DAY

ONE: [Re]read Nehemiah 10-11 (text below). Weve provided the text for 10:28-114a. Feel free to read the first 10:1-27 & 11:4b-36 on your own. Use the note column to the right to jot down words or phrases that stick out to you.

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Nehemiah 10:28-11:4a

28 The rest of the peoplepriests, Levites, gatekeepers, musicians, temple servants and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples for the sake of the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand 29 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. 30 We promise not to give our daughters in marriage to the peoples around us or take their daughters for our sons. 31 When the neighboring peoples bring merchandise or grain to sell on the Sabbath, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day. Every seventh year we will forgo working the land and will cancel all debts. 32 We assume the responsibility for carrying out the commands to give a third of a shekel[b] each year for the service of the house of our God: 33 for the bread set out on the table; for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings; for the offerings on the Sabbaths, at the New Moon feasts and at the appointed festivals; for the holy offerings; for sin offerings[c] to make atonement for

Notes:

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Israel; and for all the duties of the house of our God. 34 Wethe priests, the Levites and the peoplehave cast lots to determine when each of our families is to bring to the house of our God at set times each year a contribution of wood to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the Law. 35 We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the Lord each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree. 36 As it is also written in the Law, we will bring the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, of our herds and of our flocks to the house of our God, to the priests ministering there. 37 Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and olive oil. And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work. 38 A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury. 39 The people of Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new wine and olive oil to the storerooms, where the articles for the sanctuary and for the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the musicians are also kept. We will not neglect the house of our God. The New Residents of Jerusalem

Notes: .

11 Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem.

The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten of them to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns. 2 The people commended all who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. 3 These are the provincial leaders who settled in Jerusalem (now some Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants and descendants of Solomons servants lived in the towns of Judah, each on their own property in the various towns, 4 while other people from both Judah and Benjamin lived in Jerusalem).

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 DAY TWO: Nehemiah 9:38 leads right in to chapter 10. It is an agreement of the people, stating: 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. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament says it this way: Because of all this we made a firm covenant and wrote it down. Our leaders and priests set their seal to it. Its clear from the expression because of all this that this chapter is connected to the previous one The author describes a covenant renewal, after the confession of sin in ch. 9. This approach to solving the problem is understandable. They must come into a new relationship with the LORD. ~ F. Charles Fensham (pg. 234, The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah) Chapter 10:1-27 is a listing of the 84 names of the Israelites who signed this covenant. Why would the Israelites feel compelled to sign this covenant? Take a closer look at the list of names found in Nehemiah 10:1-27. Look at the order in which they are given. Who is listed first? What groups of people are listed after (verses 2b-8)? Who was third (vs. 9)? Who was listed forth? (vs. 14) [Re]member that in 9:38 that this covenant was signed and sealed. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, also had his own seal that was used to show his firm belief. He thought it important for followers of Christ to also be in covenant with each other and with God. Wesleys Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition. is #607 in The United Methodist Hymnal. It was part of the Covenant Renewal Service developed by John Wesley and used by Methodists in Britain regularly since 1755. The God to whom the Covenant Prayer is addressed is the God who is revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The prayer is a description of what is required of people who take up Jesus challenge when he said, If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me (Luke 9:23). John Wesleys Signet 89

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 The God addressed in the Covenant Prayer is the One into whom we are baptized. The prayer is a reaffirmation of the baptismal promises to: renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races The God addressed in the Covenant Prayer is the One who invites us to his table where he offers his flesh and blood in the form of bread and wine when we pray Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at his heavenly banquet. The Covenant Prayer is a radical declaration of love and loyalty to the God whose nature and name is Love. I say radical because the prayer directs those who pray it to the source, or origin, of love and life. It re-focuses our life upon the One who is Love. It re-orders and re-aligns our life and mission with the life and mission of God. It is a pledge of missional discipleship that directs us beyond ourselves, towards unity with Christ in the world that God loves. Here is the Wesleys covenant prayer: I am no longer my own but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you, exalted for you or brought low for you. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal. And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours. So be it. And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

What are your thoughts on Wesleys covenant prayer? 90

 DAY THREE: [Re]read Nehemiah 10:28-29. God had shaken up the comfortable complacency of the people of Israel. They had accomplished a great task with Gods help. They had confessed their sins and further, moved to true repentance. The people of God did three things in their move from disobedience to obedience to God: They made their repentant declaration public. (Neh. 9:38-10:27) They made an oath committing to a new way of living. (Neh. 10:28-29) They made their actions specific. (Neh. 10:30-39) Nehemiah, the priests, Levites and leaders having sealed the document, the next step was to seal the covenant with the people through a ceremony of taking an oath. This was an important part of making the covenant effectual. The people had to take an oath to keep the stipulations of the covenant. Interestingly, there is the mention of a curse (v. 29). The curse was closing connected to the oath. If the oath is broken, the curse will come into effect. The breaking of the oath of the covenant automatically results in the curse. It was a very important oath that the Jews had taken. All in the community who were clean and separated from foreigners took on themselves to keep and practice the law of God the Torah. With the renewal of the covenant they came into a renewed relationship with God, a relationship of obedience to God. Fast-forward 2500 years to 2012. Are there reasons we as the church and as individuals should do as the ancient Israelites did? Do blessings in our personal lives and as a church require repentance and the application of an oath or vow? What does all this mean in light of what Jesus said? Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made. But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is Gods throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply Yes or No; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Matt. 5:33-37)

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 When Jesus warns of the breaking of vows and other oaths, he is most likely quoting from Deuteronomy 23:23. His point is that one should tell the truth and keep ones promises. The Old Testament approved of some oaths and vows (see, Num. 5:19-22; 6:2), but Jesus again summons us beyond the Laws letter to its intention. Jesus point is not so much that oaths are evil as that the motivation for engaging in them can be; one should simply tell the truth (Mt 5:37). The point of Matthew 5 is integrity. Since God witnesses every word we say anyway, we should be able to tell the truth without having to call God to witness by a formal oath. Just as heaven, earth and Jerusalem belong to God (Mt 5:34-35), so do the hairs on our heads (5:36); although we can dye our hair, we have no genuine control over its aging. All oaths implicitly call God to witness, because everything that exists was made by him. For Jesus, no aspect of life is outside the realm of God. The issue is telling the truth, because God witnesses every word we speak. When we lie to cover ourselves from those we think would think less of us, we forget that one day God will expose all the secrets of our hearts anyway (Mt 10:26). When we lightly commit ourselves to others and then unnecessarily fail to follow-through, we act unjustly and deceitfully, even if in a relatively minor way. How much more when we make promises in business deals, or make still more lasting vows such as to God and the church are we acting unjustly or deceitfully? Why is it that so many take breaking vows (promises) to God so lightly?

NEXT STEPS:
Pray the Wesley Covenant Prayer (on page 90) and contemplate how it might re-focus your spiritual life.

DAY FOUR: [Re]read 10:28-39. The Israelite people join together in agreeing to this new covenant with God. How did the Israelites renew their covenant with God?

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 What areas of life were affected by their agreement with God? In what concrete ways did the people plan to show their devotion to God? What specifications did the people make about their gifts to the temple? (vs. 32-39) Why does God desire the first and best of peoples resources? What principles from Israels covenant with God are applicable to us today?

GIFTS is one of the five areas of the discipleship process. (A commitment to develop and
use all the gifts that God gives to us.) To honor and care for the gift of all resources; To practice responsible living; To strive for simplicity rather than excessive consumption and to practice generosity; To tithe of our income; To utilize our gifts, talents and abilities to serve God and to show his love. 93


When we surrender every area of our lives-- including our finances--to God, then we are free to trust Him to meet our needs. But if we would rather hold tightly to those things that we possess, then we find ourselves in bondage to those very things. ~ Larry Burkett

Explain the importance of your tithing. What do we receive in return when we give money to the church?

You dont give for Gods sake. You give for your sake. The purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God first in your lives. (Deut. 14:23) How does tithing teach you? Consider the simple act of writing a check for the offering. First you enter the date. Already you are reminded that you are a time-bound creature and every possession you have will rust or burn. Best to give it while you can. Then you enter the name of the one whom you are giving the money. If the bank would cash it, youd write it to God. But they wont, so you write the name of the church or group that has earned your trust. Next comes the amount. Ahh, the moment of truth. Youre more than a person with a checkbook. Youre David, placing a stone in the sling. Youre Peter, one foot on the boat, one foot on the lake. Youre a little boy in a big crowd. A picnic lunch is all the Teacher needs, but its all you have. What will you do? Sling the stone? Take the step? Give the meal? Careful now, dont move too quickly. You arent just entering an amount you are making a confession. A confession that God owns it anyway. And then the line in the lower left-hand corner on which you write what the check is for. Hard to know what to put. Its for the light bills and literature. A little bit of outreach. A little bit of salary. Better yet, its partial payment for what the church has done to help you raise your family keep your own priorities sorted out tune you in to his ever-nearness. Or, perhaps, best yet, its for you. Its a moment for you to clip yet another strand from the rope of earth so that when he returns you wont be tied up. (from When God Whispers Your Name by Max Lucado) 94

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DAY FIVE: [Re]read 11:1-4a. In all ages, people have preferred their own ease and comfort to the sacrifice for the good or interest others. Its just human nature. Even mature Christians, church leaders and clergy too often seek their own interests, and not the things of Christ. Very few disciples have had such attachment to the things of God and the purpose of God as to renounce their connection to material stuff. Yet, we ought to delight and seek-out godly people, places and opportunities where spiritual growth and faithfulness thrive. If we do not have a love for the presence of God the holy city and the things that enhance our relationship with Jesus here and now, what makes us think we will when we depart this life and live in his presence forever? To those completely attached to the worldly things of this life, the perfect holiness of the New Jerusalem would be still harder to bear than the holiness of Gods presence on earth. For the ten percent of people chosen by lot to dwell in Jerusalem in Nehemiahs day, it was considered a privilege not a burden to dwell in the place of God's presence. Read Matthew 6:25-34. Often, we seek first what shall we eat, drink and wear, or where we live or what we drive, and then hope God will grant us access to His Kingdom as well. Jesus doesnt mean that what we eat, drink and wear doesnt matter. He is not suggesting we starve ourselves and wear rags. Jesus liked a good party and banquet! At the cross, the soldiers admired his tunic enough they threw dice for it rather than toss it in the dumpster. But, Jesus point was priorities. Put the things of this world first and it rusts and gets moth-eaten. Put God first, and the things of God first, and the world gets thrown in as a bonus. Thoughts: In the beginning of this study, as part of the introduction, a list of Covenant Group Questions was provided. The questions on the following page are a means to help you stay accountable to the discipleship process. Weve included a list of these questions again below. They are questions that we challenge you to ask each other during your next small group session. 95

 I commit to this rule of life and to the well being of this community, out of gratitude to God who forgives, heals, and makes all things new. May my life be a blessing within and beyond Gods church, for the transformation of the world.

Covenant Group Questions

Prayers
q q q q Did you spend time daily reflectively reading Gods Word? How did you experience prayer daily since we last met? How did you experience fasting since we last met? How can we support you in the development of your prayer practices?

Presence
q In what ways were you present to your inner life? Your significant others? Your work or school associates? Your neighbors? q How did you practice hospitality to your neighbors in your family, neighborhood, and workplace since we last met? q How have you been present to our faith community through participation in our worship, fellowship and mission since we last met?

Gifts
q Since we last met how have you honored and cared for the gift of the earth and its resources? How have you practiced ecologically responsible living, striving for simplicity rather than excessive consumption? q In what ways have you practiced generosity in sharing your material resources, including money, within and beyond this community since we last met? q How have you used your spiritual gifts, talents and abilities to serve God within and beyond this community since we last met?

Service
q As you served God and neighbor since we last met, how have you nurtured a spirit of gratitude within yourself? q In what ways have you struggled with temptation and sin since we last met? q How have you practiced Sabbath for your own rest and renewal since we last met? q How can we support you in your journey toward wholeness and trust in Gods love until we meet again?

Witness
q In what ways have you been an active agent of reconciliation since we last met? How can we support you in this process? q In what ways have you engaged in resistance against evil and injustice since we last met? How can we support you in this process? q In what ways have you shared the redeeming, healing, creative love of God in word, deed and presence as an invitation to others to experience the transforming love of God, since we last met?

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