Today’s passage: Nehemiah 10
Helpful thoughts:
- The first 27 verses list the names of the leaders who signed the covenant which we just read in chapter 9.
- This covenant was signed by leadership but the whole of the people pledged to follow it. The “curse and oath” formalized the commitment of all the nation to follow God’s law.
- Much of the second half of this chapter details the changes needed for the people to continue keeping the law. With a reduction in population and tough economic conditions, there needed to be changes to ensure the people could obey the Lord.
Questions to consider:
- Why would these displays of unity among the leadership and among the people be so critical in encouraging the Jews as they moved forward? Does one person’s passion and commitment make a church healthy?
- How does their tithing prove to be so important in continuing the worship for the people in Israel? What are their tithes used to provide? How did that provide for the spiritual health of the nation? How can that be related and applied today to the church?
- What does it look like to “Not neglect the house of our God” today? Was this vow just about the building or was it more than that? How can you purposefully contribute and serve for the good of God’s house? (1 Corinthians 3:5-17)