Nehemiah 13 "The Reforms of Nehemiah"

After 12 years as governor in Jerusalem, Nehemiah was recalled to the court of Artaxerxes (v.6). We’re not told how long he stayed in Persia, but at some later point he was given permission to return to Jerusalem (v.7). Upon his return he found that the leadership had allowed the spiritual community to disintegrate over time and he set himself to correct them.

The abuses Nehemiah discovered were; 1) Tobiah the Ammonite, was being housed inside the very temple of God, 2) The Levites, instead of being able to devote their whole time to the service of the Temple, had to earn their living, because the tithes were not being paid, 3) The Sabbath was being violated, and 4) The people had again been making mixed marriages.

Nehemiah responded to each of these violations in kind; 1) He forcefully removed Tobiah and all his possessions and ordered the rooms to be purified again (vv.8-9), 2) He installed new leadership to ensure that the house of God and its service would be provided for and respected (v.13), 3) He restored the divine order of the Sabbath by closing the gates, posting a guard, and warned the merchants that they would be removed by force (vv. 9-23), and 4) Nehemiah, with unsparing force, dealt with the issue of marriage to pagan women (vv. 25-28).

Many churches today are compromising on spiritual issues as well and watering down God’s Word - caring more about what others think, how others feel, or where others might go. And as a result, they are totally ignoring the facts of scripture and allowing compromise to creep in. Nehemiah knew the facts, he knew God’s Law, and did not compromise nor waver in his application of the truth. His passion for God's Word and his willingness to defend, implement and follow it, is a great example for all of us. 

The Truth

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;

The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold,

Yea, than much fine gold;

Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them Your servant is warned,

And in keeping them there is great reward.” (Psalm 19:7-11)

Nehemiah 12 "God Given Joy"

“God had given them great joy”. (v.43)

After months of hard work despite opposition, the wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt. At the dedication of the wall, the Levites celebrate with gladness, with hymns of thanksgiving and with songs to the accompaniment of cymbals, harps and lyres (v.27). And, "the singers sang loudly, for God had given them great joy, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off" (vv.42-43).

Pure joy does not center on our circumstances, nor can it be contained. It must break out in praise to God for what He has done for us. Each new day gives us new reasons to sing praises to His name. Yes, the people did the work, but God gave them the wisdom and the strength to finish the wall amid intense opposition, and filled them with such great joy, and thankful hearts, that no expression of praise was left out.

Take a moment and thank the Lord for the works He has completed in your life, and thank Him for “every good and perfect gift” (James 1:17).

The Truth:

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!

Serve the Lord with gladness;

Come before His presence with singing.

Know that the Lord, He is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

And into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

For the Lord is good;

His mercy is everlasting,

And His truth endures to all generations. (Psalm 100)

Nehemiah 11 "Willing to Sacrifice"

“The people blessed all the men that willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem.” (v.2)

Here in chapter 11, the arrangements are being made for the settlement of Jerusalem and the surrounding cities. Because Jerusalem was the center of danger, not many of the original 50,000 captives returned to dwell there. It was, therefore, arranged that the princes should dwell in the city, and that ten per-cent of the people, selected by lot, must take up their residence there (v.1). In addition to those who were drafted, there were some who voluntarily came forward to dwell in this place of danger (v.2).

Scripture tells us that, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). Here we see many Israelite’s willing to put themselves in harms way for their family, their brethren, and in the defense of the holy city. This beautiful gesture reminds us not only of the men and women in our armed forces who have volunteered to stand in the gap for our freedoms, but also of the ultimate sacrifice of our LORD, who willingly laid down His life for ours.

During this time of year, when our focus turns to the birth of Jesus, the one born to die for the sin of the world, may we give Him the honor due His name for His willingness to offer Himself up in our place, even to the death of the cross. Hallelujah! Praise the LORD!

The Truth

“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” (Hebrews 13:15)

Nehemiah 10 "Spiritual Resolutions"

“Now the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, all those who had knowledge and understanding, are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God’s law.” (vv.28-29)

Here in Nehemiah 10, God’s people made an oath, vowing to follow all the commands, laws, and regulations of the Lord. This oath was so serious that they were willing to accept the curse of God if they failed to keep these commands. The resolution re­ferred to matters in which the people had already failed— namely, of inter-marriage with the surrounding idolatrous peoples, of neglect of the Sabbath, of Temple maintenance and arrangement, and of the offering of first-fruits and tithes.

Just as God's people recognized the need for spiritual changes in their lives, we too should take spiritual stock of ours. As the New Year approaches, spend some time in reflection and prayer, ask God to show you what spiritual resolutions you may need to make. While your resolutions may not be as drastic as what we’ve been reading about here, they are needed. Therefore, don’t just recognize the need, act on it.

The Truth

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’  (Matthew 5:33)

Nehemiah 9 "A Sure Covenant"

“And because of all this we make a sure covenant.” (v.38)

Through our study of Nehemiah we have seen the wall completed, Jerusalem rebuilt, the Law expounded, and the Feast of Tabernacles observed. Now we come to the great Day of Humiliation.

Here the people separated themselves entirely from all those who were not of the sons of Israel, and then gave themselves to confession before God of their sins and iniquities of their fathers (vv.1-4). The remainder of the chapter is largely occupied with a great corporate prayer offered by the Levites praising God for His deliverance, His guidance, His grace, His goodness and help, in the form of a new covenant (vv.5-38). 

Like the children of Israel, we too have ignored God’s goodness in our lives, and have turned away to follow our own path. However, we can also (like the children of Israel) return to Him and repent. For God is ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in kindness. When we humbly abandon our rebellious ways and recommit ourselves to God’s ways, He will show compassion and welcome us back to closeness with Him.

There is an old saying, "confession opens the door to thanksgiving." Why not do just that today and make a new covenant with God. You'll have plenty to be thankful for this Thanksgiving and will someday then be seated at His table. 

The Truth

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)