FAILED LEADERSHIP. Nehemiah 13 When the word of God was read in Jerusalem in Nehemiah's day, there was no question that God's people were to be set apart to God and separated from the ungodly. They had been taught the people's responsibility to provide for those who served God in the temple. Commerce was to cease at sundown on Friday and not resume until sundown on Saturday. The prohibition of marriages between believers and unbelievers had been made clear. The leaders' responsibility, especially the priests', to follow biblical practices themselves before expecting others to do the same was made clear.
It had been made unmistakably clear that those who practice evil should never enter the assembly of God’s people Israel. People of Moab and Ammon, in particular, were mentioned because, even though they were descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew, they opposed Israel from the time Israel entered the promised land.
Nehemiah was obligated to the king of Babylon and had to fulfill those obligations, even though his heart was in Jerusalem with the people of God. The Jews had wanted the word of God read and had indicated they intended to follow it. But what people say and what they do are often quite different. Enthusiasm is not conviction. Words and actions do not always mean the same thing. The word of God in the heart is needed for obedience and commitment to truth. Positions held and effective leadership are often very different. Nehemiah was gone, and things went back to the way they were before he first came.
How strange it seems that soon after Nehemiah had gone, the people either forgot their commitment to God and the great joy they had at the dedication of the wall, or thought that Nehemiah had been too strict in his leadership. Likely no one stood against the high priest, Eliashib, when he allowed Tobiah to have a place in the temple. Nehemiah knew that when he returned to Jerusalem, something had to be done quickly. His prayer was that the work would be preserved and that the conditions for fellowship with God would be restored.
The influence of an unequal yoke in family ties does not fade away; it continues to have an evil effect. "Evil men and seducers" cannot be trusted but will "wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." Righteousness restored brings the Lord's people back to where they can be effective for the Lord again. When departure takes hold of people, there is no reason to wait, hoping the wrongs will right themselves. That will never happen. Action has to be taken to right the wrongs.
The reading of the word of God is essential to the life of an assembly of God's people, as well as to each individual. The truth of God is given for instruction, information, and control as we live day to day in this world that has no desire for God. But the reading of the scriptures has to be linked with a desire to obey God by applying the truth of God to our conduct and convictions by which we live. We can be knowledgeable of scriptural truth and not be practitioners of eternal life. It is possible to know the truth but not make it our own. "Buy the truth, and sell it not; also, wisdom, and instruction, and understanding." Truth that we know but do not practice condemns us.
Anything that caters to the flesh has no place in the house of God or among God's people. God's people are expected to take God's word seriously. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and reveals truth and the Person of Christ to us through reading and practicing divine truth. There are biblical principles to be practiced and plain doctrine to be applied that assemblies must adhere to, no matter what other religious groups may practice. The laws of the land must even be subservient to the long-established and proven laws of God. God's laws are universal and apply to every culture and nation. They are laws that relate to personhood, not merely to the functioning of society.
It is hard to understand how the high priest, who would participate in building the wall (though he didn't finish the gate by putting bolts and bars in place) and sanctify it, as well as the priests themselves, would be willing to make an apartment for an enemy in the temple. But that is what Eliashib did. That place that had been set apart for holy things was desecrated by an enemy of God. Something was seriously wrong with that priest. He had his own agenda, which included an alliance with Tobiah. Likely he thought Nehemiah was too strict and so took a whole new direction in leadership after Nehemiah left. Without considering the effect such an action would have on others he did what he wanted.
The provisions for those Levites and singers who served in the temple had diminished to the point that those servants had to leave their work for God and return to farming to provide for their families. The Sabbath became just another business day, and the things of God were ignored in favor of making money.
To defy God and His word by substituting what pleases oneself or others is an affront to divine authority and leads to serious consequences among the people of God. The limitations of divine order are for our blessing and fruitfulness. Removing such limits opens the door to sensual, secular, and evil practices that serve the pleasure of the flesh, not the glory of God. It is possible for us to grow careless about our responsibilities by simply putting off what needs to be done now. The habits we form in meeting our obligations will hopefully become a part of our lives, done as regularly as eating meals and paying our bills when they are due.
When Nehemiah returned, he went straight to those responsible: the rulers and the nobles of Judah. He rebuked them and also outlined the steps to be taken for correction. Then he took action himself, throwing all of Tobiah's things out of the temple and making sure the rulers and the guards were back at their stations. The duty of providing for those engaged in the service of God was again established, and the storehouse was again filled to meet the needs of the Levites.
When support for the work of the Lord dries up, and no provision is made for those who further the Gospel, the commission to preach the Gospel is affected, and the assembly becomes powerless and unhappy. Once one area of compromise is accepted, others follow.
The first day of the week is unique because it is the day of the resurrection of our Lord. As He was "raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life"
- eternal life. The first day of the week is a day of revelation of divine truth. John gave us much to learn, know, and practice as he wrote on the Lord's Day. It is also a day of remembrance. The Lord's people come together on the first day of the week to remember our Lord Jesus Christ and all He means to us. The first day of the week is a day of review. We show the Lord's death until He comes again. There is a special responsibility to lay aside finances to give as an offering to God on the first day of the week. Recollection of divine purposes by the reading of the word of God was done on the first day of the week.
These biblical practices we read about in the scriptures were not just for the past. They are for us to practice today. Personal pleasures were not the reason for keeping the Sabbath. In a sense, we have unique privileges to engage on the first day of the week, the Lord's Day, as we honor Him. Doing our own pleasure without considering His desire indicates a spiritual lack. Either there is no appreciation for Him because there is no spiritual life, or the attractions of the world, the flesh, and the devil have claimed our attention - maybe even the desires of our hearts. Isaiah 58 verses 13 and 14 give us insight into how the Lord looks at His "holy day."
Even though the ruined walls had been rebuilt and the city repopulated, the testimony of God's people to those around them had been ruined. What was not seen physically was obvious in the unfaithful attitude toward God and His law. The Sabbath had been broken, and even unbelievers from far away on the coast took advantage of God's people on the day that was supposed to be set aside for holiness. Nehemiah dealt with that by having the city gates closed and barred on the Sabbath. Those who sought to test his resolve by setting up business just outside the walls were soon stopped because they recognized his authority.
Those to whom God has delegated authority need to be committed to using that authority when necessary, but not abusing it. Firmness, seriousness, and fairness are needed when rebuking and correcting. It is possible to be either too lenient or too hard. The objective when dealing with those who are careless about divine things is to correct what is wrong and to establish precedents to be followed. Some may submit only outwardly, without convictions about the right or wrong of a matter. That may be the best we can expect from immature people. Hopefully, the time will come when they can see the rightness of a matter for themselves.
When Nehemiah returned from Babylon, another matter had to be addressed. The marriage of Israelites to idolators, which had undermined testimony, spirituality, character, and even the nation's very existence, was happening again. One of the high priest's grandsons was the son-in-law of Sanballat, the enemy of God's people. The example of Solomon and what followed his unequal yoke was given as a warning to the Jews. That action threatened the nation's very existence and brought tragic consequences for generations following that wrong and willful action by a wise king.
Sin must be recognized and addressed, no matter how painful and difficult it may be. Wise people learn from others' mistakes about what to do and what not to do. The dangers were present, and the pattern of departure had already taken root within the families of the Israelites. Intact family units are the key to a good national life. Success or failure depends on how parents teach and lead their children. Delegated authority (headship) has been given by God to government leaders, assembly elders, and the heads of households. They are "ordained" - appointed by God. The disintegration and/or dysfunction of families must be faced and corrected, or the consequences will be felt by everyone. The four prayers of Nehemiah in this final chapter show his concern and commitment to addressing problems with urgency. Nehemiah's effective leadership offers lessons for those who lead God's people today. His purpose was clear and precise from the beginning of his call. God's will was his motivation. He was also an honest man who spoke clearly and without ambiguity, so everyone knew what he meant. He committed himself to living above reproach, remained conscious of God, and brought everything to God in prayer. The house of God is where God dwells among His own people on earth. It is not a hotel or merely a place of convenience - where God dwells is of inestimable worth. He leads His people as they praise, worship, and learn from Him. To let a man take the place of God is an insult of the most serious kind. Blind men leading the blind think they can bring man up or God down.
God has His way of supplying His servants. They are not men who are paid by the hour. God’s plan is for them to be freely supported by a portion of the provision that is ours. It is a simple plan, but it works quite well for those who can count from one to ten. We set aside an agreed-upon, reasonable amount and pass it on to make provision for them.
There are days when we work and apply our efforts to meet the needs that arise in life. We must remember that God wants us not to forget; there is a time and a place where we bring praise. It is important to Him, and it should be to me, to join with others in that meeting place. There, in the place He has chosen, He meets us, and we remember His grace.
The things that appeal to my natural flesh are not the things that can please God. Doing what I want and then asking God to bless may soon bring His chastening rod upon me. It is important to consider before taking action: Is this decision I am making in God’s will? Doing things God’s way will bring the greatest satisfaction, and in His way I can fulfill His purposes.
The book of Nehemiah closes the historical and chronological account of the Old Testament. Malachi would have been prophesying during this time. The four prayers of Nehemiah remind us of his awareness of the hand of God at work in times when rebuke and correction were needed; when changes had to be made; when there was departure from the word of God and compromise with the world’s religious and civil leaders. His last prayer concerned himself, who had done what he could to correct wrongs others had committed and had committed himself to do what was right. His example would have given power to his words.
In Nehemiah’s life, he had a clear understanding of what he was to do for the Lord, and he continually evaluated it in light of God’s word and revealed will. He was honest and straightforward in dealing with God’s people as well as their enemies. There were no questions about what he meant when he spoke. He was committed to living in such a way that no accusation against him was valid. Everyone knew that to be a fact. His commitment to prayer made his actions decisive, wise, and forceful because of his awareness that God was using him.
This seems like a fitting conclusion to the many lessons taught in the Old Testament scriptures. A life of faith may be lived under pressure to compromise truth and its unchangeable standards; loneliness when we realize there are many believers whose faith is very basic and who have no desire to go much further; and thanklessness when living by faith goes against what almost everyone else does.
There is no success without the risk of failure; no reward without hard work; no opportunity for advancement in faith without criticism; and no real leadership without awareness of God’s guidance and trust in Him. Commitment to God, despite obstacles, opposition, challenges, and persecution, is to be expected of those who love the Lord and want to live godly lives.
When we focus our minds, hearts, and actions on the things that please God, He will use us to bring glory to Himself and blessings to others, even though we are weak. Living for God in dark times may be hard, but our joy is in God Himself, not in our success and accomplishments. God’s grace is sufficient for all our needs, and His strength is made perfect and evident in our weakness – and in unwavering faith in Him!