Beware Of Spiritual Relapse | Nehemiah 13:1-13:31 | 6-17-26 | Wednesday

**Pastor Andrew Montoro** (0:00)
Nehemiah 13, so I hope you can find your places in Nehemiah 13
This is actually the final sermon, with the Lord's grace, from our series through the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. The plan is to go straight into Esther after this, which is in the same time period, though Nehemiah and Ezra were in the land of Israel. Esther, and how God was working there, was back in the land of Persia, back in the area around Babylon. And so, but God, aren't you glad we serve an omnipotent, omnipresent God that can work everywhere and cares about every situation that's going on? We struggle with multitasking. Our God doesn't. Our schedules are full and we get worn out. God doesn't. He can work in every situation, individually and specifically with all the care and love and grace that we need is available. God can see that. And so we're thankful for that. But let's pick up our reading. Verse number one of Nehemiah chapter 13 tonight.
And time passes between Nehemiah chapter 12 and Nehemiah chapter 13 So Nehemiah chapter, the end of Nehemiah chapter 10 is the signing of the covenant where everyone signs the covenant that they're going to serve God. Nehemiah 11 and 12 talk about how they get the final things in place, how they populate the city of Jerusalem. They'd celebrate the dedication of the walls. And then somewhere around the period of 12 years passes. Maybe not quite 12 years by the time, but Nehemiah would serve as the governor for 12 years. And the Bible says, on that day, they read in the book of Moses and the audience of the people. And therein was found written that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God forever. Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them. How be it, our God turned the curse into a blessing. Now, it came to pass when they heard the law that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. And before this, so verses 1 through 3, we would say this, it's out of order chronologically. It's not out of order in your Bible. But that takes place sometime in the rest of chapter number 13, if that makes sense. Okay, and then verse number 4, and before this, Elisha Bibb, the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied to Tobiah. And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where a fourth time they laid the meat offerings and frankincense in the vessels and the tithes of corn at 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 priest. 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 I obtained leave of the king. And I came to Jerusalem and understood of the evil that Elishavib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. And it grieved me sore. Therefore I cast all of the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers, and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, and the meat offering, and the frankincense. And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them. For the Levites and the singers that did the work were fled every man to his field. Then I contended with the rulers and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together and set them in their place, Then brought all Judah, the tithe of the corn, And the new wine and the oil into the treasuries. And I made the treasurer over the treasuries, Shalemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, And of the Levites Padaiah, And next to them Hanan the son of Zuckar, And the son of Mataniah, For they were counted faithful, And their office was to distribute unto their brethren.
Remember me, oh my God, concerning this, and wipe not out the good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof. 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 vittles, and their dwelt men of tire also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of wear, and sold on the Sabbath unto the children of Judah and in Jerusalem.