Nehemiah 10

So, the people had returned from exile. They had rebuilt the temple and the Jerusalem wall. They had heard the law proclaimed from the temple steps and been appalled that they had fallen so far from God’s ideal. They resolved to do better. And so they entered into a covenant, a signed contract with God. They promised to obey everything God had asked them to do:

"The rest of the people—priests, Levites, gatekeepers, musicians, temple servants and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples for the sake of the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand—all these now join their fellow Israelites the nobles, and bind themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God given through Moses the servant of God and to obey carefully all the commands, regulations and decrees of the Lord our Lord." (vs 28-29)

I thought the italicized phrase in that Scripture passage was interesting. To me, it almost evoked the idea of, We will do this... or else. And now many of us haven’t, at one time or another, approached a goal that way? Whether it’s losing weight, exercising more, learning an instrument, or keeping a cleaner house, we’ve all had the experience of trying to "white-knuckle" it when it comes to something we know we should do, but maybe don’t want to.

So, we bind ourselves with curses and oaths. We swear to punish ourselves if we fail. Or we swear to reward ourselves if we succeed. Does that sound familiar? How has your success rate been with that sort of system? Do you typically find yourself reaching the goals you set? Or do you find yourself failing and starting over time and time again? (I fall into the latter category.)

Not to spoil what’s to come, but the Israelites are also going to find themselves again in the latter category. This signed covenant isn’t going to help them adhere to their promises, and they will once again veer off-course.

I wonder if that’s because the Israelites were still trying to "white-knuckle" it. They were still trying to bind themselves with curses and oaths instead of coming to God and admitting that they were helpless to change. Some time later, it seems Paul had gotten the message loud and clear, because he wrote, "I can (only) do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil 4:13)

Yes, I added the "only." But it’s true. The more we try to do something in our strength, the more we will fail. It’s when we cry out to God and admit that we don’t have what it takes to change ourselves that He is enabled to work in us to effect the change we so desperately need. Until we are willing to humble ourselves in this way, however, we will continue to find ourselves chained to the cycle of curses and oaths.

God doesn’t want us to be chained up! He wants us to be free! And today, He has all the strength you need to accomplish whatever it is you’re running after. So, don’t go the route of the white knuckles. Don’t be determined to find success on your own. Go to your source of strength. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!