Don McClain 1 W. 65th St church of Christ / April 27,2007.

W. 65th St church of Christ / April 27,2007

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The Language of AshdodNEHEMIAH 13:24

Don McClain


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Almost 100 yrs. after

the remnant returned

from Babylonian

exile (444 BC).

The Language of Ashdod

Nehemiah sent to Jerusalem by Artaxerxes – (Chapter 2:1-10)

The walls of Jerusalem rebuilt – (Chapters 2:11-7:3)

Ezra reads the law – (Chapter 8) The people confess their sins – (Chapter 9) The people separate from the people of the

lands and commit to following God’s Law – (Chapter 10-13:3)

Nehemiah, on his return to Jerusalem, reforms the irregularities that had broken out during his absence. – (Chapter 13:4-31)

NEHEMIAH 13:24

Don McClain


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The Language of Ashdod The expulsion of Tobiah –

(13:4-9) Restored service to the

House of God – (13:10-14)

Restored the observance of the Sabbath – (13:15-22)

Punished and charged those who had married pagan women – (13:23-29)

Cleansed Jerusalem of everything Pagan – (13:30,31)

NEHEMIAH 13:24

Nehemiah’s Reforms13:4-31

Don McClain


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Eliashib, a priest, had allied himself with an enemy of God – Tobiah the Ammonite - (4, 2:10,19; 4:3,7;6:1)

Eliashib had provided Tobiah a place to stay connected with the temple – (5-7)

This grieved Nehemiah greatly – he threw out Tobiah - cleansed the rooms & restored their proper use – (8-13)

The expulsion of Tobiah – (13:4-9)

Don McClain


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The devil’s plan to infiltrate the people of God with our enemies is NOT new! - (2 Cor 11:13-15; 2 Peter 2:1)

We ARE NOT to use that which is sacred to house that which is not – (John 2:13-16; Mat 21:13)

Worldliness must be put away and worldly people must be put out – (Rom 16:17,18 ; 1 Cor 5:11; 2 Thes 3:6)

The expulsion of Tobiah – (13:4-9)

Don McClain


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Many Levites had left their post and went back to their fields -(10)

They had thus forsaken the House of God – (11)

Nehemiah restored the prescribed offices that the temple services may be properly carried out – (12-14)

Restored service to the House of God – (13:10-14)

Don McClain


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Too many Christians have left their post -(Preachers, elders, deacons, song leaders, Bible class teachers, workers, 1 Pet 2:5)

More than “buildings” are being forsaken – (Assembling, teaching, evangelizing, serving, . . .)

These need to be restored as in the N.T.

Restored service to the House of God – (13:10-14)

Don McClain


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The people were forsaking the Sabbath to make money -(15,16)

Nehemiah rebukes the nobles for “profaning” the Sabbath and warns them that their actions would “bring added wrath on Israel” – (17,18)

Nehemiah restores the Sabbath – (19-22)

Restoring True Worship – (13:15-22)

Don McClain


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What about Christians who forsake the assembly of the church to make money?- (Heb 10:24,25; Acts 20:7)

If worldliness is your aim – be warned – (Mat 6:24; James 4:4; 2 Thes 1:7-9)

We need to restore New Testament worship – (John 4:24; Psalms 50:23)

Restoring True Worship – (13:15-22)

Don McClain


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The children of Israel had intermarried with the Philistines, Ammonites & Moabites - (23)

Thus, some of their children could not speak the language of Judah – (24)

Nehemiah “struck them and pulled out their hair” for they had done “a great evil” – (25-27)

Punished and charged those who had married pagan women –

(13:23-29)

Don McClain


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Eliashib’s grandson had married a daughter of Sanballat – thus Nehemiah put him out – (28)

Nehemiah pleads with God to remember him for correcting those who had defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood – (29)

Punished and charged those who had married pagan women –

(13:23-29)

Don McClain


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The Language of AshdodPunished and charged those who

had married pagan women – (13:23-29) We are not to be yoked

together with unbelievers [note – it is NOT a sin, in and of itself, to be married to an unbeliever] - (2 Cor 6:14-7:1; 1 Cor. 7:12-16)

How can a Christian rationally justify marrying someone who is not?

What dangers do their children face? – (Eph 6:1-4)

Don McClain


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More Applications Speaking the world’s

language - (Eph 5:4-7) Speaking in the language of

denominationalism – (Mat 15:7-9; Titus 1:14) Religious titles – “The church of Christ

teaches . . .” The term “Fellowship”

– (Halls; social meals, recreational activities, etc.)Don McClain


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More Applications Speaking the world’s

language - (Eph 5:4-7) Speaking in the language of

denominationalism – (Mat 15:7-9; Titus 1:14)

Today, more & more Christians do not (cannot) speak as the oracles of God because they have mingled with those in error!! – (1 Peter 4:11; 1 Tim 1:4)

Don McClain


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1 Timothy 6:3 (NKJV) 3 If anyone teaches

otherwise and does not consent to wholesome

words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and

to the doctrine which accords with godliness,

Don McClain

More Applications


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Titus 2:8 (NKJV) 8 sound speech that

cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be

ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

Don McClain

More Applications


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The Language of Ashdod The expulsion of Tobiah –

(13:4-9) Restored service to the

House of God – (13:10-14)

Restored the observance of the Sabbath – (13:15-22)

Punished and charged those who had married pagan women – (13:23-29)

Cleansed Jerusalem of everything Pagan – (13:30,31)

NEHEMIAH 13:24


Don McClain


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The Language of AshdodNEHEMIAH 13:24


Nehemiah 13:30-31 (NKJV) 30 Thus I cleansed them of everything pagan. I also

assigned duties to the priests and the Levites, each to his

service, 31 and to bringing the wood offering and the

firstfruits at appointed times. Remember me, O my God, for

good!

Don McClain


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Don McClain

Don McClain 1 W. 65th St church of Christ / April 27,2007.

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