Nehemiah was a cup bearer for King Artaxerxes - king of Babylon. Most Israelites had been taken exile during that time and the wall of Jerusalem was broken down. When Nehemiah heard it he wept, prayed and had a desire to rebuild the wall. Since he has found favor with the king the king sanctioned his petition and rebuilt the wall.

When it was all set and done, Nehemiah made sure the city was consecrated for the Lord, the temple grounds reestablished by bringing in Levites and Priests to serve there, appointing a choir, and reminding people about the laws and festivities Moses had taught their forefathers to do.

This is in this context he restored the Sabbath the day of rest God had commanded us to follow. The following text explains exactly how he restored it.

In those days I saw in Judah some who were treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sacks of grain and loading them on donkeys, as well as wine, grapes, figs and all kinds of loads, and they brought them into Jerusalem on the sabbath day. So I admonished them on the day they sold food.

Also men of Tyre were living there who imported fish and all kinds of merchandise, and sold them to the sons of Judah on the sabbath, even in Jerusalem. Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing you are doing, by profaning the sabbath day? “Did not your fathers do the same, so that our God brought on us and on this city all this trouble? Yet you are adding to the wrath on Israel by profaning the sabbath.”

It came about that just as it grew dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and that they should not open them until after the sabbath. Then I stationed some of my servants at the gates so that no load would enter on the sabbath day.

Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem. Then I warned them and said to them, “Why do you spend the night in front of the wall? If you do so again, I will use force against you.” From that time on they did not come on the sabbath. And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come as gatekeepers to sanctify the sabbath day. For this also remember me, O my God, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Your loving kindness. Nehemiah 13:15-22

The question to us this morning is: Have we restored the Sabbath?! Do we give it the at most reverence to spend in the fellowship of believers to worship the Lord? OR Have we allowed certain "merchants" in?!

Let us restore our Sabbath!