Nehemiah 10:1-39 - Homilies By W. Clarkson

Entering into covenant.

Nehemiah and Ezra, and those who acted with them, showed true insight into character when they provided—

I. THAT STRONG RELIGIOUS FEELING SHOULD TAKE DEFINITE FORM . "Because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, set their seal unto it" ( Nehemiah 9:38 ). And Nehemiah and Zidkijah (Zadok), and many others, priests, Levites, and heads of families, formally signed and sealed a solemn covenant, pledging themselves and the people generally to a purer and more loyal service of the Lord. Feeling was running strong m Jerusalem. Many things concurred to call it forth. At the great gathering which followed the feast of tabernacles it rose to its height; the multitude had to be calmed by the leaders ( Nehemiah 8:9 ); then followed a day of fasting and confession; when all the people drew very near to God in humiliation. In what should it all end? Should it pass off in emotion, in religious excitement? That would have been a serious mistake. Nehemiah wisely provided that they should formally and solemnly pledge themselves to the purer and worthier service of Jehovah, turning from evils which had grown up, and returning to duties which had been neglected. He was well sustained by all in this movement, and we have a long list of the influential men who added their seals to his, committing themselves and all whom they represented to a renewed and revived national holiness. Let strong feeling in

II. THAT A RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT SHOULD BE HEADED BY A FEW , BUT SHOULD HAVE THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF ALL (verses 1-29). "Those that sealed" were less than a hundred (verses 1-27); these were leading men, "nobles," few enough for their names to be attached to the roll and to be entered in our sacred Scriptures, there enjoying an honourable immortality which many that have taken great pains to secure, it will assuredly miss; but "the rest of the people," including "porters, stagers, Nethinims,… "their wives, their sons, and their daughters" (verse 28), all these "clave to their brethren, the nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath" (verse 29). They publicly and audibly swore to "walk in God's law," thus sustaining all that the leaders initiated. All movements of revival, and indeed of any religious action or undertaking, must be orderly; there must be leaders who will give direction and counsel; also general followers who will give practical and cordial concurrence. God would not have an ill-regulated service, in which is confusion and haphazard, nor yet does he desire a mere representative service, in which a few act for the many without their sympathy. All must join—

III. THAT THE " VOWS OF GOD " SHOULD BE NOT ONLY GENERAL , BUT PARTICULAR . These Jews vowed "to walk in God's law,.; to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our God, and his judgments and his statutes" (verse 29); but they were not content with such a general covenant: they undertook to refrain from particular evils—from forbidden marriage alliances (verse 30), sabbath breaking, usury (verse 31); and also to discharge particular obligations—they charged themselves with

There are times of revival and reconsecration in the lives of men and the history of Churches. These are irregular, coming in the grace of God we know not when or whence. "The wind bloweth where it listeth," etc. ( John 3:8 ). And regular : anniversaries, festivals, etc.—times when we are moved to consecrate or reconsecrate ourselves to the service of the Saviour. These should be used for a solemn and thorough devotedness of ourselves and our possessions; and they should comprise the deliberate separation of ourselves from worldly entanglements (verse 30), from neglect of ordinances (verse 31), from injustice and hardness, from all pressure of legal right which is indistinguishable from unchristian severity (verse 31), and the deliberate resolution to worship the Lord and dedicate a good share of our material resources to his service and the glory of his name.—C.