Rebuilding Broken Lives Nehemiah 13:1-10 Page 416 in Pew Bibles

Nehemiah At that time the book of Moses was read publicly to the people. The command was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, 2. because they did not meet the Israelites with food and water. Instead, they hired Balaam against them to curse them, but our God turned the curse into a blessing.

3. When they heard the law, they separated all those of mixed descent from Israel. 4. Now before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was a relative of Tobiah 5. and had prepared a large room for him where they had previously stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, and the tenths of grain, new wine, and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, along with the contributions for the priests.

6. While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to King Artaxerxes of Babylon in the thirty-second year of his reign. It was only later that I asked the king for a leave of absence 7. so I could return to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah by providing him a room in the courts of God's house. 8. I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah's household possessions out of the room.

9. I ordered that the rooms be purified, and I had the articles of the house of God restored there, along with the grain offering and frankincense. 10. I also found out that because the portions for the Levites had not been given…

Rebuilding Broken Lives Nehemiah 13:1-10

Intruder In The Temple >

Photo > Background Summary Nehemiah had to go back to his regular job in the capital working for the King Tobiah was an enemy of God’s people, but he had somehow made an alliance with Eliashib, the High Priest. While Nehemiah was away, Eliashib provided a room in the temple to Tobiah. It was set up like a loft apartment…

> New York Style Loft Apartment – in Philadelphia

> While these events took place in a tangible, visible temple, the New Testament Teaches that You are a Temple 1 st Corinthians 6:19, NIV “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?”

> 6 Principles of Temple Intrusion

. > 1. Omissions Lead to Emptiness Vs. 10 “The portions for the Levites had not been given” Vs. 5 “A large room… where they had previously stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, and the tenths of grain, new wine, and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, along with the contributions for the priests.” When they stopped giving, it created an empty room. When we stop doing the things that keep us connected to God, we get empty.

> 2. Emptiness Leads to Filling Ourselves with the Wrong Things Vs. 5 “[Eliashib] had prepared a large room for [Tobiah] where they had previously stored the grain offerings…” Vs. 7 “…Providing him a room in the courts of God’s house.” People can’t handle a vacuum. When you have an empty room, you have an open invitation for the wrong people or things to fill it.

> 3. Filling Ourselves with the Wrong Things is Inviting Intruders into the Temple Vs. 5 “[Eliashib] had prepared a large room for [Tobiah]” Ammonite2:10 “Tobiah the Ammonite official” AmmoniteVs. 1 “At that time the book of Moses was read publicly to the people. The command was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God”

. > 3. Filling Ourselves with the Wrong Things Is Inviting Intruders into the Temple Vance Havner: “Today the world has so infiltrated the church, we are more beset by traitors within, than by foes without. Satan is not fighting churches – he is joining them!”

HL > 4. The Wrong Relationships Invite Intruders into the Temple Vs.4 “Now before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was a relative of Tobiah”

> relativeVs.4 “Now before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was a relative of Tobiah” NIV: “Closely associated with Tobiah”NIV: “Closely associated with Tobiah” Other translations: “Allied with”Other translations: “Allied with” Vs. 28 “Even one of the sons of Jehoiada, son of Eliashib the high priest, had become a son-in- law to Sanballat the Horonite.”Vs. 28 “Even one of the sons of Jehoiada, son of Eliashib the high priest, had become a son-in- law to Sanballat the Horonite.” 4. Wrong Relationships Invite Intruders into the Temple

> Eliashib was being friends with an enemy.Eliashib was being friends with an enemy. Tobiah did not have good plans for God’s people. Tobiah greatly displeased2:10 “When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard that someone had come to seek the well- being of the Israelites, they were greatly displeased.” 4. Wrong Relationships Invite Intruders into the Temple

> Tobiah mocked and despised2:19 When Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about [the rebuilding of the walls], they mocked and despised us” Tobiah became furious4:7 “When Sanballat, Tobiah, [etc.] heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they became furious.” 4. Wrong Relationships Invite Intruders into the Temple

. > Tobiah6:12 “Tobiah and Sanballat had hired [a false prophet to intimidate me].” Tobiah was always trying to worm his way into the situation: Tobiah –6:17-19 “The nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them. These nobles kept mentioning Tobiah’s good deeds to me, and they reported my words to him.” TobiahVs. 19 “And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.” 4. Wrong Relationships Invite Intruders into the Temple

> Vs.6 “While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to King Artaxerxes of Babylon in the thirty-second year of his reign. It was only later that I asked the king for a leave of absence” Like Eliashib, some of us need someone constantly standing over their shoulders to stay on track with God. 5. The Inability to Stand Alone will Attract Intruders

> Eliashib knew betterEliashib knew better –As a priest, he knew the Scriptures –The Scriptures had been read publicly –Vs. 1 “At that time the book of Moses was read publicly to the people. The command was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God” 5. The Inability to Stand Alone will Attract Intruders

. > Eliashib had done better in the pastEliashib had done better in the past –He was the first builder of the wall named –3:1 “Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests began rebuilding…” Eliashib would have been aware of Tobiah’s repeated treacheryEliashib would have been aware of Tobiah’s repeated treachery –And yet… 5. The Inability to Stand Alone will Attract Intruders

. > household possessionsVs. 8 “…All of Tobiah’s household possessions out of the room.” Tobiah didn’t just throw his sleeping bag in the corner for a night, he had moved in, with furniture and dishes. The intruders always come to stay and they are hard to dislodge. 6. Intruders Come to Stay

> 1.Root Them Out –Vs. 7 “I discovered the evil” 2.Deal with Them Decisively –Vs. 8 “I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah’s household possessions out of the room” 3.Seek God’s Cleansing –Vs. 9 “I ordered that the rooms be purified” –1 st John 1:9 Responding to Intruders

. 4.Get the Right Things in Place –Vs. 9 “I had the articles of the house of God restored there” 5.Repeat the Cleansing Process Until Finished –Vs. 10 “I also found out that…” Responding to Intruders

Rebuilding Broken Lives