Ezekiel 20:10-17; “Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. V:11 And I gave them my statutes, and showed them my judgments, which [if] a man do, he shall even live in them. V:12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them. V:13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which [if] a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them. V:14 But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out. V:15 Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given [them], flowing with milk and honey, which [is] the glory of all lands; V:16 Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols. V:17 Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.”

We come to the end of our 13 part series in looking at the book of Nehemiah. I hope you have learned something from this book that can help you be ready for the soon coming of Jesus. Today we look at Nehemiah 13.

If you like stories with happy endings you'll probably not going to like Chapter 13 of Nehemiah. The prophet probably should have quit with the great celebration recorded in Chapter 12. But this closing chapter of Nehemiah is really more of a story about the children of Israel backsliding – “Again” more than anything else.

Nehemiah had been gone for a while and you've heard the old expression; "When the cat's away, the mice will play." Well that is exactly what happened here.

Nehemiah just returned from Persia. Listen to verses 1-3 of Nehemiah 13, “On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; V:2 Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. V:3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.”

Do you remember in Nehemiah Chapter 10:28-31 where we discovered how the Israelites, rededicated their lives and took a vow that they would not intermarry with the members of other races. They made an oath to obey the Law of God. Yet here in chapter 13, some 10 years later, we find they broke their covenant with God. Again!

Verse 2 talks of Balaam. You remember him don’t you? He’s the one that was rebuked by his donkey in Numbers 22. The story goes that as Balaam rode his donkey to the top of the hill to curse the people when the donkey sees an angel of the Lord standing in the pathway. The beast refused to go past the angel and Balaam beats him 3 times. Then God gave the donkey the ability to speak. He said, "Why are you beating me?" About that time the Lord opened the prophet's eyes and he sees the angel that is about to destroy Balaam. Rebuked by a donkey! Could there be an important lesson for us to learn from that story? I believe is.

And that is that we need to be very careful that we do not violate God’s ways and insist on our own way. We cannot conceal our motives or our attitudes from Him.

In Ezra Chapter 9 and 10 there is a similar account to Nehemiah 13 that arose some 30 years before. Ezra led a group from Babylon to Jerusalem and there he discovered that the people were intermarrying with the neighboring tribes contrary to the Law of Moses. Later today read this story and you will find that Ezra was disgusted with how the people broke Gods commands.

God saw that these social intermarriage practices were bringing His people down. It would be good to remember what the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 10:11; “Now all these things happened unto them (Israel) for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”

The foolishness of Israel in disobeying God is what led them to their downfall in the wilderness, and later being a captive to Babylon. Later read Jer. 17:23, 27; 25:4–11.

The warning for us today is we need to learn from the mistakes of Israel made by disobeying God. Especially in the light of the nearest of the 2nd coming of Jesus.

Did you know that Most of the Israelites died just before they crossed over into Canaan? These were the people whom God favored by giving them knowledge of His law. Yet they failed to remain faithful to Him. What does this story reveal for us living in the New Millennium?

Let me ask, what brought the Flood on the antediluvian world? Completely walking away from God - right? What brought the fire on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah? Their disobedience to God’s Law – right? What caused all but 2 to die in the wilderness on the way to the promised land? Disobedience again – right? Over and over – God’s Wrath is poured out because of disobedience to His law.

And what does Revelation 14:9-10 say will cause His wrath to be poured out for the finally time? Listen; “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand, V:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:”

It’s too clear to misunderstand; “False worship” will bring on God’s wrath again one last time. Those that violate and disobey God’s Commandments will be lost. Obedience to God’s law is of the utmost importance! I hope and pray you accept and believe that! Don’t let anyone fool you into believing it isn’t so! Keeping God’s Law is very important!

In Nehemiah 13:6 we find Nehemiah had been gone. Listen; “But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:”

When he returns to Jerusalem he finds a lot has happened that wasn’t in God’s order. In verses 4 and 5 we find the High Priest, Eliashib had been in charge of God’s Temple Storerooms and Living quarters. Again listen, “And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah: V:5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.”

One of the rooms that was supposed to be used as a storeroom for grain offering was now being used as an apartment for Tobiah. This upset Nehemiah so much so that verse 8 says he threw everything out of the room. Listen, “And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.”

Some people may feel that Nehemiah overreacted a little. But let me ask, how should we act today when we see evil taking place in God’s House? Should we allow it? I don’t think so and neither did Jesus.

Remember in the New Testament when Jesus came into the temple and found it filled with moneychangers making money off the sale of the Sacrificial Animals? He put a stop to it! So did Nehemiah. So must we!

But at the same time we have to be understanding and patient with those that have never been told are explained how we should act in God’s House.

The story here in Nehemiah 13 clearly reveals the way evil works. It invades quietly. And if we are not careful, before we are even aware of it, sin can take us over and cause much grief to God. Friends, never compromise and walk away from God’s standard of living righteously. We must be prepared to change whatever God ask us to change. Go wherever He asks us to go. And we must be prepared to call sin by its rightful name just like John the Baptist did. The world's attitude today toward divorce – pornography - drugs and alcohol is not God’s attitude. Nor should be ours. Too many Christians just shrug their shoulders at evil, but let me tell you something, Nehemiah didn’t.

When you jump down to verses 15-22, you see Nehemiah notices something else happening to God’s people; “In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.
13:16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
13:17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?
13:18 Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.
13:19 And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and [some] of my servants set I at the gates, [that] there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.
13:20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.
13:21 Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do [so] again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.
13:22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come [and] keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.”

I’ve been told that much of what we just read is still practiced in Jerusalem today? In Jerusalem today you cannot get a hot meal in a Jewish hotel from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. The elevators are not allowed to operate. A person must use the stairs to get to their room. The shops are closed. Buses do not run! All because it is the Sabbath. I guess you realize this causes a great deal of inconvenience for most tourists.

The Orthodox Jewish people are powerful enough that they can require the whole country to observe the Sabbath. And they do whether people like it or not.

In Nehemiah's day neither work nor business was to be carried out on the Sabbath. When Nehemiah returned from Babylon, he found that the people had begun to once again ignore the Sabbath day requirements. The streets were full of traffic. The stores doors were wide open. Sound familiar?

His first reaction was one of shock! He couldn’t believe the people had already forgotten the lessons of the past. He reminded them in verse 18 that this violation is a serious thing.

He reminded them that Sabbath breaking was why God allowed the Babylonians to destroy Jerusalem in the first place. (See Jer. 17:21–27 – Eze. 20:13; 22:8, 26; 23:38).

So when the evening shadow fell in Jerusalem on Friday, Nehemiah ordered the gates to be shut and not opened until after the Sabbath was over according to verse 19.

In verse 25 Nehemiah gets physical with the people for disobeying God. Listen, “And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.”

Apparently the seriousness of breaking God’s Law weighed heavily upon Nehemiah. It led him to take action. Now I’m not suggesting anyone of ever do anything like that. But it does show how much Nehemiah hated sin.

It should be clear that Nehemiah was deeply concerned with anyone that ignored God’s Holy commandments. The chapter proves that He saw the Sabbath not as a traditional ritual, but as something that God took very seriously. What does all this mean to us today? Should the Sabbath still be kept today as in Nehemiah day? Listen to Exodus 20:8-11; “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. V:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: V:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: V:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them[is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

Now listen to Ezekiel 20:12; “Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.” Yet in verse 16 we find; “Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.”

In God’s appeal for the people to return to Him, He called their attention to the importance of keeping the Sabbath holy. Listen to verses 19-20; “I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; V:20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.”

Always remember that we are never to obey God commandments just to secure heaven! But we obey because we love and want to please Him. Jesus died for sinners! That’s you and me. He paid the price, the penalty for sin we could never pay. What was the price paid for sin! Death! But, just because Jesus died in our place so we could live doesn’t give us the right to break or nullify any of His laws! It was a great sacrifice of love that Christ made for us! A great sacrifice to prove mankind could keep God’s Laws.

No one is to select one, two or even nine of the Commandments they want to keep. We are told to keep and obey all Ten Commandments!

Always remember that the truth of God’s Word has never been found among the majority, it has always been found among the minority. (see Christ Triumphant pg. 78)

There are very few today that take God at His Word. I believe we need of men and women who, like Ezra and Nehemiah, will not bow down or excuse sin. We need men and women that will stand up even though the heavens may fall. 1 John 2:4-6 says: “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. V:5 - But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. V:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”

1 John 5:2-3 adds; “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments. V:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.” These verses clearly prove that obedience to God is the only way to heaven.

The 10 commandments are a signpost that points only in one direction. But Satan has changed this signpost over the course of time. The devil has it pointing in the wrong direction. Many people are walking down the wrong path. The devil has them worshipping on a false Sabbath thinking they are obeying the commandments of God. But although the signpost is pointing in the wrong direction we must remember that God has not nor ever will change. God says in Malachi 3:6; “I Change not.”

Jesus says in Matthew 5:17-19; "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets," He said; "I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Now listen to Proverbs 28:9; “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” This verse also proves how important the Law is to God.

Nehemiah closes his book with these words: “Remember me, o my God, for good.” (Last part of Neh. 13:31) Nehemiah prayed this prayer 3 times in this chapter in verses 14, 22 and 31.

Today we still need men and women that will stand up for what is right even when it looks like others will turn against them.

To end let me say that obeying the law nor keeping the Sabbath will not save you. Only Jesus can save you. But Jesus says; “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15

Someday God will call an end to sin just like He did in the days of old. He will come in the clouds. Will you be found obeying Him when He comes? I pray so.