Join us as we journey through Nehemiah’s dedication in rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls—a task marked by divine guidance and communal repentance. Pastor John Kyle uncovers the rich tapestry of the Old Testament, particularly the lessons from the exclusion of the Ammonites and Moabites, illustrating a call to safeguard our spiritual practices. This episode offers a compelling narrative about the necessity of biblical interpretation and application, encouraging believers to remain vigilant against spiritual complacency.
Welcome to Expository Truths, where we exalt Christ by bringing clarity of truth through the scriptures with Dr. John Kyle, pastor of Faith Community Church in Vacaville. As Christians, we are called to know the truth and be able to proclaim it. We can know the truth when we know the word of God, which is precise, without error, powerful, and effective for both salvation and spiritual growth. Let’s join Pastor Kyle as he takes us verse by verse through the book of Nehemiah, an incredible book showing us how God sovereignly used the faithfulness of Nehemiah to lead the people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in the midst of many mighty and powerful enemies.
SPEAKER 02 :
Please turn in your Bibles to Nehemiah chapter 13, verses 1 through 3. Nehemiah 13, 1 through 3. Now remember, God led Nehemiah to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the ruined walls of the city, which was an absolutely remarkable task, but even more, God led Nehemiah, along with Ezra, to be the catalyst in bringing the people back to repent in faith in the living God. At this point, the wall around Jerusalem has now been finished, and it’s been an amazing month since then. as a people have been celebrating corporately at both the Feast of Trumpets and then at the Feast of Tabernacles, and then as they gathered together to observe a national day of repentance, followed by the signing of a covenant, where together they committed themselves to honoring and obeying God once again out of their great love for Him. They then made the necessary plan to move 10% of the people into the city of Jerusalem, which was needed. And then, as we saw last time, they had a corporate worship service where they dedicated the month-old rebuilt wall around the city. The wall was truly a miracle, if you remember. It was completed in 52 days, and God’s good hand was clearly with the people. And they recognized that fact, and they celebrated that fact. Now what? Let’s look, verse 1. On that day, they read from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God, because they had not met the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing. So it was, when they had heard the law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel. Now here, as we look at this passage, the first thing to note is the fact which is this, that the people read from the law of God which is very, very, very good. Verse 1, on that day, on what day? Probably the day that they held the formal service to dedicate the wall. That special day was marked by many things, and the reading of the Word of God would have certainly been a very high priority. That said, the phrase on that day is the same phrase used in verse 44 that says at the same time. So it could have been referring to a more general period of time. Whatever the specific case, it’s clear that the people are together, and what are they doing? They’re reading from the book of Moses, the first five books of the Bible, the Word of God. And how wise is that? Right? I mean, that’s true wisdom. They were reading from the Word of God, and that’s when they discovered something. That God’s Word said that no Ammonite or Moabite should come into the assembly of God. Say what? I mean, what is that talking about? That’s referring to Deuteronomy 23, 3 through 6. And you can go ahead and turn there if you want to. Deuteronomy chapter 23, verses 3 through 6. Deuteronomy 23, verse 3. An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord, even to the tenth generation, which is a way of saying an infinite amount of time, indefinite amount of time. None of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the Lord forever. Why? Because they did not meet you with bread and water on the road when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam, the son of Beor from Pthor of Mesopotamia, to curse you. Nevertheless, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you because the Lord your God loves you. I love the way he says the Lord your God, your God, your God. He’s my God. He’s our God. You shall not seek their peace nor their prosperity all your days forever. And there you have it. The event referred to here with Ammon and Moab are found in Numbers 22 through 24, right before Israel entered into the Promised Land after wandering around in the desert in the wilderness for 40 years. What happened? These two nations opposed Israel when they should have welcomed them. So who are the Ammonites and the Moabites? Genesis 19 tells us that. Right after Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, Lot was able to escape Sodom with his wife and his two daughters. His wife disobeyed God, you remember that? And she looked back at Sodom as it was being destroyed when she wasn’t supposed to, and she turned into a pillar of salt. Don’t look back when God says don’t look back. But Lot and his two daughters were able to escape. They settled just east of Israel, right near the Dead Sea, where Jordan is located today. Well, after a period of time, Lot got drunk with the encouragement of his two daughters, who then had relations with their dad in order to preserve their lineage. Real sick stuff going on. They both became pregnant. The son of the first daughter was named Moab, the father of the Moabites. And the son of the second daughter was named Ben-Ammi, the father of the people of Ammon. The descendants of these two sons went on to become nations and great enemies and great obstacles for Israel. As one states, Moab and Ammon were destined to provide the worst carnal seduction in the history of Israel, that of Baal Peor and the cruelest religious perversion, that of Molech. Well, the highlight or the low light of the conflict between Israel and these two nations is what happened just before Israel entered the Promised Land. Again, they’d been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, and now finally, they’re able to enter into Canaan. And it’s not going to be easy to do that. I mean, not at all. But even before they enter in, they faced opposition. Now, just so you know, I got stuck on the term Ammonite. Why? Because in Numbers chapter 22 is when the Amorites, not the Ammonites, the Amorites refused to help Israel. Israel said, let us pass through your land. We won’t eat any of your food and we won’t even drink any of your water. We just want to peacefully pass through your territory to get to Canaan. The Amorites said no, and then they attacked Israel. They lost. Israel won. And then, in Numbers 22, Israel came to the plains of Moab, who also opposed them, but the Ammonites aren’t even mentioned there. So, why then does Deuteronomy 23, as referenced in Nehemiah 13, come so strongly against the Ammonites and the Moabites? Why not just the Moabites? Here’s why. Because the Ammonites were with the Moabites in their opposition. See, Ammon and Moab were right next to each other geographically, and together they didn’t meet the children of Israel with bread and water, and together they hired Balaam to curse them. So they were together in what they did to Israel. The consequences of that were serious. No Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God. What does that mean? Does this mean that no Moabite or Ammonite could be saved? that they couldn’t ever join in with the people of God. No, this certainly does not mean that such people had no opportunity to believe in Israel’s God, the one true God, the only Lord and Savior for the desperate soul. How do I know it doesn’t mean that? Because Scripture interprets Scripture, which is one of the basic tenets for good biblical interpretation. See, when you go to interpret the Bible, you need to make sure that you approach it correctly so you can then interpret it correctly. And that’s very important. How do you interpret it correctly? Through the tried and true literal, grammatical, historical approach to biblical interpretation. Literal means that we take the words of the Bible for what they mean in their normal sense, in their plain sense. That doesn’t mean that everything in the Bible is literal, but the context will dictate that. Grammatical means that we follow the grammatical rules for literature. That when approaching the Bible, we look at the words and their meanings and their definitions and so on. It makes sense, but sadly many don’t even do that. Historical means that we seek with diligence to determine the historical background and context before rendering an interpretation. A few rules can help us out when we do this. One, context is king. Think about it, when reading an article in the newspaper, is it wiser to begin in the At the beginning. Likewise, when interpreting the Bible, we must track the author’s meaning by carefully studying the context of the passage. Only then can we begin to decipher the intended meaning and apply it correctly. Two, understand what’s called progressive revelation. This principle states that later scriptures add to what God has given in earlier scriptures. For example, it’s important to know if the passage you’re reading from is in the Old Testament or if it’s in the New Testament, right? Kind of important, why? Because Jesus fulfilled the law. Therefore, we can indeed eat bacon today. Even though the Jewish people couldn’t eat it in the Old Testament. And we don’t sacrifice animals anymore. Since Jesus became the once and for all sacrifice for sin for all who believe. And we don’t stone our kids when they disobey us. And tattoos are fine if that’s what you want to do to your body. Three, distinguish between what the Bible records and what it approves. Hey, just because the Bible records the particular actions of a person in the Bible doesn’t mean that that action is endorsed by God. See, the Bible is a record of redemptive history which records a variety of deeds on the part of humans, both good and bad. And every instance that’s noted isn’t morally evaluated in explicit terms. For example, just because Jacob had two wives doesn’t mean that it was okay. The Bible simply records that fact even though it was a sinful act. Four. Remember that while there is one proper interpretation, there can be many ways to apply it. See, there’s only one correct interpretation to any biblical verse or passage. The author’s original intent. And our call is to seek that out. And while that’s true, there may be more than one way to apply that to our lives. And then five, Scripture interprets Scripture. And this is really what I wanted us to get to. Scripture interprets Scripture. That means that you must allow clear or plain passages of the Bible to explain those which are obscure or doubtful. And since the Bible doesn’t contradict itself, we must look to other passages to help us understand those which are less clear. Look at our verse here in Nehemiah 13. No Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God. That sounds like it means that no Moabite or Ammonite could be saved or join with the people of God in any way. But if that was true, then it would contradict other clear passages of Scripture. And so this can’t mean that these people had no opportunity whatsoever to believe in the Lord and to be saved. Why? Because other passages in the Old Testament make it clear that Gentiles, non-Jews, could indeed turn to God, even Moabites and Ammonites. Also, Ruth was a Moabite, right? And Ruth was not only admitted in the assembly of God, but she was one of King David’s ancestors. So what does this prohibition mean? This prohibition was a wall of protection for God’s people, because generally speaking, the Ammonites and the Moabites were evil people who could easily influence God’s people towards wicked and rebellious behavior, especially since they lived so very close to Israel. That said, it’s clear that there are exceptions to this rule for individuals who repent and who put their faith in God. As one said… Those Ammonites and Moabites who insisted on holding on to their Moabite beliefs were prohibited from attending Israelite worship. But those who repented and turned to the Lord in faith certainly could do that. And Ruth the Moabite is a good example of that. So, what would have to happen? You had to reject your old pagan gods and in faith embrace the Lord, the one true saving God. He had to leave the thinking and deeds of your wicked anti-God culture, and he had to join in the spiritual life of God’s people in true repentant faith. See, the key here is the purity and protection of God’s people. It’s like saying this, I’m not going to let my 10-year-old child spend the day at the home of anyone who messes around with the occult. Of course not! Right? Right? But what if those people repent and turn to Christ in saving faith? Okay, well that changes things. So this was a protection against a couple of very wicked groups of people. Don’t mess with them. Don’t be friends with them. Don’t listen to them. Don’t be wooed by them. Don’t let them in, really. Because your spiritual life is the most important thing in your life and protecting that is vital. See, fools don’t protect themselves spiritually. So please don’t be a fool. But note this. While the Ammonites and Moabites are singled out for good reason, right? Because of their wickedness and because of how they treated Israel before they entered into the promised land. This was actually the case for any pagan people that surrounded Israel. See, God continually warned his people to not make any covenants with the pagan people around them and to definitely not marry them. Why? Because they had different values and different loves and different priorities and they will steal your heart away if you’re not careful. And sadly, the people of God often don’t listen. And the consequences were obvious. Rebellion against the Lord, the one who matters most. See? Next we see the problem, which was this, that some Ammonites and Moabites were in the assembly, clearly. And not only Ammonites and Moabites, but others who made up a mixed multitude. What does that mean? It means that there was a lot of pagan people from around Israel who were in and amongst the people of God. Note that this isn’t a race issue, this is a spiritual issue. See, the mixed multitude is composed of unsaved people who want to belong to the fellowship of God’s people without trusting the Lord or submitting to His will. They want the blessings but not the obligations, and their appetite is still for the things of the world, for the things of sin. What then happens? The people of God become compromised because sin and worldliness rubs off. How? A good example is Solomon. Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, but he didn’t heed his own wisdom. That’s when compromise set in. And that’s how sin works. It can make a wise person a spiritually dumb person. 1 Kings 11 tells us what happened to Solomon. Verse 1. King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh, Moabite, Ammonite. See that? See that? Look, verse 3. He had 700 wives who were princesses and 300 concubines. His wives turned away his heart. When Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God. Verse 5. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and he did not wholly follow the Lord as David his father had done. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, And for Molech, the abomination of the Ammonites on the mountain east of Jerusalem. You see? You see what’s going on? It’s horrible. Thus the warning. Because when you don’t listen to God, you will always pay a spiritual price. And Israel, at the time of Nehemiah, had not only let unrepentant Ammonites and Moabites be a part of Israel, God’s chosen people, but they also let a bunch of people from other nations who served other gods in as well. What might this look like today? It would be like our church letting people who believe that all roads lead to heaven and who say that it doesn’t matter how you live out your faith and who believe that Jesus is just a regular good old guy and not God in human flesh and who teach that the Bible is just a good book and not the inspired word of God. It would be like our church letting people who believe and say those things become members here and teach classes and serve and preach and lead which would ruin our church. And while we want all kinds of non-Christians who believe terrible things and who indulge in terrible sins to come to our church and to hear the good news of Christ, we can’t let non-Christians become members here, right? We can’t let non-Christians think they’re part of the church of the living God, the people of God, when they’re not. I mean, that’s not good for them or us. That’s why we see the command about the Ammonites, the Moabites, and all who were of foreign descent. Talking about spiritual purity. And so, for those who wanted to be a part of Israel, but who wouldn’t give up their foreign gods, they had to be excluded. So what happened? What was the solution to what they have learned? The people obeyed the word and separated themselves. Actually, they separated from Israel all who were of foreign descent, which would have included all unrepentant Moabites and Ammonites. In other words, they removed the pagan foreigners from the land. Again, this wasn’t a racial thing. No, this was a spiritual thing because these foreigners could indeed become a part of Israel by conversion, by turning to the Lord in repentant faith and obedience. But for all who refused to surrender to the Lord, they were removed. Why? To protect themselves spiritually. The foreigners here really represent sin. And as Israel was to be God’s holy people, they needed to pursue holiness. And anything that threatened that holiness was to be removed. The same is true for us today. We live in the world. Can’t help it. And we are called to be bright lights in this dark world. To be witnesses in this world. to purposefully share the good news of Christ to everyone we can, right? I mean, that’s biblical. But while we do that, we must guard ourselves against the wicked influences that surround us. And that’s what the people were doing in Nehemiah’s day. 1 John 2.15 puts it like this. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. All that’s in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world is passing away in the lust of it. But he who does the will of God abides forever. And so we see the call, don’t love the world. Why not? Because the word world, as used here, refers to the evil organized system under Satan, which operates through unbelieving people who are enemies of God. Don’t love that. Just, please, don’t mess with that. Preacher Ray Stedman said that loving the world is a great enemy of the Christian. The siren voice that seeks to lure us aside, trap us, delude us, and ultimately to defeat us in our Christian experience. That’s right. And we are called to not love it and to take heed against its wicked and evil influences. John then adds that we are to not love the things of the world which speaks of anything that will cool your affection for God and for the things of God because behind that is the grip of Satan. Behind that is the evil world system that opposes God and that is composed of the enemies of God. See, that’s how Satan works, right? He lures us away a little bit at a time. And we should therefore hate anything that would lure us away from our incredible, amazing, saving God. Make sense? Make sense? I mean, and so the call is to not love the world, to not prize the world, to not cherish the world. Why? Because we love and prize and cherish and value Christ. as are all in all. And we can’t love both at the same time. As one said, there’s no room for double occupancy in the Christian’s heart. That’s right. For if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. He’s talking about lifestyle, about aim, about direction. And here, John is setting these two loves in direct opposition. See, these two affections are, by their very nature, antagonistic, and therefore they can’t coexist in the heart. You love one or you love the other. And your lifestyle will give you away. Your lifestyle won’t give away what you truly love. The general aim and direction of your life will reveal where your true heart is at. Christ or the world. That said, this is a warning even for the passionate, focused Christian. It’s a warning for all of us. Why? Because even though we in Christ love the Lord and hold Him as our chief affection… This world continues to try to pull us away, and it never, ever, ever lets up. Ask Solomon that. And if we’re not on guard, if we’re not watching, if we’re not praying, it has a way of luring us into its ways a little bit at a time. Like what happened to Israel in the time of Nehemiah. Take heed to yourself. Are you taking heed today? The call for Israel and for us, separate from those things. in a realistic way. Guard your heart. Run. Run from wickedness. Flee. Keep battling and don’t give in. Don’t coddle them. Don’t coddle those things like Israel did. No, remove them for your own eternal good. Like what? Anything that’s a harm to your walk with the Lord. Hey, what’s more important than your spiritual life? What’s more important than your relationship with your amazing God? Nothing. Act like it. Protect it. Treasure it. Guard it. Guard what you look at. Guard what you indulge in. Stay humble and lift God high. Guard who you hang out with. Take heed to yourself and separate from anything that harms your walk with the Lord because nothing’s more valuable than that. Good news. One day the battle will be over and we’ll be in glory forever. Until then, battle well in the spiritual battle at hand and make sure that pleasing and glorifying God is your top passion and is your top priority. And remember this. He loves, your God loves, when His people are growing in Him and pursuing the godly and God-honoring life. He loves it. And our job, our aim, is to give Him pleasure, is to glorify Him. This glorifies Him.
SPEAKER 01 :
Thanks for joining us for today’s exposition from the book of Nehemiah on expository truths with Dr. John Kyle. To find this and other sermons, visit expositorytruths.org. Faith Community Church seeks to exalt Christ by bringing clarity of truth through the scriptures with a commitment to glorifying God through the pure, deep, and reaching message of the gospel. Pastor John Nehemiah. Church of Vacaville, a seminary professor and a trainer of preaching pastors overseas. Join for services at Faith Community Church Sundays at 9 and 1045 a.m. 192 Bella Vista Road, Suite A. To learn more, visit vacavillefaith.org or call 707-451-2026. That’s 707-451-2026. Or visit vacavillefaith.org.
