Nehemiah Review

 Like Ezra, Nehemiah was a part of the people of Israel who returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls of the city and the Temple after their exile in Babylon.  He had been given permission to do this by Cyrus, the king of Persia.  He had been a cup bearer to Artaxerxes and not a military man nor a prophet or priest.  We as followers of Christ may have ordinary jobs, but if we are doing God’s will, then we become extraordinary people, whether the people of the world ever acknowledge this or not.   

Nehemiah was passionate about rebuilding the wall and the Temple, and even though he still faced opposition, with people from other nations around Jerusalem even lying about his intention, he never gave up on this mission.  We as Christians will face opposition but should never give up on what God calls us to do. 

The priests of Nehemiah’s day had not kept themselves spiritually clean, so the Levites who had cleansed themselves spiritually had to do the job of the priests for a while.  If we are a born-again believer we are called for a purpose, but we cannot fulfill our purpose if we allow ourselves to become spiritually unclean.  Then, someone else will have to do what we should be doing, but God’s work will still be done.  Our disobedience does not stop God’s work but only costs us our reward for doing it.  

The people worked together in an orderly manner to rebuild the wall and were able to complete it, but they still were guilty of not following God’s law, in particular by marrying non-Jews and Nehemiah had them correct this.  They were told to divorce their foreign wives, and they did.   It might seem that Nehemiah was having them disobey God’s law about marriage, but they were already guilty of doing that in marrying foreign wives who often led them to disobey God’s law.  If we have married a non-Christian, which would still not be in accordance with God’s will, we are not told to divorce them, unless they ask for a divorce.  Still, we cannot allow them to pull us away from God’s will.   

The Persian king had provided much of the materials needed for the rebuilding, but the people of Israel were still required to bring their tithes and offerings to God.  Even if God’s work is somehow funded by those in power, we are still required to be faithful in giving to God.        

Next. we will look at Esther. 

 

 

 

 

 

Nehemiah 13:23

Nehemiah 13:23 says\s, In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:  Nehemiah continued by stating that he had also seen the men of Israel marrying outside of the people of Israel, or God’s chosen people.  Once more, as Christians we should also marry other Christians, not because we are better than others, but because we need to be dedicated to God in our marriage. 

Verse twenty-four adds, And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.  Nehemiah said the children of those who married foreign women spoke the language of those foreigners and couldn’t speak the language of the people of Israel.  Too often, if a Christian marries a non-Christian, their children do not know God because the Christian begins to stop speaking about Him to keep peace in the family. 

Verse twenty-five continues, And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.  Nehemiah said that he contended with certain of the people who had married those who were not Jews, even getting physical with them and cursing them.  This does not mean that he used profanity, but that he pronounced them to not be a part of God’s people, which does curse one to everlasting punishment I believe.  Of course, we aren’t to physically assault those who do not come to Christ for salvation, but we can point out to them they are forever cursed or doomed to everlasting punishment. 

Verse twenty-six states, Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.  Nehemiah then pointed out that Solomon, the greatest king ever, who was loved by God, sinned by marrying foreign women and they caused him problems.  He was not saying that God accepted this as right, but that that as great as Solomon was, he still limited what he might have been by sinning in this respect. I believe that this should be the main reason we avoid sin as followers of Christ.  We will still be saved if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, but we can limit our effectiveness in doing what God has a called us to do. 

Verse twenty-seven adds, Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?  He then asked if the people of Israel should listen to these men when they were committing such great evil.  If we are sinning against God, we should not expect people to listen to us if we call them to accept Jesus Christ.  If we are guilty of sin, we must repent and ask God’s forgiveness' in order to be an effective witness for Him. 

Verse twenty-eight continues, And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.  Nehemiah said that one of the grandsons of Joiada the son of Eliashib the high priest was married to the daughter of Sanballat, so he chased him far from him.  Being a child or grandchild of a preacher or of any Christian for that matter does not save anyone, and if they are sinning, we need to point it out and pray for them.  I don’t believe that we should chase them away though. 

Verse twenty-nine says, Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.  Nehemiah asked that God remember them because they had defiled the priesthood.  I don’t believe that he was asking that God remember them because they were priests but because they were unfaithful to their calling.   We certainly don’t want to be remembered this way by God. 

Verse thirty adds, Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business; Nehemiah said he cleansed all the priests and Levites from being married to foreign wives and appointed them to their role in the Temple.  We know that Nehemiah could not cleanse them spiritually, but he could only make sure that they were physically cleansed of this sin.  We cannot cleanse people of sin, but we can keep those who profess to be Christians but are openly leading lives that are not in accordance with God’s word from serving in the church.  

Verse thirty-one continues, And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.  He said that they were appointed to carry out the sacrifices at the appointed times, and then he asked God to remember him.  We must have God remember us for our accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, and everything else is just a bonus if we are following His commandments and doing what He calls us to do.  Just as the great works that Nehemiah did weren’t what needed to be remembered but his relationship with God was, so it is with everyone.   

 

Nehemiah 13:15

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. 

Nehemiah 13:6

Nehemiah 13:6 says, But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:  Nehemiah said that while this was being done that he wasn’t in Jerusalem but had gone to the king of Babylon and after several days, he received permission to return to Jerusalem.  Nehemiah was keeping the king of Babylon updated on the work since he was the one who had authorized them to do it.  The people of Israel were still under his authority, even if their ultimate authority was God.  We need to obey the laws of the land unless they go against God’s word. 

Verse seven adds, And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.  Nehemiah said when he returned to Jerusalem that he recognized the evil that Eliashib had done in preparing this chamber for Tobiah even if he was the chief priest.  We need to be able to recognize when someone is doing something against God’s word in the church today, no matter how powerful they may be.  Of course, we shouldn't be away from the church for an extended period if we are going to do this. 

Verse eight continues, And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff to Tobiah out of the chamber.  Nehemiah said he was greatly grieved and threw all the stuff of Tobiah out of the Temple chamber.  If we see something going on in the church that is against God’s word, we need to be grieved and also take action to correct it. 

Verse nine states, Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.  Nehemiah then restored the chamber to its intended purpose.  If something evil is going on in the church, we need to remove whatever it is and return to doing God’s will.  It is not enough to just acknowledge that something is wrong, but we need to make sure that we are using the things of God to glorify Him, especially when we gather as a group of believers. 

Verse ten adds, And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.  Nehemiah said he also perceived that the Levites had not been having their needs met so they had to go to the fields and work instead of doing what God had called them to do.  As I have stated before, we need to provide for the needs of preachers to the best of our ability so that they can concentrate on doing what God has called then to do. 

Verse eleven continues, Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.  Nehemiah then gathered the rulers of Israel and asked them why the house of God had been forsaken and then set them in their place.  If something wrong is being done in the church today, we need to step up and ask why and then correct it if we can. 

Verse twelve says, Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.  At this time, all of Judah brought their tithe of corn and new wine to the Temple to add to treasury.  We need to bring our tithes and offerings to God before we do anything else. 

Verse thirteen adds, And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.  Nehemiah next put some trustworthy people in charge of the treasury.  We need trustworthy people to be in charge of our tithes and offerings today to make sure that they are used for what they were intended to be used for, the bottom line being that they are never used for the good of those in charge or even for the enrichment of the preacher, but for the glory of God under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.   

Verse fourteen continues, Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.  Nehemiah then asked God to remember him for the good deeds he had done for the house of his God and its offices.  We may have our good works for God remembered by Him, but the main thing we need Him to remember is that we accepted His Son, Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord and that we were obedient to the leadership of the Holy Spirit afterward.  Our works will not save us, just as Nehemiah’s did not save him then.  It was his obedience to and faith in God and the coming Messiah that did.