READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l In the final chapter of Nehemiah, we face the brutal reality that we can fall from commitment to the covenant into careless compromise.
1. Problem of Compromise
Compromised Purity
a. The Temple storeroom was misused (v4-9)
It was meant for holy vessels, temple offerings, and contributions to the priests. Instead, Eliashib the priest allowed his relative Tobiah the Ammonite to live in the Temple storeroom, although he was an enemy of God. This desecrated God’s holy presence and gave the enemy a foothold. It reflects Eliashib’s wrong relationship with God, where he misused his office as priest. He not only tolerated but welcomed the things that oppose God’s purpose. What have we made room for in our hearts and lives?
b. Intermarriage (v23-31)
The people of Jerusalem had broken the covenant from Nehemiah 10. They intermarried foreign women to create business opportunities with foreign nations. But their children who were raised by the mother, would inevitably follow the lifestyle and faith of the mother, losing their faith in God and Jewish heritage. The sins of the people compromised the purity of the next generation. Have we stumbled others?
Compromised Giving (v10-13)
Jerusalem had neglected the house of God. The portion of the Levites and singers was not given to them, so they fled to the fields. Their service to God was dependent on contributions from the people because they had no inheritance of land. Have we compromised in giving our time, talent, and treasure to extend God’s Kingdom?
Compromised Trust (v15-22)
Jerusalem had violated the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a testimony and witness to the nations about God’s dominion over the world. It represents Israel’s liberation from Egypt into a new identity as God’s redeemed people, which is based on worship and not on work. Sabbath was a time to cease work to rest and worship, trusting God’s provision. Instead, Jerusalem chose to pursue self-determination for materialistic gain. Have I stopped trusting that God will provide?
2. Response to Compromise
Swift Eradication (v8-9,25)
If there are things in our lives that disrupt God’s order, we must be swift and thorough about throwing it out. The work is urgent because delay is dangerous. If we tolerate godlessness, apathy will set in, and we may accept and rationalise our compromises. If we don’t remove them, eventually God will. And it is more painful when God removes them than when we do. But God loves us too much to let our wickedness defile and destroy us.
Effective Restoration (v9,12,30)
Nehemiah purified the storeroom and the office of the priesthood and made the flow of tithe return to the Temple. What do I need to restore? Restitution (making things right) pleases the Lord.
Courageous Perseverance (v19-22)
Nehemiah ordered the city gates to be shut to foreign merchants and traders on the Sabbath, despite political and economic pressure from Jerusalem’s neighbours. Will we be strong and courageous like Nehemiah?
3. Hope Despite Compromise
Jerusalem’s spiritual backsliding begs the question: Can there be lasting change? Sometimes our faith journey looks like one step forward, two steps back, and we may feel discouraged. But God is faithful. Nehemiah points to a future fulfilment of God’s redemption through the Gospel of Christ.
Humble Dependence on Christ (v26)
Because of God’s love and pardon through Jesus, we can humbly recognise our weakness and tendency to sin. Nehemiah knew that even the great king Solomon was led into sin by foreign women. Our hope is not in human triumphalism and self-reliance, but humble and contrite reliance on God.
Radical Grace (v22)
Nehemiah says 4 short prayers in chapter 13, and in v22 he earnestly pleads God for mercy according to God’s love (‘hesed (chesed)’ = which can also be translated as covenant loyalty, steadfast love). When we experience God’s grace, we are humbled by a love that we don’t deserve, yet confident of being empowered for righteousness that we can’t earn. And we can be rested in forgiveness, when we fail and turn back in repentance.
Transforming Journey
The Gospel can be summarised as “come as you are” but you don’t have to “stay as you are”. It is an ongoing journey of sanctification because God is not done with us yet. In this life we will not be sinless, but as we obey God we can sin less. We can be assured that the journey is worth it because God will faithfully renew us.
(Sermon notes by Bryan Tan)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- When has it been hard for you to keep a promise?
- What were the compromises that Nehemiah had to deal with?
- Why was each of these compromises serious?
- What impressed you in the way Nehemiah dealt with the compromises? What does this tell you about how we should deal with the compromises in our lives?
- How can we have hope despite the compromises in our lives? How have you experienced such hope?
- How has this chapter of Nehemiah refreshed your vision for God’s continuing renewal in your life?
- What are some key takeaways from the study of the book of Nehemiah? What will you commit to do as a result?
- Pray for each other to be faithful as we trust in the grace of God to empower us for the journey ahead.
