Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Nehemiah 13:8, “And it grieved me bitterly; therefore I threw all the household goods of Tobiah out of the room.”

Background

Recently I saw a television show that included a plotline where a lady was being forced to move out of her New York apartment. It seemed that the other tenants had compiled a list of grievances against her and taken them to management, and their decision was to ask her to leave. Some of the grievances included her using Canadian quarters in the washing machine and buzzing in a group of Jehovah’s Witnesses that they couldn’t get out of the building. Her most serious offense was apparently also buzzing in a jewel thief during Thanksgiving. In her defense, she declared that she didn’t know who the jewel thief was. And that’s when they pointed out the exact reason for the buzzer, which allows or limits who may enter the building. Without this woman knowing, she let in a jewel thief who silently plundered the residents around her. Unbeknownst to the other tenants, they had been renting alongside a woman who was careless and apathetic to the well-being of herself and others, harming them and costing her a place to live.

Application

And it happens just as subtly in our lives. Things creep in that have the appearance of being proper and normal. It’s not like we dredge them up from the underworld and hold them sacred above all else. But in the subtle and the acceptable can be hidden real danger. Even as the priests and Levites were reestablishing themselves and the temple in Jerusalem during Nehemiah’s absence, one particular priest gave special consideration to a man named Tobiah. All things considered, that’s not such a bad thing. And no one thought much of it, not until Nehemiah returned and saw what Eliashib had done within God’s house. He had moved the Lord’s furniture out and given a room to Tobiah, who just happened to be the chief antagonist back when Nehemiah was rebuilding the wall. Time had passed and it seemed alright, but Nehemiah knew better. I think some of us know better, too. Time has passed, and it’s time to throw some things out. Normal things, but subtle, dangerous things.

Charge

As we seek Him today, ask God to show you what has been around too long and taken an improper place in your life. Ask Him for the strength to remove whatever it is that needs to go, no matter how common or special it is.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words