The mark of true repentance (Neh 10)
Neh 9:38; 10:1-39
A month or so after a Billy Graham crusade, someone in my youth group who ‘went forward’ was expressing her disappointment. The initial glow from her decision had faded and she wondered where God was. She felt that nothing had changed and God had failed her. It was hard to know what exactly happened, but I am sure of one thing: God did not fail her. She was possibly swayed by the crowd and the atmosphere of that event without fully understanding the gospel. Like the seed that fell on rocky soil in Jesus’ parable (Mk 4:16-19), she rejoiced in the gospel, but it could not take root in her life or, if it did to some extent, it was choked by the pleasures and worries of the mundane. She did not understand that repenting so that her life might improve was the wrong reason for choosing God and that she could not enjoy the benefits of a new life if she continued to live without God.
Repentance and action
The exiles understood fully that repentance was no guarantee that God would improve their lot, but they were committed to Him, nonetheless. They recognised that confession of sin must be followed by turning away from sin and, to that end, they made a written agreement signed by their leaders (Neh 9:38; 10:1-27). The passage is at great pains to describe all who were involved, stressing thereby that every single one of them was committed, not only their leaders (Neh 10:28-29). In earlier times, animals were cut up and the covenant partners walked among the pieces, effectively saying ‘May it happen to me as it did to these animals if I break my word and go against the agreement’ (Jer 34:18-20; Gen 15:9-10, 17).[1] It is likely that a similar ceremony was enacted by the exiles. Clearly, they took their obligation very seriously.
Specifics – intermarriage
They pledged themselves to obey God’s will as expressed in the law (v.29), but they also noted specific practices, where they felt that they were more susceptible to compromise. Our vulnerabilities may be different, but it is helpful in our commitment to focus not only on the general but also on the particulars where we are prone to sin. For the exiles, intermarriage with pagans was perceived as an open door to the worship of other gods that needed to be closed (Neh 10:30; Deut 7:3-4) and it is a reminder for us to shut down avenues of temptation that lead us into seeking fulfilment outside of God or putting our trust in things that are not God (what essentially defines idolatry).
Specifics – Sabbath
Sabbath, which in the exiles’ thinking is extended to the prohibition of selling and buying goods (Neh 10:31), symbolised Israel’s trust in the God who gives generously for their needs, so that they can have a weekly rhythm of rest, as well as a seven-yearly cycle of letting the land rest and releasing fellow Israelites from the toil of repaying a debt (often as slaves). In other words, Sabbath-keeping is a testimony to the God who provides and marks out Israel as a people of rest who can afford to be generous in extending rest to others, too. What, then, marks us out as Christians today? Jesus says that our distinctive attribute should be loving others with His sacrificial love (John 13:34-35). Wouldn’t it be wonderful if being a Christian was synonymous with Christ-like love, whether it involved giving our time, money, effort, or our very lives to help and love others?
Specifics – providing for worship and those in ministry
Finally, the exiles commit to providing for the worship in the temple and for the needs of the temple personnel, who are in effect in full-time ministry (Neh 10:32-39). Such giving from the populace was particularly challenging when famine and economic hardship hit them and when survival took precedence over giving to God. In these Covid times when churches struggle financially, giving for God’s work is likewise demanding and for many, it is not the highest priority. Yet, all these aspects to the exiles’ commitment lead us back to the heart of this chapter’s challenge: true repentance leads to genuine change. May we be people who keep being transformed into God’s likeness as we seek Him.
[1] Significantly, in the covenant with Abraham only God walks among the cut-up pieces symbolised by the firepot and torch (Gen 15:17). This indicates that the emphasis is on God’s commitment to fulfil His promises.
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