Nehemiah served as governor of Judea for 12 years, after which he returned to the king of Persia. Upon his return, he found to his sorrow, that the Jews had gradually abandoned their covenant to carefully obey God's law (Nehemiah 10:28-29 ). Formerly, upon the reading of the law, they had:

Nehemiah 13:3 "... separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. "

Once again they neglected to be obedient in being a separate people. The mixed multitude was always a snare to Israel (Exodus 12:38; Numbers 11:4 ). For the restriction of the Ammonite and Moabite, see Deuteronomy 23:3-6.

New birth, not nationality, makes us one in the Church.

Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

There are separations in gatherings of the Lord's people, that should scripturally be carried out today.

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That Of Separation From False Teachers Who Deny The Doctrine Of Christ

2 John 10 "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;"

Titus 3:10-11 "Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned."

(1 Timothy 1:20; 2 Timothy 2:17-18 ).

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That Of Separation From Immoral People And Those Whose Conduct Is Unbecoming In Christ

1 Corinthians 5:11 "But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner - not even to eat with such a person."

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That Of Separation From Those Who Refuse To Repent And Be Reconciled

Matthew 18:17 "And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector."

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That Of Separation From Those Who Cause Divisions And Offences

Romans 16:17 "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them."

There is a price to pay for compromising these principles of separation. Business people need to apply them before binding themselves in some disastrous partnership.

Nehemiah 13:7 "And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God."

Eliashib, the high priest, compromised the people and the Temple of God by providing an apartment there. This was not only an act of appeasement towards an enemy, it was desecration of the house of the Lord.

Compromise Of God's Word robs the people of the truth of God's word and of direct guidance from God. Sadly, one in high office can, through compromise, lead people into sinful disobedience of God, and its grave consequences. Nehemiah acted decisively and used his full authority.

Nehemiah 13:8,9 "... I threw all 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 God ..."

To hold back when those in privileged office blatantly sin, is to condone the offence. God's law, though neglected and disobeyed, remains relevant. When the need to amend wrongs arises, it needs to be carried out with decisiveness, accurately and with the Word's authority.

With his usual promptness, exactness and forthrightness, Nehemiah dealt with the support of the Levites.

Nehemiah 13:10 "And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field."

The cause of their withdrawal was mainly owing to the peoples' selfishness in holding back for themselves what was really God's. Malachi, at this time, reproved them soundly for withholding the tithes and offerings.

Malachi 3:8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings."

"Two tithes were required: an annual tithe for the maintenance of the Levites (Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:21 ), and a second tithe brought to Jerusalem for the Lord's feast (Deuteronomy 14:22 ) every third year. However, the second tithe was kept at home and used for the poor (Deuteronomy 14:28 ). One's use of money is often a barometer of his spirituality (1 John 3:17 )." Ryrie