Nehemiah 13:15 says, In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. Nehemiah said that even in those days of rebuilding and dedicating the Temple he saw men who were not keeping the Sabbath holy. They were going about life as they did every day. We know this happens today, but we as followers of Christ should do our best to ensure that we are not guilty of this. We need to keep the Sabbath, or the Lord’s Day as we now celebrate, set aside for worshipping God. Verse sixteen adds, There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Nehemiah said that the people of Tyre were bringing things to sell on the Sabbath and the people of Judah and Jerusalem were buying from them. I am not sure where we should draw the line on not working on the Lord’s Day, but it may be that even if we are not working ourselves that we encourage others to do so by participating in the things they are doing. Verse seventeen continues, Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? Nehemiah said he contended with the nobles of Judah and asked them what was the evil that they were doing. Just because those in power say something is okay, as Christians we should not be participating in anything that we know is in opposition to God’s word. Verse eighteen concludes, Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath. Nehemiah reminded them that because of the sins their fathers had committed that God had allowed them to be defeated and asked how they could now profane the Sabbath after He had freed them to return to Judah and Jerusalem. We might ask the same thing as Christians if we are doing things that are against God’s will for His people after He has set us free from the penalty of sin. Verse nineteen states, And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. Nehemiah commanded them to shut the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day to ensure no business would be conducted on the Sabbath. We used to close the doors of businesses on the Lord’s Day to ensure that no business was conducted then, but it has now become very much like any other day. Of course, the doors of businesses shouldn’t have to be closed to ensure that we keep the Lord’s Day holy unto Him. Verse twenty adds, So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. Those who would conduct business on the Sabbath had to lodge outside Jerusalem. Those conducting business on the Lord’s Day today should never be doing so inside the church. We may not be able to control what goes on outside the church, the congregation of believers, but we can control what goes on inside the church, starting with our own life. Verse twenty-one continues, Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath. Nehemiah asked those who were still trying to conduct business on the Sabbath outside the wall why they were hanging around there and told them if they continued to do so that he would lay hands on them. I don’t believe that we should physically threaten anyone who is doing business on Sunday, but I do believe that we shouldn’t support them which encourages them to continue to do so. Verse twenty-two concludes, And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy. Nehemiah said he then commanded the Levites to purify themselves, keep the gates, and sanctify the Sabbath. He also asked that God remember that he had done this, and that God spared him because of His great mercy. We should also purify ourselves before God on the Lord’s Day and keep it holy, set aside to worshipping Him and He will remember us when the day of judgment comes, but we are purified by our relationship with Jesus Christ and not by our own goodness in certain situations.
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