Our Declaration of Dependence

“In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, Levites and our priests are affixing their seals to it.”  Nehemiah 9:38 

In the summer of 1776, fifty-six men signed a paper declaring themselves and their thirteen colonies free from British rule.  Years of conflict with the crown over taxation without representation resulted in this “Declaration of Independence.”  The members of the Continental Congress who picked up the pen were so serious about the subject that they signed their names, leaving a public record of their protest and their plans.  With their signatures now in ink, not one of them could deny their commitment to the cause, and the revolution charged full-steam ahead. 

The men in Nehemiah’s day also signed a script, but their declaration was of dependence not independence and of recommitment instead of revolt.  A review of God’s faithfulness and their failures caused them to understand their current distress and the consequences of disobedience, so “in view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, Levites and our priests are affixing their seals to it”(Neh. 9:38).

Eighty-four men signed with their seals, and “the rest of the people…joined their brothers the nobles, and bound themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God…and to obey carefully all the commands, regulations, and decrees of the Lord our God”(Neh. 10:28-29).

The people knew they needed God’s help, they knew obedience brought his blessing, and they knew that taking care of God’s house was a priority over their own, so they publicly committed to love God and live it out.  They were so serious about the subject that they “bound themselves with a curse and an oath” and promised to not let their daughters marry heathens, to not work on the Sabbath day or the seventh year, and to provide supplies for the temple.  “We will not neglect the house of our God”(Neh 10:39).  By stamping their seals on the scroll, the men and their families would now be held accountable by God and by others to keep their word—and His. 

These days we rarely sign our names to something spiritual, but recently filling out our family’s commitment card to help build a new outreach center at our church and then reading this passage today has started me thinking.  Perhaps there are times when, at least privately, we should review God’s faithfulness in the past and His promises for the future and should literally write down our recommitment to love the Lord our God completely, to love others unselfishly, and to live for His glory. 

Sometimes our signature helps make something more serious.  Search your soul, confess your sin, celebrate God’s grace, and sign away. 

In view of all He has done, how can we do less?