Reform Requirements

 

    Reform is interesting.  It causes unrest while the changes are enforced.  There are stages and every reform looks a little different, but there are certain things that stay the same.   The fact that changes are enforced, security procedures, how to handle inevitable conflict, and a period of seclusion.

    When the Jews began their reform it was a new comers into their native home.  They were vulnerable and it began with structure.  They learned about what God required and took action to get into alignment.  That is all good stuff, but tends to still make outsiders uncomfortable and defensive.  That leads me to the last stage until the reform is complete: separation.

    I hate segregation.  It states that some people are better than others.  That just is not true.  When working out your salvation there is a period of separation.  There is a time where you need to separate from the world and surround yourself with other Christians to become strong and rid yourself of distractions.  It is required to really understand and gain wisdom about God's Word.

    The Jews held an assembly and did not allow any foreigners (pagans) into it.  That was risky since people were looking for a reason to pounce, but it was necessary and God watched over them.  Tobiah was related to the priest Eliaship, who was over the storerooms.  While Nehemiah was away reporting to King Artaxerses, Eliaship allowed Tobiah to move into a room in God's house.  He allowed evil a room in God's temple.  It tainted God's house, a place that is supposed to be Holy.

    That is why the Jews were supposed to be in a period of separation.  He would have realized what he was doing was evil had he followed orders.  When Nehemiah returned he kicked Tobiah out and got the temple back in order with purifying the tainted area.  Eliaship lost his job and was replaced by Pedaiah who was trustworthy.  

    Nehemiah sought God's approval every step of the way.  He admonished those that were led astray and got things back on track.  He honored the Sabbath by closing up the city until it was over.  He purified the priest and made sure that the Levites understood their duties.  One man messes up and everything was reevaluated.  He was not unfair.  he did educate and warn people, but he did not allow evil to have a foothold in God's city.

    Salvation is too important to be flippant about.  We have to be intentional.  We have to do honest self-evaluations.  It is our personal responsibility to use to keep ourselves pure.  Occasionally, we will have to separate ourselves from people that would make what is evil look like it is not wrong.  We are can't hold ourselves at the standards of the world.  We have to hold ourselves accountable to God's standards.

Nehemiah 13