Remaining Pure

Introduction

Historians and sociologists have observed an interesting phenomenon that occurs with groups of people, in communities, and even in families called the third generation problem. Simply put, they have observed that there commonly occurs deterioration within a community that tends to climax with the third generation.

The process begins with a period of dynamic activity, usually stimulated by a strong leader or by some significant event in the life of the community. This is the first generation. It is characterized by great growth—materially, intellectually, socially, and even spiritually. There are new ideas around, there is a dynamic to living, an excitement because new things are happening. There is expansion and growth on all levels of human endeavor. The first generation is marked by growth.

Then time passes and the second generation takes over. They have not directly experienced the dynamic events of the first generation. They have inherited good times and prosperity. There is no longer the drive to accomplish, to create new ideas, to grow. The second generation is usually content to preserve and consolidate the gains of the first generation. They know the triumphs of the past and sometimes wish or dream for them. Yet, because they are content with what they have inherited, there is little motivation to put forth the genuine effort to sustain the dynamic of the past. So the second generation is content with listening to the stories of the old days, wishing for them, but is too involved with the preservation of the success of the present to continue the growth of the first generation. They work hard to preserve the status quo, fearing that any movement will risk losing what they have received. The second generation is marked by entrenchment.

Time passes again and the mantle falls on the third generation. They have only heard about the dynamics and vitality of the first generation secondhand. They have not seen that kind of vitality; they have only seen the process of preservation and entrenchment. They have heard the stories of the past but they are far away and unreal. They find no compelling reason to be driven by the vision that drove the grandparents. They are freed from the need to fight for recognition and security, and are even freed from the worries of preserving what was originally hard won. They are idle, with no vision that drives them, no passion that inflames them, and no purpose that gives them meaning. As a result, members of the third generation usually begin to question their identity, their belonging. “Why even be a part of this group, of this community, of this family, if I serve no purpose and see no future?” Here is the tragedy of the third generation! The third generation is often a people lacking a strong sense of identity and belonging and so are uncommitted to the group; a people without a driving passion because they are fired by no vision; a people not sure of who they are, what they believe, or what they should do. The third generation is marked by decline.

We do not have to look too far in the Bible itself to see examples of the third generation problem. Consider the Exodus and Settlement: Moses and Joshua were first generation leaders who led the people of God through some of their most exciting days—out of Egypt, across the Red Sea, through the wilderness, across the Jordan and into the Land! The Israelites always looked back on these events as the most important events in their history. There was diligent worship of God as they built the tabernacle and organized the tribes. Then the second generation came along. They had much of the land. The biggest task was to take care of the few remaining Canaanites, establish themselves in the land, and preserve the gains made. They were relatively secure and the worship of God was halfhearted. And as they became more secure, the third generation arose. They had to fight few battles and so had little need for God the mighty warrior. They had good times and were not driven to accomplish much. This is the end of the period of the Judges where the summary verse of the era is the last verse of the book of Judges (21:25): “Every man did what was right in his own eyes.”

Another example even within a family is David. David was the first generation leader who, by the help of God, forged the bunch of disorganized escaped slaves into an empire. The reign of David became a model of what God can do with a people and a leader who follow him. But Solomon, the second generation, followed David. Solomon was not driven by the vision of his father. He was content to consolidate and preserve. He made compromising alliances with surrounding nations in order to preserve what David had gained. These compromises led to a long and bitter struggle within the nation of Israel as they tried to decide whether they were followers of Baal or followers of Yahweh, the God of the fathers. Solomon did accomplish some things, but much for which he became known, including his great wealth, was the result of the stability brought about by his father on the battlefield. And then Rehoboam, the third generation, became king. Driven by no vision, inflamed by no passion, unsure of his heritage, wavering in his loyalty to God because he was not really sure what to believe, he precipitated the division of the nation of Israel, a division of the community of faith that would not be even partially healed for a thousand years!

We are in the third generation. As I read through Nehemiah 13 I saw similarities between what is going on in the text and what is going on with us. While I do not claim to be a Nehemiah, we need to hear his message again. Chapter 13 is a call for renewal; a call for restoration; a call for paying attention to God; a call to understand who they are and to make actions coincide with beliefs. We will be challenged today to reconcile our beliefs and our actions.

Problems

It was during my second year of college that discouragement really set in. I was working from 3 to 6 a.m. every day and many afternoons as well. I was taking a full load academically. I was trying to have an active social life. I was for the most part making life work on four hours of sleep at night and a 30-minute nap in the afternoon. And something had to give. If it had not been for Rick Binkley I would have quit. Rick kept me stable. He walked me through that tough time. He prayed with me; he encouraged me; he loved me. I wouldn’t be here today if it hadn’t been for Rick. One of the things that Rick did was to remind me of who I was and what was important. You have probably had someone like that in your life—someone who kept you stable when life seemed to be tumbling in. If you have, that person was your Nehemiah. It is in Nehemiah 13 that Nehemiah encourages people to stabilize their practices in conjunction with their faith. We all need a Nehemiah at times. Let’s look at what Nehemiah did.

First, in verses 1–3 he called the people to return to the Word of God. What is not told to us until verse 6 is that Nehemiah has been away from Jerusalem. We don’t know how long he was gone. But you will recall in chapter 10 that the people had dedicated themselves to keeping the Law of Moses. But after Nehemiah returns he sees that they have quit reading the Bible. Once again Nehemiah reads the Law to them and they are convicted of their sin. Back in Numbers 21 and 22, as Israel was muddling around in the desert, the Ammonites refused to help give them water and the Moabites hired Balaam to curse Israel. As a result there was an ages-long curse on the Ammonites and the Moabites. Israel was not to inter-marry with them. But they forgot and in Nehemiah 13:1–3 as the Word is read, God reminds them of the old promise.

We are becoming scripturally illiterate. Sermons and Bible classes will not suffice to provide for you enough interaction time with scripture for it to mold and shape your heart. It is scripture which will help stabilize your life during difficult times.

Second, in verses 4–14 there is a problem with worldly influence. The temple had storerooms. These rooms were to store the grain for offerings and incense and temple articles. But the rooms had been given to Tobiah to use as a storage area for his personal belongings. Who is Tobiah? He is one of the three listed in 6:1 who tried to keep the walls from being built. This same Eliashib also allows one of his grandsons to marry the daughter of Sanballat another one of the three listed in 6:1. What is going on? How is it that the priest of God consorts with the enemy? The question for us is “who do we consort with?” This is not to deny friendships, but just who is influencing your life? Who are you opening your life up to? Which do you know better—the golden arches or Matthew 28:18–20?

Third, in verses 15–22 there is the problem of not honoring God. The people began to conduct business on the Sabbath. They were desecrating the Sabbath day. It wasn’t just conducting business that is the problem. It is ignoring the explicit will of God for the sake of convenience and enterprise. The point for us is not to regard Sunday as the Sabbath but to conduct business with a view toward what pleases God rather than what is convenient for us. It does not honor God when we conduct business as if God doesn’t matter.

Fourth, in verses 23–31, there is the problem of allowing personal desires to take precedence over God’s will. What is it that allows people to set aside their principles for a moment of pleasure? If we are serious about our relationship with God, why then will we make decisions which please us momentarily rather than realizing the long-term consequences of such decisions? According to verse 25, Nehemiah gave the men a real wake-up call. He rebuked, cursed, beat, and grabbed the men by the hair. We have too much compassion for such today and we would be charged with assault and battery. But Nehemiah was serious about what it meant to follow God.

We may indeed be in the third generation. We play with God ideas and then go off and do what we want. We conduct business as if God’s will matters little. We make decisions based on what pleases us rather than on what honors God. We have quit reading the Bible and listen to Oprah. We have joined hands with those who have no regard for our God and justify the association in the name of friendship. We are more concerned about personal freedom than holiness. The standard has become our personal needs rather than God’s commands.

It is time for us to recommit our lives to reading God’s word and rediscovering what he wants. It is time for our beliefs to be based on the will of God rather than the latest advice column. It is time for us to be passionate about God’s will. Let us be careful at this point not to confuse passion with emotion. There is far too much superficial emotion today that would pass itself off as passion. Emotion is temporary and volatile, is basically self-centered, and is tied to feeling. Passion is a permanent attitude that drives the soul from within and is always directed outward in a concern for others. It is time for us to be the first generation. To have an excitement about possibilities. To dream and envision ideas. To seek growth—numerically and spiritually. Let us give ourselves to the reading of God’s word; to discovering his will; to seeking his honor; and to put away worldly influence.

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