 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 enter the assembly of God, 2 for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 As soon as the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent.
4 Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was related to Tobiah, 5 prepared for Tobiah a large chamber where they had previously put the grain offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.6 While this was taking place, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king. And after some time I asked leave of the king 7 and came to Jerusalem, and I then discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. 8 And I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of Tobiah out of the chamber.9 Then I gave orders, and they cleansed the chambers, and I brought back there the vessels of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense. 10 I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each to his field.11 So I confronted the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their stations. 12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses. 13 And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and as their assistant Hanan the son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, for they were considered reliable, and their duty was to distribute to their brothers. 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 his service. 15 In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys, and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them on the day when they sold food. 16 Tyrians also, who lived in the city, brought in fish and all kinds of goods and sold them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah, in Jerusalem itself! 17 Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day? 18 Did not your fathers act in this way, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Now you are bringing more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.” 19 As soon as it began to grow dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. And I stationed some of my servants at the gates, that no load might be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. 21 But I warned them and said to them, “Why do you lodge outside the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath. 22 Then I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love. 23 In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people. 25 And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them take an oath in the name of God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. 26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin.27 Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?” 28 And one of the sons of Jehoiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I chased him from me.29 Remember them, O my God, because they have desecrated the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. 30 Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work; 31 and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good. Meditation Ambition with godly motivation is glorifying to the Lord. Ambition with self-serving motivation uses godly gifts for personal glory. The heart of Nehemiah’s ambition is to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” What is your motivation in life? “Remember” ties together the four sections of our chapter (14, 22, 29, 31) and reveals the heart motivation of Nehemiah. His concise actions as a leader are “good deeds” or “acts of love” (14). Hesed, the Hebrew word for God’s covenant and steadfast love used in verse 22 is the root word for Nehemiah’s “good deeds”. The Good news of God’s love should always lead to good works of God’s people. Nehemiah remembers God’s instruction when he claims, “I cleansed… I established… I provided” (31-32). Nehemiah based his reforms on God’s word (1). He cleansed the hearts of God’s people by removing mingling loyalties, setting apart the assembly (1-3) and sanctifying marriages (23-27). He established the sanctity of the temple (4-9), provided for the temple leaders (10-14), and helped restore God’s design for temple space and Sabbath worship rhythms (10-21). In Jesus we see even clearer the restoration of God’s design, as He cleansed the temple (John 2:13-17), established the holiness of God’s people (Hebrews 10:19-22;), and provided Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4:9-11). Believers are a part of Christ’s holy temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17) and are called to be holy as He is Holy (1 Peter 1:14-16). In Christ we hear the voice of our Father- “Well done my good and faithful servant.” May this proclamation be our motivation in our kingdom ambitions. Richly Dwelling -What is the motivation of your heart in do good deeds for God? Are you using service to satisfy internal deficiencies or are your good works glorifying God? Be honest. -Nehemiah’s boast at the end of the book says it all. Paul boasted alone in the cross (Galatians 6:14). What do you boast about? -Jesus is the fullness of true leadership, the fullness of God’s steadfast love, and the fullness of the reform we long to see in our churches and communities. How can we center Jesus more in our lives individually and socially? Be specific. Key Verse 30 Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work; 31 and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good. Comments are closed.
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