Day 60 – Cleansing

Nehemiah 13:1 On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people, and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of Elohiym, 2 because they had not met the children of Israel with bread and water but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our Elohiym turned the curse into a blessing. 3 Thus, it was, when they had heard the Law, they separated the mixed multitude from Israel.

 4 Now before this, Eliashib the priest, having authority over the storerooms of the house of our Elohiym, was allied with Tobiah. 5 He had prepared for him a large room, where previously they had stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, the tithes of grain, the new wine and oil, which were commanded to be given to the Levites and singers and gatekeepers, and the offerings for the priests. 6 However, during this I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Then after certain days I obtained leave from the king, 7 and I came to Jerusalem and discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of Elohiym. 8 It grieved me bitterly; therefore, I threw the household goods of Tobiah out of the room. 9 Then I commanded them to cleanse the rooms; and I brought back into them the articles of the house of Elohiym, with the grain offering and the frankincense.

 10 I also realized that the portions for the Levites had not been given them; for each of the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field. 11 Then I contended with the rulers, and said, “Why is the house of Elohiym forsaken?” Then I gathered them together and set them in their place.

 12 Then Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the storehouse. 13 I appointed as treasurers over the storehouse Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah; and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were considered faithful, and their task was to distribute to their brethren.

 14 Remember me, O my Elohiym, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my Elohiym, and for its services!

 15 In those days I saw people in Judah treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and many kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. I warned them about the day on which they were selling provisions. 16 Men of Tyre dwelt there also, who brought in fish and many kinds of goods, and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

 17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day? 18 “Did your fathers not do this, and did not our Elohiym bring this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”

 19 Thus it happened, at the gates of Jerusalem, as it began to be dark before the Sabbath, that I commanded the gates to be shut, and charged that they must not be opened till after the Sabbath. Then I posted some of my servants at the gates, so that no burdens would be brought in on the Sabbath day.

 20 Now the merchants and sellers of many kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. 21 Then I warned them, and said to them, “Why do you spend the night around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you!” From that time on they came no more on the Sabbath.

 22 I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should go and guard the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me, O my Elohiym, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy!

 23 In those days I also saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people. 25 Thus, I contended with them and cursed them, struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by Elohiym, saying, “You will not give your daughters as wives to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or yourselves. 26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his Elohiym; and Elohiym made him king over Israel. Nevertheless, pagan women caused even him to sin. 27 Should we then hear of your doing this great evil, transgressing against our Elohiym by marrying pagan women?” 28 One of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite; therefore, I drove him from me.

 29 Remember them, O my Elohiym, because they defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

 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 first fruits at appointed times. Remember me, O my Elohiym, for good!

God’s names:

Elohiym – Supreme God

Yeshuwa – Jesus

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

God’s character:

Holy

What do you do when you leave someone in charge of your business and return to find everything you set in place completely changed for the worse? I’m certain you would fire the person, get everything working as it should by implementing the plans you put in place before you left.

Nehemiah followed every instruction Elohiym gave him when he went to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall and set the priests and Levites in their places as outlined in the Law and through King David. Then he returned to Artaxerxes for a time to his duties before the king. However, the king released him to return to Jerusalem, whereupon he found Judah had defiled the priesthood and themselves. He cleansed the temple, tossed Tobiah out of the temple where Eliashib gave him residence, and restored order to Jerusalem, letting the merchants know they would not do business on the Sabbath. He also implored Elohiym to remember him and his good deeds regarding His Law.

When you accepted Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord, you committed yourself to obey Him in everything. The only way you could do that was to read His Word so you would know what Yeshuwa requires from you.

You cannot continue in your old lifestyle and expect Yeshuwa to bless you. You will find Yeshuwa’s blessings blocked from your life when you don’t live for Him as you promised you would.

When you realize your sin of disobedience to Yeshuwa and His plans for your life, you need to confess your sin and receive His forgiveness.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says JEHOVAH, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and hope.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV)

You know Satan will do everything he can to cause you to stray from Yeshuwa and continue in the lifestyle you lived before you committed yourself to Him. He will tell you it’s okay to listen to him. It’s not okay to listen to Satan. It’s not okay to continue in your former lifestyle that kept you in bondage to Satan.

John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (NKJV)

Yeshuwa promised abundant life when you obey Him. What does Satan promise you? Nothing. Hardship and bondage.

Consider your life. Examine it to see whether you follow Yeshuwa or Satan. If you are following Yeshuwa, rejoice in your salvation. If Satan, renounce him, cast him from your life and confess your sin so you can receive Yeshuwa’s forgiveness and cleansing.

Nehemiah cleansed the temple, had the priests and Levites go through the sanctification process so they could perform their duties in the temple. You need to do the same with your life. You need to cleanse and sanctify your life so you can do what Yeshuwa told you to do.

Let’s pray: Father, cleanse me from every wickedness Satan caused in me to keep me away from You. Cleanse my heart from every evil thought and deed. Renew my mind and fill me with the hope of Your salvation. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 19 March 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux