Nehemiah 13:7-9
“and I came to Jerusalem and learned about the evil that Eliashib had committed for Tobiah, by preparing a room for him in the courtyards of the house of God. It was very displeasing to me, so I threw allof Tobiah’s household articles out of the room. Then I gave an order, and they cleansed the rooms; and I returned the utensils of the house of God there with the grain offering and the frankincense.”
This sounds like this is one of the first things Nehemiah did. Tobiah had means and/or influence. The temple was rebuilt and they allow a man to live in part of the temple complex. That was arrogance of Tobiah to request it.
This is a power move by Tobiah. This gives him much sway to have this apartment. What’s odd is this shows very little fear of God to assume that God would be ok with it. I think of the people in Moses time who were struck dead by over stepping their bounds.
That being said we are all sinners who have over stepped in some area, knowingly or unknowingly. We are all in need of forgiveness. David prays a great prayer in Psalm 139:23,24, “Search me, God, and know my heart; Put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there is any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.” We should always have this attitude, “Search my heart, O God, and know my heart, and see if there be any wicked way in me”.
While we could always find fault with ourselves, God doesn’t have a fault finding mindset. He is predisposed to think of us lovingly. As we grow in Christ, we will learn to rest in His love. Thank You, God.
Nehemiah was right to expel Tobiah from the temple. No man belonged there. He wealsed his way in there. Even if he were an honorable, god fearing man, he should not have been there. He wasn’t a good man. Here’s what he said in Nehemiah 4:3, ‘Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him, and he said, “Even what they are building—if a fox were to jump on it, it would break their stone wall down!”’ He was opposing the work and trying to discourage Nehemiah and the people. He was on the enemies side.
Why do we allow the enemy any influence in our lives? Let alone a privileged place like the temple. These mean us harm. Kick them out. Jesus drove out the money changers from the temple. Paul says this in I Corinthians 5:6,7, “Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”
Lord, help us to be bold like Nehemiah. If we are harboring any sort of evil, assist us in removing it.