Dei Break
Nehemiah 11:1 – 13:31
The last chapters of Nehemiah describe the process of balancing the residential matters of the nation, the ceremony of dedication of the city walls, and a listing of procedures for the use of the temple. One interesting item included is the reappearance of Tobiah, one of those who opposed Nehemiah but was not without influence in Jerusalem, perhaps through his in-law relatives within the city leadership (13:4).
Nehemiah had temporarily returned to Persia some years after most of his narrative had taken place (13:6). Upon returning to Jerusalem, he found that Tobiah had been invited to take possession of some of the rooms in the temple for his own use (vs.7). Nehemiah's anger was probably two-fold. Not only was Tobiah an old enemy, but he was a descendant of the Ammonites. The city leaders knew that no Ammonite was to be allowed in God's house because of their treatment of His people centuries earlier. (See Numbers 22-24).
Upon his return Nehemiah also discovered that the people had already forgotten their written pledge to God to observe His laws, even the specific laws that they had detailed in writing. Many Jews were surrendering to the cultural influences that surrounded them.
Merchants were selling wares on the Sabbath, by sidestepping the law. Foreign wives were returning—and not raising their children as members of the Jewish nation (vs.24). Old Sanballat may have been contributing to the upheaval—one of his sons-in-law was expelled by Nehemiah. People were ignoring God in favor of pursuing their own ways.
We are in a similar situation today. American culture has been shifting away from a primarily Christian outlook on life to one that demands that "tolerance" of all religions and all concepts of morality means that one must affirm and approve their validity. We live in a culture that is convinced that there is neither absolute truth nor absolute evil. Like the Jews of Nehemiah's time, we find ourselves in a continuing struggle to proclaim the truth to a culture that denies the validity of God in our lives.
As Nehemiah's story ends, the Jewish nation is still in turmoil; still rebelling against God; still failing to place Him at the center of their lives.
Next time: Esther
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