Nehemiah 13

“I immediately confronted the leaders and demanded, ‘Why has the Temple of God been neglected?’ Then I called all the Levites back again and restored them to their proper duties.” (Nehemiah 13:11, NLT)

It’s been said that when the cat is away the mice play. Nehemiah returned to King Artaxerxes, and while he was gone, people in Jerusalem began to depart from God’s laws. Eliashib the priest had given a temple storeroom to Tobiah the Ammonite to use as his own personal storage facility! When Nehemiah came back and saw this, he was livid and threw out all of Tobiah’s belongings. Then he cleansed the room and filled it with offerings and various temple articles.

Nehemiah discovered the people had neglected to pay their tithes, so the Levites had to leave their temple duties to work in the fields. Nehemiah confronted the leaders and demanded, “Why has the temple of God been neglected?” Then he restored the Levites to their proper duties. After this, the people began bringing their tithes again to the temple, so the Levites could be supported.

Also, the people started working on the Sabbath, treading out their winepresses and selling their produce. Some men from Tyre were selling their wares on the Sabbath in the city. Once again, Nehemiah confronted the leaders: “Why are you profaning the Sabbath in this evil way?”

Obviously Nehemiah was an effective leader, because his presence had a preserving effect upon the people, but when he was gone, the people soon compromised and went back to their former ways. Therefore, Nehemiah had much housecleaning to do to make sure that the people were keeping their covenant with the LORD. Nehemiah could boldly address these issues because he was standing on the Word of God. His conscience was clear, and his cause was just. Therefore, he prayed:

“Remember this good deed, O my God, and do not forget all that I have faithfully done for the Temple of my God and its services…Have compassion on me according to your great and unfailing love.” (Nehemiah 13:14, 22 NLT)

Jesus told His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount:

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” (Matthew 5:13, NKJV)

Are we having a preserving effect on others? People should be uncomfortable to sin in our presence. If they are sinning, then we should share with them the sharp two-edged sword of the Word of God (Hebrews 4:12). This we must do in a spirit of gentleness and humility, watching ourselves so that we are not tempted (Galatians 6:1).

When the apostle Paul addressed the Ephesian elders, he said:

 “I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God…Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:26–27, 31 NKJV)

May God help us to be a strong and effective force for righteousness wherever we go.