October 12

Nehemiah 12, 13

Nehemiah 13:23-27
Moreover, in those days I saw men of Judah who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab. Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples, and did not know how to speak the language of Judah. I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath in God's name and said: "You are not to give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor are you to take their daughters in marriage for your sons or for yourselves. Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women. Must we hear now that you too are doing all this terrible wickedness and are being unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women?

From today's reading, this is the passage that stood out to me. Nehemiah is furious. The people of Judah had just recently renewed their covenant with God, and they quickly slipped back to their old sinful ways. They engaged in foreign marriages, they neglected the temple, and they violated the Sabbath. Nehemiah rebuked the people, verbally and physically (can you imagine him pulling out someone's hair in frustration?!). The reminder he gave them is so valuable, even to us today. He reminded them about Solomon. Solomon was loved and blessed by God, There was no king that came close to his wealth, wisdom, and prosperity. But he neglected to follow God's instructions. Because of this, his kingdom was torn apart and would never be the same. It's so easy for all of us to fall into old habits and forget the lessons we learn.

If we stay close to God by reading His word, praying to Him, and staying in fellowship with other believers, then we are much more likely to stay on track. Don't wait around for Nehemiah to pull your hair out (figuratively speaking, of course!) before you realize what is right.