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Lesson 11 for
December 14, 2019

Nehemiah returned to king Artaxerxes' house
after acting as governor for twelve years.
Some years later, he returned to Jerusalem. He

found out that the people had already
forgotten about the covenant they had made.
They were marrying foreigners, desecrating the
Sabbath, and not supporting the Temple
(Nehemiah 10:28-39).
Nehemiah 13 tells how Nehemiah confronted

this crisis.
Intermarriage Neglecting the Desecrating the

(v. 1-9, 23-31) tithe (v. 10-14) Sabbath (v. 15-22)
“In those days I also saw Jews who had married women
of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.” (Nehemiah 13:23)
Nehemiah confronted harshly those who had

married non-believing foreign women
(v. 23-25).
He reminded them that this had led Solomon
to sin, so they should avoid it, because it was
moving them away from God (v. 26-27).
Their spiritual leader—the High Priest, Eliashib—was also
involved.
One of his relatives was
linked to Tobiah the
Ammonite (v. 4), and one
of his grandchildren had
married the daughter of
Sanballat the Horonite—
who had been expelled
from Jerusalem (v. 28).
“No one who fears God can without danger
connect himself with one who fears Him not.
'Can two walk together, except they be
agreed?' Amos 3:3. The happiness and
prosperity of the marriage relation depends
upon the unity of the parties; but between
the believer and the unbeliever there is a
radical difference of tastes, inclinations, and
purposes. They are serving two masters,
between whom there can be no concord.
However pure and correct one’s principles
may be, the influence of an unbelieving
companion will have a tendency to lead away
from God.”
E.G.W. (Patriarchs and Prophets, cp. 15, p. 174)
Eliashib had emptied the room where the tithe, the
offerings, the incense and the Temple's tools were
stored. He had furnished it so Tobiah the Ammonite
could use it.
That discouraged the
people, so they stopped
giving the tithe.
As a result, the Levites had to come
back to their homes. The worship of
the Temple was ruined.
Nehemiah restored that room and
chose faithful and trustworthy people
to manage the tithe.
The people began to give their tithe
again. Thus, the worship service was
restored.
“'Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in
my house. Test me in this way,' says the Lord of Armies. 'See if I will
not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you
without measure.’” (Malachi 3:10 CSB)
Why should we return the tithe to God?

It is because God is our Creator and we
acknowledge Him as such that we give back
to Him. We give out of gratitude for what He
has done: created us, sustains us, takes care
of us, died for us, and continues to re-create
us.
What can be done thanks to our tithes and offerings?
The Word of God can be preached
throughout the world.
We can praise God in our local
churches.
Our faith and trust in God is
strengthened.
“God is constantly bestowing upon you
the blessings of this life; and if He asks
you to dispense His gifts by helping the
various branches of His work, it is for
your own temporal and spiritual
interest to do so, and thus acknowledge
God as the giver of every blessing. God,
as the Master Worker, cooperates with
men in securing the means necessary for
their sustenance; and He requires them
to cooperate with Him in the salvation of
souls.”
E.G.W. (Counsels on Stewardship, cp. 9, p. 47)
In the past, the people of Israel had
understood Sabbath was a blessing
from God as they reviewed their
history (Nehemiah 9:14). They had
committed to not desecrate it
(Nehemiah 10:31).
However, the leaders were allowing a market on Sabbath then. Nehemiah closed
the city on Sabbath to prevent this.
The market was still
taking place outside
the city. After the
merchants were
threatened, this
didn't happen again.
Sabbath is a day set apart so we can enjoy it with
God, setting our worries aside.
It's a day to praise and honor Him who created us
and gave us life.
It's a day to remember that He died at the cross
to forgive our sins and give us salvation.
Unfortunately, the Pharisees gave so much
importance to the trifles of the law and made
the Sabbath a burden instead of a delight.
We celebrate our special Sabbath gathering

with God every week. This is a foretaste of
the many Sabbaths we'll celebrate with Him
in the New Jerusalem (Isaiah 66:23).
“And the Lord says, 'If thou turn away thy
foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy
pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath
a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; ...
then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord.'
Isaiah 58:13, 14. To all who receive the
Sabbath as a sign of Christ’s creative and
redeeming power, it will be a delight. Seeing
Christ in it, they delight themselves in Him.
The Sabbath points them to the works of
creation as an evidence of His mighty power
in redemption. While it calls to mind the lost
peace of Eden, it tells of peace restored
through the Saviour.”
E.G.W. (The Desire of Ages, cp. 29, p. 289)

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Lesson 11 for

December 14, 2019

Some years later, he returned to Jerusalem. He

Nehemiah 13 tells how Nehemiah confronted

Intermarriage Neglecting the Desecrating the

Nehemiah confronted harshly those who had

Why should we return the tithe to God?

We celebrate our special Sabbath gathering

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