Nehemiah 11-13
Building Hope
The wall is complete. The people have reconnected with God through his word & worship. They've recognized their own shortcomings and remembered God's love, grace, and goodness and have recommitted their lives to the Lord so that they can realize the best life possible. *They struggled together to construct a wall, but what they were really building was hope. Now, to begin fulfill the promise they made in Chapter 10, *"We will not neglect the house of our God," they make a plan to fill their Heavenly Father's holy city with his beloved children.
Nehemiah 11:1-4
Nehemiah 11:1-4 NIV84
Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns. The people commended all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. These are the provincial leaders who settled in Jerusalem (now some Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants and descendants of Solomon's servants lived in the towns of Judah, each on his own property in the various towns, while other people from both Judah and Benjamin lived in Jerusalem): From the descendants of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, a descendant of Perez;
Repopulating Jerusalem
Living in God's holy city sounds pretty awesome, but keep in mind that this city, and God's children, were despised and had been conquered by the Persians. From everyone else's perspective Jerusalem was the slum of slums, and it's inhabitants the scum of scums and should be torn down and plowed under. Moving into this city, for some, was probably like saying, "Let's sell the farm, walk away from our business, uproot the family, and move to Newark!* It’s a ministry opportunity! Repopulating Jerusalem was important for a number of reasons: *1. Worship: Worshiping God is central to their identity as God's chosen people and this sets them apart from all the surrounding nations. Worship at the temple is a 24/7 activity and needs to be fully staffed and facilitated. “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.” Psalm 29:2 *2. Community: God wants his children to be in relationship with one another. The repopulating of Jerusalem would also be a time of gathering Israel, who had been scattered across the land by their enemies. 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When I gather the people of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered, I will show myself holy among them in the sight of the nations. Then they will live in their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob.” Ezekiel 28:25 *3. Promise: God's plan is to reveal his Messiah through Israel. The rebuilding of Jerusalem is the rebuilding of his family, from whom will come Jesus the Savior. “Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.” Daniel 9:25 *4. Protection: The enemy wants to destroy God's children and prevent God's promises from being fulfilled. This is true not only on a national level but even more so on a personal level. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered…” Zechariah 13:7. Until Jesus comes, Jerusalem represents the shepherd. God's city and people need to be strong in order to protect the promise. "In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever…” 2 Chronicles 33:7
Leading the Way
*The Leaders lead the way. Lots were cast to bring one out of ten from the surrounding towns. A tithe lotto! Others volunteered to go and they were cheered on. And so we have a general record of leaders, administrators, family members, ministry and secular workers, artists and artisans, and others called and cajoled who filled God's city to fulfill God's promise of redemption and reconciliation. Nehemiah 12:1-26 further expands the story, beginning with a history of several generations of Priests and Levites who began this journey of rebuilding God's city and temple 91 years before beginning with Zerubbabel, another leader like Nehemiah, in 536 BC. *It is important to honor those who, before us, were willing to sacrifice for us. The record is one of Priests and Levites - the ministry workers - because worship was intended to be the center of the community's life. When we put God first and honor him with our daily walk, we're worshiping God. Love God. Love people. This is how we fulfill God's law and live a fulfilling life. This way of thinking and living is contrary to the world's philosophy, which encourages serving self first. God sets apart his family to be characterized by sacrificing self to first love others. This section wraps up with a description of worship prescribed by King David to give God thanksgiving and praise as well as protecting the house of God.
Nehemiah 12:27-43
Nehemiah 12:27-43 NIV84
At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. The singers also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem—from the villages of the Netophathites, from Beth Gilgal, and from the area of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall. I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of the wall. I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on top of the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate. Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed them, along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, as well as some priests with trumpets, and also Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph, and his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani—with musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God. Ezra the scribe led the procession. At the Fountain Gate they continued directly up the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall and passed above the house of David to the Water Gate on the east. The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of the wall, together with half the people—past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. At the Gate of the Guard they stopped. The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; so did I, together with half the officials, as well as the priests—Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah with their trumpets— and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam and Ezer. The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.
Wild, Wacky, Worship
What a wonderful picture of celebrating and worshiping God! This community was on fire! * They had reconnected with God through his word and were now experiencing his presence and witnessing his power. The wall had been completely rebuilt in 52 days. God’s word was again a part of their daily life. The city was bustling and worship renewed. Though their circumstances were difficult, their surroundings less than ideal, and oppression from enemies was relentless, their hope was renewed! It was time to celebrate and they did so passionately and profoundly in the form of their own Macy’s Thanksgiving parade* The entire city chimed in. Imagine! They sang, they shouted, they played instruments and got all dressed up, they marched, they leaped tall buildings with a single bound. It was the party of the century! It was worship! God deserves our all when we worship. After all, it’s a celebration… not constipation!
Nehemiah 12:44-47
Nehemiah 12:44-47 NIV84
At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, firstfruits and tithes. From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites. They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did also the singers and gatekeepers, according to the commands of David and his son Solomon. For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the singers and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the singers and gatekeepers. They also set aside the portion for the other Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.
Priorities
Priority number one for Israel was to honor their promise by providing for the house of God. This meant bringing all that was needed to fill the storerooms with their contributions, firstfruits, and tithes for the daily worship as well as providing the portions necessary for those who were ministering. A song of hope in the Lord was on their lips and this hope was proven by their actions as well. *When we make God’s priorities our priorities and bring generously and joyfully all that belongs first to him, the entire community is blessed. God is blessed and the people have all they need and more. *When daily life is empowered by hope in a loving, trusting relationship with the Lord anything is possible. *“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31
Nehemiah 13:1-3
Nehemiah 13:1-3 NIV84
On that day the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people and there it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted into the assembly of God, because they had not met the Israelites with food and water but had hired Balaam to call a curse down on them. (Our God, however, turned the curse into a blessing.) When the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all who were of foreign descent.
You'll know a tree by its fruit
Chapter 13 begins well. Here we have a reminder of the power of God's word to instruct and inspire us to fullness of life. *God's word convicts us of our sin but not without convincing us of his love and forgiveness, which compels us to a richer LifeWalk with Christ. Nehemiah guided Israel to put their hope in the Lord, not in himself. He was a Godly leader. But not all who claim to be Godly, are. *Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. Luke 6:44
Nehemiah 13:4-7
Nehemiah 13:4-7 NIV84
Before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was closely associated with Tobiah, and he had provided him with a large room formerly used to store the grain offerings and incense and temple articles, and also the tithes of grain, new wine and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers and gatekeepers, as well as the contributions for the priests. But while all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Some time later I asked his permission and came back to Jerusalem. Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God.
Leadership
*After spending 12 years living and leading in Jerusalem Nehemiah returned to King Artaxerxes as he had promised. After spending an undetermined amount of time away he returns to Jerusalem and discovers that, once again, it had become a mess. Israel's spiritual and national life has deteriorated. Nehemiah guided the people to put their hope in the Lord and they rejoiced in the fruit of their faith. Then along came Elaishib the Chief Priest. He didn’t give a rat’s rear for the people or their hope and used his position as their spiritual leader to line his own robe. *He guided the people to replace their hope in the Lord with serving self and the fruit of their faith withered because of sin. Nehemiah drew the people near to God and opposed the enemy, Tobiah. Eliashib drew near to the enemy, Tobiah, and opposed the Lord and his people. He was robing God of worship, robing God's ministers of their call and service, and robing God's children of their identity and purpose. *Eliashib could only see his immediate circumstances. Nehemiah could see eternity. Our faith can only grow in size to the measure of that in which we place it. What do you see? Christians are leaders. People look to us to see Jesus. Are we robing people with an example of judgment, greed, and selfishness or are we robbing people with an example of grace, love, and compassion? Nehemiah immediately takes the necessary steps to get this derailed city and people back on track.
Nehemiah 13:8
Nehemiah 13:8 NIV84
I was greatly displeased and threw all Tobiah's household goods out of the room.
Takin' Care of Business
Nehemiah kicks butt! He throws out Tobiah and begins to clean up his stink.
Nehemiah 13:9-10
Nehemiah 13:9-10 NIV84
I gave orders to purify the rooms, and then I put back into them the equipment of the house of God, with the grain offerings and the incense. I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and singers responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields.
First things first
*He learns that the full time ministry workers had all left the job because they weren't being provided for so they had to go back to their fields to provide for their families. Worship had ceased to be the center of this community and their budget proved it! If we want to know our true priorities, all we have to do is to look at our bank accounts and our schedules. This is true for individuals and the church.
Nehemiah 13:11
Nehemiah 13:11 NIV84
So I rebuked the officials and asked them, “Why is the house of God neglected?” Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts.
Three insights
This is the saddest verse in the entire book - *"Why is the house of God neglected?" The very promise Israel wholeheartedly made to God at the end of chapter 10 was, "We will not neglect the house of our God." Through his actions, Nehemiah show us three important insights. *1. We should deal with sin swiftly and sternly so it doesn't derail us, our families, friends, or our community. Sin grows like… well, sin! *2. Worshiping God, putting Christ first in our lives is a daily investment. It's a relationship that, if neglected, like any relationship will eventually begin to become less important and meaningful over time. Those who are closest to us are those we daily hold closely. 3. It's never too late to begin investing. More than anything God wants to have a close personal life giving relationship with each of us. We may wander, but he never drifts away. He is always ready to forgive and reengage because he is love. All we must do is turn back to him.
Nehemiah 13:11-13
Nehemiah 13:11-13 NIV84
So I rebuked the officials and asked them, “Why is the house of God neglected?” Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts. All Judah brought the tithes of grain, new wine and oil into the storerooms. I put Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and a Levite named Pedaiah in charge of the storerooms and made Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, their assistant, because these men were considered trustworthy. They were made responsible for distributing the supplies to their brothers.
Finding misplaced hope
*Nehemiah helps the people find their misplaced hope. He calls back into service God's ministers and the people respond generously by bringing their tithes and offerings to support the work and house of God. Nehemiah also puts trusted people in place to manage the ministry.
Nehemiah 13:14
Nehemiah 13:14 NIV84
Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services.
Nehemiah's Heart
*Nehemiah prays revealing his heart once again - He asks only that God remember him and bless God's house and people.
Nehemiah 13:15-22
Nehemiah 13:15-22 NIV84
In those days I saw men in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, together with wine, grapes, figs and all other kinds of loads. And they were bringing all this into Jerusalem on the Sabbath. Therefore I warned them against selling food on that day. Men from Tyre who lived in Jerusalem were bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them in Jerusalem on the Sabbath to the people of Judah. I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this wicked thing you are doing—desecrating the Sabbath day? Didn't your forefathers do the same things, so that our God brought all this calamity upon us and upon this city? Now you are stirring up more wrath against Israel by desecrating the Sabbath.” When evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be shut and not opened until the Sabbath was over. I stationed some of my own men at the gates so that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day. Once or twice the merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem. But I warned them and said, “Why do you spend the night by the wall? If you do this again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on they no longer came on the Sabbath. Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and go and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this also, O my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.
Rest, Rejoice, Recharge
Nehemiah takes steps again necessary to correct the previous problem of the people not honoring the Sabbath. The Sabbath was special to God and to his children. By setting it aside as a day of rest and worship, God's family distinguished themselves from the rest of the world. *The sabbath was a day to rest and rejoice in their Lord, to recharge their spiritual batteries. By dishonoring the Sabbath they were sinning against God and starving themselves of spiritual renewal. They were forgetting who God created and called them to be and they were walking away from the blessings God had in store for them. *Nehemiah again prays - Remember me. Show mercy according to your great love. He knew who God was - Loving. Merciful. He desperately wanted his own people and everyone else to know God in the same way.
Nehemiah 13:23-29
Nehemiah 13:23-29 NIV84
Moreover, in those days I saw men of Judah who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab. Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples, and did not know how to speak the language of Judah. I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath in God's name and said: “You are not to give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor are you to take their daughters in marriage for your sons or for yourselves. Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women. Must we hear now that you too are doing all this terrible wickedness and are being unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women?” One of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. And I drove him away from me. Remember them, O my God, because they defiled the priestly office and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.
Truth or trend?
Nehemiah deals with another major problem of the day. God's children being *unequally yoked with their enemies. The problem was so bad that there were children being born who couldn't even speak the language of Judah. Israel was literally sleeping with the enemy, whose plan was to turn them away from God even if it meant taking multiple generations to do it. He would dilute their faith through neglect and lead them to embrace a godless culture to become a godless people. No wonder they were losing hope! Do we build our lives on Christ or on culture? Truth or trend? *Which has a history of stability?
Nehemiah 13:25
Nehemiah 13:25 NIV84
I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath in God's name and said: “You are not to give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor are you to take their daughters in marriage for your sons or for yourselves.
Let's get physical
Nehemiah gets physical! Sin is devastating to our spiritual lives and we need to deal with it sternly. If we flirt with sin we can eventually find ourselves in a long-term relationship with sin. This can produce a lineage that speaks only sin, which can consume us, and those around us in sin, which leads to death. This isn't God's plan for our lives. He gave us a Savior, Jesus, through whom we can be set free from sin and death. *You were created for God's pleasure. This is our great hope!
Nehemiah 13:30-31
Nehemiah 13:30-31 NIV84
So I purified the priests and the Levites of everything foreign, and assigned them duties, each to his own task. I also made provision for contributions of wood at designated times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me with favor, O my God.
Wall of stone or Life of hope?
*Again Nehemiah puts hope back in focus, making provision for the resources for the house of God and those called to minister there, and re-establishing worship at the center of the community. As we found Nehemiah at the beginning of this book, we now find him the same in its conclusion, on his knees in prayer. *"Remember me with favor, O my God." Nehemiah understood that real hope is found in God alone. Everything else we may put our hope in will, at some point, fail and disappoint us, but Jesus will never fail us. Nehemiah could endure the difficulties of working for a pagan boss, living away from home, working with idiots, dealing with crooked associates, liars, sickness, suffering, and enemies who threatened to kill him because his hope was in the Lord, not in people or circumstance. *Israel built a wall of stones. Nehemiah built a life of hope.
God wants to build a life of hope in and through you
*1. Vision: God gave Nehemiah an impossible vision to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem to restore his children and fulfill his promise of redemption. God has a plan for your life that will require faith in him alone to accomplish. Ask him what it is, and don't give up until you have an answer. God keeps his promises! “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 *2. Provision: God provided everything necessary to fulfill Nehemiah’s vision. Don't let your resources determine your dreams. Let God's dreams supply your resources. Jesus asked a blind man, “What do you want me to do for you?” He asked an obvious question so that we could learn the non-obvious answer: God wants us to recognize our hopes and needs, and to be unafraid to confess “to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Eph 3:20-21 *3. Mission: Stay focused. The enemy attacks but God protects. Keep our eyes focused on Jesus. The enemy will do whatever he can to distract, dissuade, and discourage in an attempt to defeat. Our job is to draw near to the Lord, key our eyes on the prize and never, never, never give up. “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14 *4. Decision: Keep worship at the center of life. Everything begins and ends with Jesus. Invest in our relationship with him and with one another daily. Pray, read the bible, fellowship, serve, share God's love with someone who needs it. Rediscover God's love daily. Worship is putting God first and loving others as ourselves. This will encourage our hearts and enable us to overcome our fear."Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32 “So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:6 *5. Celebration: Celebrate God's promises passionately and remember his goodness profoundly. Give him praise for what he has done, and stay close to him all the days of our lives. We need to celebrate all God’s victories, large and small. Cultivate a lifestyle and culture of expectation, knowing God is moving, and thanksgiving for who he is and what he does. Psalm 100:4 "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name."
Memory Verse
Psalm 100:4 NIV84
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
How can we pray for you?
Nehemiah was a man of prayer. How can we pray for you?