Nehemiah: Intro

TRUE REVIVAL

HARD WORK IN HARD TIMES

Some 1,000 years after the time of Moses and some 400 years before the birth of Jesus, the nation of Israel and the Jewish people were in a desperate state.

The nations of Israel & Judah had been destroyed. The city of Jerusalem had been completely conquered by the Babylonians and the once glorious temple of Solomon was in ruins.

When the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, they deported almost everyone from the city and the region for 70 years and the Holy City was almost a ghost town, and had the potential to end up like many ancient cities, forgotten except to history.

When the Jews were deported to Babylon, they began to make homes for themselves there. They settled down, and many still followed the God of their fathers, but they did it from Babylon, unable to return to the land God had promised and given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Some of these faithful Jews were raised up to places of prominence in the governments they were deported to. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego became leaders in Babylon. Esther was made queen in the court of a Persian king.

But after 70 years of captivity in Babylon, they were given the opportunity to return to their homeland, the Promised Land. Out of almost 3,000,000 Jews deported originally, only 50,000 decided to return. But these few did indeed return, and in the days of Ezra, they rebuilt the temple and laid again a spiritual foundation for Israel.

The book of Nehemiah begins 15 years after the book of Ezra ends; almost 100 years after the first captives came back to the Promised Land, and some 150 years after the city of Jerusalem had been destroyed. After this long time, the walls of the city were still in rubble.

Those in the city had tried before to rebuild the city walls but had failed. In Ezra 4:6-23, we see that some 75 years before they tried to rebuild the walls, but were stopped by their enemies. No one thought this obstacle could be overcome, so the walls lay in ruins and the people were unprotected.

Nehemiah stands out as one of the noble men of the Old Testament.  As he began to fulfill the most important mission of his life, he demonstrated the highest level of dedication and courage, both in the practical matter of rebuilding walls and in the spiritual matter of rebuilding the religious life of his people.

HIS HARD WORK IN HARD TIMES BROUGHT TRUE REVIVAL.

The book of Nehemiah carries the history of the Jewish people down to a later date than any other of the history books in the Old Testament. The value of the book is its most vivid portrayal of the noble character himself. His career presents  an exceptional combination of strong self reliance with humble trust in God, of shrewdness coupled with simplicity of purpose, of persistent prayerfulness with the most energetic activity, and of faith in his Lord.

Little is known of the background of Nehemiah himself except that he was a Jew born while the Jews were in exile. His age is not given but it seems likely that he was born after Cyrus had decreed that Jews could return at will to their homeland. His family must have been one of those who chose not to return and they were also likely to have been a family of some influence, as Nehemiah held the position of cup bearer to the king, assuring that the king's food and drink were safe to consume, which was a position of great trust and responsibility.

Even though he was in Persia enjoying power and importance, Nehemiah had not forgotten his people or his homeland. When he heard of the poor conditions there, he fasted and prayed for his people.

The greater part of the book was likely written by Nehemiah himself but he revealed in chapter 7 that he had found a written register to help him. This was the register of the generations given by Ezra in chapter 2 of his writing. It is thought the book was written near the end of his life and there is some evidence of that fact in the incident given in chapter 13:23-29, which historical documents tell us happened in 413 B.C.

The book falls into three general sections, Nehemiah's prayer and commission (chapters 1 through 2:10), his first visit to Jerusalem (chapters 2:11 through chapter 7), and his second visit (chapters 8-13). His second visit seems to have been made 13 years after the first visit, which would have been in 432 B.C.

The structure of the message moves us from physical restoration of city walls to covenantal restoration with God through the energy and new leadership of a man who gave up position and power to serve the Lord. He believed that God would guide him to succeed and it was so. 

Nehemiah - Chapter 1

We begin our study of the book of Nehemiah with his self introduction and his response to a very difficult report and his prayer concerning what he had heard.

1-4:

REPORT RECEIVED AND RESPONSE

The book begins with a verse that is typically Jewish, Nehemiah introduces himself by telling us his name and his father's name. All throughout the OT we see the emphasis placed upon family and generations. We immediately know who is writing and where he places himself within his family.

We are told that he is in the Persian city of Shushan, the citadel city of the kings.

He reveals the time of his writings, being in the 20th year of the rule of king Artaxerses, who ruled from 465 to 423 B.C., therefore we begin our story in 445 B.C. Nehemiah tells us even the Jewish month of his writing, Chislev, which corresponds to our late November to early December calendar.

A brethren named Hanani arrives with other men from Judah and Nehemiah questions him concerning the condition of those Jews who had escaped the Babylonian victory years before, remaining in Jerusalem, AND the condition of the city itself.

The answer given came in two parts. The Jews were in great distress and reproach, facing dire economic times. We will learn in chapter 5 that famine had come over the land and the people were in terrible struggle just to survive. Secondly, the answer on the city itself was just as grim. The city walls are broken down and the gates have been burned down by fire.

Nehemiah received these reports with weeping and mourning for many days. Not only did he weep and mourn but he also fasted and turned to God in prayer.

5-11:

NEHEMIAH'S PRAYER

Nehemiah prayed strongly and stayed in prayer day and night. His prayer was one of intercession for the Holy City and its people, God's chosen people.

The prayer begins with him acknowledging that God is a great and awesome God, and that Nehemiah submits to His sovereign authority. He shows that he understands God's faithfulness within the old covenant and Nehemiah interceded for the people directly by first confessing their sins. He includes an honest confession of his own sins and those of his father's house. He says that these have acted very corruptly against God.

He is humbly submitting himself as the Lord's sinful servant.

He asks God to remember the covenant promises made so long ago and he clearly assures God he himself remembers the Lord's words to Moses.

He closes his prayer in verse 11 by asking for mercy and compassion toward the city, the people, and himself. He words this final request in a way that depends on the faithfulness of God, not of the people or himself, both of whom had failed the Lord, and had broken the holy covenant.

He focuses the closing request on his own status simply as the servant of the Lord, and nothing else.

He asks God to grant himself mercy in the sight of the king, and he concludes with the sentence that allows us to know he is the king's cup bearer. So even though he holds a high position of responsibility and authority, he humbles himself before God in confession and submission.

We see how Nehemiah waited until the last sentence of his prayer to reveal his high position. We see also how even though he was a man of influence, he had a vulnerable heart, a heart able to feel pain. Nehemiah's tears remind us of another strong leader, David, who wept openly at times and Jesus himself, in his human form shed tears of sadness and grief.

What did Nehemiah do with his grief over these sad answers?

He did not try to forget it, rather, he fasted and prayed. He took his grief before God. Prayer is the place where we clarify and deepen our relation with our Lord and his call on our souls. Nehemiah is already teaching us strong and valuable lessons in his first chapter about our personal prayer life. What are those lessons?

• We should remember and confess who is in charge.

• We should ask God to bless our plans and work for Him.

• We should consistently seek God's guidance for our lives.

Nehemiah heard most difficult news about his people and their Holy City and he quickly mourned at the news and prayed. As he prayed it seems clear that he was already sensing the call of God on his heart for action. He was already requesting that God arrange mercy from the king as he knew already that he was going next to speak to the king concerning the need of restoration of the the walls of Jerusalem.

These were hard times in Jerusalem, and only hard work and God's will would bring restoration of the walls and revival of the spirits of the people there.   

Nehemiah - Chapter 2

1-8:

NEHEMIAH GAINS THE KING'S BLESSING

If we were only read chapter one we might be tempted to classify Nehemiah as one of the men of vision of the Old Testament, those men whose minds are fixed only on things above. But the second chapter shows another side to Nehemiah. Here he plays out a careful strategy in preparation for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.

We saw that Nehemiah first heard of the dire conditions in Jerusalem during the Jewish month of Chislev. Now verse one says that the time is the month of Nisan, four months later. The scene opens with Nehemiah in his official capacity as cup bearer but something is different now. Such a servant would never initiate a conversation with the king. By appearing unhappy, Nehemiah was able to bring the king to ask him what was wrong, and by this moment, he was able to make a special request of the king.

This strategy involved risk. When the king noticed his unhappy look and asked what was wrong Nehemiah says he was “dreadfully afraid”. Knowing he was about to ask for a special favor, he was surely nervous.

With so much at stake, he wisely began the conversation with the statement of “...May the king live forever...”.He then began to explain his sadness in a very clever way. He asks a question to explain his sadness in verse 3 but did not mention Judah nor Jerusalem by name. The approach was so clever and successful that the king asked him,

“What do you request?”

Before answering, Nehemiah offers a quick but silent prayer. Then he frames his request in a way that honored the king by using the words, “... If it pleases the king...”.

Now he then mentions Judah and his desire to rebuild the city there.

The king so valued the service of Nehemiah that he only asks him how long he would be gone and when would he return? Nehemiah must have given an answer that satisfied the king as the king gave his permission. In truth, Nehemiah was gone twelve years.

Now more strategy occurs as Nehemiah asks for letters of approval to assure his safe passage and for lumber from the king's forest to use in the rebuilding.

Everything requested was granted. We must notice here that even though Nehemiah had been most clever, he gives credit not to himself but to “... the good hand of my God upon me...”. He again recognizes and admits all blessings are his only from the Lord.

9-10:          

FIRST MEETING WITH THE REGIONAL LEADERS

Now we learn that the king arranged a military escort to take Nehemiah to Judah. Two men are introduced here who will play an important part in the remainder of the story, Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite. Sanballat was the governor of Samaria and Tobiah was considered lower ranked helper. 

Both men were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well being of the children of Israel. Both men knew that Nehemiah may pose a threat to their positions and we will see that they were right to worry about the influence Nehemiah would bring to Jerusalem.

11-16:

SECRET SURVEY OF THE WALL

Shortly after Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, he set out on a secret mission to survey the broken wall. He took only a few men, those who could be trusted to keep the mission quiet for the time being. To maintain quiet and assure secrecy, he took only one animal.

This passage again reveals Nehemiah as a man of careful strategy with a good sense of timing. He wanted to evaluate the scope of the job awaiting him but without drawing attention to his plans earlier than he was willing to reveal them.

17-18:

NEHEMIAH RALLIES THE TROOPS

After appraising the condition of the wall, Nehemiah spoke to the Jews of Jerusalem and the surrounding region. He stated the problem at hand and called upon the people to participate in the solution. Then he added two incentives for the people to join the work. People from surrounding lands had for a long time taken advantage of the broken wall to take whatever they wished from those in Jerusalem, by theft or force.

The first incentive was that the rebuilt wall would end their being looked at as easy targets (ending the reproach of outsiders).

The second incentive was to tell them that both the hand of God and of the king was behind this work.

With God and king on their side, the people decided to start the work.

We see that Nehemiah was a successful motivator. He identified the problem, called the people to be part of the solution, and motivated them by addressing their concerns and interests.

19-20:

FIRST CLASH WITH THE OPPONENTS

Verse 19 announces another adversary, Geshem the Arab. At first, Sanballat and Tobiah responded by laughing at the Jews. On one hand this laughter was meant to discourage the builders. On the other hand, it demonstrated how lightly they took Nehemiah's efforts at restoration. But the laughter did not diminish the spirit of Nehemiah. He declares that “... the God of Heaven himself will prosper us...”. Here he was admitting that the work may have been too much for just man, but with God behind the effort, there would be no failure. 

Nehemiah made it clear that the opponents were to have no part in the work nor were they any longer welcome in Jerusalem. Unfortunately, we will see they will soon return.

His leadership qualities are now showing forth as the man of grief and tears starts the work God had approved through his prayers.  

Nehemiah - Chapter 3

1-32:

TEAMWORK IN REBUILDING THE WALL

READING BETWEEN THE LINES OF THE LIST

Chapter 3 can be seen as a tedious list of names and families. It can be boring to plow through it but there are serious lessons between the lines of this chapter.

At the close of chapter two, Nehemiah had successfully persuaded the people of Judah to join him in rebuilding the wall. They intended to begin work, regardless of the laughter and sarcasm of their neighbors. Not only did Nehemiah motivate the people but he also organized them effectively as demonstrated by the list of builders and their assignments.

The builders came from diverse regions of Judah and from diverse professions (including goldsmiths and perfumers). Both sexes worked on the wall and even leaders from the society got their hands dirty, including the high priest and his brethren, the Levites, and many district leaders.

Yet not everyone participated in Nehemiah's program. We see in verse 5 that the nobles from Tekoa “... did not put their shoulders to the work of the Lord...”. Here we see that some leading citizens were unwilling to be under the leadership of Nehemiah.

As a result, common folks from the region of Tekoa repaired two wall sections without any help from their leaders (verses 5 & 27).

Rebuilding the Jerusalem wall was God's work. God stirred up Nehemiah in chapter one, and enabled him to be sent to Jerusalem in chapter 2. To his opponents, Nehemiah boldly said, “The God of Heaven himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build...”. (verse 20). Later when the wall was completed, Nehemiah commented that “... this work was done by our God...”. (6:16)

But God worked through people: through Nehemiah and the hardworking men and women of Judah. Nehemiah 3 is a reminder to us that the work of God happens when the people of God labor.

This was true in the days of Nehemiah – and it was true in the New Testament days – and it is still true today. 

Knowing that God works through us should encourage us and motivate us to get busy with God's business.

In chapter 3 Nehemiah demonstrated balance and strategic leadership. Based upon a spiritual foundation of prayer (1:4-11), he organized effectively and delegated thoroughly. He succeeded by making many smaller parts create the whole.

Nehemiah - Chapter 4

1-6:

CONFRONTING MOCKERY

Everything had been running along smoothly for Nehemiah. The king had blessed his mission and provided for his construction needs and safety on the way to Jerusalem.

The people had rallied around him and had begun the work with much energy. God had called him to the work and had granted him wisdom how to organize the effort to restore the wall of the Holy City.

Suddenly everything changes and Nehemiah is confronted with opposition from outsiders and then from within his own people. Here we learn from his example how we can overcome adversity in our own lives.

Nehemiah's opponents, Sanballat and Tobiah appear once again with their familiar tone of sarcasm deriding the work and the workers. Sanballat mocked the Jews in a voice filled with animosity and spite. Tobiah added to the difficulty by degrading the work with a disparaging remark in verse 3 “... A little fox would break down whatever they built...”. These two mocked the Jews both for personal pleasure and to discourage the hard working builders.

Nehemiah responded with a fervent prayer: “O God, get revenge on them! Let them be overthrown! Do not forgive their sins”. Two aspects of his prayer require our attention:

First, notice that prayer was his priority. When confronted he did not shout back; he turned to God.

Second, Nehemiah prayed honestly. He told God exactly what he wanted, actually with surprising candor. He did not screen his words or worry about the anger that the Lord would surely hear from him. He was direct and clear.

After all was said and done, it certainly seemed  that Nehemiah's prayerful response achieved its purpose because the workers continued to work until the wall had reached half the intended height. In spite of insults from opposing leaders, “... the people had a mind to work...”.

7-23:

CONFRONTING THE THREAT OF ATTACK

When mockery failed to stop the rebuilding, the enemies of Judah threatened to attack. They did not intend to actually take control of the city but merely to create confusion and to cause the work to cease. Sanballat and Tobiah had rallied an alliance against tiny Judah, and had surrounded the city. Sanballat and the Samaritans were to their north. Tobiah and the Ammonites were to their east. Geshem and the Arabs were to their south. The Ashdodites were to their west.

Once more Nehemiah responded in prayer. In addition to prayer, he set  a watch against these enemies day and night, preparing for the attack.

Now the threat of the attack caused the spirit of the Jews to waver and their courage weakened. They began to gossip and murmur in discontent.

While mockery had no effect, military intimidation did. The enemies kept issuing threats, promising to attack secretly to bring the wall restoration to a quick end. Frightened Jews from outer areas began to complain to Nehemiah repeatedly. We are told that they fearfully complained “ten times” which is meant to convey complaining again and again.

Nehemiah was confronted now from within as well as without. Now he calls the people and places them behind the lower parts of the partially rebuilt wall. Now the enemies were sure to see the strength and readiness of the Jews. Nehemiah gave a strong pep talk to the congregation calling on the people to keep their focus on God, who he described as “great and awesome”. With their minds refocused, the Jews were ready to fight if necessary.

Once more his defensive strategy was successful. The immediate danger of attack seemed to diminish and the building started again. But from that moment onward, all were aware and prepared for attack. Clear and specific plans were put into place:

• Half of the people worked while the other half stood guard.

• All workers kept arms with them at all time for readiness.

• A communication system was installed.

• Workers camped inside Jerusalem to protect the walls at all times.

Verse 23 assures that Nehemiah and his leaders stayed with and camped with the workers. His willingness to join in the hardships strengthened the people to remain committed.

In spite of all the difficulties, the wall continued to rise.

Nehemiah faced opposition, and so will we. Just when we think it is safe and all is well, a spiritual battle will appear to challenge our strength, our willingness, and our faith.

But we can “remember the Lord. Great and awesome”. We can rejoice  in the fact that “our God will fight for us” (verse 20). So, we should fully expect victory, we should pick up our spiritual weapons, put on the whole armor of God, and take on the battle. 

Nehemiah - Chapter 5

1-5:

INTERNAL CONFLICT

Just when Judah was finally able to withstand threats from outside, what should happen but internal squabbles sprang up. Just when it was safe to build again, the citizens of Judah cried out to Nehemiah with most serious complaints.

The people cried out against their Jewish brethren who had been profiting from the misfortune of many of the people and families willing to do the hard work on the wall. Even the wives cried out likely because they had been left alone by their husbands who had become wall workers. There seemed to be three groups protesting:

• Those with large families who were neglected.

• Those who had mortgaged property for food.

• Those who had borrowed money to pay the king's tax.

The financial hardships had become so critical that many of the families had found it necessary to sell their own children into slavery. Such sale was not prohibited by law, but was supposed to be regulated (Exodus 21:2-11). Such people sold were to be thought of as hired servants, not slaves. Verse 5 implies that the daughters sold may have been forced into marriage or been treated immorally by those who now owned them.

Nehemiah himself was partially to blame. We earlier understood the difficult famine in the land and it is likely that his call to farmers and tradesmen to build took them away from family support. When funds ran low to the families, Jews who had no scruples took advantage with unfair loans and foreclosing on property and children when payments were missed.

6-13:

NEHEMIAH'S RESPONSE

When he heard the cries of the people he became very angry. But he took time to devote serious reflection on the issue. First he confronted the nobles and rulers and accused them of usury, that is loans with exorbitant rates of interest.

Next he called a great assembly to discuss the matter. At the end of the meeting the offenders sat silent which betrayed their guilt. Nehemiah then appealed to national pride saying that not only was the issue causing unity to fall apart but other peoples were laughing at the Jews in their misfortune.

Then Nehemiah makes a shocking admission that he himself had been an offender and had been lending money and grain at usury rates. Basically Nehemiah said that he and the other offenders had turned into pawn brokers against their own people.

He made a call for all property held to be returned to the original owners and that the usury (one hundredth per month or 12% per year) to be refunded. Scripture does not specifically say it, but probably those children taken as slaves were also to be returned free. 

The lenders, now chastened, quickly agreed to the terms and Nehemiah summoned the priests to witness the matter to assure it was agreed before God.

Nehemiah then used a personal gesture to make the final point. He unfolded his own garment to empty it, making a show of emptying all pockets to say to all those offenders that if they break the agreement, God should empty them of all they possess.

These strategies were successful, and the passage ends on a positive note  with the assurance that the people did according to this promise.

14-19:

NEHEMIAH'S SACRIFICE

Now we learn for the first time that Nehemiah was actually the governor of Judah and that he had served in this position for twelve years. Now he reveals the sacrificial aspect of his service.

He had never profited financially from his position nor had he bought any land for himself. Nor had he collected the normal “governor's provision” which would have been  food, drink, and money. 

Even though he had received nothing, he had fed many local people and visiting dignitaries from his own pocket. It was revealed to be a heavy financial sacrifice as he describes it as a daily supply of one ox and six choice sheep, plus fowls and wine.

Nehemiah's concern for the burden of the people had led him to drain his own personal resources rather than add to that burden. Nehemiah ends this section with a prayer, asking God to remember him for all he has done for Judah.

These verses demonstrate how Nehemiah had learned from his mistakes, and he had moved from being opportunistic to sacrificial leadership.

Once more Nehemiah provides us with practical principles of how to respond to conflict and complaint:

• LISTEN

• THINK IT OVER BEFORE ACTING

• CONFRONT DIRECTLY THE PROBLEM

• OPENLY ADMIT YOUR OWN MISTAKES

• REQUIRE POSITIVE CHANGE AS A SOLUTION

• GAIN AGREEMENT FROM ALL INVOLVED

Nehemiah - Chapter 6

1-4:

PERSONAL ATTACKS TO DISTRACT NEHEMIAH

The rebuilding project had been moving ahead in spite of frustrating opposition: challenges from the outside as neighbors threatened Judah and challenges from within as internal strife threatened unity. Now the attacks are not just against the work but against Nehemiah himself.

The workers had almost finished the wall. All that remained was to hang the doors. Then Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab, who had opposed Nehemiah from the beginning, tried once more in desperation to derail the whole project. This time they chose a different tactic, they threatened Nehemiah personally.

At first view their invitation does not seem to bring danger. They proposed a meeting at the plain of Ono. Nehemiah quickly suspected ill will as he revealed he thought they meant to do him harm. The key to his understanding that this proposal was sinister was its location. Ono was 25 miles northwest of Jerusalem, a two day trip both ways and far enough away to make it easier for them to attack him away from his people. Even if his suspicions were not fully correct, the trip itself would bring him distraction away from the work.

Nehemiah declined the meeting with his words basically saying that he had a big job and needed to stay working on it. These enemies tried four times to lure Nehemiah away, and four times he declined. The persistence of his enemies did not overcome Nehemiah's resolve. He remained focused on the task at hand.

5-9:

NEHEMIAH IS LIBELED

Since Nehemiah refused to be distracted, Sanballat tried another approach to disrupt the work. He sent his servant into Jerusalem with an “open letter” containing two direct accusations (both untrue) against Nehemiah.

First, the letter said that Nehemiah intended to attack the Persians after he had completed building the strong wall.

Second, the letter said that Nehemiah himself had a plan to appoint himself king.

This letter was not primarily to inform the people but rather to incite disunity. Nehemiah quickly dismissed the claims as things Sanballat had invented in his own heart.

True to his character, Nehemiah then prayed for strength. There is no evidence that he penned a letter of defense or any written response to the attempts to discredit him. He simply stated the truth as he knew it, prayed, and moved on.

10-14:

ATTEMPTING TO DISGRACE NEHEMIAH

The next attempt to distract Nehemiah came from an obscure priest named Shemiah who was a secret informer to the enemies. It seems certain that he was hired by Sanballat and Tobiah to discredit Nehemiah.

Shemiah prophesied to Nehemiah saying that your enemies are coming to kill you, coming this very night. But the prophet had a plan to “save” his life. He proposed they both go to the temple and hide within the temple itself, to find safety next to the Holy place in the heart of the temple.

Nehemiah was not a priest and was therefore forbidden to enter the Holy place, and if he tried to do so he would have been disgraced in two ways:

First, Numbers 18:7 limits this place only to priests and any others who enter there are subject to the death sentence.

Second, by hiding to save his own life, Nehemiah would have been seen as a coward and therefore a poor leader for Judah.

Nehemiah rejected the false prophecy, saying that he knew God had not sent it to him and he had perceived that Sanballat and Tobiah had hired the priest. We see here how very low the enemies had sunk in their efforts to hinder Nehemiah and the work. This section closes with the revelation that Nehemiah knew even other priests had been hired to work against him as well.

15-16:

COMPLETION OF THE WALL

The wall was finished in the 25th day of Elul (our late September) and amazingly had taken only 52 days from start to finish. It was a testimony to the leadership of Nehemiah and we are told that it caused the enemies to be “disheartened”. Their attempts to stop the work had failed badly. The work had been done so quickly and in unity that even the opponents “perceived that this work was done by our God”.

17-19

OPPOSITION CONTINUES

Having completed the wall, Nehemiah quickly turns aside to consider the conspiracy that had taken place against him, especially the opposition of Tobiah. This clever enemy had influential connections within Judah, in part because he and his son had both married into influential Jewish families. A curious note is that Tobiah's son, Jehohnan, had married the daughter of Meshullan, who we met in 3:4 as a worker on the construction of the wall. This man worked to resolve the bitterness between Nehemiah and Tobiah but Nehemiah rejected this effort at diplomacy and verse 19 advises that Tobiah continued to send letters to him to try and frighten him. These two did agree one one thing, that their differences seemed, at least for now, beyond reconciling.   

Nehemiah - Chapter 7

1-3:

GUARDING JERUSALEM

This chapter concludes the efforts by Nehemiah to rebuild the wall. It begins with his assignment of guards for the city, and then moves into an extended list of families.

With the wall complete and the gates and doors finally in place, the people of Jerusalem may become lax and trust their security to the wall alone. But Nehemiah does not allow any laxness to occur and he assigns leaders to guard the city and the new wall. Hananai, Nehemiah's brother, first appeared in chapter one when he first brought Nehemiah the sad report on the condition of the walls and gates. Now he is described as the leader of the citadel and a person of strong integrity, fearing God. Nehemiah entrusted the care of the city only to those who deserved his trust.

Verse 3 is a verse that causes difficulty in understanding as translated, and the form of it in the KJV may miss the intended meaning. What is truly being said is that the gates should be closed in the heat of the day when the heat of the sun may bring drowsiness and therefore less than full attention to security, so keep the gates closed during those hours.

4-73:

REGISTERING THE RESIDENTS

God now urged Nehemiah to take a census of the people residing in Jerusalem according to their genealogy. For this counting and registration, Nehemiah used a registry of persons who had returned from Babylon at the order from Cyrus releasing them from captivity. These were people who had returned more than 90 years earlier and the list is essentially the registry Nehemiah had earlier indicated he had used and it is seen as well in Ezra 2. 

 An important part of this census and registration is revealed to us in verses 64-65.

Those who could not trace their direct line or who tried to hide their line were excluded from the priesthood. Now they were not allowed to hold the office of priest nor to consume the holy bread of the temple until a priest who could trace his direct line back consulted with the most holy oracle stones of the Urim and Thummim. These stones had originally been supplied by God when He established the holy priesthood of Aaron. Little is known concerning these oracle stones other than they did indeed supply yes or no answers to the Lord's will when questioned by His true priests who were of the line of Levi.

(Study scriptures for these holy stones:

• EX 28:30

• LEV 8:8  

• EZRA 2:63

• NUM 27:21  

• 1ST SAMUEL 28:6

Nehemiah - Chapter 8

1-8:

UNDERSTANDING THE LAW

Nehemiah 8 allows us a direct challenge to our complacent approach to the Bible and our tendency to regard the Law of Moses as only commanding grudging obedience.

The completion of the wall in chapter 6 sets the stage for chapter 8.

God's people finally have physical protection so now it is time for spiritual rebuilding. Now we begin the study of the verses that justify the name we gave to this time of scriptural reflection:

TRUE REVIVAL – HARD WORK IN HARD TIMES

Now, after a mysterious absence of 13 years, Ezra reappears to lead the people into spiritual revival as God's covenant people whose lives are ordered by him through the Law. Nehemiah now steps into the background during this time of spiritual restoration.

In the seventh month, our late September, the people gathered “as one man” in an open field near the Water Gate. Ezra brought the “Book of Moses” and began to read from it to the gathering. We cannot be sure how much of the Torah he brought (Torah generally means the first 5 books of the OT) but we do know he read for six hours.

In order to be seen and heard during the reading, Ezra stood upon a platform of wood constructed just for this purpose. He opened the book (or more accurately unrolled the scroll) and all the people stood as a gesture of respect. Ezra blessed the Lord and all the people joined in with him by saying “Amen – Amen”. Then they bowed in reverence. 

(SOUNDS VERY BAPTIST AT THIS POINT!)

Ezra read the Law from morning until midday. In all this time we are told the people were attentive to the reading. Not only did Ezra read from the Law, but many Levites helped the people to understand the Law. The Levites read distinctly from the book and then “gave the sense”. 

(SOUNDS VERY MUCH LIKE SUNDAY SCHOOL)

We must remember that most of these people had spent much of their lives in captivity in Babylon, and had likely not studied the law and in fact it is likely that most may have lost the Hebrew language during all those years, and now spoke Chaldean. So the Levites were helpful to translate and to interpret the writings of Moses.

9-12:

THE PEOPLE RESPOND

When the people heard and understood the Law, they began to weep. Perhaps the Law reading convicted them of their sin of maybe they realized that had obedience to the holy Law been given by their parents and grandparents, much suffering in exile could have been avoided.

The leaders (including Ezra and Nehemiah and the Levites) rebuked the people for weeping  and instead encouraged the people to celebrate.

Understanding finally the will of God should be a time for rejoicing.

13-18:

THE FEAST OF BOOTHS

Once again, in their desire to understand the Law, the leaders of Judah gathered to hear from Ezra. This time they learned about the Feast of Booths spoken of in Leviticus 23:34-43. This feast (also known as the Feast of Tabernacles) is on the 15th day of the seventh month (early fall). It includes days of rest, special offerings, feasting on newly harvested fruits, and living in booths (small structures of brush & sticks) for seven days.

By living in these small structures, the Israelites remember and honor the journey of their ancestors in the wilderness time.

For the first time in a very long time, everyone was in spiritual unity and the feeling of joy was among the people. Verse 17 says there was “great gladness”.

Here is wisdom still today for us. We must proclaim God's truth! We must take care that all our people understand that truth, for this is why Ezra had the Levites to further teach the people.

Here we see the value of understanding. We also see that understanding is not the final goal of God's word, but is critical to drawing closer to Him. When the people gained an understanding sense of the Law, they responded both emotionally and in behavior. They wept and then they rejoiced. The went out and celebrated. Then they honored God by reinstating the feast which remembers His salvation of His chosen people and His guidance and care of them in hard times.

God's truth brings a mental change that leads to the transformation of the heart and then through repentance, changes lives.

Nehemiah - Chapter 9

1-5:

THE ASSEMBLY

The feast of Booths in chapter 8 ended on the 21st day, with an additional day for a sacred assembly. After the interval of one more day, the people gathered. The people fasted, wore sackcloth, and put dust on their heads. This gesture was followed by the people of Israel now separating themselves from any one not Jewish. The separation is understandable as afterward came the confession of national and ancestral sins, of which non Jews would have no part.

Teams of Levites “stood on the stairs of the Levites” (a type of platform) to cry out to God and to lead in worship. The verb “to confess” appears in verse 2 & 3 and while it normally means to acknowledge one's sins, in this case it brings a broader meaning. It is used in the Hebrew language here to give an extended meaning concerning what is true about a person or about God. Confession here means reciting God's nature or His works as well as a statement of human sins. It also means in the original language to tell the truth and the whole truth about one's own self.

6-37:

TRUE CONFESSION

This magnificent passage contains a rich retelling of biblical history from creation through the time of Nehemiah. Look at how deep the confession becomes:

• Verse 6 refers to the creation (Genesis 1)

• Verse 7 refers to the Covenant with Abraham (Genesis 11-17)

• Verse 9-11 refers to the Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 1-14)

• Verse 12 refers to the pillar of fire and smoke (Exodus 13:21-22)

• Verse 13-14 refers to the giving of the Law (Exodus 20)

• Verse 15 refers to the manna and water from a rock (Exodus 16-17)

• Verse 17 refers to the rebellious Hebrew people (Exodus & Numbers)

• Verse 18 refers to the golden calf incident (Exodus 32)

The Levites were filling in the past for the Jews who needed to hear and accept what God had done for his chosen people as well as how the people had failed their Lord.

The remainder of the confession moves back and forth between the sin of the people and God's gracious responses that were more and more corrective toward them. Elements of the confession echo well known biblical themes concerning God's grace toward the chosen ones.

Verse 21 “Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell” (Deut 8:4)

Verse 22 “So they took possession of the land of Sihon, the land of the king of Hesbon and the land of Og the Bashan” (Deut 1:4 / Joshua 2 / Ps 135)

Verse 27 “When they cried out to you, You heard from heaven and according to Your abundant mercies, You gave them deliverers who saved them.”

(Judges 2)

Verse 33 sums up the essence of this strong confession well. “However You are just in all that has befallen us, for You have dealt faithfully, but we have done wickedly”

God had been patient, merciful, forgiving, and always faithful. His chosen people had been rebellious, forgetful, sinful, and constantly faithless in their covenant relationship with Him.

The people of God were reaping what they had sown. They deserved the sentence of servitude to foreign kings. The confession of chapter 9 offers no excuses, only an admission of the people's perpetual guilt in contrast to God's perpetual grace.

When the people of Israel confessed their national sin, they made a complete confession, telling the whole truth, not only about themselves, but also about God.

Look once more at a portion of this amazing confession:

Verses - Confession

• 6-15 - God's greatness in creation, covenant, and redemption.

• 16-17 - The people's hardening of their necks

• 17 - God's grace.

• 18 - The people's idolatry.

• 19-25 - God's mercies.

• 26 - The people's disobedience.

• 27 - God's discipline and salvation,

• 28 - The people's evil.

• 28 - God's deliverance.

• 29 - The people's stiff necks.

• 30-31 - God's patience, judgment, and mercy.

The full meaning of the wonderful confession filled with truth about the people and the Lord is that God is holy. He cannot and will not tolerate sin, nor can sin tolerate God.

While God's holiness shines against the foul sin of his people, the mercy of God invites us to confess our sins. The very nature of God calls us to tell Him the truth. True and contrite confession of sin will always find mercy and forgiveness for those who are His.

Nehemiah - Chapter 10

9:38 – 10:29

THE AGREEMENT IS SEALED

Ezra's reading of the Law of Moses to the entire assembly of the people of Israel had brought forth a joyful celebration which then led to a time of national confession.

In the Hebrew text of the book of Nehemiah, verse 38 of chapter 9 is actually verse 1 of chapter 10. It provides a transition between the two chapters and it seems to serve as a better introduction to chapter 10 than as a conclusion to chapter 9. This verse begins with the words “...And because of all this...” showing clearly that the renewal of the covenant by the people in chapter 10 was based upon the confession of chapter 9.

This confession focused importantly not just on the repeated failures of Israel but much more upon the repeated mercy of God toward those whom He had chosen so long ago to be his especially blessed but peculiar people.

The leaders and people of Israel did NOT make a “sure covenant” with God because of their sin or repentance, nor in order to gain the approval of God. They made the covenant solely on the basis of God's grace, in response to His everlasting mercy.

In reality the people did not make a covenant at all. In the original Hebrew, the language says “we are cutting a firm agreement and are writing it.” So in chapter 10 the Israelites do not make a covenant with God, rather, they make a firm agreement to live according to the former covenant that God had established through Moses. Here is a profound truth. God is the covenant maker. His people are covenant renewers.

We notice quickly that in these verses there is no mention of Ezra among the verses of leadership. In this list, leaders are call by their family names, and Ezra is a son of Seraiah (verse 2) so he has not been left out, just listed in another way.

The text of 10:28 clarifies for us those who “signed on” with the leadership  on the basis of their “knowledge and understanding”. This confirms for us  that this agreement was not only with the heads of families, but also to “their wives, their sons, their daughters” as well. All confirmed the agreement that day with each individual making their own choice to rededicate their lives to the Lord.

These people joined with the nobles and leaders also by entering into “... a curse and an oath to walk in God's law...” (verse 29). They not only swore to walk obediently but they also swore to be punished if they failed to do so.

30-39:

SPECIFICS OF THE AGREEMENT

The people promised to obey all of God's law and in addition, made specific promises concerning intermarriage (verse 30), the sabbath (verse 31), and support for the temple and its personnel (verses 32-39).

Some of these promises accepted already stated portions of the law, but some went beyond the original law. One example was the promise made to bring the “first fruit of all trees” which went farther than the law had commanded. So the law was reconfirmed and in some ways extended. One particular issue was the matter of the sabbath. There were many non Jews living in Jerusalem who saw no problem working in their chosen business or farm on the sabbath. These foreigners were engaged in commerce, buying and selling, seven days a week. So the question arose as to whether the Jews might now do the same. Verse 31 brought the answer that NO, the Jews must not work at all on the sabbath day. So here the Jews installed by reconfirming this ancient commandment a version of what we in the south used to call “Blue Law” with businesses all closed on the sabbath.

We will see this matter rise again in chapter 13.

We should remember at this crucial point in our study of Nehemiah that whenever we are considering renewing our own covenant with the Lord, we run the risk of trying to earn His grace by so doing, (if grace were earned, it is no longer grace).

As Nehemiah and the people knew, such arrogance easily slips into our hearts if we are not careful. In their confession of sin, the people remembered in strong detail how they had broken their covenant with God. They remembered how, again and again, God had been far more than faithful in His endless mercy. The covenant renewal we see in Nehemiah 10 is not an attempt to earn back God's favor. It is a response, in gratitude, to His favor already given.

The people did not make a covenant with God. They renewed their commitment to the covenant God had already made with them, only on the basis of His overwhelming grace toward those He had Himself chosen.

Whenever we renew our covenant or rededicate our lives, we do so because God's Holy Spirit has drawn us and we should never forget that our very desire toward Him is a result of His Spirit working within us.

Grace, revealed and confirmed to us by the life and sacrifice of Christ is the light that beckons us from darkness into the light He has reserved for us by His mercy.

Nehemiah - Chapter 11

1-24:

SETTLERS IN JERUSALEM

(A TITHE OF THE PEOPLE)

In this chapter we once more find ourselves faced with another tedious list which we find difficult to plow through. In the books of Ezra & Nehemiah we have several of these opportunities (Ezra 2 & 8 & 10) (Nehemiah 3 & 7 & 10 & 11).

There is wisdom we may draw from these lists and contexts.

Now the leaders of the people dwelt in Jerusalem. It was not enough to see the city walls rebuilt and the spiritual revival of the people, now they concerned themselves with arranging for more people to live within the city walls.

For a city to prosper it must be populated. For more than 70 years God's Holy City, Jerusalem, had essentially become a ghost town. Now, over the last eighty years it had drawn some people back. The new temple had been constructed under Ezra and new walls had been rebuilt under Nehemiah. But the city needed more people.

Nehemiah also knew that the bigger the population, the greater the resources for defense and strength in battle. He had not worked so hard just to see the walls torn down again by some invader.

The leaders had set the example by living in the city. The rest of the people who lived in surrounding towns and villages and farms now submitted themselves to a lottery system, where one out of ten would be selected to move from where they now resided into the city, inside the walls. So, in the end, at least ten percent of Judah's population will live inside. All the people blessed those who were so chosen. These who were moving had a unique pioneer spirit and the ability to endure hardship or discomfort to complete the great work for the Lord's kingdom.

To make this move, each family had to re-order the priority of their lives. The material things had to largely be given up, such as land and perhaps farms or orchards.

Social priorities had to be re-arranged. Old and close neighbors and friends, and in many cases some family members had to be left behind.

To make the move successful, they had to set their minds to a new perspective of city life which would require more work to make liveable. They had to live knowing they were a direct target for their enemies, many of whom had done much to defeat the work done on the walls. Now there was fear of armies coming to attack the ramparts of the city.

Prior to the completion of the walls, Jerusalem had been under populated for clear reason. There was no security for the people. Now security could be guaranteed. Verse 2 teaches us that those who were so chosen took the opportunity “willingly”. The blessing of these new residents was because they were sacrificing so much to start a new life and were the seeds of new hope for God's city. Verses 3-24 give us a listing of those who did settle in Jerusalem:

• The children of Judah (4-6)

• The sons of Benjamin (7-9)

• The priests (10-14)

• The Levites (15-18)

• The Nethinim (21)

The last group was introduced to us in Ezra 2: 43-54. The Hebrew meaning is “those given”. It is a short version of the longer Hebrew phrase “those given to the service of the sanctuary”. David himself had created these people who are appointed for the service of the Levites. The Levites assisted all the priests (Numbers 3:5-13) and the Nethinim assisted the Levites. 

25-36:

VILLAGES WHERE THE PEOPLE SETTLED

Those who were not chosen by lot to live inside Jerusalem settled in the villages and towns surrounding the area. This chapter chooses not to list the people by name but rather to record them by the villages they settled.

The Bible teaches us that there is a city coming down from heaven to earth in the last times, when the Lord is finished with the earth as we know it, and we are taught that this city will be New Jerusalem and all who arrive there will be new residents, like these were. Those so chosen will not be selected by lottery, but rather by faith given in grace to be forever renewed and revived and we, as a part of that special people, will live within those precious walls for eternity.

Nehemiah - Chapter 12

1-26:

IDENTIFYING THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES

At first glance these verses appear to be a confusing mix of odd names, but this collection does follow a basic outline:

• Those priests and Levites who came with Zerubbabel (1-9)

• High priests from the time of Zerubbabel to Nehemiah (10-11)

• Priests in the days of Jehoakim (21)

• Levites of many generations (22-26)

The list is given to indicate the continuity in priestly and Levitical leadership between the return of the Jews under Cyrus and the days of Ezra and Nehemiah.

The right to serve in the temple passed from father to son. This inclusive list confirms that the proper spiritual authorities were serving in the temple.

Here we see a strong lesson that according to Nehemiah renewal does not conflict with order, but rather, it leads to order. A proper ordering of the settlers in Jerusalem and the organization of the temple ministry would prolong the revival and unity that began with the rebuilding of the temple, then later the rebuilding of the wall, and finally concluded with the firm agreement of the people to obey the Lord's commands.

In our churches today, we must take care that order is not carried so far as to quench the spirit. John 3:8 teaches that the Holy Spirit goes where it will, so care must be taken to be sure room remains within our worship for it to move among us.  Paul allows us a good teaching on this matter in 1 COR 12-14 where he encourages the free exercise of spiritual gifts while at the same time providing rules by which these gifts can operate “decently and in order”.

We who yearn for revival in our churches understand and accept that there will always exist a creative tension between order and renewal.

27-30:

PREPARING FOR CELEBRATION

(DEDICATION OF THE WALL)

In preparation for the dedication the Levites gathered from their homes. Not only did they assist the priests, but they also arranged for the music in the temple. Special singers were gathered in Jerusalem from the surrounding villages to be a part of the celebration as the wall was to be dedicated. The priests and Levites began the process of purification of the wall so that it could be dedicated.

This matter of purity is important for without purity we cannot worship God in spirit and truth, as Jesus commanded (John 4:24). Psalm 24 asks us the important question of “... who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart...”.

How are we made clean ourselves to comply in our own day so that He will hear our prayers and accept us when we open our hearts to approach the Lord? We no longer require the ceremonial law to assist us as Jesus himself satisfied that law in full. But we can receive and apply the commands of the New Testament:

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

Here is our own lesson to be purified.

31-43:

DEDICATION OF THE WALL

To begin the dedication, Nehemiah divided the people into two groups and each group contained:

A large thanksgiving choir (31)

A prominent lay leader (32 & 38)

Other leaders (32-34 & 40)

Priests with trumpets (35-36 & 41)

Other musicians, including Levites (36 & 42)

From the gathering point, Nehemiah sent one group clockwise around the wall, and the other group counter clockwise around the wall, both on top. Both groups converged at the temple. While the singers sang loudly, the priests offered great sacrifices and all the people rejoiced with great joy. Their rejoicing was so loud that it was heard far away.

The people of God dedicated the wall in Jerusalem with an elaborate worship service. This passage suggests how we might ourselves worship more fully, perhaps including more celebration of the grace given each of us, and as an assembly, by the Lord. These verses give us a clear outline of how Nehemiah felt effective worship was to be conducted: pausing, preparing, participating, and physical expressing of our love.

The people of Israel walked upon the wall that they had finished by God's grace and as they did so, heartfelt thanksgiving seemed to swell inside them. As they sang loud praises, it seemed their hearts welled up with even more joy. 

Psalm 95 seems to say best how they must have felt.

“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is the great God. And the great king above all gods. …For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.”

44-47:

ISRAEL GIVES THE REQUIRED PORTIONS

This short passage serves as a transition between the dedication in 27-43 and the later work of Nehemiah in 13:4-31. It summarizes the covenant life of Israel after the wall had been built. It demonstrates the effect of true revival which had come to the land after so much hard work in such hard times.

In these days persons were appointed to supervise the storehouse of tithes for those who served in the temple. They also gathered the tithes from those who worked the fields in the surrounding villages. Here it seems clear that the people were more than willing to offer the required portions. Under the influence of Nehemiah, the people ordered their lives according to God's covenant and even took joy in the sacred institutions implemented in God's law.

Verses 45-46 outline the activities of the “singers and gate keepers”. When David established the order for priests and Levites (1st Chron 23-24), he also formed divisions of musicians and gate keepers (1st Chron 25-26). Asaph, one of his most noted music leaders, wrote many of the Psalms. Now by mentioning these same groups we see that all ministries were operational, even those from far older times.

Verse 47 further indicates that, not only was the temple fully staffed, but that “all Israel” supported the ministry by giving the required tithes and offerings. Under Nehemiah as their leader, the temple and the nation functioned according to the covenant of God. 

Nehemiah - Chapter 13

1-3:

SEPARATION FROM FOREIGNERS

This short passage serves to address the issue of separation from others, the non Jews. The beginning verse that states “in that day” does not mean in that specific 24 hour day but rather it refers to that time in the life of the city. It means during that period of time. Verse 4 will support that thought as it shows considerable time had passed.

The separation was to assure that non Jews did not enter the congregation for religious worship. It meant obedience to the law of Moses in that regard but sadly we will soon see that the obedience of the people was soon to be no longer true.

4-14:

RESTORING THE HOLINESS OF THE TEMPLE

The dedication of the wall in chapter 12 ends with a joyous celebration and the following transition verses advise of the covenantal faithfulness of the people of Jerusalem and Judah. But now in chapter 13, all seems to fall apart.

Before the separation was done, a priest named Eliashib had been given the responsibility for the storerooms of the temple. He decided to allow Tobiah, one of the strongest enemies of Nehemiah, to use the storerooms presumably to keep inventories for his business with his political contacts inside the city. This action reveals two disturbing factors:

First, it indicates the required offerings were not being given for the support of the temple ministry. If they had been continued, there would have been no open rooms to allow Tobiah to use.

Second, Tobiah was a Gentile, and Ammonite (revealed in 2:19), who should never had been allowed to enter the sacred areas of the Holy place. Tobiah's presence in this area defiled and desecrated the temple itself. It is strange that this abomination was allowed to continue by all the priests and Levites.

Meanwhile Nehemiah had left Jerusalem and had returned to Babylon and to the court of king Artaxerses. His initial twelve year stay ended in the 32nd year of the king's reign. Some years had passed (we are not advised exactly how many) before Nehemiah had arranged another leave from his court duties to return to Jerusalem. All we know for sure is that this scripture teaches that “after certain days” Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem and he found the evil matter that Eliashib had allowed.

Nehemiah reacted in strongly emotional terms. We are told that his grief was bitter. He took quick action, throwing all the items Tobiah had stored inside the temple out and commanded all the rooms to be cleansed (purified after the desecration). Here we have a direct foreshadow of the cleansing of the temple by Jesus 400 years later for the same reason (commerce had overcome the temple intent of prayer and worship). Finally, Nehemiah restocked the rooms with the proper offering items originally intended to be stored.

After grasping that the proper tithes had not been collected for quite some time, Nehemiah held the Levites and leaders responsible and contended with the Levites in a meeting to assure they reverted to the proper actions that God had directed of their people centuries before. Nehemiah even now appointed storehouse “treasurers” to keep track of all accounting, placing a check system upon the Levites to be sure they back slid no longer.

This portion of scripture ends with the first of three prayers by Nehemiah asking the Lord not to wipe out the good deeds he had done. The original Hebrew tells us that he asked the Lord to remember his “acts of faithfulness”.

The Israelites had forsaken the covenant they had promised to keep and now Nehemiah found himself in the position of correcting the people as well as their unfaithful leaders.

15-22:

RESTORING THE HOLINESS OF THE SABBATH

Sometime during his second term in office in the Holy City, Nehemiah observed the people dishonoring the sabbath. Many who lived in the countryside around the city were working on the sabbath day, making wine and transporting it to the city and engaging in commerce. Nehemiah wanted this practice stopped.

Also, there were men of Tyre who lived in Jerusalem bringing goods into the city and selling them on the sabbath day, which to them was simply another day to work and generate income. But these businesses were corrupting the Jewish people. Nehemiah first decided not to confront these Gentiles but rather to contend with the leaders of Judah.

Nehemiah warned them not to profane the holy day by reminding them of their fathers and ancestors who had disobeyed this command and had brought destruction upon their people. Both Jeremiah and Ezekiel had brought this wisdom in their writings.

Not being satisfied with using persuasion to correct the problem, Nehemiah commanded the gates to be shut and guarded on the sabbath so no merchants could enter. Then he threatened these merchants with physical violence if their commerce continued on the Jewish holy day. The problem was solved and Nehemiah commanded the Levites to cleanse themselves and to begin to guard the gates.

By guarding the gates themselves, the Levites would sanctify the day but once more we see clearly that the people had broken the covenant they had so willingly accepted. By having to lock the gates and to post holy guards, Nehemiah showed his distrust of his own people and their convictions.

His prayer to conclude this time shows the beginning of a feeling of resignation on his part, rather than hope. He now asks God to spare him according to mercy.

23-31:

RESTORING THE HOLINESS OF THE PEOPLE

Now Nehemiah observes yet another instance of covenant breaking by the people as some of them were marrying women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. Verse 24 tells us that the marriages to the women of Ashdod was creating the most difficult disobedience.

Nehemiah observed that the children born of these marriages were unable to even speak Hebrew, but spoke only a foreign language.

In his response, Nehemiah not only confronted these people but he himself resorted to physical violence, hitting them, pulling out their hair, and then forcing them to swear such marriages would stop. He forced them to repeat the portion of the covenant covering this matter which they had originally promised to obey.

Intermarriage threatened the religious integrity of Israel. It was also a threat to the survival of the culture of the Jewish people. Such marriages were sinful and the Jewish men were being led by their pagan wives into false worship, exactly as king Solomon had clearly shown in his great sinfulness in the same issue.

We see also that the people had become so accepting of this great sin as common place that even a priest had married a pagan woman, a daughter of Nehemiah's chief enemy, Sanballat. Nehemiah asked God to remember their sin.

Here is the very beginning of an issue that we see carried forward even into the ministry of Jesus himself, hundreds of years later. 

This marriage and the resulting conflict led to the establishment of a temple of worship away from Jerusalem at Mount Gerizim, which began to be considered a holy place by the Samaritans. This moment in Nehemiah caused the Jews to forever look down upon the Samaritans as half breeds and to consider Samaria to be a place to be avoided at all costs. Such feelings were so strong as to cause the disciples of Jesus to be astonished when they saw Him talking to the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:19-22). In this conversation, the woman was skeptical why Jesus, a Jew, would even ask her for a drink of water from the Samaritan well. Jesus used this moment to introduce “living water”, meaning salvation to her successfully.

This disobedient priest sought refuge among the Samaritans, and built a temple on Mount Gerizim in which Jehovah was worshiped along side false idols. This area was strongly viewed as holy by the Samaritans. On this mountain lived the families descended from the handmaids of Leah & Rachel, as well as the original tribe of Reuben. In the valley below this mountain, Joshua read the whole law to the people. In this same valley, Abraham met Melchizedek and Jacob slept here when he had his famous dream. The temple of false worship stood for over 200 years and was finally destroyed by the Jews under John Hycanas, and later rebuilt by Herod the Great.

As we recall, there was conversation between Christ and the woman as to where worship should properly occur and Jesus corrected her by saying that “where” to worship was less than “how”, instructing her to worship in spirit and truth.

In his final prayer, Nehemiah asked God to simply remember him for his good. As governor he had the authority to command obedience but he saw his work of spiritual restoration slipping away.

What was Israel's fundamental problem? Why did the reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah fail, at least in part? In Nehemiah 13 we see God's people allowing the world to invade what should be holy, set apart for God alone. They failed to live holy lives with respect to the temple, the sabbath, and marriage. Even though adultery with pagan nations had repeatedly brought destruction and exile to the Lord's chosen ones, God's people still abandoned their holy status and their promise under conviction and to join with the world.

Time and again, Israel allowed the world and its idols to invade her life. Paul taught this message strongly in Romans 12:2 by teaching that she became conformed to the world.

What is our main message learned from Nehemiah? We have learned clearly that true revival comes ONLY from hard work in hard times. But much more importantly we have seen that true revival and its transformation requires more than leaders forcing it upon people by commands. It begins and is sustained by an inner transformation that flows outward by tangible acts of faithfulness, led by a changed heart.

Nehemiah himself tried to honor God and to lead his people into a covenant relation with the Lord. He succeeded not by persuading the nation to continue to follow him and God, but his success was living and leading faithfully before God. Where he fell short, as we all do, God's mercy compensated and lifted him up. What matters most is not Nehemiah's achievements, but his character and relationship with the Lord.