Rev Wendell

THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE COVENANT

PROCLAMATION
“They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of The Lord our Lord, and His judgments and His statutes.” Nehemiah 10:29 (KJV)

EXPLANATION
The Bible Book of Nehemiah was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Nehemiah, the cupbearer to Artaxerxes the king of Persia. Chapter ten begins with a listing of the names of the people who sealed the new covenant. (Nehemiah 10:1-27) The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, and the temple servants, along with all who separated themselves from the people of the land, took an oath not to give their daughters to the people of this land or to take their daughters for their sons. (Nehemiah 19:28-30) They also agreed not to buy any goods or grain from the people of the land on the Sabbath or any holy day. They pledged to bring money, bread, grain, and meat for burnt offerings and certain feasts. They agreed to dedicate their first born sons to The Lord as it is written in the law. They agreed to bring the first fruits of their crops, cattle, and herds to the house of The Lord as their tithes. The children of Israel and the children of Levi agreed to bring offerings of new wine and oil to the temple to fill the vessels of the sanctuary. (Nehemiah 10:31-39)

APPLICATION
It is not good enough to just read The Word of God, or to listen to it being proclaimed, or to recite verses from it, we must also be committed to live by it. “… Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:18) Our actions will speak much louder than any words we will ever say. When we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior, we agreed to follow Him and His teachings. Our faith without works is dead. (James 2:26) We must “walk the walk, and not just talk the talk.” (Unknown) We need to walk in the way of righteousness. (Proverbs 2:20 and 8:20) Our baptism will not save us; it is only an outward display of our inner commitment. Our behavior and our lifestyle says more about us that our words. Christ said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)

THE PEOPLE CONFESSED

PROCLAMATION
“Then all the assembly replied with a loud voice, ‘It is our duty to do exactly as you have said.’ ” Ezra 10:12 (KJV)

EXPLANATION
The Bible Book of Ezra was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Ezra the scribe and priest and historical Bible scholar, according to Jewish tradition. While Ezra was praying, weeping, and making confession lying prostrate in the house of God, a large crowd gathered around him and they wept. Shecaniah the son of Jehiel son of Elam said, “We have been unfaithful to our God and married foreign women … let us make a covenant with our God to send away all the wives and their children … and let it be done according to the Law.” (Ezra 10:1-3) Then the priests, and the Levites, and all of the people present took the oath. Ezra issued a proclamation throughout all of Judah and Benjamin to all of the exiles to meet in Jerusalem in three days. When they all were assembled in the public square, trembling because of their situation and the rain, Ezra stood up and said, “You have been unfaithful and married foreign wives, adding to the guilt of Israel. Now therefore, make a confession to The Lord God … and separate yourselves from the people of the land and from the foreign wives.” All the assembly agreed with a loud voice. (Ezra 10:4-12) Chapter ten ends with a list of the names of all the men of Israel who had taken foreign wives including the priests, and the Levites, and the singers. (Ezra 10:18-44)

APPLICATION
When these people were called out, and told of their sin, they stopped doing wrong and took actions to correct their mistakes. We should do likewise. “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” (Maya Angelou) None of us is perfect. “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” (Vince Lombardi) Or as I would prefer to say, “Perfection is not attainable, but it is a goal that is well worth striving for.” (Wendell Wharton) We should all pray to The Lord God to help us become more Christ-like each day.

EZRA WAS PUT IN CHARGE

PROCLAMATION
“And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand; set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.” Ezra 7:25 (KJV)

EXPLANATION
The Bible Book of Ezra was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Ezra the scribe and priest and historical Bible scholar, according to Jewish tradition. After the people celebrated the Passover, when Artaxerxes was king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, from the line of Aaron the priest, went up from Babylon to Jerusalem. (Ezra 7:1-8) Ezra had prepared to study the Law of The Lord, and to do it, and to teach it to the people of Israel. He had in his possession a letter from King Artaxerxes which decreed that all of the people of Israel who wanted to go to Jerusalem with him could go. The king also decreed that they could carry gold and silver from Babylon along with a freewill offering from the people of the land. (Ezra 7:9-16) The king told Ezra to buy whatever was needed for the house of God. If anything else was needed, it could be given to him out of the king’s treasure house. (Ezra 7:17-20) He also decreed that it was not lawful to touch, impose a toll or custom on any of the priest, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, or any other servants of the house of God. Ezra was given the authority to appoint magistrates and judges for the people. The king said that whosoever did not obey the law would be judged and either put to death, banished, or imprisoned and his goods confiscated. (Ezra 7:21-26) Ezra said, “Blessed be The Lord God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of The Lord which is in Jerusalem. … And I was strengthened as the hand of The Lord my God was upon me, and I gathered … men to go up with me.” (Ezra 7:27-28)

APPLICATION
Ezra was prepared to study The Word of God, to live it, and to teach it to others (Ezra 7:10) before he was promoted and put in charge. (Ezra 7:25) Promotion comes from the hand of God. “Promotion cometh neither from the east, nor the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge; He putteth down one, and setteth up another.” (Psalm 75:6-7) The Lord God had blessed each one of us with a gift or talent. The Bible says, “A man’s gift maketh room for him …” (Proverbs 18:16) Maybe if we exercise our gift more often, and use it for the glory of God, then we would see how God uses us in different arenas. Believers should prepare themselves for promotions with more prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and Bible study, (2 Timothy 2:15) and then become doers of The Word and live it. (James 1:22)