Nehemiah was vital to the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity had ended. He gained permission from Artaxerxes to go to Judah (Nehemiah 2:5-6) to lead the people. Through several challenges Nehemiah led the people as they repaired the wall of Jerusalem and completed the project in just 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15).
Nehemiah gathered the people together to register them by their genealogies (Nehemiah 7:5-73), and served as their governor (Nehemiah 10:1). He, along with Ezra sought to lead the people in the ways of God as given in the law of Moses (Nehemiah 8:1-8).
After things were settled in Jerusalem, Nehemiah went back to Artaxerxes in Babylon for a time (Nehemiah 13:6). Upon his return, there were some problems that required his attention.
Eliashib, the priest allied himself with Tobiah the Ammonite, giving him the storeroom at the temple for his own use (Nehemiah 2:10; 13:4). When he came to Jerusalem and discovered this, he threw all of Tobiah’s goods out of the room, cleansed it and put the articles of the house of God in it. Having done this, we then see 3 contentions Nehemiah had with the people.
Forsaken Tithes
Nehemiah realized that the Levites had not received the tithes due them (13:10). He contended with the people, calling upon them to give to the house of God as they ought, for they had forsaken it and those who serve there (13:11-12).
Profaned Day
Nehemiah saw the people working on the Sabbath, and once more, contended with them regarding their wickedness (13:15-22). He reminded them about the wickedness of their fathers who also disregarded the Sabbath, and the disaster it brought to the nation. He commanded the gates of the city be shut, and threatened the merchants who lodged outside the wall on the Sabbath not to do so any more.
Language of Ashdod
Some of the Jews had married foreign women, contrary to the word of God. Nehemiah contended with them over this sin which they involved them-selves in (13:23-27). He reminded them of how Solomon had sinned by taking pagan women to himself. If the great king of Israel was not immune to the influence of the pagans neither would the people of Nehemiah’s generation.
What’s in it for us?
So, what is the lesson in this for us? Why focus on these three areas where Nehemiah contended with the people? Quite simply, we should from Nehemiah to contend for the faith. That is exactly what he was doing. He wasn’t being picky, he wasn’t imposing his will on other people; he was standing for the truth revealed in God’s word.
Jude 3 reads:
Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
Just as Nehemiah stood for truth in his day, we need modern day Nehemiahs to uphold the word of God. If it happens that the people of God fail to keep His will, it is imperative that some be ready to rebuke and correct such. Paul was such a man in the first century, even rebuking the apostle Peter when he did not deal uprightly (Galatians 2:11-14). Will you be such a one today?
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