“Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document

are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests

Nehemiah 9:38. 

Nehemiah 10

Recurrent Thought

Every so often, Individuals and Organisations need renewal in their systems and structure. This is better done through the renewal of Priorities that describe and define them

The Narratives of Nehemiah recounts both the Rebuilding of the City walls and the Rebuilding of a People. The rebuilding of a people included the transformation of hearts, through confession and repentance and a commitment to follow the priorities that Yahweh God deemed important for them. Chapter 10, narrates a covenant writing ceremony that underscores the pursuit of specific spiritual priorities of a nation, which are also applicable to individuals. A Priority is a thing (task, commitment, assignment, lifestyle) that is regarded as more important than others. Renewing our Spiritual priorities refers to the practice of arranging one’s life, decisions, and time to place God, spiritual growth, and eternal values above temporary, material, or earthly concerns.

We should observe that the assembly during which the community of the believers encountered God can be likened to a spiritual retreat. This was a dedicated, intentional pause from the daily grind to re-center, reconnect, and renew their spiritual lives. As a side note, we must understand that the essence or significance of a retreat lies in holding silence, solitude, and intentionality in its purpose. This assembly in Ch. 9 captures the heart of a retreat.

Nehemiah 10 narrates a formal, verbal, public and written covenant renewal where 84 Leaders, Priests, and Levites, followed by the Community, covenant with God. Following a period of repentance in Chapter 9, the leaders, priests, and people in Nehemiah 10 bound themselves with a curse and an oath to adhere to specific, practical, and sacrificial commitments, highlighting that genuine spiritual renewal requires actionable changes in life (Chapter 8 they hear the Word, Chapter 9 they confess and Chapter 10 they commit). The covenant was signed by leaders and embraced by the people, creating a united, accountable community. This corporate commitment provided strength in numbers and a shared dedication to God's laws, preventing individual backsliding. It marks a shift from physical rebuilding to spiritual reformation

Based on the impact of this ceremony and many examples in scripture, it behooves us to occasionally pause (retreat) and evaluate our commitment to things that are priorities in our lives. This is both true for individuals and organizations (or nations). Assessing the veracity (reliability) of your priorities is an accountability issue and expresses your leadership fortitude (stamina).

The People of Israel after reflecting on the Word of God made renewal of Four Spiritual Priorities

1. Observance of God’s Word
   • Led by leaders, the community committed to Scriptural Authority (10:29). The People committed to have the Word of the Lord as the source of their guidance and direction in life.
   • The Word of God provides wisdom for life, and grants You capacity to be different and through it you manifest superior lives (2 Peter 1:3-4)
   • 2Pe 1:3  His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 
   • 2Pe 1:4  by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 
   • Biblical renewal or revival always begins with Scripture. The people had just listened to the Law being read in Nehemiah 8 and the reaction was, to follow its command faithfully.
   • Spiritual renewal begins when believers commit themselves to obey the Word of God. Nehemiah 10:29 shows the people making a solemn covenant to walk in God's law. They did not merely admire the Word, but committed to obey it. Scriptures are useful for our wellbeing. However, the Scriptures are like a compass, they are only useful if we follow them. Many believers know Scriptures but ignore their direction.
   • The People took responsibility for their obedience. Nehemiah 10:28 "Everyone having knowledge and having understanding."
   • Obedience was not just national but personal. Faith cannot be inherited; it must be practiced personally.
   • To ensure adherence, the People bound themselves with an Oath of Commitment
   • They recognized that breaking covenant with God brings consequences. This stressed loyalty and faithfulness. One thing you notice is how they bind themselves with an Oath. Neh. 10:29 They entered into a curse, and into an oath."
2. Relational Separation
   • The people committed not to intermarry with neighboring, idolatrous nations. Neh.10:30 "We would not give our daughters unto the people of the land."
   • This separation was not merely about race but was a religious commitment to prevent falling into idolatry and compromised lifestyles enticed by surrounding cultures.
   • Relational Purity demands that by being separate a person or a community adheres to their identity, cultural beliefs and sense of destiny.
   • Why was this relational purity necessary? It ensured that their spirituality was not diluted and their land allotment was not compromised. Scripture warns that wrong alliances destroy faith. Of the truth, Salt loses its effectiveness when it becomes diluted.
   • The Principle of Relational Separation is relatable to us as Christians: God demands that we should not be unequally Yoked with non-believers.  2Cor. 6:14-18
   • Marrying people of different faiths is prohibited and dangerous at the same time. When you as a believer, deliberately marries a nonbeliever or a person of another faith, it means you enter a union of opposite perspectives, morals, and ultimate life goals. 
   • True spiritual renewal produces a clear decision to separate from influences that lead us away from God. 
   • The Principle of Relational Separation underscores the truth that renewed faith refuses spiritual compromise therefore, believers must guard their relationships.
3. Spiritual Regularity
   • A commitment was made to keep the Sabbaths as holy-days of worship (10:31). They made a pledge to stop trading on the Sabbath (Neh. 10:3). With this covenant, they restored the Sabbath principle which demanded that worship must have priority over commerce and convenience.
   • Observance of the Sabbath stands on the principle of Spiritual Regularity.
   • Spiritual Regularity means the consistent, disciplined, and daily practice of spiritual habits, such as prayer, meditation, study, and reflection.
   • According to Lev 23:1-5 it states that Sabbath Days and Years were appointed times and days for holy assembly, to worship the Lord and rest for the community. We have Sabbath Years included also. When God sent the Children of Israel in Exile for 70 Years, he was rescuing (resting) the Land that had never rested for 490 Years.
   • Keeping Sabbaths demonstrated a trust in God’s provision who provides in the times of your rest.
   • Notice that all Ten Commandments are repeated as binding for Believers in the NT. But we must hasten that the actual observance of the Sabbath is uniquely for the Jews. Jesus said man was not made for Sabbath but the Sabbath was meant for People.
   • Mar 2:27  And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 
   • Mar 2:28  So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.
   • Jesus meant that the day of rest is a divine gift designed for human benefit, rather than a rigid legalistic burden. Additionally, Paul says one man may esteem one day over the other days. Pick a day you enjoy as a holy-day (Sabbath)
   • Rom 14:4  Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 
   • Rom 14:5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 
   • The NT Church chose Sunday, the resurrection day, as the day of public worship.
   • As a believer you must make a Commitment that going for public worship at church must be a weekly (Regular) activity. Others go twice a month. It must be a priority over work, business, vocation etc. Why weekly? Because you are exposed to many other things that shape your reality. Therefore, coming to God once a week is to re-orient our way of life. Time in the presence of God is a detox from many things that shape us wrongly.
   • Today many believers cancel worship for work, sports, or entertainment. To properly disciple someone, we must emphasize to them that worship must not compete with the world. We must protect time devoted to God.
4. Devoted Resources (10:32-39)
   • The people pledged to support the Temple with their resources. This they would do by paying a yearly tax, providing wood for sacrifices, and giving first fruits tithes (10:32-39). The phrase “house of our God” comes 9 times. A temple annual tax was given to remind Gods people that they were redeemed. This section shows how they committed to a dedicated, systematic giving of tithes and first fruits for the priests and Levites (Neh. 10:35-39). The devoted resources came in all forms: Financial and in Kind.
   • They voluntarily committed resources to maintain public worship. It revealed a fundamental value that providing devoted resources to the Lord was not a loss, but a participation in God's work. This commitment ensured that the house of God was not neglected. This showed a priority of worship over personal gain
   • They covenanted to hold Financial Responsibility over the activities of the House of God
   • These people are not rich. They are heavily taxed. In Ch. 5 they complained about tax, yet they committed to take care of the House of God.
   • The people covenanted and committed to a lasting care of the house of God. They declared, "We will not neglect the house of our God" (10:39), marking a shift from momentary emotion to a sustained, long-term commitment to God.  We are going to fund the public worship in the house of our God.
   • In every revival, spiritual priorities are drastically renewed, which also leads to a renewed devotion of God's house.
   • Jesus said render to Caesar what is the Caesar’s and render to God what is His. The house of the Lord must be taken care of by the resources of the people that are blessed through it. He also stated in Mathew 6:33 for us to “Seek he first the Kingdom of God . . .”
   • Why should we fund Christian Mission? We are God’s Children and are obligated to partner and sponsor Gods Work. Know that evil is fully funded and sponsored by the Devils kids. Truth and Righteousness must be funded by Christians.
   • Giving to God’s work reflects our priorities. Where your treasure is, your heart will follow.
   • Being a Partner does not mean you must have plenty. It is a commitment we make to ensure that we take care of the house of God.
   • To care for the Work of God we must be driven by Generosity.
   • Generosity is the mindset and attitude of freely sharing your resources such as time, skills, and finances without expecting any return. Kingdom Partners are generous with their resources driven by the commitment that the Mission of God is never neglected.
   • Just as the People committed we too can commit and declare "We will not neglect the house of our God" (10:39)

Conclusion

Experiencing Spiritual Renewal is an intentional activity. Revival is triggered by our deliberateness in renewing our spiritual priorities. This begins by hearing, confessing and committing to necessary changes and actions.

Questions for Discussions

1. Which Amongst the Four Priorities was difficult for you to understand?
2. Making a covenant ceremony public, helps to set it priorities in ways to easily remember them.  What other ways can we entrench our priorities in memory?
3. Caring for the Temple Ministry regularly face so many difficulties. List reasons for why this happens.