The Reforms of Nehemiah Introduction: The children of Judah were conquered by the Babylonians, and taken away into captivity. Jerusalem was destroyed, and the captivity lasted for almost two generations After the Persians conquered Babylon, the man Nehemiah served as Cupbearer to Persian King Artexerxes The book of Nehemiah begins with his petition to the King to be allowed to return to the land, and rebuild the city walls He was given permission and a remnant of the people began to rebuild the wall despite great opposition, led among others by Tobiah the Ammonite, who had made alliances with some of the Jewish nobles who had preceded Nehemiah in his return. Nehemiah became governor, and had authority over the people for 12 years during the construction of the wall surrounding Jerusalem Accomplished the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem, bringing joy and a sense of purpose back to the people. Had a census done, registering the people according to their genealogy (7:4-ff) Had Ezra read the law to the people, bringing about a repentance among the people (8 and 9) At some point in time, he returned to King Artexerxes, and spent an unknown amount of time there before returning to Jerusalem While Nehemiah was away, Eliashib the priest had granted to Tobiah the Ammonite a large storeroom in the Temple courts, in violation of the law of God. When Nehemiah returned, he found out about this treachery, and set about making reforms that make are noted in the 13th chapter of Nehemiah Our purpose is to note the THREE reforms noted in chapter 13, and make some applications! Nehemiah 13

Reform One Kicked out Tobiah, and paid the Levites (13:6-14), “…Then after certain days I obtained leave from the king, 7 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. 8 And it grieved me bitterly; therefore I threw all the household goods of Tobiah out of the room. 9 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.  10 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. 11 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. 12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the storehouse. 13 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. 14 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!” Both of these actions were necessary to render proper obedience the law of Moses Consider the petition following: “Remember me, O my God, concerning this…” Nehemiah 13:6-14

Reform Two Reestablished Sabbath observance among the Jews The people of Judah were working on the Sabbath, treading wine presses, gathering crops and trading with the men of Tyre. (13:17-22), “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? 18 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.” 19 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. 20 Now the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice.   21 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. 22 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!” As Nehemiah stated, a failure to observe the Sabbath was a serious crime, and brought God’s reproach upon the people Note again Nehemiah’s petition: “Remember me, O my God, concerning this also” Nehemiah 13:17-22

Reform Three Condemned the marriages to pagan women Some in Judah had married women of Ashdod, Ammon and Moab. It was distressing to Nehemiah that half the children could not even speak Hebrew, but only the language of Ashdod or one of the other peoples. (13:25-31), “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. 26 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. 27 Should we then hear of your doing all this great evil, transgressing against our God by marrying pagan women?” 28 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. 29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. 30 Thus I cleansed them of everything pagan. I also assigned duties to the priests and the Levites, each to his service, 31 and to bringing the wood offering and the firstfruits at appointed times. Remember me, O my God, for good!” Consider the example given by Nehemiah about Solomon, and how his heart was turned away from God Note a final time Nehemiah’s petition: “Remember me, O my God, for good” Nehemiah 13:25-31

Four Applications Evil companions can lead you to sin! 13:4; 1 Cor. 15:33-34 God’s holy days are important! 13:17ff; Heb. 10:24-25 Marry a righteous person! 13:23; 2 Cor. 6:14 Appeal to God’s mercy! 13:22; Evil Companions can cause you to sin! Eliashib the priest had an alliance with the enemy of Judah (Tobiah the Ammonite) (Nehemiah 13:4), “Now before this, Eliashib the priest, having authority over the storerooms of the house of our God, was allied with Tobiah.” This caused him to violate God’s laws regarding the Ammonites or Moabites coming in to the assembly of God (Deuteronomy 23:3-4), “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, 4 because they did not meet you with bread and water on the road when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.” This is an important principle for children of God today to learn as well! (1 Corinthians 15:33-34), “Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.” (Psalm 26:4-7) [David wrote], “I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, nor will I go in with hypocrites. 5 I have hated the assembly of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked. 6 I will wash my hands in innocence; So I will go about Your altar, O Lord, 7 that I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works.” [CLICK FOR POINT 2] God’s Holy Days are Important! (Nehemiah 13:17-18), “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? 18 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.” Failure to observe the Sabbath day was a serious offense. In Numbers 15 God instructed Moses to put to death a man who was found gathering sticks on the Sabbath. (Exodus 20:8-9), “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.” Today, God has given Christians a specific day to offer worship to Him. We should respect Him by presenting ourselves in the assembly for worship and edification (Hebrews 10:24-25), “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” [CLICK FOR POINT 3] Marry a Righteous Person! (Nehemiah 13:23), “In those days I also saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.” Solomon serves as a cautionary tale (1 Kings 10:1-4), “But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites— 2 from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David.” We too must understand the importance of marrying someone who will help you get to heaven. (2 Corinthians 6:14), “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” This text is not contextually dealing with the subject of marriage. In fact, a marriage with one who is not a Christian is to be maintained (1 Cor. 7) However, the admonition is appropriate. The closest of ties can be that which leads you to sin and destruction. [CLICK FOR POINT 4] Appeal to God’s Mercy! (Nehemiah 13:31), “Remember me, O my God, for good!” (Nehemiah 13:22), [Re: Protecting holiness of Sabbath day], “Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy!” Nehemiah was grieved by the sin of the people He knew that mercy comes to those who humble themselves, and are penitent before God! This is a lesson we must learn as well! (James 4:6-10), “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

What about you? (cf. Hebrews 5:9) Conclusion In every time and in every place, God demands us to humble ourselves, and live righteously. What about you? (cf. Hebrews 5:9) In every time and in every place, God demands us to humble ourselves, and live righteously. What about you? (Hebrews 5:9), “And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”