We find out Nehemiah had gone back to work for the king in Babylon. On a trip back to Jerusalem Nehemiah finds out the reforms he started had fallen by the wayside. The priest had given rights to the house of God over to Israel’s adversary (v4-5), the Lord’s appointed Levites and musicians weren’t being supported financially (v10), the Sabbath law wasn’t being honored (v15-18), and men were giving themselves over to foreign cultures (v23).
What does Nehemiah do? “…struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God…” Nehemiah 13:25
Okay… okay… I’m not saying we should do that! But you have to admit that’s alarmingly funny. I can’t condone all the actions of Nehemiah, but we do see several times Nehemiah “contended” with Israel. “So I contended with the rulers… Then I contended with the nobles of Judah… So I contended with them...” Nehemiah 13:11, 17, 25
Nehemiah contended with Israel. They had made a covenant with the Lord to honor His law and Nehemiah strived and wrestled with them to honor the commitment they made. Holding them accountable to their commitment was an act of love from Nehemiah. His heart was to honor the Lord and lead the people to do the same.
Consider Nehemiah served a pagan king while on the other hand he contended with Israel for not honoring the law. He lived as an example to the king but held his people accountable for their actions. This is an example of living in the world but not being of the world.
Are you contending with the world more than you’re contending with the church? Let’s be the church by lovingly holding each other accountable while being a witness to the world around us of the grace of God. We each have a purpose and calling so let’s spend time with Jesus and be fluid in how we interact with our co-workers, neighbors, and families for the glory of God and the advancement of His kingdom.
-To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.