11th Nov 2007

Nehemiah 13. The Return of Nehemiah.
Nehemiah returned to Babylon after 12 years as Governor of Jerusalem in 332 BC. At a later date he requested permission to come back to Jerusalem. He found that things had deteriorated.
William Booth. “I want you young men to bear in mind that it is in the nature of a fire to go out: you must keep it stirred and fed and the ashes removed.”
We see this in the Old Testament, in church history and in our own lives. Sadly we fall back easily.
It is in our nature to deteriorate but it is God’s nature to revive!

Nehemiah’s Final Reforms.

Do you think Nehemiah was a good leader? Should our leaders adopt his methods?
1. He Found Infiltration. The Tobiah-Sanballat faction had regained power.
Tobiah had been given a suite of rooms in the temple itself. The area of the temple used to store tithes meant to support the temple servants had been taken over by Nehemiah’s old enemy who opposed all God’s reforms. Tobiah wormed his way into the place of greatest influence.
V 8-9. Nehemiah dealt with this very strongly. He threw all Tobiah’s stuff out and had the rooms fumigated. He restored the rooms to their proper function – for God.
Our enemy does not give up easily.
He wants to infiltrate and take up residence in our lives / homes/ minds. He must be kicked out.

2. He Found Itsmaspondulicks. V 10-14. A nasty condition!
The Levites and singers had had to go back to their fields. There was nothing to support them and even the area in the temple where tithes were stored was no longer available.
No doubt this suited many. The last part of us to be converted is our pocket!
This was serious. Temple worship was suffering. God’s honour and glory were at stake.
Nehemiah rebuked those responsible, v 11. He re-instated tithing – giving a tenth of their income, (again) for the temple service and he put trustworthy men in charge of distribution.
Part of our worship is to give of our substance for the house of our God – for His honour and glory.
The tithe was only a part of the giving required. Tithing, as all the law, was in order to bring blessing
What would Nehemiah say to you? Are you neglecting the House of God?

3. He Found Them Intescos. V15-22. (We are the UK’s “Tesco Town” 60% of all groceries are bought at Tesco’s)
Sabbath keeping had lapsed. It was not a day for God. It was not a day for rest and refreshment.
Nehemiah rebuked the nobles, v 17. He shut the gates so Sabbath traders were kept out, v 19.
V 21. If you do this again I will lay hands on you!

4. He Found Intermarriage. V 23-28.
Men of Judah had married foreign wives and their children were being brought up as foreigners. They couldn’t even speak Hebrew. They were cut off from worship, Jewish culture, values, history, identity. “A single generation’s compromise could undo the work of centuries.” Derek Kidner.
The future existence of Israel was at stake here. All distinction of “A Holy People” could be lost.
V 25. Nehemiah got pretty violent with them! Pulling hair. Beating them! ( For safety, shave)
Parents, we must impress God’s values on our children. Deut 6 : 4-9 - by our example, by our lives, by our teaching. Young people will not pick the values of the Kingdom of God by osmosis.
A non-christian boyfriend or girlfriend will pull them down – they don’t speak Hebrew!

5. He Found Impurity. V 28-31. The priest needed to be purified of foreign stuff.
Sanballat had penetrated into the heart of the High Priest’s family through marriage. Out he went!

Robert Duncan, 11/11/2007