On that day the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people and there it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted into the assembly of God, because they had not met the Israelites with food and water but had hired Balaam to call a curse down on them. (Our God, however, turned the curse into a blessing.) When the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all who were of foreign descent. Before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was closely associated with Tobiah, and he had provided him with a large room formerly used to store the grain offerings and incense and temple articles, and also the tithes of grain, new wine and olive oil prescribed for the Levites, musicians and gatekeepers, as well as the contributions for the priests. Nehemiah 13:1-5 NIV
Not only was Tobiah an Ammonite, but he had also done everything in his power to stop the rebuilding of the wall. Essentially he was an enemy of Nehemiah and did all he could do to keep him from succeeding in the mission God had called him to. While Nehemiah was out of town, Eliashib the priest, allowed Tobiah to move into the temple of God! He was closely associated with Tobiah, that’s the first problem. A priest in the temple of God should not have been closely associated with someone who so vehemently opposed the work of God. Because of his relationship with Tobiah, Eliashib’s judgement was clouded. We need to be careful not to associate closely with anyone who will cloud our judgement.
The New Testament tells us that as believers in Christ, we are the temple of God. We need to realize that the enemy will take advantage of every opportunity to move into the temple! If we allow him to move in, he will be in the best position to destroy us! Take note of the purpose of the rooms before Eliashib allowed Tobiah to move in. While Tobiah was living in the temple, the grain offerings and other activities that should have been taking place in the temple stopped. When we allow the enemy to gain a foothold in our lives, everything slips out of balance!
But while all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Some time later I asked his permission and came back to Jerusalem. Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God. I was greatly displeased and threw all Tobiah’s household goods out of the room. I gave orders to purify the rooms, and then I put back into them the equipment of the house of God, with the grain offerings and the incense. Nehemiah 13:6-9 NIV
As soon as Nehemiah realized the enemy had moved into the temple, he took immediate action to have him removed! He did not waiver! He threw all of Tobiah’s stuff out! Then he went a step farther, he purified the rooms and put back the things of God that belonged there. What has the enemy moved into your life that you need to immediately throw out? What will it take for you to purify the rooms of your heart? Has the enemy removed anything from your life that you need to put back in place?
Satan will always attempt to gain a foothold in your life so he can wreak havoc in your walk with Christ. Be on your guard, and when you realize he’s gained a foothold, take immediate action!