Renew Your Covenant with God

Nehemiah 13:4-29

Introduction:

As we conclude our journey through Nehemiah, chapter 13 brings us full circle. The people had previously renewed their covenant with God, committing to keeping the temple pure, observing the Sabbath, and remaining set apart as God’s people. Yet, in Nehemiah’s absence, they quickly fell back into old patterns of compromise. This chapter is a sobering reminder that even after significant spiritual breakthroughs, our hearts need constant vigilance and renewal.

Today, we’ll explore how Nehemiah’s response teaches us the importance of continually renewing our covenant with God. His actions in this chapter are not just about reform—they are about restoring a people who had broken their promises to God.

Restore Holiness in Your Worship (vv.4-9)

Nehemiah 13:4–9 ESV

4 Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was related to Tobiah, 5 prepared for Tobiah a large chamber where they had previously put the grain offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests. 6 While this was taking place, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king. And after some time I asked leave of the king 7 and came to Jerusalem, and I then discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. 8 And I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9 Then I gave orders, and they cleansed the chambers, and I brought back there the vessels of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.

When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem, he was shocked to find that the temple, the center of worship, had been defiled. Eliashib had given a room in the temple to Tobiah, an enemy of Israel. Nehemiah’s first action was to throw out Tobiah’s belongings and purify the temple (Nehemiah 13:4-9).

Word Study Insight: The Hebrew word for 'cleanse,' taher (טָהֵר), means to purify or make clean, both physically and spiritually. Nehemiah was not just tidying up the temple; he was restoring its holiness and removing anything that would dishonor God.

Application: This speaks to our own need to restore holiness in our worship. Have we allowed things into our lives that defile the worship we offer to God? Like Nehemiah, we must cleanse our hearts, the temples of the Holy Spirit, and remove anything that distracts or dishonors God.

Illustration: Imagine if someone allowed an enemy to live inside a church. Wouldn’t it corrupt the space meant for God? In the same way, we must remove anything from our lives that prevents God’s holiness from shining through us.

Transition: Nehemiah’s zeal for the temple reminds us that worship is sacred, and our relationship with God requires purity. But restoring worship alone is not enough—we must also guard the time we have set apart for God.

Honor God with Your Time (vv.15-22)

Nehemiah 13:15–22 ESV

15 In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys, and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them on the day when they sold food. 16 Tyrians also, who lived in the city, brought in fish and all kinds of goods and sold them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah, in Jerusalem itself! 17 Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day? 18 Did not your fathers act in this way, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Now you are bringing more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.” 19 As soon as it began to grow dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. And I stationed some of my servants at the gates, that no load might be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. 21 But I warned them and said to them, “Why do you lodge outside the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath. 22 Then I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.

As Nehemiah continued his reforms, he discovered that the people were neglecting the Sabbath, treating it as any other day by engaging in business and trade (Nehemiah 13:15-22).

Nehemiah acted decisively, shutting the gates to stop the merchants and rebuking the leaders for allowing the people to dishonor the Sabbath.

Word Study Insight: The word Shabbat (שַׁבָּת), meaning 'to rest' or 'to cease,' carries the idea of setting aside time that is holy and distinct from the rest of the week. The Sabbath was a covenant commandment, a reminder of God’s creation and rest. By dishonoring the Sabbath, the people were breaking the berith (בְּרִית), their covenant with God.

Application: How are we honoring God with our time? Are we setting aside time to rest and worship, or have we allowed busyness to crowd out our devotion to God? Honoring God with our time is not about legalism; it’s about prioritizing Him in a world that constantly pulls our attention away.

ILLUSTRATION: Setting aside intentional time each week for rest and worship renews our connection with God. Guarding that time allows one to regain focus and hear God more clearly in the busyness of ministry.

Transition: As we honor God with our time, we protect the sanctity of our relationship with Him. But time is not the only thing we must guard—our very hearts and worship need to remain pure and undivided.

Guard Your Worship from Distractions (vv.23-29)

Nehemiah 13:23–29 ESV

23 In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people. 25 And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them take an oath in the name of God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. 26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin. 27 Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?” 28 And one of the sons of Jehoiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I chased him from me. 29 Remember them, O my God, because they have desecrated the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

Nehemiah was grieved to find that the Israelites had once again intermarried with foreign women, allowing their children to grow up without knowing the language of God’s people or the law (Nehemiah 13:23-29). This was more than a cultural issue—it was spiritual. The people were compromising their faith by allowing foreign influences to lead them away from God.

Word Study Insight: The word berith (בְּרִית), meaning 'covenant,' highlights the gravity of this sin. The people were not just breaking a rule; they were violating the sacred covenant they had made with God to remain holy and set apart. This covenant represented their relationship with God, and allowing foreign practices into their homes threatened that relationship.

Cross-reference: 2 Corinthians 6:14 warns us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. This principle isn’t just about marriage—it’s about any relationship or influence that draws us away from the pure worship of God.

2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

Application: What influences are we allowing into our lives that are distracting us from God? Just as Nehemiah confronted the people for compromising their covenant, we too must confront the distractions and influences that pull us away from undivided devotion to the Lord.

Transition: Nehemiah’s actions were bold and uncompromising because he understood that their covenant with God was at stake. In the same way, we must guard against anything that threatens to dilute our faith or draw us away from God.

Conclusion:

Nehemiah’s zeal for reform in chapter 13 shows us the importance of constant vigilance in our walk with God. Even after the walls were rebuilt and the people had renewed their covenant, they still drifted into sin and compromise. Nehemiah’s actions remind us that our covenant with God requires ongoing renewal. It’s not enough to start strong—we must continue in faithfulness.

Today, as we conclude this series, remember that your relationship with God requires regular reflection, cleansing, and renewal. We must continually restore holiness in our worship, honor God with our time, and guard our hearts from distractions.

Call to Action:

God is calling us today to renew our covenant with Him. Have you allowed compromise to slip in? Have you neglected time with God? Have distractions led you away from pure worship? Just as Nehemiah confronted these issues head-on, we, too, must take action to restore our commitment to God. Cleanse the temple of your heart, guard your time with God, and protect your worship from distraction. Today is the day to renew your covenant.

Strong Close:

As we close, let us look to Christ, who established the ultimate berith, the covenant of grace, through His death and resurrection. Just as Nehemiah fought to restore the people's faithfulness, Christ has fought for our salvation, cleansing us from sin and securing our place in the eternal covenant. May we live with that same vigilance, trusting in the grace of God to sustain us. Amen!