Thoughts for the Day

Now ... the priest Eliashib, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was related to Tobiah, prepared for Tobiah a large room where they had previously put the grain-offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests. While this was taking place I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes of Babylon I went to the king. After some time I asked leave of the king and returned to Jerusalem. I then discovered the wrong that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah, preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God. And I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of Tobiah out of the room. Then I gave orders and they cleansed the chambers, and I brought back the vessels of the house of God, with the grain-offering and the frankincense.

I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them; so that the Levites and the singers, who had conducted the service, had gone back to their fields. So I remonstrated with the officials and said, ‘Why is the house of God forsaken?’ And I gathered them together and set them in their stations. Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses. And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses the priest Shelemiah, the scribe Zadok, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and as their assistant Hanan son of Zaccur son of Mattaniah, for they were considered faithful; and their duty was to distribute to their associates. Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Having rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem and made all safe Nehemiah obeys his promise to king Artaxerxes and returns to Babylon. He leaves Jerusalem in seemingly capable hands and is gone for a good number of years. On his return he is appalled to find that Eliashib the priest has done a deal with Tobiah, Nehemiah's enemy. We saw in Chapter 6 that Tobiah has been part of the group trying to make Nehemiah sin (Nehemiah 6) and who even threatened his life, yet here he is, a man of mixed race who had been ejected from Jerusalem now living in the temple courts.

Nehemiah is justifiably angry to see how Eliashib the spiritual leader of Israel has allowed a pagan to live in the temple precincts. The fact that Eliashib doesn't see what is wrong means there is serious problem, and the spiritual revival that occurred earlier has not continued. He acts quickly to throw out Tobiah's goods and ceremonially cleanse the temple rooms, before putting them back to their rightful use to hold sacred items for use in the temple.

Nehemiah never falters. Whatever the difficulty he first turns to God and carries out whatever is needed to achieve the work God has given him to do. He ends with the words "Remember me, O my God" rather than "Record my good deeds, O my God", or "Reward me, O my God". The question is, can we say the same thing? Can we turn to God, and say "Remember me", and if so what will He remember us for?

Heavenly Father,
may we learn to be as faithful as Nehemiah,
listening for Your word,
and obeying your commands.
May we be as selfless as he
in putting your tasks first,
neither asking for favours from you,
nor expecting rewards,
other than remaining in Your love.
Amen.