Nehemiah returns to lay down the law

Nehemiah Chapter 13

When the Book of Moses was read to the people, they discovered a statement that said no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be permitted to enter the assembly of God. Because they had not been friendly when the Israelites left Egypt, but instead hired Balaam to curse them. When this law was read, those of mixed ancestry were expelled from the assembly.

Before this, Eliashib the priest, who was supervisor of the storeroom of the Temple, and who was a relative of Tobiah, had converted a large storeroom and placed it at Tobiah's disposal. Tobiah was an Ammonite.

Nehemiah was not in Jerusalem when all this was going on. He had returned to King Artaxerxes of Babylon and received permission to return to Jerusalem. When he got back, he learned of the extent of the evil deed of Eliashib- that he had provided Tobiah a room in the Temple. Nehemiah became angry and threw all of Tobiah's belongings from the room. Then he demanded the room be purified and he brought back in the utensils for the Temple and the grain offerings and frankincense.

Nehemiah discovered that the Levites had not been given what was due to them, so they and the singers had all returned to work in their fields. Nehemiah confronted the leaders and demanded to know why the Temple of God was being neglected. Then he called back the Levites and restored them to their duties and once more the people of Judah began to bring their tithes of grain, wine, and olive oil to the Temple storerooms. And he put Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe and Pedaiah in charge of the storerooms, and he appointed Hanan as their assistant.

One Sabbath day, Nehemiah saw men of Judah treading winepresses and loading their donkeys to bring produce to Jerusalem to sell. He rebuked them for selling on the Sabbath. Some men of Tyre were also bringing in fish and merchandise to sell in Jerusalem and Nehemiah confronted them also. Then he commanded that from then on the gates of the city would be shut as darkness fell every Friday evening and would not be opened until the Sabbath ended. He sent his own servants to guard the gates so no merchandise could be brought in. The merchants and tradesmen camped outside the gates once or twice, but Nehemiah spoke sharply to them and threatened to have them arrested, so they went away.

Nehemiah also noticed that some of the men of Judah had married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab. And even worse, half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or other people and could not speak the language of Judah at all. So Nehemiah confronted them and made them swear before God that they would not let their children intermarry with pagans. He banished from his presence one of the sons of Joiada, son of Eliashib the high priest because he married a daughter of Sanballat the Horonite.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Not allowing Moabites and Ammonites into the Temple was not racial prejudice because God clearly loved all people . But he wanted his people to stay away from those who were bent on evil. The relationships established between Jews and pagans had caused their captivity in the first place and now starting over, they needed to show how serious they were about God's law.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? The NLT Bible shows that Nehemiah's life story gives us clear leadership traits that are still valid in today's time. 1. We must have a clear purpose and keep evaluating it to stay on track. 2. Be straightforward and honest. Be like Nehemiah and everyone will know exactly where you stand and what is the truth. 3. Live above reproach. 4. Be a person of constant prayer. Your power and wisdom will come from your contact with God. Glorify God like Nehemiah did.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is healing but her leg was crushed and will take many months of doctoring. She is in a nursing home for rehab care. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother whose cancer has returned and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother in law Mary just had a stroke this week. They are being tested by God and need a wealth of prayers. Pray for them now! Pray that they can find a place for Mary that won’t bankrupt the family.
And pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
Pray for my cousin Diane who had total mastectomy surgery for breast cancer.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who will soon undergo chemo for his prostate cancer.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and pray he can stop smoking.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer gets powerful.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.