Verses 1-9, “On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people, and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God, because they had not met the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing. So it was, when they had heard the Law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel. Now before this, Eliashib the priest, having authority over the storerooms of the house of our God, was allied with Tobiah. And he had prepared for him a large room, where previously they had stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, the tithes of grain, the new wine and oil, which were commanded to be given to the Levites and singers and gatekeepers, and the offerings for the priests. But during all this I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Then after certain days I obtained leave from the king, and I came to Jerusalem and discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God. And it grieved me bitterly; therefore I threw all the household goods of Tobiah out of the room. Then I commanded them to cleanse the rooms; and I brought back into them the articles of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.”
When the people gathered to seek God, they learned more about His requirements in the Book of the Law. Deuteronomy 23:3, “An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the Lord forever...” There was no debate about whether it meant what it meant...no dialogue. They heard the law, and then obeyed it. Today, people would say that this same action is unloving in order to justify their practices; that God is love and He would want unity. God is faithful, and we can count on His promises. He promised to bless those who blessed Israel, and curse those who cursed Israel. Rather than question His authority, we're much better off to submit to His ways. Isaiah 55:9, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” God is so awesome that even when Balaam wanted to curse the Jews, He turned it into a blessing.
Verses 10-16, “I also realized that the portions for the Levites had not been given them; for each of the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field. So I contended with the rulers, and said, 'Why is the house of God forsaken?' And I gathered them together and set them in their place. Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the storehouse. And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouse 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 considered faithful, and their task was to distribute to their brethren. Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for its services! In those days I saw people in Judah treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them about the day on which they were selling provisions. Men of Tyre dwelt there also, who brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.”
Not only did Nehemiah have to deal with the issue of his enemy Tobiah being allowed to set up residence in the temple, but he also realized that the needs of the temple were not being financially supported through the regular tithe. He was not soft on the issue of Tobiah, throwing him and his stuff out; nor was he soft on the leaders regarding the tithes. Everyone thinks that a pastor needs to have a soft voice and be gentle all the time, but that is not the example that Jesus set for us in the Bible. Repentive, sorrowful people may not need a heavy hand against them...but the stubborn, stiff-necked ones at times do. Jude 1:22-23, “And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.”
Verses 17-22, “Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, 'What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day? Did not your fathers do thus, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.' So it was, at the gates of Jerusalem, as it began to be dark before the Sabbath, that I commanded the gates to be shut, and charged that they must not be opened till after the Sabbath. Then I posted some of my servants at the gates, so that no burdens would be brought in on the Sabbath day. Now the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. Then I warned them, and said to them, 'Why do you spend the night around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you!' From that time on they came no more on the Sabbath. And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should go and guard the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy!”
Nehemiah's disappointment over what happened in his absence did not end. The children of God were not observing the Sabbath as commanded by Lord. The merchants were even camping outside the wall (clearly hoping to sell their goods on the Sabbath), showing us that money and things had become more important than God. Nehemiah contended with the leaders, because ultimately it was their responsibility to protect what was fought for and gained back...their right standing with God. Therefore, Nehemiah did what the leaders should have already done. He threatened to lay hands on the sellers if they did not leave the wall. We need to have godly shepherds of the flock who are willing to throw out the sin (and the wolves) from the church, for our own safety. Nehemiah prayed that God would remember him for his conduct in this situation. If removing sin from Israel was a punishable thing, he certainly would not have prayed that. We need to stand behind our leaders, rather than criticize them, when they have to take such a stance.
Verses 23-31, “In those days I also saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people. So I contended with them and cursed them, struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, 'You shall not give your daughters as wives to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or yourselves. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God; and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin. Should we then hear of your doing all this great evil, transgressing against our God by marrying pagan women?' And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite; therefore I drove him from me. Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. Thus I cleansed them of everything pagan. I also assigned duties to the priests and the Levites, each to his service, and to bringing the wood offering and the firstfruits at appointed times. Remember me, O my God, for good!”
Unfortunately, it only got worse. The Jews had been intermarrying with the pagan nations around them. In other words, they had returned right back to the sins that they were just freed from and had taken an oath not to do. No doubt that Nehemiah was angry, based on the fact that he cursed them, struck them, and pulled out their hair. But his anger was not due to personal offenses against him. He was offended on behalf of God at the spiritual condition of the people. If Nehemiah had been upset because the people did not do as he said, it would be one thing; but he was angry that they ignored the command of God, completely missing the warning and example of their fathers, namely Solomon, who demonstrated why this command was so important to keep.
Our faith is something that must be fought for and protected. If you leave it alone, it will not take care of itself. The condition of your body, which is the living temple, will end up looking just like the temple here in Jerusalem...a complete mess. We know that the Lord is returning and will execute judgement on all those who live ungodly. This is definitely something we want to escape. The book of Jude is a good reminder for us. I encourage you to read the entire chapter, but the final exhortation is this: Jude 1:20-21, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
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