Nehemiah Sorely Grieved - Nehemiah 13:8

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God”, and in chapter thirteen and verse eight of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “it grieved me sore” where we read,

And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. 

The verse reads, “And it grieved me sore:” Nehemiah began with the words, “and it grieved” which means “and that Eliashib prepared a room for Tobiah displeased, injured and broke in pieces” “me sore” or “me, Nehemiah, exceedingly, greatly and much”. Nehemiah said Eliashib providing a room for Tobiah in the house of God displeased him to an exceedingly great degree.

The verse goes on to say, “therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “therefore I cast forth” or “wherefore, then and on this account I, Nehemiah, threw, hurled and flung” “all the household stuff” which means “each, every and the whole articles, implements, utensils and vessels which were in the dwelling or habitation” “of Tobiah” or “belonging to Tobiah whose name means Jehovah is good and washead of a family who returned from exile with Zerubbabel but who were unable to prove their connection with Israel and the Ammonite who with Sanballat opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem” “out of the chamber” which means “away from the room”. Nehemiah said he threw all of “Tobiah's” articles and implements away from the room that “Eliashib”provided for him.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how Nehemiah was not only affected mentally and emotionally with the news of “Eliashib” providing a room for “Tobiah”, but he also acted upon his thoughts and feelings. He threw all of “Tobiah's” things out of the room! What a sight this must have been as he began throwing items out. Jesus did something similar to this one time. (See Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; John 2:13-16) Nehemiah knew the dwelling place of God was to be a sacred place, and when wicked “Tobiah” was allowed to live there, he needed to go. God wants to purify and cleanse our lives as well, and when we receive His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead three days later as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and cleanse us from all unrighteousness in keeping with His Holy ways. (See 1 John 1:9)

Next time Nehemiah says, “I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".