READ: Nehemiah 13
This final chapter in the book of Nehemiah
describes some further issues and reforms that took place during his time. When
Nehemiah had asked Artaxerxes permission to go to Jerusalem, the king had
released him readily, asking only for Nehemiah to give a return date. We don’t
know when Nehemiah pledged to return, but chapter 13 tells of at least one time
that he went back to Persia. The priest Eliashib takes advantage of Nehemiah’s
absence and gives Tobiah – Nehemiah’s adversary – a room in the temple. This
was a room purposed for storing tithes. After the people had just committed
themselves to taking care of the Lord’s house and tithing diligently, this is
quite an act of disrespect. Nehemiah is livid to find the temple desecrated in
this way and he ensures that the room is cleansed and put to use for its true
purpose.
But that isn’t the only problem in the temple. It
seems those who had so eagerly promised to tithe had neglected their
commitment, and the temple workers were left without any provisions. The
priests and Levites had no choice but to return to their homes in the
countryside. With skilled leadership, Nehemiah sets things back in order.
A third issue had risen: people – both Jews and
foreigners – were selling their wares on the Sabbath, directly breaking God’s
commandment to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. We see Nehemiah rise
up in righteous anger, rebuking the people of Judah and boldly threatening the
outsiders.
Fourthly, the people had started to intermarry
again. This is quite sad, seeing that not too many years earlier, the people
had confessed and ended intermarriage under the leadership of Ezra (see Ezra 9
& 10). This is a disgrace to the name of the Lord! The people’s children
are seen to not even know the language of Judah, but are well-versed in the
language of their pagan parents. And verse 28 reveals that intermarriage has
reached even the priestly families. Nehemiah gets very angry here, even beating
some who have violated the law! Intermarriage was an act of adultery against
Yahweh and quickly lead the people into idolatry, as proven classically by the
once wise King Solomon.
Four times in this chapter we hear Nehemiah pray,
asking God to remember his deeds. Nehemiah was a man of prayer, but his prayers
were always accompanied by action. He was a man of righteousness, a man zealous
for God’s ways. He was bold and sure-footed. He did not second-guess what God
commanded him, even in the face of opposition and challenges. He knew God; he
lived with a sincere fear of the Lord and thus he was willing to spend his life
on whatever God called him to do. Let us allow his dedication and faithful
service to spur us on as we seek to follow the Lord with joyful hearts.
JOURNALING
AND PRAYER
1. Are you passionate for God’s ways? Are you
zealous for righteousness? Ask God to give you the boldness of Nehemiah – the
boldness that enables you to do what is right and stand for what is right even
when those around you are sinking into the culture. In listening prayer, ask
God how He wants you to stand for Him today.
2. Take the qualities you have come to admire in
Nehemiah and pray these things for yourself. Ask God to make you a person of
great faith. How will you walk differently today because of what you have
learned?
3. What do you want God to remember you for? Ask
Him. Be one who prays boldly for favour, just as Nehemiah did!
