When we're under pressure to make an important decision and take appropriate action,

sometimes we act before we think. Our strategy is a bit like the

proverbial hunter who rushes to hit his target. Ready, fire, aim. Well today on Insight for Living, Chuck Swindall continues our study in Nehemiah called

Hand Me Another Brick. In the 10th chapter we'll see how the Israelites took ample

time to prepare before pulling the trigger.

They were serious about following God and in fact made a binding covenant to do so.

Chuck titled his message, Putting First Things First. putting first things first. The am I didn't bring a group of people into the city of Jerusalem and start putting down

stones on mortar to build a wall. He spent four months in case you have forgotten in

uninterrupted time and thought.

He lived with the vision before he ever shared it

with anyone else.

He poured over it in thought before God and then he came into that city and began to build a wall.

When opposition came, he didn't instantly retaliate, he thought.

He planned out before God what is the best way to handle the interruption or the opposition.

And then he acted wisely. They determined, if you please, to put first things first.

And that's what all of chapter 10 is all about.

Now with that as an introduction, let's look at the document and then let's consider the promises in the document.

First the document. First the document.

What was it after all?

Well, let's look at the words in verse 38 and drop down to a verse in chapter 10.

Verse 38 says we are making an agreement in writing.

So whatever it was, it was an agreement. You see, they have been praying through the ninth

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