Finding Satisfaction in Surrender

Taught by Arlene
Notes by Linda

Today Arlene covered Nehemiah 10. The message she taught from this chapter might not be evident in a quick read. Through a deeper study of the word, Arlene covered the important biblical principle of surrender. This is relevant to all of our lives.

Chapter 9 ends with “In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are affixing their seals to it” (Neh. 9:38). The question Arlene asked was ‘in view of what ? what had happened in chapter 9?’. As you might remember, the preceding chapter was a prayer to the Lord by the Levites. This prayer recounted the Lord’s enduring love for the nation of Israel. This puts Nehemiah 9:38 in context: ‘In view of all this’….’this’ refers to the Lord’s faithful love. Because of this love the Israelites are ‘cutting covenant’ with the Lord. They want to put in writing their pledge of obedience to the Lord.

Verses 1 through 27 list the family names of the people who signed this covenant. It should be noted that Nehemiah and Ezra were at the top of the list – the leaders. In verse 28 and 29 we see that all the people who were able to understand and had separated themselves from the neighboring pagans ‘..all these now join their brothers 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 (Nehemiah 10:29, emphasis mine)’. The remainder of the chapter details specific portions of the law that they are pledging to obey. Arlene stressed that they are promising to obey all, not just what had been singled out.

Verses 30 through 37 details specific commands of the Lord that the Israelites are pledging to obey.

Verse 30: They will not marry pagans. It was important that God’s people remained distinct.
Verse 31: They would honor the Sabbath as a day of rest.
Verse 32 – 34: They would maintain the Temple.
Verse 35-36: An acknowledgment that everything they had belonged to the Lord.
Verse 37: They would tithe to the Lord.

Arlene pointed out that the focus of these pledges was not so much about the physical activity of the commands themselves. As you look at them as a whole you can see that the spiritual life of the people is the focus. Over the preceding years this had been neglected. The Israelites are showing their love and gratitude to God. They are focusing on spiritual health. They are surrendering to God!

This brings us to the meat of the lesson. Arlene taught us that as the Israelites surrendered their lives to the Lord we should (and can!) do the same. She did this by first showing us what an un-surrendered life looks like. She then gave us a clear picture of what a surrendered life looks like. To emphasize the surrendered life Arlene used Isaiah 30:1-19 ; using scripture to teach scripture.

Picture of an Un-surrendered Life

1)An un-surrendered life does not consult God in times of adversity (Isaiah 30:1-5). In these verses we see that Syria had attacked Israel and Israel sought the help of Egypt (a noted world power) for deliverance from their enemy. They did not turn to the Lord. God says ‘Woe to the obstinate children," declares the LORD, "to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin’ (Isaiah 30:1). Arlene asked us where we turn for help in times of adversity. She had us think about some alliances we might have made without consulting the Lord. A few of these alliances could be: with a business partner, a friend, a spouse, or even a ministry opportunity.

2)An un-surrendered life relies on their own wealth in times of adversity (Isaiah 30:6-7). In these verses the Israelites took their wealth and used it to try to buy help. Arlene pointed out that wealth does just not mean money. Some of the ‘wealth’ that we may use in times of adversity are as follows: education, experience, position, influence or natural talents. When we try to use our own resources t we will not see the Lord work on our behalf.

3)An un-surrendered life reject’s God’s instructions in times of adversity (Isaiah 30:8-11). In this passage God says ‘These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the LORD's instruction’ (Isaiah 30:9). Arlene reminded us that God’s instructions are radical. We see this in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5 – 7). Jesus’ commands push us to go farther than our natural understanding or inclinations will lead us. God wants us to live on a higher, holier level. God wants us to obey – and to do so quickly. When we follow God’s ways (and Word) our lives work.

4)An un-surrendered life relies on oppression in times of adversity (Isaiah 30:12a). “Therefore, this is what the Holy One of Israel says: "Because you have rejected this message, relied on oppression (Isaiah 30:12a). Arlene noted that rely means to ‘attach one’s self to’. In the word we see again and again when the Israelites encountered adversity they defaulted to their desire to return to their place of captivity. We see this when they were faced with the Red Sea (Exodus 14). Additionally , during their time in the desert they voiced their complaint to Moses and the Lord when they felt they lacked food, water, or where threatened by their enemies. They wanted to return to Egypt. Arlene pointed out that we can do the same thing. We default to what is familiar and comfortable. Sometimes we are so used to living under oppression we do not recognize it. Some of the areas of oppression we may default to are: worry, unbelief, self-will, manipulation by others, controlling relationships, or a refusal to be comforted by the word of God.

5)An un-surrendered life depends on deceit (Isaiah 30:12b), ‘and depended on deceit’. In this passage the Israelites believed that the Egyptians would help them although it was contrary to God’s word. (“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7)). Arlene reminded us that we need to be careful of what we are listening to and that we need to know the Word. In Jeremiah God says “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jer. 17:9). Arlene clarified that a deceitful heart is one that is un-surrendered to the Lord. Some of the things that we may deceitfully rely on are: money, idols, people, church, family, wanting to be loved and happy, desires led by feelings, and even spiritual leadership. We need not just remove the negative but it must be replaces with a positive. “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Isaiah 4:31-32).

Picture of a Surrendered Life

The first four (of five) characteristics of a surrendered life are found in Isaiah 30:15. “This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it".

1)A surrendered life is a repentant life . Repentance is a place of returning to the Lord – it is just not ‘turning’ but turning towards God. We are turning from a self-willed life to one that is directed by God. Arlene pointed out the portion of the verse that says ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation’. This is the path towards spiritual salvation. We turn from our self-willed life to the Lord. We agree with what the Lord says about our sin. We accept that Jesus paid the cost of our sin by sacrificing His own life on the cross. We can now rest in the knowledge that we have eternal life.

2)A surrendered life is one that is characterized by rest. Rest is a place of inner peace and tranquility. We are able to consistently give our adversity to the Lord and rest in His sovereignty. Arlene clarified this by saying that this does not mean that we don’t do anything. While sometimes God may want us to cease from our own efforts, He wants us to do things His way. We are to walk in obedience and leave the outcome to Him.

3)A surrendered life is quiet. Arlene explained that this speaks more to our inner voice than it does to our actions. We have ceased from relying on our own strengths, accomplishments or achievements. We want to have a quiet spirit before the Lord.

4)A surrendered life trusts. This is the place where we come to and leave the outcome with God. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). Arlene explained that we shouldn’t trust God for a specific outcome. God is most pleased when we just trust Him period.

5)A surrendered life is one lived in God’s abundant provision of grace (Isaiah 30:16-19). “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you“ Isaiah 30:18-19). Arlene taught that many times we are not in the position of receiving God’s grace although He freely gives it to us as the following verses show: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32), “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work“ (2 Cor. 9:8), and finally “For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift” (John 1:16 AMP).

As it says in Isaiah 30:16, God actually sees us waiting for Him! As we praise Him and wait upon Him, He will give us His grace. As Arlene aptly put it, ‘when we go down, God raises up’. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). A surrendered life is one abundance.

“The Temple of Solomon was absolutely surrendered to God when it was dedicated to Him. And every one of us is a temple of God in which God will dwell and work mightily on one condition – absolute surrender to Him. God claims it. God is worthy of it, and without it God cannot work His blessed work in us. God not only claims it, but God will work it Himself…If there is anything holding you back, or any sacrifice you are afraid of making, come to God now, and prove how gracious your God is, and be not afraid that He will command from you what He will not bestow.” Andrew Murray

Class today ended with a period of prayer. We were asked to sit quietly before the Lord and ask Him about something in our lives that needed to be surrendered to Him. We were each given an index card and an envelope. On the index card we wrote a prayer of surrender to the Lord over that thing we wanted to let go of. After sealing it in an envelope we put it in our bibles to be a reminder of our surrender. Why don't you do the same?