Devotional writing from Nehemiah from The Message

November 11, 2006

Neh. 1: The wall of Jerusalem is still rubble; the city gates are still cinders.

The stories of Ezra and Nehemiah are actually two sides of the same coin.  Ezra returns to Jerusalem as priest and teacher.  His mission is to reestablish worship and teach God's Law to the returned exiles there.  Nehemiah returns as a builder.  He brings building and organizational skills to bear on the pile of rubble that is Jerusalem.  Together these two men are used by God to accomplish a fresh start for the people of Israel.  If we are ever tempted to divide "sacred" from "secular" in our lives we need to spend some time thinking about Ezra and Nehemiah.  Nehemiah's work is every bit as necessary and Spirit-driven as is that of Ezra.  When Nehemiah hears of the conditions in distant Jerusalem he immediately prepares to do something about it; not by organizing work crews and accumulating building materials, but by praying.  As God's people, everything we do, even building walls, is done "unto the Lord" and therefore, falls under the "sacred" category. 

November 13, 2006

Neh. 2: The God-of-Heaven will make sure we succeed.  We're his servants and we're going to work, rebuilding.

Upon his arrival in Jerusalem, Nehemiah quietly inspects the walls of the city.  Well, it might be better said that he inspects the ruins of the city walls.  They were demolished decades earlier.  He meets with city leaders and proposes that the next big project be rebuilding those walls and gains their enthusiastic support.  As word of this project spreads, we meet Nehemiah's three adversaries: Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem.  These men are leaders of the area's non-Jewish residents and they oppose the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls.  There is likely a power struggle here.  At first, the returning Jews brought welcome capital and man power to the area, but now they threaten to become the dominant residents of the area once again.  Nehemiah's reply to them is that in spite of the overwhelming task before them and even in spite of the opposition of these three men that he is assured of success.  The reason is that he is doing God's work and that God, Himself, will bring them success.  As we hear this declaration of faith from a man standing in the rubble of a city we are impressed with his absolute trust in God.  This isn't some "pie in the sky" situation – this is real work in the most unlikely of circumstances and with real and powerful opposition.  Nehemiah doesn't think he can rebuild the wall because he is going to try real hard or because he is going to outsmart his enemies.  He is going to do it because God is there to help them.  There is a good lesson here for us in all our effort to do the work of God.

November 14, 2006

Neh. 3: The Dung Gate itself was rebuilt by Malkijah son of Recab.

   As the work begins on the big wall rebuilding project, Nehemiah, as general contractor, takes us on a tour of the job site.  This is a huge undertaking so he has organized the leading families of Jerusalem to take on different sections of the wall, including some who are rebuilding the gates to the city.  We meet Hanun and his team who is rebuilding the Valley Gate and then we come to Malkijah and his crew.  Malkijah is an important person among the returned exiles; in fact, he is the mayor of the nearby district of Beth Hakkerem.  

   Just a second, it looks as though Malkijah is taking a short break, maybe we can have a word with him, "Excuse me, your honor, do you have a second?" 

   "Sure, but not long mind you; there's work to be done."  

   "Being such an important person in Jerusalem, I imagine you have an important gate to rebuild. So tell me about this gate…is it one of the historic royal gates, used only for the king?"

   He smiles and shakes his head.

   "Maybe it is used for religious purposes, like the Sheep Gate…or for commerce?"

   Malkijah grins at us, "This, my friends, is none other than the Dung Gate."

   We are somewhat taken back by this.  "Do you mean this gate is primarily used for human waste disposal?"  We are surprised that this important man is rebuilding such a lowly gate.

   Then Malkijah son of Recab, mayor of Beth Hakkerem says, "But it is an important gate – it is important because it is being rebuilt in the Name of the Lord.  Anything you do in his Name is a worthy effort."

   As we rejoin the tour we find ourselves thinking about our attitude toward some of the more lowly things we do in the Name of the Lord.

November 15, 2006

Neh. 4: We countered with prayer to our God and set a round-the-clock guard against them.

The enemies of Nehemiah and his rebuilding project first try to discourage the workers by making fun of their effort.  When that doesn't work they begin to prepare for a more concrete action, or at least threaten an attack.  Nehemiah takes this threat seriously and organizes two defense efforts.  One is to post guards to keep watch.  The other is to organize prayer.  This reliance on prayer is not unusual for Nehemiah at all.  Often we find him responding to problems by praying.  While posting guards is a practical thing to do, I think the most practical thing he did was to pray.   We tend to treat prayer as a last ditch effort to be used when all else has failed, or something to be done by people who are unable for some reason to get involved in the "real work."  Know what?  It is prayer that is the real work.  Nehemiah goes ahead and arms the workers for self defense but the attack never comes.  The reason is that he and his team first countered the threat with prayer.  Thank God for prayer "warriors" who fight and win battles in prayer.

November 16, 2006

Neh. 4: The common laborers held a tool in one hand and a spear in the other.

Nehemiah takes the threats of his enemies to attack the builders as genuine.  Prayer is backed up by planning.  He stations armed guards, divides the work crew up into builders and defenders, and distributes weapons to every worker.  He also assigns trumpeters to each work crew so that they can quickly call for help if an attack comes.  Some are given double duty: they are guards at night and workmen by day.  They sleep in their clothes with a weapon at hand.  A key phrase is: "and so we kept working."  Nehemiah and his crew's commitment to the task is impressive.  Even without the threat of an attack their job is a daunting one as they attempt to build a great wall out of rubble.  Great accomplishments often include working through opposition and discouragement.  It might be said that the greater the goal the more difficult the task.  How do I respond in such situations?  Do I work with "a tool in one hand and a spear in the other" or do I decide it is too hard and find an easier route?  Nehemiah's story teaches us the importance of perseverance.

November 18, 2006

Neh. 5: What you're doing is wrong.

The work Nehemiah and his team is doing is physically challenging and time consuming.   Not only are they working very hard, but they are working with defense against an attack in mind so there is also mental fatigue.  Meanwhile, life goes on.  These men have families to feed and bills to pay.  The work on wall is vitally important, but there is no income from it.  To make ends meet, they go to the local business men for loans.  In spite of the fact that the restoration of the wall is to everyone's benefit, the loan sharks take full advantage of the problem faced by the workers.  When Nehemiah learns that this is happening he is furious.  He calls for a meeting and reads the riot act to these men.  Either the fear of the Lord or fear of Nehemiah takes hold or the gouging of the workmen is stopped immediately.  What a situation!  The workers face the challenging task of rebuilding, the threats of their enemies, and the greedy business practices of their fellow Jews.  In some ways, this is the unkindest cut of all.  Yet it often happens, even within the church.  As many pull together to accomplish some worthy goal there are those who can't see the big picture because they are blinded by their own agenda.  When that happens those doing the real work are distracted or discouraged from their task.  Nehemiah dealt with this problem head on.  Our tendency is to just try to work through stuff like this.  Sometimes that is probably best, but not always.  I pray that the Lord will give us wisdom to know when such a course of action is necessary and then help us to follow it.

November 20, 2006

Neh. 6: I'm doing a great work; I can't come down.

I think this is my favorite quote from Nehemiah.  His enemies have tried intimidation but Nehemiah refused to be intimidated.  Now they resort to the ploy of trying to lure him away from Jerusalem where they can do him harm.  They suggest a meeting of the minds, a "friendly" get together where they can discuss their differences.  Nehemiah sees it all for what it is: an attempt to stop him from doing what God called him to do.  Four times they invite him to cease the work and come to their meeting and each time he sends word back, "I'm doing a great work; I can't come down."  Not everything we do is a "great work."  Sometimes we would be better off to put our agenda on hold and go to a meeting instead.  However, if we are sure it is God's work that we are doing we too can respond in Nehemiah's words.  In fact, we ought to.  That includes pastors who are being used of God right where they are when the opportunity is offered to move to a more prestigious pulpit.  It's true of denominational leaders who ought to sometimes say, "Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I am where God wants me to be right now."  It's true of church people who, instead of saying, "That church down the road has a better music (children's, teen's, senor adult's, etc.) program so we are going to go there."  If you are where God wants you to be there is no better program or position or pulpit.  Just tell 'em that you are "doing a great work and can't come down."

November 21, 2006

Neh. 6: I prayed, "Give me strength."

As the rebuilding project nears completion the enemies of Nehemiah desperately try to stop it.  Since Nehemiah doesn't fall for their "let's meet" ploy they try slandering him.  Their rumor is that Nehemiah is about to set up a private kingdom behind the walls of Jerusalem and they threaten to send this word to Artaxerxes, himself.  Nehemiah can't stop them from their lies, but he can pray.  Their next effort is to hire Shemaish son of Delaiah to pose as a prophet of God.  Shemaish comes to Nehemiah pretending to be his friend.  He has heard from God that this very night people are coming to take his life.  According to Shemaish, Nehemiah's only hope is to hide in the part of the Temple reserved only for priests of God.  It is there that he will be safe.  In spite of the credibility of this warning, Nehemiah decides that this "prophecy" doesn't add up.  For one thing, he is not a priest and his going into that part of the Temple would be an act of desecration.  Nehemiah refuses to cooperate and continues rebuilding the wall.  The effort of Tobiah and Sanballat to stop Nehemiah from doing what God called him to do serves as a sort of spiritual warfare field manual for us.  The enemy of our souls uses all these ploys to distract us from serving the Lord.  First, they mocked Nehemiah and his crew, telling them that they would never be able to finish what they started.  When that failed, they threatened them with personal violence.  Next, they pretended compromise.  After that there were lies and insinuation.  Finally, they pretended to be the Voice of God.  Nehemiah's defenses were: a firm belief that he was doing God's will, absolute commitment to the task, an abundance of common sense, and lots of prayer.  Fifty-two days later, Jerusalem was once again a walled city.

November 25, 2006

Neh. 7: The city was large and spacious with only a few people in it and the houses not yet rebuilt.

Security issues were not solved once the walls and gates of Jerusalem were rebuilt.  The enemies of the returning Jews were still their enemies and the area was still partly untamed.  Because of that Nehemiah has to create a national guard to oversee security within the walls of Jerusalem.  Seeing the statement that this ancient Jerusalem "was large and spacious with only a few people in it" makes me think of the coming New Jerusalem.  Leaving end days theology out of it, we still have a picture of a huge city, the city of God.  This heavenly Jerusalem is even more spacious than the city Nehemiah defended.  I pray that the population will not be only "a few people" but instead will be, to borrow from John the Revelator, "a vast number, more than anyone can count." 

November 27, 2006

Neh. 8: He read it…from early dawn until noon…and all the people listened.

With the Temple rebuilt and the walls providing security to the city a special gathering is scheduled.  Ezra the priest stands on a specially constructed platform to read the Word of God.  For three hours he reads as the people stand in honor of the Sacred Word.  As Ezra reads something powerful is happening in the lives of his listeners.   In some church traditions time is set aside every service for the reading of and hearing of the Word.  This is not the same as listening to a sermon, even if it is well preached and faithful to the meaning of the passage being considered.  This is hearing the Word simply as the Word and letting God minister his grace through it.  There is, I believe, a place for the reading and hearing of Scripture in every church.  It might be that we might want to shorten the singing a bit (or just lengthen the service) to make more room for Scripture.  Most of us church folks claim to be "people of the Word" maybe we should practice what we preach and give the reading of and listening to God's Word a more prominent place in our services.

December 1, 2006

Neh. 8: This is a day holy to God.  Don't feel bad.  The joy of God is your strength!

Many of those listening to Ezra read and explain the Scripture that day had left the land of their birth to return to the land of their ancestors.  They had left family and friends, security and comfort to go to an unsecured city that was not a city at all; rather, it was a pile of rubble.  They made the hazardous journey to Jerusalem and then braved real opposition as they labored to rebuild the wall and prepare to re-occupy the City of David.  As this task is completed, a holy event is planned.  Governor Nehemiah and Priest Ezra organize an event centered on the Word of the Lord.  However, something unexpected happens as Ezra reads and explains the Scripture to them.  These good people begin to weep and wail.  The sense of celebration is replaced with a feeling of failure and fear.  The leaders have to act quickly or this holy day will turn in to a day of mourning.  Why is it that the people react as they do?  I think it is because they begin to grasp the enormity of their sins and that of their forefathers.  Generations earlier, King Josiah responded in the same way when the Book of God was found in the Temple.  As he heard it read he was alarmed and responded in humble fear of God.  There is a place for this kind of response to God's Word.  In fact, we need to be fearful and heartbroken when we realize our sin.  However, the story must never end there.  The Word of God is not intended to condemn us.  Instead, it is to be for us a wonderful message of hope.  We have failed God and should stand condemned but God is gracious and offers us hope.  The bad news is that we have sinned against God.  The good news is that he is the God of Second Chances graciously offering us hope and restoration.

December 4, 2006

Neh. 9: In your great compassion you heard and helped them again.

One result of the reading and study of God's Word is a powerful reconnection by the returned exiles to their history.  Nehemiah 9 is made up mostly of a song written to tell the story.  In it, God's grace and mercy is highlighted.  The Lord was good to them, from Abram of Ur to the day when they occupied the Promised Land.  However, there was great spiritual failure as their ancestors rejected God and his Law.  There is a lot of repentance on this song, but there is also great hope.  God is still their God and they rely on him to deliver them from their enemies and re-establish them in this place that was promised to Abraham so long ago.   This song is not only a song of history it is a hymn of invitation as well.  As it ends, the family heads are challenged to come forward to sign a binding pledge.  From this moment forward they will be a faithful people of God.  They are sure of God's grace, now they commit themselves to that grace.  It's a powerful moment.  Without it, the story of Nehemiah is just about rebuilding a wall.  With it, we have a story about God rebuilding a people.

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December 5, 2006

Neh. 10: The sealed document bore these signatures.

The Book of God has been read and a song of invitation has been given.  Now, the civil, religious, and family leaders line up to put their names on the dotted line.  Once they finish, the people in mass join in a binding oath to obey the Laws of God.  It is those signers who get my attention today.  I doubt they ever imagined that almost 2500 years later I would be sitting here looking at their names: Mica, Bigvai, Hasshub; an entire page of names that mean only one thing to me – these people committed themselves to obey God.  I don't know what Adin or Beninu did for a living and I don't know what became of their family tree.  Hariph and Nebai might have built big businesses or designed impressive architecture but 2000+ years later that is lost to me.  It's their relationship to God that still resonates across the centuries.  If the Lord tarries for 2500 more years I will, no doubt, be forgotten too and that's okay.  I will put my name in the only place that really matters and join these remembered people as a committed follower of the Lord.

December 6, 2006

Neh. 10: We will not neglect The Temple of our God.

Part of the pledge that is signed by the civil, religious, and family leaders (and then ratified by the people) is to pay attention to the support of the Temple.  The "not neglecting" part is not about attendance at worship services.  Instead, it concerns their physical support of their place of worship.  While it is clear that our meeting houses are a far cry from the Temple in everything from architecture to national significance to actual worship practices there is still the "House of Worship" connection.  The Temple is where they worship and our churches are where we worship.  In fact, the issue at hand presents a pretty strong connection between Temple and church.  The people of Nehemiah's day pledge themselves to proper support of their Temple.  They will see to it that every resource necessary for its operation is provided.  Today, I thank God for those who support the church like that.  Because of their faithfulness the energy of the church can focuse on doing the ministry it is called to do rather than on endless fundraising that the bills might be paid and the maintenance might be done.

December 7, 2006

Neh. 12: Jerusalem's jubilation was heard far and wide.

It is a lavish celebration of praise and worship.  The erection of the wall of Jerusalem symbolizes the dawning of a new day for the people of Israel.  They are no longer a scattered, defeated people.  Once again, they are the assembled people of God.  Their holy city is now a city again and their Temple is a prepared place of worship.  Getting to this place has not been easy.  God's grace has worked in their lives and called them out of distant lands to return to this Promised Land.  The rebuilding of the Temple was a years-long effort.  The rebuilding of the wall had brought unexpected challenges in addition to great labor.  Now it is finished and it is time for celebration.  No doubt, there is danger in celebrating when there is work to be done.  However, there is also danger in never taking time out for celebration.  God is good to us.  While it is true that he calls us to work in his fields, he also invites us to rejoice with him when significant victories are won.  As his people we are a people of hope and joy.  Even as those living distant from Jerusalem could hear the sound of jubilation, those on the "outside" of our fellowship ought to know that we truly rejoice in the Lord who has done such great things for us.

December 9, 2006

Neh. 13: I was angry, really angry.

Having accomplished his mission of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and having had a unanimous agreement from the Jews there to live according to God's Law it is time for Nehemiah to return to Babylon.  He leaves things in the hands of those who are to keep things organized and on track.  However, it seems Nehemiah's heart is now in Jerusalem, so he once again asks Artaxerxes for permission to return to Jerusalem.  When he gets there he is greeted with all kinds of bad news.  One man has made a deal with one of the old enemies of the Jews, Tobiah, who he has allowed to bring his things right into the Temple storerooms.  The worship leaders were left unpaid and have had to leave the Temple to earn a living.  The civic leaders have forgotten the Sabbath and allowed that day to be a time when business as usual is being conducted.  And, the Jews were again intermarrying with the idol worshipping people of the area.  Nehemiah reports that he was "really angry" about all this and immediately went to work repairing all this damage.  I can't help but wonder where all those declaration signers were, or even more, where Ezra the priest of God was at this time.  That is a mystery that the Bible doesn't solve for us.  However, the rest of it is pretty easy to understand.  Nehemiah had provided strong leadership and when he left it created a void that no one stepped in to fill.  One of the dynamics of the human race is that people, even well meaning people, need leaders who can not only cast a vision and oversee the pursuit of that vision, but, even after the fact can provide a strong compass that keeps them moving in the right direction.  This doesn't excuse those civic and other leaders for their failure, in fact, they should have, by then, provided some of that "God-centered" energy themselves.  Reading this story is a real life lesson in leadership.  It also reminds us of the importance of staying focused, even when the biggest part of the project has already been done.

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December 11, 2006

Neh. 13: Remember me, O my God.

As I near the conclusion of Nehemiah's story I find myself reflecting on this man's life.  One thing that stands out is his leadership and vision.  Even from far off Babylon Nehemiah envisions the great project of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.  He organizes the work and stays on course through all kinds of distractions and discouragements.  A second thing that comes to mind is his love for, and trust in, God.  Nehemiah is not driven by desire for power or to leave some sort of legacy.  Instead, his eye is always on the God he serves.  Today, I see the third outstanding thing about Nehemiah.  That is his spontaneous prayer life.  Nehemiah doesn't wait until some specified time to pray, although it is clear that he does honor the scheduled worship times.  For him, prayer is like breathing -- a natural and necessary part of life.  In the final words of his story, written by his own hand, there are three times in which he inserts short bursts of prayer, asking for God's favor in light of his faithfulness.  I get the feeling that this is not just for the official record of his work but an example of what it was like to be around Nehemiah.  Here is a man who practices the constant presence of God in his life...and it is not unusual to hear him address the Almighty right in the middle of a conversation.  This, I think, is one of the great lessons we can learn from this good man.