Neh 10:39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.

Nehemiah chapter 10 records the returned Jews, led by their chiefs, pledged to abide by the covenant of God. They “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).

These are some of the things they pledged to do:

1. Promise of obedience to all the laws of God (verse 29).

2. Not to intermarry with the heathen (verse 30).

3. Not to do business on the sabbath and other holy days (verse 31).

4. Not to demand the payment of any debt on the seventh year, as commanded in the Law (Deuteronomy 15:2) (verse 31b).

5. Contribute to the support of the temple, its ministers and services (verses 32-39).

They ended the service with this resolution: "We will not forsake the house of our God" (verse 39a).

In the book of Haggai, the returned Jews were rebuked for neglecting the building of the house of God to take care of their own businesses (Haggai 1). They forsook the house of God through neglect.

In the same way we can forsake the house of God through an intentional neglect of our duties to it:

1. BY WITHHOLDING OUR GIVING – God asks: “Will a man rob God?” (Malachi 3:8). Material blessings are gifts from God. We rob God when we withhold our giving to Him. It shows a heart of ingratitude and lack of love for Him.

2. BY WITHHOLDING OUR TALENTS. God is the giver of our talents (Matthew 25:15). He wants us to use the talents He has given us to serve Him. Unfortunately, many use the talents that God has given them to serve the world and fulfil their own selfish lusts. They become rich in the world but not in the kingdom of God. One day, we will all have to give an account of the talents that God has given to us (Matthew 25:19).

3. BY FAILURE TO ATTEND THE SERVICES IN THE HOUSE OF GOD. When we forsake the worship assembly, we forsake the house of God. Worship is our foremost Christian duty and we are commanded not to forsake the assembling of the saints (Hebrews 10:25).

4. BY FAILURE TO ATTEND TO THE SERVICES OF THE CHURCH OF GOD. Our Lord says: “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Matthew 4:10). Our second duty to God is to serve Him: “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17). We are saved by a faith that is active in its services to God. We forsake the house of God when we fail to render our services to it.

The Jews made a covenant not to forsake the house of God. Ought we, who are under the New Covenant, who enjoy better blessings than them, be any less committed than them? Paul sent Timothy to the Philippians and said he does not know anyone else who will naturally care for their state (Philippians 2:19-21), adding that all care for their own things and not the things of the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you care for the things of God?

Those who love God also love His house. Temptations in the present day lead to a neglect of public worship, unbelief, disobedience, worldliness, and lack of interest in the services of God. The sealing represents a renewal of the commitment to God. Likewise, let us pledge ourselves "not to forsake the house of our God."

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.