A Distinguished Life

Nehemiah 13:15-31


15 In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepress on the Sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys, and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them on the day when they sold food. 16 Tyrians also, who lived in the city, brought in fish and all kinds of goods and sold them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah, in Jerusalem itself! 17 Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day? 18 Did not your fathers act in this way, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Now you are bringing more earth on Israel by profaning the Sabbath." 19 As soon as it began to grow dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. And I stationed some of my servants at the gates, that no load might be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. 21 But I warned them and said to them, "Why do you lodge outside the wall? If you do so again, I will lay the hands on you." From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath. 22 Then I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love. 23 In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people. 25 And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them take an oath in the name of God saying, "You shall not give your daughters for to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons, or yourselves. 26 Did not Solomon king of Israel in on account of such woman? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his  God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign woman made even him to sin. 27 Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?" 28 And one of the sons of Jehoiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was the son in law of Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I chased him from me. 29 Remember them, O my God, because they have desecrated the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. 30 Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work; 31 and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.




Thinking and understanding

The people had been buying and selling objects both outside and inside Jerusalem on the Sabbath Day(15-16). Nehemiah held the nobles of Judah accountable for this and took measures to ensure the Sabbath was properly kept(17-22). He was also so angered by those who had married pagan women that he was violent towards them and made them vow that they would not marry off their children to the pagans(23-25). After rectifying the people's wrongdoings, Nehemiah prayed for God to remember him and bless and bless him(29-31).




Who is God?

God gets angry at our sins. Because he knew this, Nehemiah took the people's sin seriously. If sin goes unpunished, it is because God is waiting patiently for us to realize our sin. What should we rectify before it is too late?



What lesson is God teaching us?

We must act like God's people. Keeping the Sabbath, not marrying pagan women, and properly carrying out one's responsibilities were all part of the Israelites living as God's people. what qualities do we need to preserve for us to the world?
(Daily Bible, 03,04/2019)