The rules have changed....

So I was reading the book of Nehemiah…..can I just say how much I love the book of Nehemiah.

Anyway, I was reading in chapter 10 this morning and Nehemiah has helped to reestablish the Israelites back home in the city, the wall has been built and now the people are celebrating. In the middle of the party, the law that had defined the children of Israel was brought out and read. As the people hear all that God wanted them to do, they realize how far they have strayed from that plan.

Chapters 9 and 10 is a list of all the great things God did for the people even when they were way off base and doing things that were wrong. Chapter 10 is a vow. The people agree to a list of things and decide to start living their lives as God had planned long ago.

Verse 31 says, “We also promise that if the people of the land should bring any merchandise or grain to be sold on the Sabbath or on any other holy day, we will refuse to buy it.”

Can imagine such a thing?  In this day and age when everything is open all the time, can you imagine if believers jointly agreed to not “buy merchandise or grain on the Sabbath.”

I find it interesting that this is found in scripture.  Each year, Shane’s employer is open 365 days a year – even holidays. And it never fails that each holiday, people come in and say they can’t believe they are open. Shane always says he thinks to himself, “but you’re here!  If you wouldn’t buy on a holiday, the company would not be open on the holiday.” 

I enjoy the convenience of things being open and available around the clock, don’t get me wrong. But I do think it is interesting that Nehemiah and the leaders of Israel agreed to not buy merchandise or grain on the Sabbath.
Toward the end of Chapter 10, there are specific agreements reached to tithe and give to God and to the church. As a modern church, is that a rule we’ve slipped away from?

I find it interesting that both these concepts are ones that we as a modern civilization have strayed away from and yet, the Israelites saw it as such an important belief system they made a standing vow to hold to it. And in turn, God blessed them for being faithful.

Have the rules changed? Do they need to change back???