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.   

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.