SCRIPTURE: NEHEMIAH 13
NEHEMIAH FINAL REFORM (vs. 1-30)
When the Book of Moses was read aloud to the people, it was written that no Ammonite or Moabites should be admitted into the assembly of God because they had hired Balaam to call a curse on the Israelites. However, God turned the curse into blessings. Upon hearing this, the people excluded all who were of foreign decent.
Eliashib the priests was in charge of the storeroom of the house of God. Since he was closely associated with Tobiah, and he had provided him with a large room formerly used to store the grain offerings and incense and temple articles, and also the tithes of grain, new wine and oil prescribed for the Levites, signers and gatekeepers, as well as the contributions for the priests” (vs. 4-5). He did it on the 32nd year of Artaxerxes, king of Babylon while Nehemiah returned to the king. When Nehemiah had the permission to go back to Jerusalem, he learned that Eliashib had provided Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God. He was greatly displeased and he thew out all the household goods of Tobiah. He gave advice to purify the room and he put back the equipment of the house of God with grain offering and incense.
Nehemiah also learned that the Levites and the singers were not given the portions assigned to them so they went back to their own towns. Nehemiah rebuked the officials and all Judah brought the tithes of grain, new wine and oil into the storeroom. He put Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe and a Levite named Pedalah in charge of the storeroom and made Hanan son of Zaccur, their assistance. They were made responsible for distributing the supplies to their brothers. (vs. 12-13).
Nehemiah also saw men in Judah treading winepress and selling foods and all kinds of merchandise in Jerusalem on the Sabbath. He rebuked the nobles of Judah for not observing the Law of God to keep Sabbath holy. Nehemiah ordered the gates to be shut and not opened until the Sabbath was over. He stationed some men at gates so that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day. The merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods spend the night outside Jerusalem but Nehemiah warned them to depart otherwise he will lay hands on them. So from that time on, they no longer came on the Sabbath. Then he commanded the Levites to purify themselves and guard the gates to keep the Sabbath day holy.
Nehemiah also rebuked men of Judah who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab. Half of children did not speak the language of Judah. Nehemiah called curses down on them. They beat them, pulled out their hair and made them take oath in God’s name not to give their daughters in marriage to their sons nor take their daughters in marriage to their sons. He drove away one of the sons of Joida, son of Eliashib, the high priests who was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. He drove him away. He purified the priests and the Levites of everything foreign, assigned them duties and made provisions for contribution of wood at designated times and for the firstfruits.
NEHEMIAH PRAYED THESE PRAYERS”
“Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its service” (v. 14)
“Remember me for this also, O my God and show mercy to me according to your great love” (v. 22)
“Remember them, O my God, because they defiled the priestly office and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.” (v. 29)
“Remember me with favor, O my God” (v. 30)
THOUGHTS:
When Nehemiah left Jerusalem and returned to his work, the people became terribly backslidden:
- The people had intermarriages with the pagans.
- The priest had let enemy into the temple.
- The people failed to bring the required tithes and offering and did not keep their promise to support the temple ministry.
- The people did not observe the Sabbath day. They were doing business on the Sabbath day.
As we conclude the Book of Nehemiah, what are the good examples of Nehemiah worth us to follow?
- His devotion to his duty in planning and doing his work.
- His dedication to the Word of God.
- His discipline to the people.
- His dependence of prayer.
- His faithful and sacrificial service to God.
- His courage to accomplish the task in spite of threat.
- His wisdom in dealing with the enemies.
Eliashib the priest gave Tobiah a special room in the temple because he married Tobiah’s daughter and became his son-in-law. Tobiah was an Ammonite, an opponent of Nehemiah and was forbidden to enter the temple. So when Nehemiah returned, he drove him out and threw all this things away.
When Nehemiah saw the people not observing the Sabbath, he commanded that the city gates be shut and trades be sent home every Friday afternoon. He had the courage to stand on God’s law. How about you? Do you adhere to His command?
The book of Nehemiah was about rebuilding the wall of a great city, but it is also about spiritual renewal. It reminds us the importance of our dependence on God. It shows us that there is no success without the risk of failure, nor reward without hard work, no opportunity without criticism and no true leadership without trust in God.