Tues.’s Devo - Nehemiah’s Reforms

Read: Nehemiah 12:27-13:31; 1 Corinthians 11:1-16; Psalm 35:1-16; Proverbs 21:17-18 The dedication of the new wall was a joyous occasion. The singers brought their instruments and everyone went to the wall. The priests and Levites purified themselves then the people, the gates and the wall. Then Nehemiah led them to the top of the wall and organized two large choirs to give thanks One when one way on the wall and the other choir went the other way until they met on the other side. Many sacrifices were made and men were appointed to watch over the storerooms of the people’s offerings. They opened the book of the Law and it was read to the people. They learned that no Ammonites or Moabites were to be allowed in enter the assembly of God because they had not provided food and water when the Israelites were leaving Egypt and they hired Balaam to curse Israel. Tobiah was an Ammonite and was also a relative of the high priest, Eliashib. Nehemiah, who had been gone for a few years returned to find that Eliashib had allowed Tobiah a storage room in the Temple. When Nehemiah learned of that, he went and took all of Tobiah’s things he had stored in that room and threw them out. Remember that Tobiah had been one of Nehemiah’s adversaries in building the wall. Nehemiah also found that the Levites had not been paid so they had to return to work their fields to put food on their tables. Nehemiah restored the Levites to their Temple jobs and made sure they were paid. Nehemiah saw that the people were working their fields and selling their wares on the Sabbath. He reminded them that it was sin like this that got them into all their trouble. He had the gates of Jerusalem shut on the Sabbath to preserve the holiness of the day. He also noticed that men had married foreign wives and some of their children could not even speak Hebrew. He was so upset he called down curses on them and pulled out some of the hair and made them swear they would not let their children intermarry with the pagan people. This sin was even in the priesthood. one of the sons of the high priest, Eliashib had married a daughter of Sanballat (another one of Nehemiah’s enemies). Nehemiah banished him from his presence. Nehemiah got the Temple in working order again. Paul told the people to imitate himself because he would be imitating Christ. This sounds arrogant but Paul had seen the life of Christ and many of these people had not. He was telling them that he would live his life like Jesus did so they could see how Jesus lived. Paul explained that man represents God’s glory so his head should be left uncovered. There is no shame in God. Woman represents man’s glory so her head needs to be covered either with hair or a covering. In spiritual terms it means that we have to be covered with the blood of Christ to stand before God. His blood shows that we are under his authority. Lord, we submit ourselves to your authority. We choose to purify ourselves for your service.