Nehemiah 13:19

NEHEMIAH'S STRONG MEASURES AGAINST SABBATH BREAKING

"And it came to pass that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that they should not be opened till after the sabbath; and some of my servants set I over the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. So the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath. And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember unto me, O my God, this also, and spare me, according to the greatness of thy lovingkindness."

"When the gates o f Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath" (Nehemiah 13:19). These words take account of the Jewish custom of counting every day from sunset to sunset; thus the sabbath, as we would reckon time, actually began at sundown on the preceding day. "The Jews grounded this practice on the Genesis account of creation, where the successive days are listed after the formula, `There was evening and morning, one day,' etc. (Genesis 1:5)."[10]

Nehemiah closed the gates on the sabbath and threatened violence against those who camped outside waiting for the end of it; and these stern measures were effective, as long as Nehemiah was governor with authority to enforce them; but the reform, in all probability, did not last ten days after Nehemiah's governorship was terminated.

"O my God spare me according to the greatness of thy lovingkindness" (Nehemiah 13:22). Again, we have one of Nehemiah's spontaneous prayers. This one is of special interest. "Here Nehemiah acknowledges that his salvation is dependent upon the greatness of God's lovingkindness, and not upon the multiplicity of his good deeds. The doctrine of God's grace in the O.T. is often tragically overlooked."[11]