Keeping It Steady

Keeping It Steady
(Nehemiah 13)
Rev. Neil Kim

It’s easy to make commitments, but to keep them is another matter.  You may be sincere when you make a commitment, but keeping a commitment steady requires much more.

 I. Nehemiah acted upon immediately to set things right
He threw all Tobiah’s household goods out of the room, and gave orders to purify the rooms, and then he put back into them the equipment of the house of God.     (vv. 7-9)
He made all Judah bring tithes of grain, new wine and olive into the storerooms. (vv. 10-12)
He reprimanded the people and made them observe Sabbath (vv. 17-22)
He made the people who had intermarried with foreigners take an oath that they would never do that again. (vv. 25-27)

 II. Nehemiah remembered who God was at all times
He was in constant touch with God through prayer. (vv. 14, 22, 31)
He looked for praise and recognition from God alone for his work.

 III. Qualities of a leader
Faithfulness
Humility

 IV. Applications:
Why was it important to exclude people of foreign descent from them?  Was Nehemiah’s action narrow-minded and unloving?
Why was it such a big deal that people were buying and selling on the Sabbath?
How can we prepare ourselves for a lifetime of steady commitment to God?