- “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, my God, because they defiled the priestly office and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites. 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, my God.”
- Nehemiah 13:28-31 NIV
(1) MAKE THE EFFORT to set things right
Nehemiah got into the act and set things right. He reprimanded the wrongdoers and showed them what to do to make changes.
• See what he did to get the people to observe Sabbath and worship God:
• He reprimanded the people for doing business on the Sabbath
• He rebuked the nobles for allowing it.
• He locked the gates to the city, so no merchandise can come in, and he got rid of the overnight campers who were trying to beat the system or finding ways to get around the restrictions.
• He set Levites to guard the gates.
• He set up people and systems to make sure that God’s Laws are heeded and God’s ways are followed.
It’s never too late to do what is right.
• Even though God’s people had messed up pretty badly, it did not disqualify them from serving God or having a good relationship with Him.
• Don’t let your past keep you from doing what is right. It really doesn’t matter what you’ve done.
• What matters is that you begin right now to renew your walk with God.
Everyone fails in one way or another.
• Abraham attempted to deceive the King about his wife; Jacob cheated and gained his father’s blessing; Moses lost his temper, broke God’s tablets and hit the rock twice; David committed adultery and murder; Peter lied 3 times.
• What is important is to have the wisdom to know you’ve failed and the courage to admit it, and then take the steps to renew your walk with God.
(2) MAKE THE CHOICE to honour God above all else – the power is in your hand.
The people had reached a “spiritual high” in Chapter 10-12, but that does not automatically translate to a lifetime of faithful commitment to God.
Nehemiah and the people faced the same environment, issues and temptations.
• They had the same enemies, the same obstacles, and the same difficulties. They worship the same God, read the same Law, and had to abide by the same rules.
• But why was Nehemiah able to honour God, remained faithful and stayed on course? While the others failed?
• He was able to remain steadfast because he MADE THAT CHOICE to honors God.
You see this attitude through his many short prayers – we see 3 here in Chapter 13.
13:14 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.
13:22 remember me for this also, O my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.
13:31 remember me with favors, O my God.
These prayers reveal an attitude toward life.
• He has chosen to DEPEND fully on God.
• Nehemiah could have built a monument to himself. He could have written this inscription on the wall: “Built by Nehemiah the Great.”
• He could have looked back at his life and been proud of his own accomplishments. In fact, frankly, he has done really well.
• Yet these were not his concerns. He was concerned about God’s glory. He has CHOSEN the path of honoring God and obeying Him.
It was the same old, ancient challenge that Joshua gave to the people, when they first entered this land.
• “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…” (Josh 24:15)
• “… But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
• You’ve got to CHOOSE for yourselves. I can do that for you. Your parents cannot do that for you. No one can.
Ultimately, it’s your choice. Make that choice, again and again.
• Each time you are confronted with an option – to honor God or do your own thing – you’ve got to choose.
• Ultimately, you are what you choose. Your life is a result of all your choices, coming together.
But God is going to guide you. When you make that choice, He will enable you.
• The same way He enables Nehemiah… and Moses, and David, and Esther, and Daniel, and Paul… to do the same – to remain steadfast and faithful to the end.
• God will give us the strength to do it right, but that choice is still in our hands.
• Don’t compromise. Stick to the promises you’ve made before God.
DON’T COMPROMISE – FUR COAT
A hunter raised his rifle and took careful aim at a large bear. When he was about to pull the trigger, the bear spoke in a soft soothing voice, "Isn’t it better to talk than to shoot? What do you want? Let’s negotiate the matter."
Lowering his rifle, the hunter replied, "I want your fur coat."
"Good," said the bear, "that is a negotiable item. I only want a full stomach, so let us sit down and negotiate a compromise."
They sat down to negotiate and after a time the bear walked away, alone.
The negotiations had been successful. The bear had a full stomach, and the hunter had his fur coat!
Compromise does not pay; it’s never worth it.
God never demands anything from us that is not for our own good. So NO command is a chore.
• Why does God want to burden us, when He tells us not to carry any burdens and desire to give us rest?
• Jesus: “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt 11:30)
We are missing out on a lot, if we are not doing it God’s way.
So let’s heed the word from Romans 12:9 “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
Phil 2:12-13 "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose."
When we are serious about "working out our salvation", God grants us the strength to do it, for He is the One who "who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose."
From this chapter, this is what we will honors: honors God, honors God’s house, honors the Lord’s day, and honors our marriage.
