“Nehemiah 13: Nehemiah Continues to Preach Repentence,” Old Testament Seminary Student Study Guide (2002), 127
“Nehemiah 13,” Old Testament Seminary Student Study Guide, 127
Nehemiah Continues to Preach Repentance
Some time after the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah returned to be with King Artaxerxes in Babylon. Nehemiah 13 tells the story of what he found when he came back to Jerusalem. Three things greatly disappointed him: (1) a foreigner, who did not believe in the God of Israel was allowed to dwell in the house of the Lord, (2) the people were not keeping the Sabbath day holy, and (3) the people—even the priests and Levites—were marrying out of the covenant. Nehemiah encouraged the people to be faithful to the Lord by keeping these commandments. We too show our faithfulness to God today by worthily attending the temple, keeping the Sabbath day holy, and marrying in the covenant.