The Reformations of Nehemiah

Lesson Content

1. Nehemiah rebuilt the broken wall of Jerusalem and its gates (Neh.ch.3).

2. Stopped the exacting of usury among brethren (Neh.5:1-13).

3. Reckoned the people by genealogy and put out those priests who could not prove their genealogy (Neh.7:5,61,63-65).

4. He renewed the practice of observing the feast of booths which the children of Israel had failed to observe for a long time (Neh.8:14-18).

5. Reformation concerning marriage — put an end to inter -marriages with the heathen (Neh.10:28-30; 13:23-30).

6. Renewed the observance of the sabbath (Neh. 10:31; 13:15-22).

7. Renewed the practice of leaving the seventh year — with no tilling, sowing or gathering of fruits — when exaction of every debt was stopped (Neh.10:31). [See also Exo.23:10,11; Deut.15:1-18].

8. Made ordinances to charge themselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of the Lord (Neh.10:32,33).

9. Renewed the wood offering (Neh.10:34).

10. Renewed the offerings of the firstfruits (Neh. 10:35-37).

11. Renewed the offering of tithes to the Levites and the Levites’ tithe of the tithes to the priest (Neh.10:37,38).

12. Reformation concerning the children of Israel and the children of Levi to bring in the offering of the corn, new wine and oil towards the sustenance of the house of God (Neh.10:39).

13. Reformation concerning those who were to dwell in Jerusalem and other cities (Neh.11:1-3).

14. Reformation concerning the portions from the land to be given to the priests and Levites (Neh.12:44,47).

15. The temple was cleansed — The household stuff of Tobiah was cast out (Neh.13:4-9).

16. Reformation concerning the portions to be given to the Levites (Neh.13:10-13).

Moral

When the doctrines which preserve the Church are lost and the Church is in a backsliding state, we should co -operate with the servants of God, who with the spirit of Nehemiah resist sin and teach the doctrines.