Join Pastor John Kyle in this insightful exposition as he draws practical lessons from Nehemiah’s governance and reformative actions. In a time when the people of Judah faced spiritual decline, Nehemiah’s return and his determined efforts to rectify the community’s deviations from God’s law provide timeless inspiration. Through historical lessons and heartfelt rebukes, the episode challenges each listener to examine their own faithfulness and to make bold, godly decisions in their walk with God.
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 01 :
Well, if we turn in our Bibles to Nehemiah chapter 13, verses 15 through 22. Nehemiah 13 says, 15 through 22. Now remember, God led Nehemiah to go to Jerusalem to not only be the catalyst in rebuilding the ruined walls of the city, but to also bring the people back to a repentant and passionate faith in the living God, which did indeed happen. And we saw that in chapters 1 through 12. At this point here in chapter 13, many years have now gone by, perhaps even 25 years since the wall has been completed. Remember, Nehemiah left Babylon and he came to Jerusalem and he was the governor in Jerusalem for 12 years. Chapters 1 through 12 cover less than a year of that. And so there are 11 more years in which Nehemiah continued to be the governor in Jerusalem that we know nothing about. After that time, Nehemiah then went back to Persia, and Nehemiah was there for perhaps 12 more years before coming back again to Jerusalem. So again, a lot of time has now gone by between verses 3 and 4 of chapter 13. So at this point, Nehemiah has been gone for over a decade, but now he’s returned to Jerusalem. And look, he’s found some issues. Remember? Like what? Well… The people have reverted in their faith. They have given way to compromise. No good leaders stepped up and led the people in Nehemiah’s absence, and the people weren’t convicted enough on their own to take a godly stand for the glory of the Lord. And so spiritual mediocrity and blatant sin has won the day. How so? Well, the priest, if you remember, the priest Eliashib had given a number one enemy of God’s people. Remember, Tobiah the Ammonite had given him a room to stay in within the courts of the temple, even though those rooms were reserved only for holy use. That was done because of their family ties, and also it was done for economic gain. But here’s a question. What about what God thinks? That was truly wicked behavior, but no one did anything about it until Nehemiah came back and found out what was going on. When Nehemiah found out, he was first grieved bitterly about that, rightly so. And then he threw everything that belonged to Tobiah out of the room. He cleansed the room and he made things right again in that room, rightly so. What else? This, the Levites who were the people who were selected by God to lead the people in worship, talking about the priests and the servants and the singers and the ministers who were supported by the tithes of the people of God. Look, they weren’t receiving those tithes. And so they had to abandon their posts and go home to work in their fields because they had to in order for them to survive. In other words, the people weren’t taking care of God’s workers and they also didn’t seem to care about God’s house. And no one did anything about that wretched and sinful behavior until Nehemiah came back and discovered that very serious sin. What did he do? Nehemiah made things right. See, he couldn’t sit back and do nothing. No, he had to do something because love for God and hatred of sin compelled him to do something. So he contented with the sinful rulers. He rebuked them. He fired the neglectful ones and he hired faithful workers and he made things right for the glory of God. So here’s a question. Can one faithful person really make a difference? You know it. Can one faithful person change a nation for the glory of God? Answer? Absolutely. And while we may not have power like Nehemiah had, and while we may not be governors like Nehemiah was, we can still be faithful people who love God and who hate sin, and who are intent on being bold and godly in the one fast and fading life that God has given to us. We can do that. So you have some passion. Have some conviction. Put God first in your life. Stand against the crowd for the glory of God and honor Him first in your life, like Nehemiah. We need more Nehemiahs today. Are you one of them? I pray you are. In verse 15, we see yet another problem that Nehemiah discovered. Let’s look. Verse 15. In those days, I saw people in Judah treading wine presses on the Sabbath. And bringing in sheaves and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens which they had brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them about the day on which they were selling provisions. Men of Tyre dwelt there also who brought in fish and all kinds of goods and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah and in Jerusalem. You see the problem? We should see it, right? The people were violating the Sabbath, which is a very serious violation. It was a Sabbath day, right? It was a day of rest, the day that was supposed to be set aside for the Lord. And look, look what’s going on. The people are working. See, instead of the people trying to invest in the eternal kingdom, they’re trying to build up their own earthly kingdom, right? Instead of resting and focusing on the Lord, the people are trying to make money and focus on themselves. Look what was going on. They were treading wine presses on the Sabbath. They were bringing in sheaves, which were bundles of grain. And they were loading up donkeys with all kinds of goods. And then they were bringing them into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. On top of that, unbelieving men from the pagan city of Tyre were bringing in fish and other goods. And they were selling them to the people on the Sabbath day. And so very clearly, there was no attempt to keep the Sabbath special. But instead, the seventh day looked much like any other work day when it was supposed to look the opposite. Well, as Nehemiah became aware of what was going on, his zeal and passion for God and His Word caused him to respond. I mean, he can’t sit back and watch all this sin and dishonor to God happen. No. No. He has to do something because that’s what godly people do. So first he warned them, verse 15. The warning probably went something like this. Hey, guys, you know it’s Sabbath, right? You know that, right? And you’re doing all this work on the Sabbath day. You know what the Bible says about that, right? You know that’s sinful, right? You know what God’s law says about the Sabbath, right? I mean, this is wrong, right? And there’s serious consequences to sin like this. You know that, right? Hey, I’m warning you right now. You better stop it. Because it offends God greatly. And so he warned them. Good job, Nehemiah, right? Because that’s good and that’s necessary. Speak up. Call sin for what it is. Warn the people of sin and the consequences of sin. Make sure they understand this sin very clearly. Don’t let them lie to themselves regarding their sin. That’s important because many times that doesn’t even happen. Where some sin is going on and no one says anything about it. Thus allowing it to continue. No. Because God deserves better than that. See, refusing to warn people about blatant and unrepentant sin might seem like a good decision in the moment. But it does no good for those who are in that sin. And it does no good for you to sit back and watch it. Because sitting back and watching it, sitting back and letting it happen without saying or doing anything about it, makes you complicit in it. And it greatly displeases your God. Note this. The tense of the word indicates that Nehemiah warned them over and over and over and over again. See, Nehemiah cares. This isn’t some rote, heartless warning. No, this is a warning that’s done out of love. First love for God and then love for these people who are doing themselves no real good by committing this sin. See, true love warns. Love warns. Love speaks up. Love does something. Good job, Nehemiah. What else? Second, Nehemiah contended with the nobles. Verses 17 through 22. Look. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah and said to them, What evil thing is this that you do by which you profane the Sabbath day? Did not your fathers do thus and did not our God bring all this disaster on us on this city? yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath. So it was at the gates of Jerusalem, as it began to be dark before the Sabbath, that I commanded the gates to be shut, and I charged that they must not open them till after the Sabbath. Then I posted some of my servants at the gates so that no burdens would be brought in on the Sabbath day. Now the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. Then I warned them and I said to them, why do you spend the night around the wall If you do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time on, they came no more on the Sabbath. And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves and that they should go and guard the gates to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your mercy. Now the word contend here means to strive against, to dispute with, and to even file a lawsuit against someone. This shows us the serious and passionate nature of Nehemiah in this moment. He got the nobles of Judah together. These were the rulers, the leaders who had let this sin go on, on their watch. And then Nehemiah contended with them. What evil thing is this that you do by profaning the Sabbath day? Did not your fathers do thus? And did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath. You see what he’s doing? He’s calling out sin for what it is. It’s evil. All sin is evil. And we do well to understand that so that we don’t toy around with sin, so that we don’t court sin in our own life, any sin. Note how he also says that they are doing it so he wants them to be clear and to make sure that they don’t lie to themselves about it. This is on them. They are doing it. And then he tells them their sin, what it is. They are profaning the Sabbath. After that, he cites the seriousness of this sin by reminding them of their sinful past. See, 300 years earlier, the prophet Amos had accused Israel of resisting the shutting down of business on the Sabbath. 150 years earlier, the prophet Jeremiah had described animals carrying loads in and out of the city on the Sabbath, which was sinful and rebellious. Jeremiah then warned the people that if they continued trafficking on God’s special day, the Sabbath, that the Lord would kindle an unquenchable fire in the gates of Jerusalem that will consume her fortresses. And come to find out, the people didn’t repent. And guess what happened? The fire came. Jeremiah’s prediction had been devastatingly fulfilled, and those very gates through which the busy traders had passed on the Sabbath, they had been burned by Nebuchadnezzar’s ruthless invaders. New gates had been made and set up by Nehemiah’s workers, but now look, the people are doing the very same thing. They’re committing the very same sin, and they’re in danger of adding added wrath because of it. As one said, people seldom learn from history, but Nehemiah tried to warn the people of the likely consequences of their sin by reminding them of earlier transgression and its evident and frightening consequences. That’s right, because again, he cares for them, and even more, he loves his God. See, he knows that sin always has consequences, so repent and repent now. And also, he knows how God loves it when his people are walking in holiness and when his people are battling against sin. And Nehemiah wants God to be glorified. So, why should we battle sin and why should we obey the Lord? Well… Because it’s the best thing for our own souls, yes, but even more, it pleases and honors the Lord whom we love. What about you? Third, Nehemiah made sure that the people kept the Sabbath. Verse 19. So it was at the gates of Jerusalem as it began to be dark before Sabbath, I commanded the gates to be shut and charged that they must not open them till after the Sabbath. I posted some of my servants at the gates so that no burdens would be brought in or brought out on the Sabbath day. Do you see what Nehemiah’s doing? He’s doing what he can to stop the sin. And as a man who still has authority, Nehemiah closes the gates of the city on the Sabbath, thus ensuring that no merchandise could flow through the city. And he then enlisted some of his men to ensure that the gates were kept shut until after the Sabbath. He’s very practical, right? I mean, if the gates are closed, then the working and the buying and the selling that has been happening, that can’t happen anymore. Problem solved. Not the heart problem. I mean, that’s not solved. The people have left their first love. But the external problem profaning the Sabbath day. It’s a good way to deal with sin, really. I mean, close the gates. Right? If your computer is causing you to sin… then get a good block on your computer that can’t be bypassed or stay off the computer. Close the gates. If your phone causes you to sin, throw away your phone. No, John, that’s not practical in today’s world. Then choose sin over pleasing God. See how that works out for you. Practical. Who cares about practical? We’re called to be godly. And godliness should trump practicality any day of the week. Didn’t Jesus say, if your right hand causes you to stumble, then what do you do? Cut it off. In other words, deal drastically with sin. Don’t mess with sin. Take all sin deadly serious. Close the doors. If that person causes you to sin, then stay away from that person at all costs. Close the doors, see? Nehemiah knew. Nehemiah is wise. Fourth thing. Nehemiah warned the merchants and sellers, if you do this again, I’m going to lay hands on you. Man, I like that. I don’t know how that would go with you, but I like it. Verse 20, the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. I warned them, why do you spend night around the wall? If you do so again, I’m going to lay hands on you. From that time on, they came no more on the Sabbath. So look, even though Nehemiah has dealt with the external sin problem by closing the doors, there’s still a sin issue going on, right? Merchants camped outside the gates on the Sabbath in order to ensure that they would be the first inside after the gates were opened up. This bothered Nehemiah greatly. Why? Because they are clearly missing the point. Again, the Sabbath isn’t a law to adhere to legalistically, even though it became that way for many, which we see clearly at the time of Christ. But it wasn’t supposed to be like that. No, it was supposed to be something that was good. For the people of God. And that drove them to knowing. And to drawing near to the Lord whom they loved. And to knowing him with more passion. It was a blessing for them. Not a burden. And they’re treating it like a burden. Hurry up and end Sabbath. Hurry up and end. Because then we can get on with our business. They’re missing the point. Where’s the love? Where’s the heart? Where’s the passion? Then we can work with that. Hey, what does God want from you first and foremost? Your heart, right? Your heart. When he has your heart, then the external actions flow. J.C. Ryle said, forever let us bear in mind that the state of our hearts is the principal thing that demands our attention. That’s right. The Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks… At the heart, 1 Samuel 16, 7. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. Proverbs 21, 2. Let your heart therefore be loyal to the Lord your God to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments. 1 Kings 8, 61. And what’s the greatest commandment? Love the Lord your God with all your heart. Heart, right? Your heart. How’s your heart? That’s the issue. Nehemiah is upset because while the external problem is fixed, the internal problem is not fixed. Look what Nehemiah did. I warned them and said to them, why do you lodge outside the wall? If you do so again, I’m going to lay hands on you. And then from that time on, they didn’t come on the Sabbath. Nehemiah is serious, right? Sin is serious. And Nehemiah didn’t want even temptation to hang around the perimeter of the city. Question, what did Nehemiah mean when he said, I’m going to lay hands on you? Well, remember, Nehemiah has authority, and he probably meant that if they did this again, that he would have them forcibly removed, that he would have them punished, and I think in a legal way, that he would make them leave with the full extent of his own authority behind them, but also the authority of the king of the empire. Nehemiah risked these people not liking him very much. Is it worth it? Hey, what’s more important, God’s approval or man’s? nehemiah is consumed with glorifying god even when it costs him some approval ratings you ought to please man or you ought to please god pleasing god means that some people might not like you and they might not like your message but again what’s most important lord help us to care first and foremost what god thinks fifth nehemiah commanded the levites to cleanse themselves verse 22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves and they should go and guard the gates and sanctify the Sabbath day. So Nehemiah is rallying the troops for the glory of God. Why did they have to purify themselves just to guard the gates on the Sabbath? Because guarding the gates on the Sabbath was God’s work. And Nehemiah wanted them to see it as such. See, even being on guard duty can be a work that honors and glorifies the Lord when it’s done for him. So can watching babies in the nursery and plunging toilets and sweeping floors and handing out bulletins. Look, spiritual work, eternal work, isn’t just reserved for preachers, no. Anything you do for God’s glory that flows from the heart and on out, and based on your love for Him, that is spiritual and well-pleasing to Him, and that has eternal value, see? Just make sure that your heart is right. Make sure you’re doing it for Him. And if that’s true, then get on with it. Get on with it. God sees, God knows, and God rewards our work that’s done for His glory. Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God, see? So glorify God where He has you. Be a bright light. Draw near to Him. Pray much and immerse yourself in His Word. Encourage others in Christ. Be a godly example. Be a godly parent. Be a godly spouse. Intent on honoring and obeying the Lord. Represent Christ well at work by working hard and by being godly. And see every aspect of your life as a way to glorify God. That has eternal value. Time is short. This is our opportunity to bear godly fruit. So let’s get on with it. Lord, help us. Look at the key, which again we see in Nehemiah. He prayed. Verse 22, What an example for us. Pray. How many times have we seen this in Nehemiah? Pray much. Pray more. Pray. The godly ones pray much. They know that prayer is powerful, that God delights in prayer, and that God works through the prayers of His people. That’s why Nehemiah was always praying. What about you? Remember me, O God, concerning this. He will. He sees, He knows, He remembers, He will reward and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy. What’s that all about? Well, let me ask you, do you think this was easy for Nehemiah? to constantly be contending like this. Was that easy? No, it wasn’t easy. It’s never easy to take a stand. It’s never easy to go against the crowd. It’s never easy to do what’s unpopular to do. No one likes being hated. And Nehemiah’s actions aren’t going to be received well by everyone, not by a long shot. And so Nehemiah goes to God in the midst of all this, which is the wise thing to do, right? Wisdom says to pray about everything. Wisdom says to never stop praying. How about this? Pray only when you’re in need. What’s the catch? We’re always in need. Right? We are always in need. Anybody? Pray. The Hebrew word translated compassion in this prayer is an imperative that carries with it the idea of having compassion on me and sparing me and being a refuge over me. So Nehemiah probably feels alienated and in danger and so he goes to God with his need. Good thing we have a God who’s great in mercy. Good thing we have a God who promises to never leave us or forsake us. Good thing we have a God who cares about all his children intimately. Good thing we have a God who promises to work all this out, even the bad for our eternal good. And good thing we have a God who will never leave us alone, not ever. That’s who our God is. And praying to him in your time of need is true wisdom indeed. So be like Nehemiah and pray, pray more, pray when you’re needy, pray all the time. Oh, how I love Nehemiah. He loves God very clearly. He loves the people of God very clearly. And he’s zealous for the glory of God, even at the expense of being hated by others. But hey, again, what matters? God’s approval or sinful man’s approval? What matters? God’s. Lord, help us to feel the same way and to respond accordingly.
SPEAKER 02 :
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 That’s 707-451-2026. Or visit vacavillefaith.org. dot org
