Nehemiah 13: The Lord is the Head of the Church
Nehemiah 13
The Lord is the Head of the Church
1. It was only after I had returned to Jerusalem that I discovered the evil deed Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God.
2. I was greatly displeased and threw all Tobiah’s household goods out of the room.
3. I gave orders to purify the rooms, and then I put back into them the equipment of the house of God, with the grain offerings and the incense.
◇ Looking at the actions of the high priest Eliashib, a proverb comes to mind: "In the absence of the tiger, the rabbit becomes king." How hard Nehemiah, Ezra, and countless unnamed people worked, shedding blood and sweat, to rebuild the temple and its walls! Wasn’t it all achieved through faith in God alone and solely for God amidst all threats and dangers?
Yet, the high priest converted a large room, where the tithes for the sacrifices, sacred vessels, and temple servants were stored, and gave it to Tobiah. Who is Tobiah? He is an Ammonite, the lackey of Sanballat, the governor of Samaria (2:10). Tobiah was the very one who plotted to hinder the work of Nehemiah and the people, threatening and even planning to kill them (Chapters 4 and 7). How could the high priest make a large room in the temple for such a person? It makes sense, considering he even gave his granddaughter in marriage to Sanballat (Chapter 13:28).
This happened while Nehemiah was temporarily away in Babylon. The hard-earned achievements were nearly lost. Upon his return from Persia, Nehemiah threw Tobiah’s belongings out of the room and purified it, then brought back the vessels of the house of God, along with the grain offerings and the incense. This reminds us of Jesus cleansing the temple.
It makes one think about our churches today. Churches built for God, built by the faithful stitch by stitch—are they truly churches that delight God? Or have they become dens of robbers, fattening the bellies of those masquerading as servants of God?
The Lord is the head of the church. God is the owner of the church.
God, prevent us from becoming foolish, ruling as rabbits in a valley without a tiger. Remind us that the Lord is the head of the church. Holy Spirit, lead us in truth! Amen.