a different drum”
Pause to say:
• For us as Christians, please do not take separation as isolation,
• Sadly, some Christians have been socially distancing themselves for years!
• Not for fear of Covid-19 but for fear of contamination by the world!
The Bible says:
• “We are in the world but not of the world” (1 John 2:15)
• It also says, “We are the light of the world” - not the light of the Church (Matthew 5:14)
• Light shines best in darkness!
• So, we are called to mix and mingle with the people around us,
• Because we are in the world.
• But are behaviour, our morals, our language, our attitudes are different,
• Because we are not of the world.
• And as people observe us, get to know us, so they should notice a positive difference.
• “See our light shine…and glorify our Father in heaven” - (Matthew 5:16)
• So, generally.
• This document shows that the people were committed to the Word of God
(1). Specifically.
• Specifically: This document shows that the people made certain promises.
• These were not broad statements,
• But vows that would impact on every area of their lives.
Ill:
• I mentioned earlier that at my wedding I made a public vow,
• Words that in any other context would be viewed as mistaken or foolish.
• Because in a wedding vow you promise,
“…to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part,”
• To make that sort of pledge to a person is crazy, unless you add one ingredient,
• As soon as you add the ingredient of ‘love’ it is no longer mad,
• But it is a deepening, an expression of your love.
• It is love in the relationship that changes everything!
• TRANSITION:
• The pledges/vows/promises these people are making have that added ingredient of love.
• And that is why they are happy to let God be part of all their lives!
Pledge #1: domestic - mixed marriages (vs 30).
• ‘Mixed’ marriages here (and elsewhere in the Bible),
• Are not referring to the colour of a person’s skin etc,
• But rather to a person’s faith or lack of faith.
• In chapter 9 they had already separated themselves from these wrong relationships.
• Now they agreed not to intermarry with the people of other lands.
Ill:
• Often through these marriages the new partner came with their own beliefs,
• These beliefs inevitably involved heathen gods and idolatry,
• Which was a constant plague to the Jewish people.
• How could families hope to follow the true God,
• If husband and wife were worshipping different gods,
• And expressed they both expressed their faith in totally different ways?
• It would have been ‘an accident waiting to happen’
• A new start with God meant dealing with idolatry and false religion,
• And so the people pledged not to intermarry with the people of other lands.
Application:
Ill:
• These verses from the Old Testament should be a “wake-up call” to Christians,
• Who think they can marry someone and not be influenced by their beliefs or faith.
• The Bible says Solomon was the wisest man who had lived at that time,
• Yet even he got swept up into idolatry by his unbelieving wives.
• (1 Kings chapter 11 verses 1-4)
• TRANSITION: The Christian who wants to ‘seek first the kingdom of God’
• (Matthew chapter 6 verse 33), Will struggle to do that,
• If their closest relationship after the Lord is someone who does not want to follow him.
• The apostle Paul teaches In 1 Corinthians 7, and 2 Corinthians 6
• That if you’re not yet married and want to,
• Make sure you marry a believer.
• And if you’ve become a Christian and your partner hasn’t yet,
• Stay with them, and pray for them, but don’t leave them.
• The issue was not primarily one of marriage but of purity.
• Purity in marriage: Marry in the faith.
Pledge #2: commercial - Sabbath trading – (vs 31).
• The people agreed not to conduct business on the Sabbath,
• And to follow Sabbath law
• (vs 31).
Ill:
• The Jews kept one day for God, The Sabbath.
• The Sabbath begins at nightfall on Friday and lasts until nightfall on Saturday.
• Jews often call the day ‘Shabbat’, which is Hebrew for ‘Sabbath’,
• And which comes from the Hebrew word for ‘rest.’
Application:
• The Jewish people met to worship together on the Sabbath.
• But Christians started meeting on Sundays and called it, ‘The Lord’s Day’
• (see Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2).
• Observing a Sabbath day of rest/non-work was a command in the Old Covenant law,
• (Exodus 20:8; 31:12–18).
• But Christians are not under the Old Covenant law but under a New Covenant.
• Nowhere in the New Testament are Christians called to keep a Sabbath day.
• The principle being, everyday is ‘The Lord’s Day’
• But keeping a day separate is a great principle,
• And necessary if we are going to meet together collectively for worship and teaching.
• Each Christian must work-out what they feel is important, their priorities,
• Regarding, ‘The Lord’s Day’
• And that will be reflected in what they do and don’t do.
Pledge #3: agricultural - seventh-year laws (vs 31)
• We often forget that the Sabbath affected far more than one day a week,
• Leviticus chapter 25 verses 1-7 also teaches about ‘The Sabbath year’.
• e.g. Farmers allowed fields to go fallow for a year,
• Leaving their fields uncultivated allowed the nutrients in the soil to build up
• This allowed the soil to restore itself and keep its productivity long term.
Practically this was again a step of faith,
• Not only did they lose a years income from that field,
• But it meant they had to trust God for two years of food,
• Knowing that their field would be ought of use the following year.
Pledge #4: Social - cancellation of debts (vs 31).
• The people agreed to cancel debts,
• (Exodus 23:10-11; Leviticus 25:1-7; Deuteronomy 15:1-6).
• Now if you are the one in debt, “What a great idea!”
• But again, there was a cost involved though these very practical actions of worship.
• In the ancient world, there was a seven-year cycle of forgiving debts.
• What a wonderful demonstration of forgiveness and grace and mercy.
• What an acknowledgment that all belongs to God.
Application:
• The motivation to cancel other peoples debts,
• Is a realisation that we have been forgiven much.
• Let’s never forget where we were when God found us – spiritually bankrupt!
• We who have received mercy should be merciful.
Quote: Pastor and author Paul Rees once said:
“Stewardship is not the leaving of a tip on God’s table cloth, it’s the confession of an un-payable debt at God’s Calvary. Unless you give because you want to say thank you, please don’t give out of guilt or obligation, because the Lord loves a cheerful giver.”
• Forgiving someone a debt that they are struggling to repay or cannot repay,
• Is a great way to say “thank you” to the Lord,
• The one who paid our unpayable debt.
Pledge #5: Religious - support of God’s house (vs 32-35)
• The people agreed to give support the work of the priests in the temple.
• The priests could not do a secular job because their time was taken up in the temple,
• So, it was up to the people of God to support them financially.
• No priests, no sacrifices, and of course, no new start!
Notice that it was not just the few, not just the wealthy who promised to give.
• That little phrase, “We assume responsibility” occurs twice, in verse 32 and 35.
• Each family took their turn to be responsible for the upkeep of God’s house,
• They did it on a rota basis.
• They added in verse 39. “We will not neglect the house of our God”
• Notice it is one or the other.
• Either we assume responsibility or we are neglecting the ministry.
• The well known preacher from a past generation Stephen Olford put it more bluntly.
• He said, “Either we are tithers or robbers”.
• (we will come back to tithing in a minute)
Application:
• In both the Old Testament and New Testament God’s model for ministry is the same.
• He wants and expects his people to support his work.
• It is this financial support that enables Christian workers, missionaries, and pastors,
• To serve God without worrying about where their next meal is coming from.
• (2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9).
Ill:
• William Carey, was that founder of the English Baptist Missionary Society (1792),
• He was a lifelong missionary to India.
• Often called, ‘The Father of Modern Missions’
• Told his supporters,
• “I will venture to go down but remember that you - my brothers - must hold the ropes!"
• Missionaries today continue to go “down into the mine” today,
• And we are called to hold the ropes,
• And if we let go…. they fall!
Pledge #6: Economic - regular contributions (vs 38).
• The people agreed to tithe.
• The word, ‘tithe’ means, ‘a tenth’
• The Jews agreed to bring a tenth of their produce to the Lord each year.
• (Leviticus chapter 27 verses 30-34)
• The Jews then gave a tithe of the tithe to the priests.
• (Numbers chapter 18 verses 25-32).
• They also tithed 90% of what was left and took it to the temple for the annual feasts.
• (Deuteronomy chapter 26 verses 1-11).
• To these two tithes were added a third tithe,
• Received every third year for the poor (vs 12-15 & 14: 28-29).
Ill:
• The people’s tithes were like a thermostat.
• When the people were spiritually hot, right with God,
• The tithes were good, and the people were faithful in giving them.
• When the people were spiritually lukewarm or cold, not right with God,
• The tithes dried up and the priests and the poor suffered.
• (2 Chronicles 31:1-12 & Malachi 3:8-11)
Application:
Ill:
• The great Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon,
• Once told his congregation, with his usual bluntness,
• “As you have done to others so the Lord will do unto you, so open your pockets….”
• TRANSITION: Every Christian is called to ‘open their pockets’
• We are all called to give.
• But there is no New Testament command for Christians to tithe.
The Bible teaches:
• e.g. 2 Corinthians chapter 9 verse 7,
• “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart.”
• If under the law the Jews gave 10%,
• Then under grace as Christians 10% might be a good place to start!
• “But each one” – Every Christian is given the freedom,
• To think through and pray about what we should give to the Lord and his work.
In conclusion:
• The Israelites’ initial promise is to obey God’s Word,
• This was the general stipulation.
• It was followed by a number of promises (vv30-39),
• Of how that obedience was to be worked out in precise issues of personal,
• family and community life.
Ill:
• A man had just finishing concreting his driveway.
• He went inside his house for a cold drink,
• And as he looks out the window, he sees his neighbour’s boy,
• Has picked up a stick and is writing and drawing in the fresh concrete.
• He runs outside and yells at the boy, chasing him away.
• He then resmooths the concrete and goes back inside his hose.
• His wife hearing the noise said,
• “Why did you yell at him? I thought you liked him?”
• The man replied,
• “I love him in the abstract, but I don’t love him in the concrete.”
• TRANSITION:
• Abstract of course is a good idea but with no substance or concrete existence.
• One of the dangers for us as Christians regarding spiritual truth.
• We love it in the abstract, but we don’t like it in the concrete.
• When truth gets too specific, when it means that I actually need to change my life,
• That for some believers is going too far!
• Obedience is at the heart of the Christian faith – or it should be!
• It is the normal Christian life!
• Otherwise the expression, ‘Jesus is Lord’ is in the abstract but not in the concreate.
• So, the big idea in this chapter:
• Was to make a commitment to God to put him first in ALL areas of their lives.
• May that be our desire as well.
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=GSgaVTMnmGoWF06pGlS7zmx3AH56GlV3
SERMON VIDEIO:
https://youtu.be/UqAUjIpfEMQ
