Journal Through the Bible: Week 104 Friday

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Nehemiah chapter 10

Does God issue any commands?

• God did not give new commandments here but the people had recently heard those that were given in the law of Moses. Many of the leading men signed a covenant promising to keep God's commandments. As governor, Nehemiah's signature was first.  
• The people specifically mentioned the laws that God had given Moses concerning the Sabbath day, the Sabbath year, not intermarrying with their neighbors, the Temple upkeep, and the system of sacrifices and offerings.

Does God make any promises?

• Not specifically but the implication is that if the people kept the covenant, which their ancestors had not done, they would not suffer punishment such as had befallen the generation before them.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath.
• Jesus sets us free (as illustrated by the Sabbath year).
• Jesus is God and He and as Light He has no fellowship with darkness (as per not intermarrying; He remained pure in spite of living among men).
• Jesus is our Temple.
• Jesus is our sacrifice, our offering, and the first-fruits.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• God is the great covenant-keeper. One day the testament signed in the blood of His Son will be ratified and those under the covenant will inherit the land that has been promised to them. Not only does this mean that the Jewish nation will be given all that has been promised to them (it does mean that, too) but as the Apostle Paul told the Gentile believers, we also will inherit as the people of God based upon the merits of Jesus Christ and His righteousness.