Why is this house of God forsaken?

Nehemiah 13:4-12, Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being related to Tobiah, had prepared a large room for him, where formerly they put the grain offerings, the frankincense, the utensils, and the tithes of grain, wine and oil prescribed for the Levites, the singers and the gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests. But during all this time I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had gone to the king. After some time, however, I asked leave from the king, and I came to Jerusalem and learned about the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, by preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God. And it was very displeasing to me, so I threw all of Tobiah’s household goods out of the room. Then I gave an order and they cleansed the rooms; and I returned there the utensils of the house of God with the grain offerings and the frankincense. I also discovered that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers who performed the service had gone away, each to his own field. So I reprimanded the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” Then I gathered them together and restored them to their posts. All Judah then brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses.

How amazing that as soon as Nehemiah left town, those left in charge went right back to their own evil ways! He had to cleanse the temple, and restore the tithe that rightfully belonged to the Levites which was what allowed them to perform their temple service. How easy it is for us to slip away from what we know we are to do when things are going well!

Give us boldness to live as Nehemiah did, that we may also say “For this also remember me, O my God, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Thy lovingkindness.”