Neh 13:19-22 ESV
19 As soon as it began to grow dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. And I stationed some of my servants at the gates, that no load might be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. 21 But I warned them and said to them, “Why do you lodge outside the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath. 22 Then I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.


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19 Nang nagsisimula nang dumilim sa mga pintuan ng Jerusalem bago ang Sabbath, aking iniutos na ang mga pintuan ay dapat sarhan at nagbigay ng mga utos na ang mga iyon ay huwag buksan hanggang sa lumipas ang Sabbath. Inilagay ko ang ilan sa aking mga lingkod sa mga pintuan upang walang maipasok na pasan sa araw ng Sabbath. 20 Sa gayo'y ang mga mangangalakal at mga nagtitinda ng lahat ng uri ng kalakal ay nagpalipas ng magdamag sa labas ng Jerusalem minsan o makalawa. 21 Ngunit binalaan ko sila at sinabi sa kanila, “Bakit kayo'y nagpalipas ng magdamag sa harapan ng pader? Kapag muli ninyong ginawa ang ganyan, pagbubuhatan ko kayo ng kamay.” Mula nang panahong iyon ay hindi na sila dumating pa nang Sabbath. 22 Inutusan ko ang mga Levita na sila'y maglinis ng sarili, at pumaroon at bantayan ang mga pintuan upang ipangilin ang araw ng Sabbath. Alalahanin mo rin ito alang-alang sa akin, O aking Diyos, at kahabagan mo ako ayon sa kadakilaan ng iyong tapat na pag-ibig.


SPIRITUAL DECISIVENESS

Nehemiah was both tough and tender leader. He was compassionate but not a coward. As one who revered God, he was very courageous to make radical and crucial decisions. The disregard of the Sabbath’s observance was not a small matter that he would just tolerate.

He had to drastically restore the Sabbath observance and temple worship. He commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. And he stationed some of his servants at the gates, that no load might be brought in on the Sabbath day. Nehemiah wasn't going to tolerate the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares to lodge outside Jerusalem. He threatened them saying, “if you do so again, I will lay hands on you!” He did not mean the gentle laying on of hands for prayer, but the rough laying on of hands for correction. In other words, he did everything to remove the possibility that they will break the Sabbath again.

Spiritual decisiveness is a result of clear and strong convictions. A believer who is totally committed to please God is not unequivocal in his stand against sin. That is, an open sin is always black and could not become gray. That a sin is always ugly and shameful before the holy God. One won’t stop doing his sinful lifestyle that he can justify or rationalize. May we will hate sin as God does.

Furthermore, he was determined to restore the Levites to their duties. That they have to purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Believers should not be famous only to what we don’t do but also to what we do. As His children, are we famous by what we don’t do [no vices, etc] more than what we do[like worship, serving others, etc]? May, we will always shine for God by our good works.[Matt 5:16]

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