Nehemiah 13:23-31
In these days, we notice that the Israelites were marrying people from other tribes and nations which is to be prohibited by God’s commandment. They were women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. They didn’t even speak the Hebrew language. Nehemiah rebukes these men harshly for disobeying God. He makes them swear an oath to God’s name that they would not give their daughters to someone not from their nation nor would they have their sons marry women from pagan nations. Nehemiah reminds them that it is because of these negative and unequally yoked marriages that Solomon sinned. Even though Solomon loved God and God loved Solomon, he was led into sin because he married foreign women.
When you read the book of Proverbs, Solomon often mentions an advice to his son and the reader to avoid strange women. He may be referring to his own marriages to multiple concubines from foreign nations and tribes. This has led to Solomon’s sin and disobedience to the Lord. One might look at this passage and think it is referring to not marrying foreign women but I don’t think that is the main analysis of this passage. What Nehemiah was addressing was the fact that the Israelites had a covenant with God yet they were influenced by foreign idols in their lives which caused them to fall into sin and disobedience unto the Lord.
What are some foreign influences in our lives that we treat as idols that may corrupt our relationship with the Lord? God makes it clear that there ought not to be any other gods except Him alone. If we have other idols in our lives, we must get rid of them lest we fall into sin and disobedience.
Proverbs 30
We must rely on the Word of God because it is perfect and flawless. When we hide ourselves in God’s Word, we will find refuge and great peace. It says in verse 5 “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”
The relationship that we have with our parents is very important. We ought not to mock our parents for the Bible makes it clear what happens to those that dishonor or scorn their parents. It says in verse 17 “The eye that mocks a father, that scorns an aged mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.”