Pledges
Read Nehemiah 10:30–39. What are four things the Israelites pledged
to do as part of the renewed covenant?
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The people pledged the following:
1. No mixed marriages (no marriage to an individual who could lead
one into idolatry),
2. True Sabbath observance (no distractions through business trans-
actions),
3. Debt cancelation and sabbatical year observance to care for the
poor and give them freedom,
4. Financially supporting the temple, its services, and personnel
through bringing the firstfruits, the firstborn, and the tithe, thus ensur-
ing the continuation of true worship.
The first three pledges related to relationships with others (marriage
and debt cancellation) and with God (Sabbath), while the last one (Neh.
10:32–39) deals with temple regulations.
The goal of the community was to demonstrate that the people were
committed to the covenant, and therefore would implement practical
ways of building their relationship with God and others. Even if they
didn’t always keep the covenant perfectly, they understood that right
habits and practices would influence the future. If the Israelite nation
was going to get on the right path, it had to establish practices and
habits that would be conducive to where it wanted to be. If the people
wanted to have a close walk with God, then making the Sabbath impor-
tant and taking care of the temple were important steps in that direction.
Unfortunately, they didn’t keep their pledges very well, as demon-
strated in the last chapters of Nehemiah. Yet, even if everyone didn’t
keep them, some or many people did. With God’s help and keeping our
focus on Him, we can develop the right habits and stick to the right
path.
“Through the right exercise of the will, an entire change may be
made in your life. By yielding up your will to Christ, you ally
yourself with the power that is above all principalities and pow-
ers. You will have strength from above to hold you steadfast, and
thus through constant surrender to God you will be enabled to
live the new life, even the life of faith.”—Ellen G. White, Steps to
Christ, p. 48. What’s holding you back from experiencing what’s
written here?
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