After helping the Jews rebuild the walls of their city, Nehemiah returned to his job as cupbearer to the king of Persia. Upon returning to Jerusalem several years later, Nehemiah found the nation breaking numerous promises to God. They were providing shelter for enemies of God, neglecting the priests, violating the Sabbath, and intermarrying with heathen nations (Nehemiah 13:1-31).
Among the places the Jewish men had taken wives from included Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab (Nehemiah 13:23). Ashdod was a city of the Philistines. The Philistines were enemies of God who had battled against Samson, Saul, and David. They were some of the vilest and most wicked people on the planet!
God had forbidden Israel from intermarrying heathen nations (1 Kings 11:1-3). God did not want His people to lose their identity, be negatively influenced, and have their children corrupted. The children from these forbidden marriages were speaking “the language of Ashdod” (Nehemiah 13:24). They could speak the language of God’s people!
The language of Ashdod was probably a mixture of Hebrew and Ashdodite. It was a language that originated from people who didn’t know God and rebelled against His will. The spirit of this language is still a threat to God’s people.
It negatively impacts our speech.
- The language of Ashdod threatened the identity of Israel. This was not a language that God’s people should have been speaking!
- God continues to have expectations for the language of His people (1 Peter 4:11; Titus 2:8).
- How can we speak “Ashdod” today? When we call the preacher “pastor” (Ephesians 4:11-12). When we tell people that we “joined” the church of Christ when we were immersed (Acts 2:47). When we misuse the word “fellowship” (1 Corinthians 1:9; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 1 John 1:6-7).
- The language we use to describe biblical concepts reflects our spiritual growth and maturity. It reflects our careful attention to Scripture and the true doctrine of Christ.
It negatively impacts our kids.
- The fact that the children born from these mixed marriages spoke Ashdod demonstrated that they were not being raised to serve the one true God. They were being raised to speak a corrupt language, live by corrupt morals, and participate in corrupt religion.
- We promote a culture of “Ashdod” in our homes when we promote wrong priorities, don’t model Christian values, and discipline our children in the ways of God (Matthew 6:33; Ephesians 6:1-4).
It negatively impacts our God.
- By intermarrying with heathen nations, Israel had broken a promise to God (Nehemiah 10:29-30). They had committed “great evil” against the Lord and followed in the footsteps of King Solomon (Nehemiah 13:25-27). They were jeopardizing God’s promises and scheme of redemption!
- Whenever we sin, we hurt God and grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). We demonstrate selfishness and a lack of trust in God’s wisdom.
- If Nehemiah did not take swift and radical action, Israel would have lost their identity as a nation, and God’s promises would have failed!
Conclusion:
Are you living as a child of God or Ashdod?