Community in Covenant

Nehemiah 10

Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah, Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests.

The Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, and Kadmiel. Their brethren: Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah, Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Bani, and Beninu. The leaders of the people: Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai, Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, Ahijah, Hanan, Anan, Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.

The Leaders

Now the rest of the people--the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Nethinim, 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, everyone who had knowledge and understanding--

And everyone else

these joined with their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse and 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 ordinances and His statutes:

Made an oath regarding

We would not give our daughters as wives to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons;

if the peoples of the land brought wares or any grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we would not buy it from them on the Sabbath, or on a holy day; and we would forego the seventh year's produce and the exacting of every debt.

Exclusivity & The Sabbath

Also we made ordinances for ourselves, to exact from ourselves yearly one-third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God:

for the showbread, for the regular grain offering, for the regular burnt offering of the Sabbaths, the New Moons, and the set feasts; for the holy things, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and all the work of the house of our God.

We cast lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for bringing the wood offering into the house of our God, according to our fathers' houses, at the appointed times year by year, to burn on the altar of the LORD our God as it is written in the Law.

Reinstating Temple Services

And we made ordinances to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, to the house of the LORD;

to bring the firstborn of our sons and our cattle, as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and our flocks, to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God;

to bring the firstfruits of our dough, our offerings, the fruit from all kinds of trees, the new wine and oil, to the priests, to the storerooms of the house of our God; and to bring the tithes of our land to the Levites, for the Levites should receive the tithes in all our farming communities.

And the priest, the descendant of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes; and the Levites shall bring up a tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the rooms of the storehouse.

For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the grain, of the new wine and the oil, to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are, where the priests who minister and the gatekeepers and the singers are; and we will not neglect the house of our God.

Tithing & Temple Support

• Unity in the Community

• Recognized the importance of God’s blessing

• Tried their best to please God

The Importance of Community Life

• Us and God, us and God’s community

• Us & God’s community

– Husband & Wife

– Parents & children

– Brothers & Sisters

– Shepherd & Flock

Is there any difference then & now?

Similarities

• Covenant Communities

• Unity in Leadership, together with the people

• Love God

• Desire to experience God’s favor & blessings

• Willingly entered into covenant

Differences

#1:

Neh 10:29

these joined with their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse and 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 ordinances and His statutes:

#1: Different Covenants

Galatians 3:10 - For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them."

Galatians 3:13 - Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree" ),

#1: Different Covenants

• Instead of curses, we receive blessings & promises

2 Peter 1:3-4as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

We are discovering the awesome promises that have been given to us, and in so doing, experience His abundance together!

As A New Covenant Community

#2:

Neh 10:30-31

We would not give our daughters as wives to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons;

if the peoples of the land brought wares or any grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we would not buy it from them on the Sabbath, or on a holy day;

#2: Exclusive vs Inclusive

• Law separates, Love unites

Eph 2: 11-12Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands-- that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

#2: Exclusive vs Inclusive

• Law separates, Love unites

Eph 2: 13-14

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation

John 13:34-35

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

The more we know His love for us and in us, we grow together in loving, caring and helping one another!

As A New Covenant Community

#3:

Neh 10:32- 39

Also we made ordinances for ourselves, to exact from ourselves yearly one-third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God…bring firstfruits, firstborn…to the house of our God…39b…and we will not neglect the house of our God.

#3: We are God’s Temple

1 Corinthians 6:19

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

#3: We are God’s Temple

Before the cross, it was ‘take from the people and give to God’;

Then Jesus fulfilled ALL the righteous requirements of the law and exhausted God’s anger on sin.

Now it is ‘take from God’s abundance to give to others’

#3: We are God’s Temple

• As His temple, we now represent the Person of God to the world!

2 Corinthians 2:14

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

#3: We are God’s Temple

• As His temple, God is reminded of the work of His Son every time He sees the Church!

2 Corinthians 2:15

For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.

#3: We are God’s Temple

• The Spirit dwells in us to lead us on our journey of discovery

1 Corinthians 2:12

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

#3: We are God’s Temple

• The Spirit empowers us to fulfill His purposes

Eph 3:16

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

His Spirit lives in us individually and collectively, enabling us to discover God’s promises and to love one another!

As A New Covenant Community

Disclaimer: WIP!

God is in the process of working in and on our lives individually, and collectively.

Give yourself, and each other time.

• We discover abundant life together

• Along this journey of discovery, we love one another and help each other

• His Spirit that lives in all of us and will enable us to discover God’s promises and to love one another. (still a WIP: ‘all creation eagerly awaits the revealing of the sons of God’

As A New Covenant Community

Together, we are:

• Powerful

• Fully equipped with diverse gifts

• His beautiful bride, and He LOVES us!

As A New Covenant Community