An Enemy in the Courts

"One Year Bible" Old Testament History Passage
Nehemiah 12:27-13:31

And I came to Jerusalem and discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God.  Nehemiah 13:7 (NKJV)

From time to time, we all need "housecleaning."  Either through ignorance, carelessness, or worse, we may allow foreign things to take up abode in our hearts and our homes.  These things may sound like they are friends to us, but they are really enemies.

In Nehemiah's day, Tobiah had been an enemy from Day One.  He had fought against the rebuilding of the walls around Jerusalem.  Inexplicably, after the wall was successfully built, the high priest, Eliashib, invited Tobiah to set up residence "in the courts of the house of God." 

There is only one thing you can do with a "Tobiah."  Throw him out!  God calls each of us to regularly do a good old fashioned housecleaning.  It's good for you.  Don't rest on yesterday's revival fires.  Every morning and every evening pray as David did:
     "Search me, O God, and know my heart;
     Try me, and know my anxieties;
     And see if there is any wicked way in me,
     And lead me in the way everlasting." 
          (Psalm 139:23-24)

Isn't amazing how quickly "Tobiahs" can creep into our hearts.  May you have a clear heart and a clean house today!