READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l Things do not always go according to plan. This was Nehemiah’s plight when he returned after 12 years. He was shocked to see how things have changed. He poured his heart into leading the people for 12 years, but they strayed off course from God and this broke his heart. God placed three things in Nehemiah’s heart:
- Broken Promises
The people have broken their promises to keep God’s holy laws. Their outward actions reveal the inner fallen condition of their hearts. Their broken promise kept them from becoming the holy people that God intended them to be.
a) Unholy worship – The house of God was meant to be a holy gathering for God’s people, but the “mixed multitude” wanted God’s blessings without the obligations. These people were still worshipping other gods. At the heart of this broken promise was the failure to understand the essence of worship and who the worship is for. God should be the top priority of their worship, yet a room was made for the enemy of God in the House of God!
b) Neglected the house of God – No tithes were brought to the temple and money was valued above God. The Levite Priests had to find work in the fields for food. This led to the neglect of service in the ministry in the temple. Malachi 3:8 stresses the severity of withholding money from God. By withholding tithes from God, we are robbing Him.
c) Unholy Sabbath – God designated a holy day to step away from the tyranny of endless work. He wants us to experience the freedom of true rest and renewal in Him. Unfortunately, “profit has triumphed over purity” as noted by Don Carson. 2 Chronicles 36:21 wrote that Israel had failed to observe the Sabbath Year for 490 years, hence they were exiled for 70 years!
d) Unholy marriages – Inter-religious marriages hamper the faith and discipleship of the next generation. Nehemiah discovered that half of these children in Judah and Jerusalem did not understand Hebrew at all, hence they are unable to learn about God’s covenant if they do not speak the language. Our faith community will die if we are unable to impart our faith to the next generation. At the heart of this broken promise was selective obedience. The people asserted their freedom to choose without following God’s will. We should not be oblivious to the spiritual decay in our household today. - God’s Intervention
Although the Israelites broke their promises, God continued to keep His. Through Nehemiah, God was guiding His people back to a path of holiness. He placed His intervention plans in Nehemiah’s heart. The delay was because our compassionate God was patiently waiting for one more person to repent. God’s intervention can be unpleasant or pleasant. God’s unpleasant intervention does not mean it is unpleasant to God, but for us. We need to be open when God intervenes. James 1:19-21 teaches us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger and in our technological age, we should be “slow to type” on our devices. If we are Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired, our responses are unlikely to be constructive, so HALT. We can lower our resistance by reflecting on our actions on a daily basis, be ready to repent and change when God guides us.
Jesus death on the cross is a pleasant intervention for us that saved us from the penalty of sin. Jesus will provide the lasting solution to our struggle with sin and holiness. - Return to God
If the Prodigal Son did not return home, he will never be reconciled with his father. If we are feeling far today, it is time to come home. Going to church is only the first step, returning to God also means living a life of holiness. James 2:22-24 reminds us that faith without works is dead. Our faith is made complete by our actions. We must go from faith to living out in holiness. It is rooted in trusting in God’s forgiveness and doing acts of mercies. Raymond Brown shared that a holy people is the best advertisement for a transforming message. This is Christian perfection as God intended.
Nehemiah ends with the ongoing reforms that he continues to do. It is the same for us today. What will we say to Jesus when we stand before Him? Will He say, “Well done! Good and faithful servant.”? It is tough to be a Nehemiah today, but do not give up. Keep looking to God as we keep the faith!
(Sermon notes by Honey Vreugdewater)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Compare Nehemiah 10:28-39 with Nehemiah 12:44 to 13:31. What were the broken promises committed?
- In Nehemiah 13:11, Nehemiah asked, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” How was the house of God forsaken?
- Why was Nehemiah upset that Tobiah had a room in the temple (Nehemiah 13:7-9)?
- Nehemiah 13:15-22 records Nehemiah’s intervention to keep the Sabbath holy. Is observing the Sabbath day still necessary for Christians?
- What was the impact of the inter-religious marriages mentioned in Nehemiah 13:23-29? How would you advise a fellow Christian about inter-religious marriages?
- What are the ‘broken promises’ or ‘reforms’ from Nehemiah 13 that still needs to be addressed in the church today? How could you do your part?
- How is God still intervening today in our society, and in your life?
- What needs to change so that you may walk in holiness today? Who could you ask to help you?
