Nehemiah 13:1

Nehemiah 13:1 says, On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;  I don’t believe that this means there are certain people who can never be saved.  I believe that this refers more to people with the same attitude that the Ammonites and the Moabites had. 

Verse two adds, Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.  The Ammonites and the Moabites had opposed the people of Israel, even paying a false prophet to prophesy against them.  People who do this today will be kept from being a part of God’s people, unless they repent and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. No one who accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior is barred from God’s kingdom simply because of where they were born or who their parents might be. 

Verse three continues, Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.  We are then told that when the people heard the Law that they separated the people of Isreal from those who were of mixed heritage.  We cannot be a part of God’s kingdom if we try to come God through anything other than accepting the gift of salvation by putting our faith in Jesus Christ alone.  We need to separate ourselves from anyone who proclaims anything else. 

Verse four states, And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:  Eliashib the priest oversaw the great chamber, and he was allied with Tobiah in this.  Tobiah was related to Eliashib by marriage first and then by friendship according to Matthew Henry and Eliashib took him in as a boarder, which was not in accordance with God’s law.  He also says that Eliashib’s grandson had married Sanballat’s daughter and he was still proud of that fact, and this was part of his reason for taking in Tobiah, who was also of that family.  We need to make sure that we don’t ally ourselves with non-believers when we are doing God’s work, especially if it is expressly forbidden by God’s word. 

Verse five adds, And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.  Eliashib took a great chamber that had been used to store the offerings given to the Levites and gave it to Tobiah.   Eliashib as the high priest should have been setting a good example for the people of Israel, instead he was giving an Ammonite a place of importance in the Temple while doing away with the purpose that the chamber was intended for.  Matthew Henry says that walls of some of the smaller chambers were torn down to make a larger chamber for Tobiah.  We should never ally ourselves with non-believers and give them a place of importance in doing God’s work.   

Nehemiah 12:41

Nehemiah 12:41 says, And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;   

Verse forty-two adds, And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.  These two verses name some more of those who were playing trumpets and singing praises to God with Jezrahiah as their overseer.  We still need to be making music and singing praises to God and we should be thankful for those who oversee the music program in our local congregation. 

Verse forty-three continues, Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.  There was a great sacrifice offered that day, and all the people rejoiced with great joy so that they were heard afar off.  We have been given the greatest sacrifice when Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, and when we gather to worship Him, we should do so with great joy.  Of course, we should live every minute of our life with great joy.  When we do gather to worship Him, we should do so loudly and proudly so that the lost people of the world will know that something great is happening in the church.  

Verse forty-four states, And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.  Overseers were also appointed to be in charge of the tithes and offerings to ensure that the priests and Levites got their portion according to the law of God.  We need to make sure that those working in the church today have enough support financially to do what God has called them to do.  Those doing God’s work by His calling should never have to beg for support from the congelation that they serve. 

Verse forty- five adds, And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.  The singers and porters were in charge of conducting the services in accordance with God’s law.  Preachers shouldn’t have to be in charge of planning the order of the worship service today, but the other leaders in the church should, making sure that everything is done for God’s glory and in accordance with His law.  Preachers should be free to prepare to proclaim God’s word without being concerned with planning the worship service. 

Verse forty-six continues, For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.  Nehemiah pointed out that this had been the way things were done in the days of David and Asaph, who wrote many of the psalms, or songs of praise to God.  Though David wrote most of them, both were mentioned.  It is not the amount of work we do for God that matters as much as the fact that we are willing doing it. 

Verse forty-seven concludes, And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron.  We are then told that for all the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, the leaders of the people of Israel, that they continued to supply the singers and porters with what they needed daily.  They also sanctified the holy things for the Levites, and they sanctified them for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, as well.  The needs of both groups were met daily without them having to be concerned with them, other than the Levites making sure that the priests needs were met.   We as followers of Christ have God’s promise that when we are doing His work under the leadership of the Holy Spirit that our needs will be met.  We are not told that we will be able to lay up great riches here in this lifetime.  

Nehemiah 12:31

Nehemiah 12:31 says, Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate:  Nehemiah said he brought the princes of Judah to the wall to help in the dedication.  Matthew Henry says they had gone home after the building of the wall was complete and were called to return for the dedication.  We may all go our separate ways in life during the week, but we need to come together with other Christians to worship whenever there is a worship service.  They were then divided into two groups with half going in each direction around the wall.  Even though we are united spiritually with other Christians when we worship, we are not all in the same place physically.  Then next few verses tell us who was in this first half. 

Verse thirty-two adds, And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah, 

Verse thirty-three continues, And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam, 

Verse thirty-four concludes, Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah, 

Verse thirty-five states. And certain of the priests' sons with trumpets; namely, Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph:  Then, we are given the names of some of the sons of priests who went with this group to play the trumpets.  Once again, music was an important part of this celebration, and I believe it should be today as well when we gather to worship God.  I also believe that God calls people to lead in the music service.  I also believe that we should all participate when called on to do so, whether we sing great or not.  We are not called on to sing so people can praise us, but to offer praises to God.   

Verse thirty-six adds, And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them.  We are then given the names of others in this group who were also playing musical instruments that David, who is referred to as a man of God and not a former king, had used in worshipping God.  Our position in be world will never be as important as our relationship with God.  As Christians, we must be known as men and women of God before all else. 

Verse thirty-seven continues, And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward.  Then, we are told the area that this group covered, walking around the wall while praising God.  We need to praise God wherever we are and need to be guided by the Holy Spirit in doing so.  If we do, then we will be successful in our worship service. 

Verse thirty-eight says, And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall;  Nehemiah then tells us the area that the other half of the people covered, and he was with this group.  Though they had divided to cover the whole wall, they would meet at a certain point and be one group.  Though we are divided into different congregations today when we gather to worship, we should all be united spiritually in worshipping God. Then one day, when Jesus Christ returns, we will finally be united forever as one group of believers.

Verse thirty-nine adds, And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto the sheep gate: and they stood still in the prison gate.  This verse continues to tell us the area this group covered. 

Verse forty continues, So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me:  Nehemiah said that the two groups met up after having the whole wall covered.  We as followers of Christ need to work together so that the gospel is shared in the whole world as long as we are alive and before we are gathered together forever with Jesus Christ in our heavenly home. 

Nehemiah 12:22

Nehemiah 12:22 says, The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers: also the priests, to the reign of Darius the Persian.  The Levites were listed, even though they were not called to the same service as the priests.  Matthew Henry says they were listed as the chief fathers of Israel and were eminently serviceable to the interests of the church and that their service was not less acceptable to God or His people for them being Levites only.  We are not all called to be either preachers or teachers, but we are all called to share the gospel, no matter what our position in the church may be. 

Verse twenty-three adds, The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.  Nehemiah then said that the names of the chief of the Levites were written in the book of the chronicles up to a point, so the people didn’t just have to take his word for what he was saying.  If someone is preaching or teaching anything in the church today, we have the Bible to help us know if what they are preaching or teaching is God’s word or not.  Of course, this requires that we know what the bible actually says. 

Verse twenty-four continues, And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward over against ward.   Nehemiah continues to list the chief of the Levites and adds that they gave praise and thanks to God, according to David’s commandment, which was really David giving them God’s commandment.  David could not give commandments just because of who he was but could only relate what God commanded.  We cannot give any commandments about what needs to be done in order to be saved but can only share the gospel of Christ and then look to the Bible under the leadership of the Holy Spirit in order to know what God’s commandments are. 

Verse twenty-five states, Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates.  These Levites also served as porters keeping charge of the thresholds in the gate.  They would have basically decided who got into the temple I believe.  We are not called to determine who can come into the church, but we are called to determine if someone is proclaiming something other than God’s word in the church. 

Verse twenty-six adds, These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe.  Nehemiah said that these were the chief Levites in the days of Joiakim and of himself and Ezra the scribe. 

Verse twenty-seven continues, And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.  Nehemiah said that after the wall of Jerusalem was completed, the Levites from throughout the country were gathered to keep the dedication of the wall focused on God and to sing praises and make music to Him.  When we gather as Christians today, we need to keep the focus on praising God for His mercy on us.

Verse twenty-eight says, And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi; 

Verse twenty-nine adds, Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem.  Nehemiah then said that the singers came from throughout the country and built villages around Jerusalem.   We have to assume that they thought this was what God called them to do.  Though we do need to gather together to worship, we do not need to congregate in only one place, but we need to go out into all the world to share the gospel.   

Verse thirty concludes, And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.  Just as Nehemiah said the priests and Levites purified themselves and the people as well as the gates and walls of Jerusalem, we must be purified through accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, and then we must do our best to allow God to purify everything we have and do in life.   

Happy Easter

Luke 24: 6 says, He is not here, but is risen: Remember how he spoke to you when He was yet in Galilee,

Verse seven adds, Saying the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day, rise again.

As the Bible tells us, Jesus Christ is no longer here, but He has risen.  He was delivered into the hands of sinful men to be crucified, and we are part of those sinful men.  We cannot just blame the people who crucified Him that day, because He died for your sins and mine as well, so we are just as responsible for His death on the cross as they were.  When He arose that third day, He defeated sin and death for all time, and if we put our faith in Him, the power of sin and death in our life have been defeated forever.  Though we may allow sin back in, we will never allow spiritual death back in.  We will live with Him forever. 

So, as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ today, may you have a blessed day as a part of His kingdom. This is possible only by accepting Him as your personal Savior and Lord, and if you haven't, why not do so today.  There was never a more glorious day for the world and if you have accepted His gift of salvation, there can never be a more glorious day in your life than when He arose.