Nehemiah 13 FAILED LEADERSHIP 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 from day to day through 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.
When the word of God was read in Jerusalem in Nehemiah's day, there was no question as to the fact that God's people were to be a people separated to God and from the ungodly. They had been taught the responsibility of the people to provide for those who served God in the temple. Commerce was to cease at sundown on Friday and not to begin until sundown on Saturday. Forbidding marriages between believers and unbelievers had been made plain. The responsibility of leaders, especially the priests, to follow biblical practices themselves before expecting others to do the same, was made obvious.
It had been made unmistakably clear that those who practiced evil should never come into the assembly of God. People of Moab and Ammon in particular were mentioned because even though they were descendents of Lot the nephew of Abraham, they opposed Israel right from the time they came to the promised land. 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 even have to take subservience 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.
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 to have 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. So Nehemiah was gone, things went back to the way they were before he first came.
It is hard to understand that the high priest who would participate in the building of the wall (although he didn't finish the gate by putting bolts and bars in place) and sanctified it as well as 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 alliance with Tobiah. Likely he thought Nehemiah was too strict and so took a whole new direction in leadership after Nehemiah left. Without consideration of the effect such an action would have on others, he did what he wanted.
To defy God and His word by substituting that which pleases one's self or other people, 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. To remove such limits, opens the door to sensual, secular and evil practices that are for the pleasure of the flesh, not for the glory of God.
The provisions for those Levites and singers who served in the temple had diminished to the extent those servants had to leave their work for God and go back to farming to provide for their families. When support for the work of the Lord dries up and there is no provision made for those who further the Gospel, then 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 Sabbath became just another business day and the things of God were ignored in the interest of making money. 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 a lot of important things 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 in which to be engaged on the first day of the week, the Lord's Day, as we honor Him. To do our own pleasure without considering what is 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 occupation - maybe even the desires of our hearts. Isaiah 58 verses 13 and 14 give us insight as to how the Lord looks at His "holy day."
How strange it seems to be 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. The influence of unequal yoke in family ties does not fade away to where it does not have an effect for evil. "Evil men and seducers" cannot be trusted but will "wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." Nehemiah knew when he came back to Jerusalem that something had to be done quickly. His prayer was that the work done would be preserved and the conditions for fellowship with God would be able to be restored. 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 for the wrongs to right themselves. That will never happen. Action has to be taken to right the wrongs.
Nehemiah went right to those responsible: the rulers and the nobles of Judah and rebuked them, but also told them the steps to be taken for correction. Then he took action himself and personally threw all of Tobiah's things out of the temple, and he personally made sure the rulers and the guards were all back to 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. It is possible for us to get careless about our responsibilities by simply putting off what needs to done now. The habits we form in meeting our obligations will hopefully become a part of our lives that we do as regularly as eating meals and paying our bills when they are due.
Even though the ruined walls had been rebuilt and the city repopulated, the testimony of God's people to those around had been ruined. What was not seen physically was obvious by 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 making money off of God's people on the day that was supposed to be set aside for holiness. So, 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 use that authority when necessary but not abuse it. Firmness, seriousness, and fairness are needed when rebuking and correcting. It is possible to be too lenient or too hard. Correction of that which is wrong and the establishing of precedents to be followed is the objective when dealing with those who are careless about divine things. Some may only submit outwardly without convictions as to 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.
There was a further matter that had to be addressed when Nehemiah came back from Babylon. That which had undermined the testimony, the spirituality, the character and even the existence of the nation itself - the marriage of believers with unbelievers was happening again. One of the high priest's grandsons was son-in- law to Sanballat, the enemy of God's people. The example of Solomon and what followed his unequal yokes was given as a warning to the Jews. That action threatened the whole nation's existence and brought tragic consequences for generations following that wrong and willful action of a wise king.
Sin has to be recognized and dealt with no matter how painful and difficult it may be. Wise people learn from the mistakes of others as to what to do and not do. The dangers were there and the unfolding pattern of departure had made its way into the families of the Israelites. Intact family units are the key to good national life. Success or failure can happen depending 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, have to be faced and corrected, else the consequences will be felt by everyone.
The four prayers of Nehemiah in this final chapter show his concern and commitment to deal with the problems with urgency. Nehemiah's effective leadership provides lessons for those who lead God's people today. His purpose was clear and precise right at the beginning of his call. God's will, was his motivation. He was also an honest man who spoke clearly without any ambiguity so that everyone knew what he meant when he spoke. He committed himself to living above reproach and was conscious of God and he took everything to God in prayer.