Nehemiah 13:15-22: a reflection

15In those days I saw some men treading wine presses on the Sabbath in Judah, bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day; and I testified against them in the day in which they sold food. 16Some men of Tyre also lived there, who brought in fish and all kinds of wares, and sold on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. 17Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the Sabbath day? 18Didn’t your fathers do this, and didn’t our God bring all this evil on us and on this city? Yet you bring more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.” 19It came to pass that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. I set some of my servants over the gates, so that no burden should be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares camped outside of Jerusalem once or twice. 21Then I testified against them, and said to them, “Why do you stay around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on, they didn’t come on the Sabbath. 22I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me for this also, my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your loving kindness.

When Nehemiah sees the Sabbath being crowded out by business, people treading wine presses, loading donkeys, buying and selling on the day set apart for rest and worship, he acts to protect it. He shuts the gates so that no burden can be brought in, and stations guards, so that the day set apart for God would not be swallowed up by the press of business. He guarded the set-apart time against the encroachment of commerce and busyness, so that it would remain what it was meant to be.

Notice what Nehemiah did: he guarded the set-apart time against the encroachment of business. The Sabbath was meant to be set apart for rest and worship; but business and busyness were creeping in, crowding it out, turning it into just another day of trade. And Nehemiah acted to protect it, shutting the gates against the encroaching commerce, guarding the set-apart time so it would not be swallowed up. He would not let the day meant for God be crowded out by the press of ordinary business; he protected it deliberately.

That is worth taking to heart, for the set-apart time we would give to God can be crowded out by busyness unless we guard it. Our time for rest, for worship, for God, can be encroached upon by the endless press of business, work, and busyness, until it is swallowed up and lost; but Nehemiah guarded the Sabbath against such encroachment. Do not let the set-apart time you would give to God be crowded out by the press of business and busyness; guard it deliberately, as Nehemiah shut the gates against the encroaching commerce. Protect the time you would give to God, to rest and worship, against the endless encroachment of busyness, rather than letting it be swallowed up; guard the set-apart time deliberately, as Nehemiah guarded the Sabbath, so that it remains what it is meant to be, time set apart for God rather than swallowed by the press of ordinary business.

Lord, when Nehemiah sees the Sabbath being crowded out by business, people treading wine presses, loading donkeys, buying and selling on the day set apart for rest and worship, he acts to protect it. He shuts the gates so that no burden can be brought in, and stations guards, so that the day set apart for you would not be swallowed up by the press of business. He guarded the set-apart time against the encroachment of commerce and busyness. Show me what Nehemiah did: he guarded the set-apart time against the encroachment of business. The Sabbath was meant to be set apart for rest and worship; but business was creeping in, crowding it out. And Nehemiah acted to protect it, guarding the set-apart time so it would not be swallowed up. He would not let the day meant for you be crowded out by the press of ordinary business. Take that to my heart, for the set-apart time I would give to you can be crowded out by busyness unless I guard it. My time for rest, for worship, for you, can be encroached upon by the endless press of business, work, and busyness, until it is swallowed up; but Nehemiah guarded the Sabbath. Keep me from letting the set-apart time I would give to you be crowded out by the press of busyness; help me guard it deliberately, Lord, as Nehemiah shut the gates. Help me protect the time I would give to you, to rest and worship, against the endless encroachment of busyness.