Nehemiah: Model of Spiritual Reformation
I. THE CALL TO BE REFORMERS: FAITHFUL WITNESSES OF THE TRUTH
A. The Body of Christ is in a very strategic season. God is pouring out His Spirit and raising up those who will be used to dynamically
reform the Church, along with aspects of society in various places, in which truth and continual prayer will go forth.
B. In our 40-day Daniel fast, we are praying for young leaders to come forth. Leadership involves many dynamics. One of the most
difficult is to be a faithful witness of the truths of God’s Word. Nehemiah is a classic example of how a reformer can impact the Church and
society. Nehemiah is an excellent case study of courage and biblical leadership in a time of reformation.
C. The Scripture describes dynamic advances in the kingdom of God with works of justice in society that will have continuity in the age
to come. Jesus is not coming to “end the world” but to complete the reformation of it. This will increase dynamically in the end times. Jesus
will shake all that can be shaken, so that the works founded on His words will become apparent, as they alone will “remain” through the
shaking (Heb. 12:26-27; Mt. 7:24-25). God’s end-time judgments will remove all that hinders love, especially all that involves injustice and
oppression.
D. Reformation in society always begins with reformation in the Church, which always begins with reformation in individuals and their
families. We only have authority to release or impart to others what we walk out in our private lives. We have no authority to “bind” in our
public ministry that which “binds” us in our private lives (Mt. 16:18). The unreformed saint in an unreformed Church cannot establish godly
reforms in society.
II. THE CONTEXT OF NEHEMIAH’S REFORMS
A. Jeremiah prophesied that Israel would go into captivity in Babylon for 70 years (606-536 BC) and would then return to Jerusalem
(Jer. 29:10-14). Isaiah prophesied that they would return to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple when Cyrus was a world leader (Isa. 44:28).
B. At the center of God’s plans for reformation was the corporate worship in the temple. From God’s point of view, the temple in the
past and future is His house of prayer. The purpose of the temple was to be first and foremost a place of encounter with God in worship.
Isaiah referred to the temple as the house of prayer (Isa. 56:7). Jesus called the temple the house of prayer.
7 For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations. (Isa. 56:7)
12 Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple …13 He said, “It is written, ‘My house shall
be called a house of prayer...’” (Mt. 21:12-13)
C. After 70 years of captivity in Babylon, God sent the remnant of Israel back to Jerusalem and raised up Zerubbabel and Nehemiah,
two governors who brought great reformation to the nation. In 515 BC Zerubbabel finished building the temple (Ezra 6:15) so that Israel
could corporately worship God. Nehemiah restored the walls around Jerusalem and called the people to purity.
D. Ezra came just over 50 years (458 BC) after Zerubbabel completed the temple. Nehemiah’s first visit came about 13 years after
Ezra or almost 75 years after the temple was finished (445 BC). His second trip came almost 100 years after the temple (arriving around
425-420 BC).
E. At the center of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah’s reforms was the corporate worship in the temple.
47 In the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah all Israel gave the portions for the singers and the gatekeepers [support
ministries], a portion for each day. (Neh. 12:47)
F. After Nehemiah finished building the walls (445 BC), he and Ezra led the nation to make a covenant with God to obey all His
commandments (Neh. 10:29). The covenant was signed by the leaders (Neh. 10:1-27) as the rest of the people agreed (Neh. 10:28). They
called on God to curse them if they disobeyed this covenant and to bless them if they kept it.
G. They emphasized four specific areas in this national covenant to obey God (Neh. 9:38-13:3). They promised to not marry
unbelievers to uphold godly standards in family life (Neh. 10:30). They covenanted to keep the Sabbath, or to honor “sacred time” with God
(Neh. 10:31). They committed to financially support corporate worship in the temple (Neh. 10:32-39). Finally, they committed to refuse to
have an unholy alliance with unbelievers (Neh. 13:1-3).
H. Why did Nehemiah define and emphasize these four areas? These represent themes that are emphasized in the Word and by the
Spirit in seasons of spiritual reformation for individuals, churches, cities, or nations. The application has been different in revivals
throughout history.
I. We must insist on these four areas when working for reformation individually or in society. These are four areas that the Word and
the Spirit insist on “in principle” in the OT and NT. The terminology is different in various passages, but the principles implied by them are
the same. These truths equip us to be messengers, faithful witnesses, and social reformers.
J. The signing of the covenant ended with a national celebration full of joy (Neh. 12:43). After this, Nehemiah left Jerusalem to return to
his governmental position in Persia for possibly up to ten years (Neh. 13:6, 24). Ezra probably died while Nehemiah was away in Persia.
K. Nehemiah returned unannounced and witnessed the violation of all four issues in the covenant. Nehemiah confronted these issues
and took extravagant action to reverse what was happening. He confronted spiritual laxity or permissiveness in his personal life and in his
sphere of influence. It was costly and unpopular when he insisted on them to those under his authority. Nehemiah 13 relates to every
believer because we all have a sphere of influence, even if it is just our life and one friend. Others are reforming the Church and still others
cities and nations.
III. REFUSING UNGODLY ALLIANCES IN THE WORK OF GOD (NEH. 13:1-9)
A. Nehemiah confronted ungodly alliances in the work of God (Neh. 13:4-7). Tobiah the Amorite was given a residential suite in Israel’s
temple. He was an archenemy of Nehemiah and of Israel.
4 Eliashib the priest, having authority over the storerooms of the house of our God, was allied with Tobiah. 5 And he had prepared for him
a large room, where previously they had stored the…tithes of grain, the new wine and oil, which were commanded to be given to the
Levites and singers…6 But during all this I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes [433 BC]…I had returned to the
king. Then after certain days I obtained leave from the king, 7 and I came to Jerusalem and discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for
Tobiah, in preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God. 8 And it grieved me bitterly; therefore I threw all the household
goods of Tobiah out of the room. (Neh. 13:4-8)
7 When Sanballat, Tobiah…and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored…8 All of them conspired to…attack
Jerusalem... (Neh. 4:7-8)
B. We can be tempted with ministry or business-oriented alliances for financial or political gains. Tobiah gave political and economic
favor to nobles of Judah who made pledges to him.
17 In those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah…18 For many in Judah were pledged to him…19 They reported his good
deeds before me… (Neh. 6:17-19)
IV. GIVING TO SUPPORT CORPORATE WORSHIP AND PRAYER (NEH. 13:10-14)
A. Nehemiah confronted the lack of financially supporting corporate worship (Neh. 13:10-14). He understood the dynamic effect of
corporate worship on the spiritual community. He addressed financially supporting the singers. God commanded Israel to provide financially
for the singers to lead worship as their occupation (Neh. 10:39; 11:23; 12:45, 47; 13:5, 10-11).
10 I also realized that the portions [financial support] for the Levites had not been given them; for each of the Levites and the singers who
did the work had gone back to his field. 11 So I contended with the rulers, and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” I gathered them
together and set them in their place. 12 Then all Judah brought the tithe… (Neh. 13:10-12)
B. The theme of the temple (church functioning as a house of prayer) is a sacred theme in Scripture. It is much on God's heart
because it is the place of encounter with Him. He takes it personally when His people have zeal for this. The “Levite calling” is an
expression on earth of the 24/7 worship that occurs around God’s throne (Rev. 4:8) based on the revelation of the worth of God.
C. Essential to the release of the fullness of end-time revival is supporting singers as a full-time occupation in God’s house. The most
emphasized aspect in end-time prophecy is the end-time worldwide prayer and worship movement (Lk. 18:7-8; Mt. 21:13; 25:1-13; Rev. 5:
8; 6:9-11; 8:3-5; 9:13; 14:3, 18; 16:7; 18:6; 22:17, 20; Isa. 19:20-22; 24:14-16; 25:9; 26:8-9; 27:2-5, 13; 30:18-19; 42:10-13; 43:26; 51:11;
52:8; 59:19-21; 62:6-7; Jer. 31:7; 51:8; Joel 2:12-17, 32; Zeph. 2:1-3; Ps. 102:17-20; 122:6; 149:6-9; Zech. 8:20-23; 10:1; 12:10; 13:9).
D. David provided financially for 4,000 musicians and 288 singers (1 Chr. 9:33; 16:37; 23:5; 25:7). The Lord commanded Israel to
financially support the singers and musicians to minister before Him (2 Chr. 8:14; 31:5-16; Neh. 10:39; 11:23; 12:45, 47; 13:5, 10-11).
E. When Israel went astray, God raised up spiritual reformers with a vision to restore worship as David had commanded it. All 7
“revivals” in the OT included restoring Davidic worship. The revivals under the leadership of David and Solomon (2 Chr. 8:14),
Jehoshaphat (2 Chr. 20:19-28), Jehoiada (2 Chr. 23:16-18), Hezekiah (2 Chr. 29:25-27), Josiah (2 Chr. 35:3-15), Zerubbabel and
Nehemiah (Neh. 12:45-47) each established full-time singers as David had commanded.
47 In the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah all Israel gave the portions for the singers and the gatekeepers, a portion for
each day. (Neh. 12:47)
V. KEEPING THE PRINCIPLE OF THE SABBATH: SACRED TIME (NEH. 13:15-22)
A. Nehemiah confronted their failure to keep the Sabbath. The principle today speaks of our sacred time with God. Resting from our
work is not about recreation, but about resting from our work in establishing our personal finances, influence, and honor.
15 I saw people in Judah treading wine presses on the Sabbath…16 Men of Tyre…brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold them on
the Sabbath to the children of Judah…17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said, “What evil thing is this that you do…? 19 I
commanded the gates to be shut…20 Now the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. 21 I
warned them, and said to them, "Why do you spend the night around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you!” (Neh. 13:15-21)
VI. UPHOLDING GODLY FAMILY VALUES (NEH. 13:23-28)
A. Nehemiah confronted the failure to uphold God’s order in marriage and godly family values (Neh. 13:23-28). The quality of the
spiritual life of the one you marry will greatly affect the quality of the spiritual life in your future family. The application of this also pertains to
those who are married to uphold God’s Word in the lifestyle and practices in their marriage.
23 I saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and could
not speak the language of Judah…25 I contended with them and…struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by
God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters as wives to their sons…” (Neh. 13:23-25)
B. Their children could not speak Hebrew and thus could not read the Scripture nor participate in corporate worship. In principle, this is
occurring in many Christian homes today.
VII. NEHEMIAH’S PRAYERS: ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE (NEH. 13:14, 22)
14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this [raising money for the singers], and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the
house of my God, and for its services…22 Remember me, O my God, concerning this [demanding that they honor the Sabbath] also, and
spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy! (Neh. 13:14, 22)