Upon his return to Jerusalem, Nehemiah identified a third problem - the children born to ungodly relationships had no spiritual training. Intermarriage with pagan nations revealed a people who lacked faith. Nehemiah provided the clear instruction – don’t intermarry with pagan nations because they will turn the generations to come away from the One True God. Then he provided a clear example – Solomon (1 Kings 11). Nehemiah was looking into the future (so to speak) and sees that if something doesn’t change, his people could end up bowing down to a god like Molech amongst people who worship by sacfificing their children. So to wake his fellow countrymen out of their sinful stupor, he’ll go to great lengths. Theme #1: The Law was simply too great a burden for a sinful people, just like it is for you and me. Theme #2: God is faithful. May the book of Nehemiah point us to Christ, who perfectly saves and purifies His people (real reform).