Eliashib the priest, who had been appointed as supervisor of the storerooms of the Temple of our God and who was also a relative of Tobiah, had converted a large storage room and placed it at Tobiah’s disposal. The room had previously been used for storing the grain offerings, the frankincense, various articles for the Temple, and the tithes of grain, new wine, and olive oil (which were prescribed for the Levites, the singers, and the gatekeepers), as well as the offerings for the priests. Nehemiah 13:4b-5 NLT
Why was this large storage room in the temple no longer being used for the purpose it had been intended? We find the answer just five verses later.
I also discovered that the Levites had not been given their prescribed portions of food, so they and the singers who were to conduct the worship services had all returned to work their fields. Nehemiah 13:10 NLT
So here’s what happend. While Nehemiah was out of town, the people stopped bringing the tithes and offerings that supported those who worked in the temple. Without support all the workers stopped serving in the temple and went back to farming. Then, making matters worse, Eliashib converted the empty storage room into living quarters for Tobiah, the man who had opposed Nehemiah and the work of God! He permitted the enemy to move in and take up residency in the Temple!
So what happened when Nehemiah returned?
When I arrived back in Jerusalem, I learned about Eliashib’s evil deed in providing Tobiah with a room in the courtyards of the Temple of God. I became very upset and threw all of Tobiah’s belongings out of the room. Then I demanded that the rooms be purified, and I brought back the articles for God’s Temple, the grain offerings, and the frankincense. Nehemiah 13:7-9 NLT
I immediately confronted the leaders and demanded, “Why has the Temple of God been neglected?” Then I called all the Levites back again and restored them to their proper duties. And once more all the people of Judah began bringing their tithes of grain, new wine, and olive oil to the Temple storerooms. Nehemiah 13:11-12 NLT
So why is this Old Testament story relevant to you and I?
Because the enemy will always move into the temple of God when given the opportunity and the New Testament tells us that we are His temple! Here are two lessons we can take away from this story and apply to our own lives.
- Empty storage rooms are easily converted, so let’s make sure we keep pouring into our lives the word of God and let’s spend the time it takes in His presence to stay filled with His Spirit. During this pandemic, when churches are not offering the same level of programming and fellowship is harder to come by, make sure you are still intentional to keep your mind and heart filled with the right things!
- When we realize the enemy has moved in, we need to take immediate action, just like Nehemiah did. Without hesitation, we must kick out the enemy, throw out everything that belongs to him, and put back in the things of God. This takes strength and resolve. The enemy will not go easily so we must act with diligence and determination!
This story challenges us to take a few minutes and evaluate our own lives. Are there areas in my temple that are no longer as full of the things of God as they used to be? Has the enemy already started moving in?