Best Intentions of Man (04/17/23)

Nehemiah 10

4/18/2023

Image by b0red from Pixabay.

Subscribe here:
Read: Nehemiah 10 (AMP)
Biblical Lesson…

Continuing with last week's theme, Nehemiah explains how the priests, Levites and the Israelites display their best intentions to reestablish and adhere to "God's Laws" through formalizing it in writing.  This writing was a declaration of Israel's intention to fulfill their obligations to "God's Laws" to not neglect the house of the Lord again.

Regarding the concept of covenant, read the following:

  1. Exodus 19, 24 - First (verbal) agreement of Israel to Mosaic covenant.

  2. Joshua 24 - Second (verbal) agreement of Israel to Mosaic covenant.

  3. Matthew 5:17-20, 33-37 - Jesus and Mosaic Law and Jesus' guidance about pledging/vowing.

Today's Version…

How does this look today? Do you think God Almighty cares about whether your agreement was verbal or written? In your country, consider the declarations that your ancestors made to govern the land. What are the similarities and/or differences between such governmental declarations and that which was made in Nehemiah 10? For those in the United States, check out the text of the Declaration of Independence. What connects this document to God's Laws, if any?

What to do…

Challenges this week:

  1. Pray and journal your answers to the question above.

  2. Now ponder Matthew 5:17-20, 33-37. 

    • What is your personal standard regarding pledges/oaths? Does it align with Jesus' view? Why or why not?  

    • What does Matthew 5:17-20 mean to you?

    • Discuss these passages with someone you know well and someone you don't know well. Listen to their perspective and discover something new about them.