Preserving Spiritual Leadership | Nehemiah 13:28-31

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And one of the sons of Jehoiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I chased him from me. Remember them, O my God, because they have desecrated the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work; and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits.

Remember me, O my God, for good. — Nehemiah 13:28-31

CALL OUT: Today's shout-out goes to Salvatore Augeri from Lutz, FL. Thanks for your partnership in the Gospel. Don't forget Galatians begins on Monday, so get the Galatians Scripture Journal from the website.

At the close of the book, Nehemiah mentions one last concerning detail. His concern is the purity of the high priestly line.

According to the Law, a high priest could not marry a foreign woman (Leviticus 21:14). The high priesthood was an inherited role, so the grandson of a high priest could become the acting high priest. Eliashib was a high priest when Nehemiah first came to Jerusalem (Nehemiah 3:1). Jehoiada was a high priest after his father (Nehemiah 12:10–11). Still, it is unclear if he had become a high priest by the writing of chapter 13. But the issue here is his son had married a daughter of Sanballat the Horonite, who had been a long-standing enemy of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:10).

Nehemiah sees this issue and addresses it not only by calling it out but by expelling this son from the community and preserving the purity of the priestly line.

This reveals something worthy of noting about spiritual leadership. Spiritual leaders in the Temple (Old Testament) and the Church (New Testament) have a determined set of qualifications. Sometimes, people don't like this. Therefore, they adjust the qualifications to their liking, making exceptions. But we don't get to make these exceptions; we only get to accept them as they are. The Temple and the Church are God's institutions, not ours. God is the one who is worshipped, and he determines the structures, processes, and qualifications of his spiritual leaders. Therefore, some are naturally disqualified from leading in the church. And guess what? We need to be okay with this. God has set these qualifiers in place. But remember, just because a person is disqualified from leading in the church does not mean they cannot aptly lead in other environments like their business, family, and the rest of life.

Remember, Nehemiah was disqualified from Temple service as well. His lineage excluded him. He was not from Aaron's line. Therefore, he was unable to hold the role of High Priest. Yet still, he led and left an indelible mark on the people of God in his time. And the mark he left has been read by generations of believers in the book we just completed.

So get out there and leave your spiritual mark on the world. But do it the way God wants and in the way that brings honor to his name.

#NehemiahsLeadership, #SpiritualQualifications, #PurityinLeadership, #GodsInstitutions, #LeaveYourMark

ASK THIS:

How can we maintain the integrity of leadership roles in our own communities and organizations, ensuring they align with the standards set by God?
Reflecting on Nehemiah's actions, what adjustments might we need to make in our own lives to honor God's qualifications for leadership, both in spiritual and secular contexts?

DO THIS: Get out there and spiritually lead.

PRAY THIS: Lord, guide me to uphold the standards of spiritual leadership with integrity, just as Nehemiah did, and help me to honor Your qualifications for service in all areas of my life. Grant me wisdom and discernment to follow Your will faithfully, leaving a lasting impact that brings glory to Your name. Amen.

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