“They swore a curse on themselves if they failed to obey the Law of God as issued by his servant Moses. They solemnly promised to carefully follow all the commands, regulations, and decrees of the Lord our Lord…”
Nehemiah 10:29b-30a NLT
Last time we saw the first steps of the repentant group: all the folk joining their leaders to obey. Today we see how.
“They swore on themselves a curse…” Curse in this verse is shebuah – perjury, oath. The first part of verse 29 we read last time talks about the oath, whereas today we see the curse. However, in the Hebrew it is seamless: “They entered into an oath and a curse.”
They promised and would perjure themselves, come upon a curse, if they failed to walk (halak) in the torah (direction, instruction, ruling, teaching) of God (Elohim).
In working with high-needs students, I feel God has given me a teensy glimpse of this desire that His people walk in His direction, follow His teaching. Like most teachers, I want to dole out praise, give rewards, and learn collectively how to best understand school and life. Unfortunately, like most teachers, I regularly have to do the opposite. Just like me, students often have to experience the negative of a ruling before motivated toward the positive.
I find myself wanting to plead with kids: “Just listen! Obey and see how much better it will go for you!” And when they barely begin to head in the right direction, I’m so overjoyed. How much more a Master Teacher, Perfect Father toward His people? With no dark side, and an all-seeing perspective, He knows how much better it will go for us when we walk in the direction of His instruction.
“…[They solemnly promised to] observe and do all the mitzvah of Yahweh our Adonai…”
Observe here is shamar (to watch, keep watch, preserve, attend, be careful, bodyguard, defend, pay attention, secure, take care, wait), and do is asah (accomplish). And what are they paying attention to and accomplishing?
All the commandments (mitzvah: prescribed, terms; from tsavah – conditions, law, ordinance, precept, lay charge upon) of Yahweh.
I wrote before about the difference between mitsvah and other commands:
“This word mistvah is distinct from torah in that it also includes ‘moral kindness in keeping the law.’ There are 613 mitzvot (plural of mitsvah). However, because the Temple is no longer in tact – and because Israel is not the theocratic state it was before – Jewish scholars list 271 mitzvot which are still to be followed today. (source)
And let’s remember together these precepts are not just moral, individualistic rules. Rather, these were statutes that showed how justice and love come together communally. We as a Body cannot assume to ignore the corporate law and expect no correction.”
These mitsvot were the charges of Yahweh to His people. They were to keep watch, pay careful attention to them, yes, but also actually live them out, accomplish them in their lives.
I’ve got to ask what moral kindness in keeping the law might look like given our global virus situation? While panic is the last thing we need, taking serious the effect of this on our communities should be priority. Our family knows we are in a privileged situation compared to many. So what does it look like to prepare but not hoard, follow precautions even though we feel healthy to protect those who would be most affected, and let go of what is most convenient for us so the larger whole is well? And, of course as Believers, follow the necessary precautions while entrusting our very selves to our Creator?
May we as His people be the most others-centered, heart-calming influences in following communal charges.
Not only were torah and mitzvah solemnly promised to be observed, but our group also vowed to obey His ordinances (mishpat – due justice, kind manner, proper regulation, rightful sentence, worthy verdict, proper decree) and statutes (choq – allotment, boundaries, conditions, limit, fixed order, permission, required amount, commandment, decreed, appointment).
I’m so glad the heartbeat of the galaxies is one of justice, healthy boundaries, kindness, and permission. A perfect blend of grace and truth. Grace and Truth incarnate. Remember these are pleasing rules, faithful statutes, and beautiful commands. No harsh authoritarian or corrupt dictator to worry about.
Just a God Who knows the number of hairs on our head, the cattle on a thousand hills, and, hopefully, the puppies in every yard. Mine keeps running along the (broken) fence in our backyard, keeping his eye on me for an opportunity to escape (again). When he does, he’s put in a more restrictive fenced area until next time. Yes, violations of limits yield rightful sentencing. They would not be limits without it.
And, yet, he’s mine. Ours. I have no intention of casting aside a puppy for disobeying any more than I plan to stop teaching a student who is struggling to self-regulate. Not because I’m so kind, but because this kind of Love has loved me first.
He’s the God Who stays, and I’m so glad.