As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Nehemiah 13
- Summary
In this last chapter of Nehemiah we hear of God's law being read and the people being reminded that Ammonite and Moabite people were not allowed to join them in their gatherings. Many years ago they had refused sustenance to the Israelites escaping from Egypt, hiring a prophet called Balaam to curse them. God had turned the curse into a blessing, but made this law about future interactions with them. After being reminded of this law we read that Israel separated themselves from all the 'mixed multitude' (verse 3).
It appears that perhaps whilst Nehemiah had returned to King Artaxerxes of Babylon that Eliashib,a priest who had the oversight of the temple chambers, had cleared out a great big one which was previously used to store the food, wine, oil etc from the tithe offerings and was allowing their old enemy, Tobiah to use it - presumably to live in as later we read about his household possessions.
When Nehemiah came back to Jerusalem and discovered this he was very upset and had all of Tobiah's possesions thrown out, the room properly cleaned and encouraged the people to bring their tithe offerings again for the support of the Levites and other temple workers, who had abandoned their work and gone out into the fields to make a living.
Nehemiah then further observes that some of the people are working on the Sabbath day and others are buying and selling. He reprimands the leaders in Jerusalem for allowing it, orders the city gates to be shut during the Sabbath and tells the merchants who camped outside to be off.
The remainder of the chapter records a further contention Nehemiah had with the people who had started marrying foreigners again and his actions in dealing with this.
- Thoughts
In this last chapter of Nehemiah, it is sad to see how despite all the Lord's dealings with his people they are still veering away from following him. But isn't that so like us? The Lord may bless us, and he gives us all so much in supplying our every day needs, but how quickly our minds and hearts become occupied with doing what we want and being less tender in our consciences about doing what is right in his eyes.
Last Sunday (June 2021) we listened to a wonderful sermon which moved us both. My heart felt led out towards the Lord and heaven - the things of this life seemed inconsequential and trivial. The minister* spoke of our heavenly Father as the potter, and us as lumps of clay which he forms into individual pots. When recently potting up plastic, stone and other plant pots - all of which were nothing special to look at - he thought how they would be glorified by the plants he was planting in them, and so we, earthen vessels are glorified by the Lord in us- and my prayer was that the Lord might glorify my 'earthern vessel' by his work, for his glory. Yesterday came, and with it its own challenges - all the grace which I think my pride was starting to think was my own doing - seemed to disappear. I was frustrated, irritable and unkind. Where was all the glory?!
What do such experiences and this last chapter of Nehemiah teach us? That our 'default' way of living is ungodly. We are by nature flawed. Should we then give up 'trying to be good' - trying to please God? Such thoughts remind us that our salvation and acceptance by God are not dependent on what we can do - thankfully!! Instead believers trust in the perfect life and sacrifice of Jesus for acceptance with God - his goodness is viewed as ours and our sins were paid for by Jesus and forgiven by God. But this doesn't mean we don't try to live our lives honouring to God - Paul writes,
'God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life....knowing this that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin...(Romans 6:2-7)
Believers no longer serve sin - they will sin because they are still sinners - but their heart and will has been given to the Lord. When faced with sins, especially those that are very enticing to us, what should we do?
What did Nehemiah do? He took action to stop them and chased sin away both with Tobiah in the temple, the sellers on the Sabbath, the intermarriages and the priest who had married a Horonite. It reminds me of Jesus throwing the buyers and sellers out of the temple.
But perhaps you say, that this was easier, they weren't personal sins, they were things other people were doing? Well, perhaps, but he may have faced a great deal of opposition by upsetting other people...he could have chosen to 'not meddle in other men's matters' or 'turned a blind eye' to keep the peace. This searches me, does it you?
James encourages us, 'Resist the devil, and he will flee from you' (James 4:7). Jesus likewise encourages us to pray to be kept from temptation, and we see how he resisted the devil in Matthew 4, using the word of God as his sword.
Do we sometimes use our reluctance to give up a particular sin as an excuse? Do we sometimes say we cannot give it up because it is too strong for us? Martyn LLoyd-Jones** felt that we have become unscriptural in telling a man constantly defeated by a particular sin that his only hope is to take it to Christ. He says: 'What does Scripture say in Ephesians 4:28 to the man who finds himself constantly guilty of stealing....'Let him that stole steal no more'. Just that. Stop doing it. And if it is fornication or adultery or lustful thoughts, again, stop doing it says Paul.'* Paul also writes to us to flee temptation. If we find something too enticing, don't go near it, avoid it, put distance between yourself and it.
Whilst I hear what MLJ is saying, we need to be careful that we don't then think all our ability to not sin rests on ourselves. Yes, we can train ourselves to stop at red traffic lights, to not answer back rudely to our parents, to swallow angry words of retort, but what of our thoughts and our hearts! We need a Saviour because we can't 100% serve God and live a pure life 100% of the time.
But as described by Elisabeth Elliot, think of sin as a little bird which gently flies down and rests on your hand - do your fingers gently and then more firmly curl round it to hold it there? Do you look at it and admire it and want it more and more? Do you allow it to 'nest' in your hand? ... Open your hand wide and let it fly away! Turn your face from it, refuse with your utmost willpower to indulge your thoughts in dwelling on it. Don't spend time alone with someone if you know you cannot keep from sinning with them! Don't go where alcoholic drinks are served if you know you cannot stop at one or two. Don't go into your favourite shop if you know you are idolising particular items. As we read in Proverbs 4: 15, 'Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away'.
May the Lord bless and keep us as we strive to 'chase sin away' and teach us how to rest in him and his work of salvation.
Comments
Post a Comment