The rest of the people – the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants, along with their wives, sons, and daughters, everyone who is able to understand and who has separated themselves from the surrounding peoples to obey the law of God – join with their noble brothers and commit themselves with a sworn oath to follow the law of God given through God’s servant Moses and to carefully obey all the commands, ordinances, and statutes of Yahweh our Lord. Nehemiah 10:28-29 HCSB
The President of the United States takes an oath to protect the American people and to uphold the laws and Constitution of the United States. Other government officials and judges take similar oaths. Similarly, when someone marries, a vow is spoken to love and cherish his/her husband or wife in sickness or health, in riches or poverty, in good times and bad until death. Vows and oaths are meaningless if the person making them is insincere.
The people made an oath to follow the laws of God and to carefully obey all the commands, ordinances, and statutes of Yahweh the Lord that were given to Moses. The Israelites had made this promise many times before but had been deceived and followed other gods. The Israelites returned to Jerusalem from exile and recommitted to do what God had commanded. God knows what is best for us. His laws exist to protect us and give us abundant life. Too many times the devil twists the truth and tempts us to think that abundant life is in the world and disobeying God’s laws and direction.
Challenge: If you have fallen away and not followed God the way you should, make a vow to read God’s Word, learn what He wants you to do, and then follow His will and direction for your life. Do not be deceived by the devil and the ways of the world. Abundant life is only found in Jesus and through following God’s way
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