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Nehemiah
 Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

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Studies in Nehemiah                                                                                                                              Lesson 23

 

BACKSLIDING AND IT'S CURE

Part 1

Nehemiah 13:1-31

Introduction.

       If Nehemiah ended with chapter 12, the story would be very neat, impressive and idealistic. It doesn't. Chapter 13 is as much a part of Nehemiah as are chapters one or 12.

       Nehemiah is true to real life. The whole Bible is a book of truth and reality and the final chapter of Nehemiah shows how life really is. Men, even Christian men, are up and down. Right in the midst of a great revival there is often a setback. Satan is never idle. He always wants to stop revivals and spiritual prosperity. So many times, due to the weakness of our flesh (Mt. 26:41) he has already planted an ugly seed of failure that will raise its head at the very moment of victory and rejoicing.

       Nehemiah 13 thus begins with an activity that reveals a grievous sin. For 12 years, Nehemiah's life was fully given to the great work in Jerusalem. Things were in great shape and he returned to the king in Shushan. Compare Nehemiah 1:1 with Nehemiah 13:6. While he was gone, major backsliding began to occur in Jerusalem. A few years later, when he returned to Jerusalem, he found a spiritually grievous spiritual situation. Neh. 13:7.

       It is noteworthy that the light of God's word is what exposed the sins at the root of Israel's departure from God. When they looked into God's word, it was easy to see what was wrong. Neh. 13:1-2. The Bible is always the standard by which all we do should be evaluated. Psalm 119:160. Romans 3:4. It is not difficult to see why God's people should spend ample and serious time in His word. Psalm 119:9.

       Nehemiah 13 lists three distinct ways by which these Israelites turned from God into backsliding.

I.     THEY VIOLATED THEIR OATH TO HONOR THE

       HOUSE OF GOD. Neh. 13:1-14

       A.    These people had made a covenant with God and promised to honor Him with their substance and never to neglect His house. Neh. 10:32-39

               1.    They promised to tithe. Neh. 10:37-38

               2.    Note well their words in the latter part of Nehemiah 10:39, "...we will not forsake the house of our God."

               3.    It is far easier to make promises, even to God, than it is to keep them. God expects promises to be kept. Ps. 76:11. Ps. 66:13-14. Jonah 2:9.

                             Consider carefully God's warning about the breaking of promises made to Him. Eccl. 5:4-6.

                      Study notes.

                             Discuss unkept promises to God of which you are aware. Many refuse to make any promises to God because they feel that they will break them. Which do you think is worse, promises made but never kept or no promises at all? How do you explain the many promises made by God's people in the Bible?

       B.     The leadership backslid by failing at sanctification. Neh. 13:4-5,7

               1.    God had written in His word that neither an Ammonite nor a Moabite should "come into the congregation of the Lord." Neh. 13:1, Deut. 23:3-5.

                             God forgives, but consequences remain. Generations later, these Ammonites and Moabites were still forbidden to come into the house of the Lord. Eccl. 8:11-13.

               2.    Eliashib the priest had made an alliance with Tobiah who was an Ammonite. Neh. 13:4 See Neh. 2:10.

                             As the priest, Eliashib was the spiritual leader of this people and had the God-given "oversight of the chamber of the house of God."

                      Neh. 13:4 He had particular responsibility to maintain the purity and integrity of the house of God. Consider Jesus' view on leadership as expressed in Luke 12:48. Eliashib should have enforced the standards of God in the house of God. Instead his ecumenical spirit allied him with men from whom he should have separated himself.

                             Eliashib is a good Old Testament type and foreshadow of the pastor of a New Testament church. Like Eliashib, a pastor has oversight of the people of God within a church. Acts 20:28. Heb. 13:7,17. 1 Tim. 5:17. The pastor is responsible for the integrity of the house of God which is the church 1 Tim. 3:15. Like Eliashib, a pastor seriously compromises the work of God and causes backsliding whenever he fails to maintain purity and separation in the house and work of God. He can fail by allowing into the church preachers or singers who are either unsaved or unsound in the faith. He can fail by integrating into the ministry and leadership of the church people (even members) who are not qualified or not separated. Sometimes the people will clamor for people who do not belong in the leadership of the house of God. Consider 2 Cor. 6:14-18.

                      Study notes.

                             What do you think about bringing non-Baptist singers or preachers into a church to lead in worship? How do you feel about ministerial alliances or ecumenical community services where many denominations jointly participate?

               3.    It has long been established that everything rises or falls on leadership. When leaders become corrupt or compromise, their personal backsliding spreads to their followers. In this case, Nehemiah had to return to the king in Shushan. Competent replacement leadership failed to step forth. Neh. 13:6 In the absence of good leadership, spiritual decay (backsliding) began, escalated & spread. In such circumstances, it always does.

                      Study notes.

                             Discuss cases where you have observed the power of leadership.

               4.    God's will for His people is sanctification. He expects them to be separate. They are to practice a lifestyle and behavior superior to that of the world. Exodus 19:5. Deut. 14:2. Titus 2:14. 1 Pet. 2:9.

                      Study notes.

                             Rate your sanctification.

       C.     The whole company of people backslid by allowing the house of God to be polluted.

               1.    An ungodly and unqualified man was brought in and was given a prominent place in the house of God. This man, Tobiah, was living in the place where the Levites should have been and where the spiritual work of God was supposed to be conducted. Neh. 13:4-5

               2.    God's people as a whole had responsibility in this matter. The priest bore chief responsibility, but the people bore responsibility too. They should not have tolerated such compromise and wickedness in the house of God. However veneered and innocent what was happening here may have seemed to many, it was "evil." Neh. 13:7 God laid the evil directly at the feet of Eliashib, but the people as a whole suffered.

               3.    God forbid that His people ever become complacent, passive and tolerant of sin! It is very easy to lose our definitive stance about what is good and evil, right and wrong. Whenever anyone begins to depart from the standards of God's word (which was the means of deciding what was really wrong here), that person and all who follow are committing evil. James 4:17.

                      Study notes.

                             Name cases where you have observed a passive approach toward obvious sin.

       D.     Nehemiah took immediate and decisive action to correct this situation. Neh. 13:7-13

               1.    A timid or pacifist attitude and approach toward a lack of sanctification and holiness in the work of God is not the way to cure backsliding.

                             Too often God's people, particularly His leaders, are very timid and soft on sin, compromise and backsliding. They don't want to upset anybody or cause a scene. They suggest changes and drop hints, while waiting, waiting, waiting. Meanwhile, things continue to ferment and worsen. Love should always be practiced, even in the resolution of problems, but never timidity toward evils that are destroying the work of God. Neh. 13:8-9

                             Boldness and decisiveness are the best of tools for addressing backsliding and restoring righteousness. Nehemiah stepped right into the middle of this situation and cleaned house. To him, it was a big deal and not something to be quietly addressed. Especially note Nehemiah 13:8. Nehemiah took three very decisive and clear-cut steps to correct the situation.

                      a.     The kicked Tobiah and all his "stuff" out of the house of God. It appears the he did it personally. Neh. 13:8 He got rid of the wrong.

                      b.    He "cleansed the chambers" Neh. 13:9. He cleaned house.

                      c.     He restored proper worship & service to the house of God. Neh. 13:9

                             Study notes.

                                    Discuss a case where you have observed decisive leadership.

               2.     Nehemiah restored the people to proper giving. Neh. 13:10-12

                      a.     Note well verses 10-11. When God's people rebel against God by not giving their tithes and offerings, His work always suffers and decays. Two specific blows against the work of God, both directly attributable to lack of proper giving, are mentioned in these verses.

                             (1)   Those who should have been serving God in a full-time capacity in doing the spiritual work had to quit this work and get secular jobs. Neh. 13:10

                             (2)   The house of God was forsaken. Neh. 13:11

                      b.     In any age the work of God is directly affected by the giving of God's people. When the Lord's portion is not given, invariably the work of God suffers. In fact, one of the most devastating and serious blows against God's work is failure by His people to honor Him with their substance. Read carefully 1 Cor. 9:11-14.

                             Study notes.

                                    Have you observed the impact of lack of giving on a church? Discuss.

               3.     Nehemiah restored order to God's business, especially the financial affairs. Neh. 13:13

                      a.     He established a definite structure of officers over the financial affairs and he made them accountable. They worked as teams, not as individuals. By so doing, the risk of temptation was greatly reduced as was the likelihood of a false accusation.

                      b.    He installed "faithful" or proven officers. 1 Cor. 4:2.

                             Study notes.

                                     Discuss the importance of sound business practices and safeguards in the financial affairs of a church.

       E.     Nehemiah prayed for God's power over this whole matter. Neh. 13:14

               1.    He asked God to remember him.

                             God always remembers the godly & faithful service of His servants. Mat. 10:41-42. Heb. 11:6.

               2.    He asked God to preserve the good that he had done.

                             So much of himself had been invested in this work. Nehemiah didn't want it to be all lost. He prayed that it would have lasting value.

                             It is important for God's people to ever keep in mind that God keeps the records on our labors. He promises that what we do to His glory is never in vain. 1 Cor. 15:58.

 

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"