Nehemiah 13:1-31

1. the reading of God’s Word - 13:1-3
1. a discovery - 1
2. the reason for this command from God - 2
3. the action taken by the people - 3 (benefit of reading God’s Word)
2. a compromising alliance - 13:4-9
1. Eliashib the chief priest allowed Tobiah to dwell in the Temple
1. the whole time that Nehemiah dwelt in Jerusalem, Tobiah never entered the city
2. in Nehemiah’s absence, he not only infiltrated the city, but also the most sacred place of worship - 7
2. the relationship between Eliashib and Tobiah - 4 ("was allied unto")
1. they had a mutual friendship
2. Eliashib was pleased with his company and wanted Tobiah near him
3. Eliashib thought that the alliance was a great honor, but in reality it was his greatest disgrace
3. the wickedness of Eliashib’s actions
1. that Tobiah should be entertained in Jerusalem with respect
2. the priest, who was a teacher of the people, acted contrary to the law and set a bad example
3. that Tobiah was lodged in the courts of God’s house, was like setting up an idol there -7
4. that the offerings of the temple were thrown out, to make room for Tobiah - 5
4. Nehemiah threw Tobiah and all his belongings out, and restored the chamber to its proper use - 8-9
1. nothing grieves a good man more than seeing a minister do wrong
2. Nehemiah had power, and he used it for God
3. Nehemiah did not fear resentment
4. he did not excuse himself from getting involved in the affairs of others (meddling)
5. Nehemiah was zealously affected in a good thing
6. in like manner Jesus cleansed the temple in His day
5. a recipe for ridding our life of sin
1. we must strip and starve and throw away all those things that are the food and fuel of sin - 8
2. "cleansed" means to be pure, to be holy, (consecrated to God) - 9
3. holy things need to be brought in - 9
3. the Levites were being wronged - 13:10-14
1. their portions were not being given to them - 10
1. Eliashib may have converted them to his own use
2. Tobiah may have seized them when he took possession of the store chamber
3. the charge is not that they were not collected, but that they were not given to the Levites
4. the Levites were so humble and modest that they did not protest
2. the work of God was neglected because the workmen were neglected
3. Nehemiah laid the fault on the rulers - 11
4. Nehemiah provided for the just and prompt payment of the Levites - 12-13
5. Nehemiah’s prayer - 14
1. he is not boasting, nor does he think that God is his debtor
2. it was a humble appeal to God concerning his integrity and honest intentions
3. notice how humble his request were
1. he prayed remember me, not reward me
2. he prayed wipe not out my good deeds, not publish them, and record them
3. deeds done for the house of God and His servants are good deeds that will certainly be remembered and rewarded
4. the worldly activity on the Sabbath - 13:15-22
1. the misuse of the Sabbath - 15-16
1. when holy times are overlooked, it is not strange if all holy duties are neglected
2. it is no wonder that there was a general decay of religious standards
2. correcting the problem
1. he testified against those the did the wrong - 15, 21
2. he contended with the rulers - 17-18
3. closed the gates on the Sabbath - 19
4. he threatened those that came to sell on the Sabbath - 21
3. Nehemiah certainly did not win friends, but he did what was right
4. Nehemiah’s prayer - 22
1. he does not even entertain the notion that his action deserve a reward, but cries for mercy
2. even the best saints, when doing their best deeds, stand in need of mercy
3. God’s mercy is what we must depend on, and not any merit of our own
5. intermarriage was being practiced - 13:23-31
1. the people corrupted themselves by marrying strange wives - 23-24
1. children learn much from their mothers
2. the corrupt nature of children will incline them to take after the lost parent (be not unequally yoked)
3. while educating children, great care should be taken to prevent them from learning the language of the world
2. Nehemiah’s actions
1. they were quite severe toward some - 25 & 28
2. gave them a Biblical example of the outcome of their action - 26-27
3. Nehemiah’s prayer - 29-31 (to be remembered for only the good in his life)
6. the decline of a nation
1. the breakdown of the family
2. the neglect of holy service (Sabbath neglected)
3. the ministers are neglected; therefore, the work of God stops
4. deadly compromise: the world moves in and takes over
5. thank God for the Nehemiahs
1. those that will boldly stand up and fight evil wherever it is found
2. one man can make a difference