Two Commitments of Leadership | Nehemiah 10:1-27

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On the seals are the names of Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, Zedekiah, Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah; these are the priests. And the Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel; and their brothers, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Bani, Beninu. The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, Malluch, Harim, Baanah.— Nehemiah 10:1-27

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I know this text contains a long list of names, but there are a couple of things that captured me here today:

First | Leaders Commit To Going First

The rededication starts with the spiritual and civic leaders committing themselves. Verses 1-27 list every leader's signature, showing their dedication to God through a covenant. This marks a significant leadership renewal.

This is what leaders do. They willingly go first. This is leadership in its purest form. When leaders embrace a new or renewed commitment, they proclaim it themselves. It's not just a strategic leadership move; it's a declaration of their conviction for the cause they conveyed.

This principle is so simple yet so forgotten.

Sometimes, we assume that our personal and private declaration is good enough because we are making a commitment. And that is great, but not great as we lead people. If you want others to follow you in your family, church, and workplace, you will have to move it from private to public. There are lots of occasions that it's appropriate to do this, like meals and special gatherings.

Nehemiah, Zedekiah, and Ezra declared a special day to make this personal commitment public to the people.

Second | Leaders Commit To Integrate

However, personal commitments are not made public to put on a show but rather to show others they need the community to accomplish their commitments. And this is where integrity comes into play. The public commitment of the leader must be deeply integrated into their personal life before the people will integrate it into theirs.

Take, for instance, a family. If a father wants to set a new tone about respect, honesty, and love in his home—he can't just have a family meeting where he demands it from everyone in the house. He has to talk the talk and walk the walk. He needs to declare a commitment to these values and then live them out himself. When his family sees how he walks his talk, there is a greater likelihood they'll pick them up, too. He's not just saying it. He's doing it, and that's integration.

The same thing goes for the workplace. Employees can tell if their boss believes in the company's stand or if they're putting on a show. When a leader is truly all in, putting their heart and soul into the company's goals and values, it rubs off on everyone else. It's contagious, which builds loyalty and trust, affecting others in the company.

Great leadership is a continuous grind. Though declared publicly, a leader's values and commitments must always endure long-term testing. When followers see our words and actions align, they begin to trust and believe in us, making it easier for them to commit to our cause.

So, are you ready to be a leader worth following? Commit to going first and commit to integrating.

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ASK THIS:

Reflect on a time when you witnessed a leader make a public commitment to a cause or value. How did this act of leadership influence your perception of them and motivate you or others to follow their example?
In your own life, consider a value or commitment that you hold privately. What steps can you take to integrate this more deeply into your daily actions, and how might making this commitment public strengthen your role as a leader in your community, family, or workplace?

DO THIS: Go first and public with your commitment and integrate it.

PRAY THIS: Lord, give me the strength to lead with a brave heart, to stand up for what's right and true in both my deeds and speech. Let me be a beacon for others, guiding them to a life of honesty and belief, just like Nehemiah. Let me wear my devotion to You on my sleeve, in everything I do. Amen.

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