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Nehemiah 3-7
Remember the Wall
Psalm 67:1-7 Let His Light Shine Through You
1.“May God be gracious to us, bless us, and cause his face to shine on us. Selah.2.That your way may be known on earth, and your salvation among all nations,3.let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you.4.Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you will judge the peoples with equity, and govern the nations on earth. Selah.5.Let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you.6.The earth has yielded its increase. God, even our own God, will bless us.7.God will bless us. All the ends of the earth shall fear him.Observations
67:1-3.God's blessing is not so we can have a cushy life. That's such a self-centered toddler view of life. His purpose in blessing His chosen people is so that all peoples will come to Him and experience His salvation, explained here as His “derek” (way of living on the planet. See Strongs #01870.)
67:4-5.
God desires that all nations experience His just rule and government when the Messiah comes (Isaiah 9:2-7; 40:10).
67:6-7.
As a result of people seeing God bless His obedient ones, all the earth will want to be similarly blessed and will praise and fear God, doing things His way.
Application
Live so others can see that God is blessing you, and be drawn to Him by seeing the consequences of following the true God.
Prayer
God who loves to bless, please bless me so my life will draw others to fear and praise You. Amen.
Proverbs 17:16-20 Friends and Fools
16.“Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no heart for it?17.A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.18.A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.19.He who loves a quarrel loves sin. One who builds a high gate invites destruction.20.One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into evil.“Observation
17:16-20. There's no point for a fool to seek to acquire wisdom, since he/she has no heart (desire or will) to use it. It would just sit on the shelf waiting for the next white elephant party. First, one needs a commitment to do things God's way. Then, understanding is easier. A fair weather “friend” is a misnomer. The verb “born” in verse 17 is in the Imperfect tense indicating a process that is usually future. This could indicate that the friend becomes a brother in the face of adversity (cf. Pr 18:24). Five foolish acts finish the section:- a foolish person who lacks understanding puts himself in jeopardy for another (to find acceptance) without thinking of the consequences;
- loving to argue (usually to boost one's worth and value) leads to loving sin;
- building a high gate (advertising one's status and wealth) is asking for trouble;
- a crooked heart doesn't stay on the path to prosperity;
- a deceitful tongue falls into evil, taking its owner along with it.
Application
God guides us in the right ways if we learn and apply His wisdom.
Prayer
God, thanks for revealing what to do and what to avoid in life; may I be a faithful friend to others and avoid the follies of those who don't embrace Your words. Amen.Nehemiah 3-7 Remember the Wall
These chapters describe the building of the wall and the numerous obstacles Nehemiah had to overcome in the process. God's work, done God's way, will never lack Satanic opposition. Nehemiah demonstrates both the character and skill set necessary to accomplish God's purposes. His motivation is spelled out in 5:19 (and reiterated in 13:14, 22, 29, 31).
Nehemiah 3 Division of Labor
1.Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up its doors; even to the tower of Hammeah2.Next to him built the men of Jericho.3.The sons of Hassenaah built the fish gate. They laid its beams, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.4.Next to them...5.Next to them, the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles didn’t put their necks to the work of their lord.12.Next to him, Shallum...the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, he and his daughters, made repairs.16.After him, Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half the district of Beth Zur, made repairs to the place opposite the tombs of David, and to the pool that was made, and to the house of the mighty men.17.After him, the Levites...23 After them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs across from their house...32.Between the ascent of the corner and the sheep gate, the goldsmiths and the merchants made repairs.Observation
3:1-32.A good leader magnifies and recognizes the achievements of others, providing both accountability and incentive. The work was divided and delegated by families and affinity groups, and where people had an interest in protecting their homes. Verse 15 is a different Nehemiah than the author.
Nehemiah 4 External Difficulties
1.When Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.2.He spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, since they are burned?"3.Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, "What they are building, if a fox climbed up it, he would break down their stone wall."4."Hear, our God; for we are despised; and turn back their reproach on their own head, give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity;5.don’t cover their iniquity, and don’t let their sin be blotted out from before you; for they have insulted the builders."6.So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together to half its height: for the people had a mind to work.7.When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be filled, then they were very angry;8.and they conspired all of them together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion therein.9.But we made our prayer to our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.10.Judah said, "The strength of the bearers of burdens is fading, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall."11.Our adversaries said, "They shall not know, neither see, until we come into their midst, and kill them, and cause the work to cease."12.It happened that when the Jews who lived by them came, they said to us ten times from all places, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us."13.Therefore I set in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in the open places, I set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.14.I looked, and rose up, and said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, "Don’t be afraid of them! Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses."15.It happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and God had brought their counsel to nothing, that we returned all of us to the wall, everyone to his work.16.It happened from that time forth, that half of my servants worked in the work, and half of them held the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the coats of mail; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.17.They all built the wall and those who bore burdens loaded themselves; everyone with one of his hands worked in the work, and with the other held his weapon;18.and the builders, everyone wore his sword at his side, and so built. He who sounded the trumpet was by me.19.I said to the nobles, and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, "The work is great and large, and we are separated on the wall, one far from another.20.Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally there to us. Our God will fight for us."21.So we worked in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning until the stars appeared.22.Likewise at the same time said I to the people, "Let everyone with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and may labor in the day."23.So neither I, nor my brothers, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes. Everyone took his weapon to the water.Observations
4:1-7.When they couldn't dishearten the people, the enemies conspired to physically attack the rebuilders. The response was to pray to God, and set up defenses. Nehemiah provides leadership in deploying the defenses, taking the most dangerous place himself, and encouraging the people with a reminder of God's character and purposes.
4:16-23.
Nehemiah sets up a defense plan, and again leads by example in guarding and working.
Application
When facing unjust and unfair opposition, entrust yourself to God and take proper precautions. He may energize your sword, or fight for you directly, or deflate your enemies.
Prayer
God, I praise You for being mighty and just, and using Your power on behalf of those devoted to You; please help me, energize me, and fight my battles for me. Thanks. Amen.
Nehemiah 5 Internal Difficulties
1.Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.2.For some said, "We, our sons and our daughters, are many. Let us get grain, that we may eat and live."3.Some said, "We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses. Let us get grain, because of the famine."4.There were also some who said, "We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute using our fields and our vineyards as collateral.5.Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.”6.I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.7.Then I pondered them, and confronted the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, "You're charging your own people usury." I held a great assembly against them.8.I said to them, "We, after our ability, have redeemed our brothers the Jews that were sold to the nations; and would you even sell your brothers?" Then they held their peace, and had nothing to say.9.Also I said, "The thing that you do is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?10.I likewise, my brothers and my servants, lend them money and grain. Please let us stop this usury.11.Please restore to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that you are charging them."12.Then they said, "We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, even as you say." Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise.13.Also I shook out my lap, and said, "So may God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that doesn’t perform this promise; even thus be he shaken out, and emptied." All the assembly said, "Amen," and praised Yahweh. The people did according to this promise.14.Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor.15.But the former governors who were before me were supported by the people, and took bread and wine from them, besides forty shekels of silver; yes, their servants ruled over the people: but I didn’t do so, because of the fear of God.16.Yes, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered there to the work.17.Moreover there were at my table, of the Jews and the rulers, one hundred fifty men, besides those who came to us from among the nations that were around us.18.Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this I didn’t demand the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy on this people.19.Remember to me, my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.Observations
5:1-5.The self-centeredness of the Jews who had economic resources threatened the work, because they were exploiting those in need rather than helping them.
Dt 15:7 If a poor man, one of your brothers, is with you within any of your gates in your land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother
5:6-13.
Because of their lack of fear of God, the “haves” were not only failing to love their brothers in meeting their needs caused by the oppression, but were adding to their sin by charging them interest, in violation of the law.
Dt 23:19 You shall not lend on interest to your brother; interest of money, interest of food, interest of anything that is lent on interest
5:14-19.
In contrast, Nehemiah feared God, and refused what was rightfully his as governor, so he didn't put a burden on the people. He went beyond that in generously giving to others setting the example as a leader should. Nehemiah's motivation is clear from 5:19 (also 6:14; 13:14, 22, 29, 31), not only did he fear God, but was very conscious of God's judgment and reward.
Application
Self-centered greed doesn't glorify God; remember that God remembers all the good (and not so good) we do.
Prayer
God, not only do You judge Your enemies, You also judge Your people; may my motives and actions fare well at Your judgment seat. Amen.
Nehemiah 6 Personal Plots to Discredit
1.Now it happened, when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies, that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates;)2.that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono." But they intended to harm me.3.I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work, so that I can’t come down. Why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?"4.They sent to me four times after this sort; and I answered them the same way.5.Then Sanballat sent his servant to me the same way the fifth time with an open letter in his hand,6.in which was written, "It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel. Because of that, you are building the wall. You would be their king, according to these words.7.You have also appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now it will be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together."8.Then I sent to him, saying, "There are no such things done as you say, but you imagine them out of your own heart."9.For they all would have made us afraid, saying, "Their hands will be weakened from the work, that it not be done. But now, strengthen my hands."10.I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home; and he said, "Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple; for they will come to kill you; yes, in the night will they come to kill you."11.I said, "Should such a man as I flee? Who is there that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in."12.I discerned, and behold, God had not sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy against me. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.13.He hired so that I would be afraid, do so, and sin, and that they might have material for an evil report, that they might reproach me.14."Remember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear."15.So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.16.It happened, when all our enemies heard of it, that all the nations that were about us were afraid, and were much cast down in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was worked of our God.17.Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them.18.For there were many in Judah sworn to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah; and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as wife.19.Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.Observations
6:1-14.The bad guys first try to draw Nehemiah away, multiple times to harm him, they spread lies about him, then hire false prophets, then try to seduce him into staying in the temple unlawfully. In all these attacks, Nehemiah had discernment and feared God rather than man, asking God to remember and judge.
6:15-15.
As a result of Nehemiah's leadership, the wall gets completed in 52 days, and God gets glorified in the eyes of those who opposed. Many in Judah had sworn allegiance to Tobiah because of his influence. Despite his evil opposition, 13:7,8 records that he actually has a guest chamber in the courts of the house of God.
Application
Trusting in God and staying the course of doing His will, results in opposition, but also in God being glorified.
Prayer
God, may I have discernment to walk in Your ways, and avoid the traps of the evil ones. Amen.
Nehemiah 7 Conserving the Fruits of Victory
1.When the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed,2.that I put my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the governor of the castle, in charge of Jerusalem; for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.3.I said to them, "Don’t let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while they stand guard, let them shut the doors, and you bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, with everyone near his house."4.Now the city was wide and large; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built.5.My God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written therein:6.These are the children of the province, who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, everyone to his city;7.who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah...Mordecai...39.The priests..40.The Levites...41.The singers...42.The porters...43.The Levites...44.The singers...45.The porters...46.The governor said to them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, until there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.57.The children of Solomon’s servants...61.These were those who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Imm64.These searched for their geneological records, but couldn’t find them. Therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood.65.The governor said to them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, until there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.66.The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty,67.besides their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven: and they had two hundred forty-five singing men and singing women.68.Their horses their mules,69.their camels, their donkeys70.Some from among the heads of fathers’ households gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury one thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, and five hundred thirty priests’ garments.71.Some of the heads of fathers’ households gave into the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand two hundred minas of silver.72.That which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand minas of silver, and sixty-seven priests’ garments.73.So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinim, and all Israel, lived in their cities. When the seventh month had come, the children of Israel were in their cities.Observations
7:1-4.Staffing is a key leadership function. Now that the wall was built, maintaining security becomes a concern. Nehemiah puts his brother and a guy who is both faithful and God fearing in charge of the gates, with instructions for restricted access and watches.
7:5-65.
Then God put it into Nehemiah's heart to determine the genealogy of the assembly, particularly of the various people who could minister in Yahweh's service. Those whose genealogy couldn't be verified were not able to partake of the offerings until a priest with could determine their authenticity using the Urim and Thummim (kind of like casting lots).
7:66-73.
Both leaders and people contributed to the financial support of the temple.
Application
It's good to have a heart accessible to God, so He can put His will into it.
Prayer
God, may my heart always be open to You, and may You use it for Your purposes. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God uses people, with both character and skills, who are motivated by His justice, to accomplish His purposes, protect His people, and bring Him glory. He allows difficulties, even as we are doing His will, so we will develop and deepen our dependence upon Him.Us in a nutshell: Under good, other-centered, self-sacrificial leadership, God's people can work together to overcome great odds, and bring Him glory. Self-centered behavior, concerned only about our gain, at the expense of others is sin that threatens God's glory. When faced with evil, satanic opposition, our best course of action is to call out to God for help, and focus on doing His will. Developing wise discernment and a heart open to God, guides us safely around trouble. Maintaining fear of God and remembering His justice provide motivation to sacrifice personal gain for God's reward.