15 In those days I saw in Judah people who were treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sacks of grain and loading them on donkeys, as well as wine, grapes, figs, and every kind of load, and they were bringing them into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I admonished them on the day they sold food. 16 Also people of Tyre were living there who imported fish and all kinds of merchandise, and sold them to the sons of Judah on the Sabbath, even in Jerusalem. 17 Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing, by profaning the Sabbath day? 18 Did your fathers not do the same, so that our God brought on us and on this city all this trouble? Yet you are adding to the wrath against Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”

Nehemiah 13:15-18 (NASB)

To Hell in a handbasket

That’s an old expression in America indicating things have gotten really bad. And that is the situation in Jerusalem when Nehemiah returns from Babylon. First, allowing Ammonites and Moabites to live in Jerusalem and to enter the assembly of God, then giving a space in the temple for the enemy, Tobiah, and yesterday stopping the tithe! Now this – violating the Sabbath. What’s a leader to do? This was the same evil behavior of disobedience that brought the captivity in the first place.

Do as Nehemiah did

What should a leader do? Take action! With flagrant violations, there is no need to pray and ask God what His will is. In many cases, He makes it quite clear what His will is. The 4th commandment was very clear – not just the commandment but the “why” behind the command. 

Nehemiah did just that, he took action – as he did with the previous offenses. He reprimanded (scolded) the leaders, for they were ultimately responsible. He also scolded the ones who were breaking the sabbath. Tomorrow we’ll see other actions he took.

Pray for Nehemiahs

We need Nehemiahs in our leadership today. It’s one thing to complain about the situation or the decadent state of culture. It’s another to do something about it. Some people feel like they need to be activists, some feel their role is to get involved in politics and run for office. One thing we all can do is pray. The Word instructs us to pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1–4). I’m guilty of neglecting this practice. Romans 13:1-8 tells us to also submit to them and respect them – as God’s instruments.