#619 Tuned

And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites,[a] helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly,[b] and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

This Day Is Holy

9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

Feast of Booths Celebrated

13 On the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. 14 And they found it written in the Law that the Lord had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths[c] during the feast of the seventh month, 15 and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.” 16 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim.17 And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing. 18 And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule. Nehemiah 8 ESV

They asked to hear the Word of God, the books of Moses, the Pentateuch, Genesis through Deuteronomy. He read to them from early morning, sometime after the sun came up to read by, and on till midday. This represents hours, maybe as many as six, and I struggle, my whole family struggles to pay attention to a chapter a day. We are looking for a house now, before that a car, I am looking for a new neurologist since mine has retired. Somewhere in the middle of it one of my kids ask what is for dinner tonight? We made a point to be here, but our minds are elsewhere. Listen, if the people ask you, your children are asking you to read, they are focused during prayer, hanging upon each and every word from the Bible, then it is an act of God. The Holy Spirit is moving, reviving, awakening, helping you take captive your every thought. I thank God for those times, because there are so many things that compete for our hearts, so many things that need to be set aside for the moment, to know, that this is God talking to me. God, help me understand, let me know reverence, don't let me waste this time. If you are just starting this with your family, even if it is a chore and messy at first, (I got a lot of rolling eyes and Breakfast Club antics, but it will get better), here are a few small helps:

1. It is good for you to pray alone before you deal with them.
2. Change up who reads. It is good for them to read out loud anyway, but also the reader will often remember more. She will also relate better to the struggle later, "Excuse me, are you paying attention?"
3. I think it's good to read through the whole Bible, but I started my kids off with the NT, while my personal study is in the old. This helps me to gain study time ahead of them, before they do the OT and it will help you explain points in the NT where they mirror or fulfill prophecy.
4.We use a study Bible that has good theological notes, so after the person reading finishes the chapter, they or someone else goes through the notes and we discuss. This helps bring more clarity.
5. We pray together and often apply these things to our prayer.
6. Don't make stuff up, if you don't know the answer to your kid's question, tell them that you don't and spend some time looking into it.  

It is cool to see Ezra again, he is a scribe and spiritual leader, and now there are also those who explain the law to the people. This is truly a gift, and there are men like John MacArthur and R.C. Sproul, who have helped me so much over the years with a careful and fearful exegesis of the scripture. John has referred to it as a time machine, and as kid who grew up in the suburbs of Orlando and New Smyrna, it was a different place that he described, not just foreign, but alien to me. Most prefer self help guides and enrichment classes, and I myself would come to hate these men for a time, because I preferred a much more watered down gospel, but John, R.C., Spurgeon and others dissected every word, seeking the Author's intent.

The work of Nehemiah continues the work of Ezra, it provides protection to the work of Ezra, a wall to those who are weary and oppressed. This is the venue, a safe place, cast all your cares aside and focus on things of eternal implication. Blessed are those that mourn and the Bible and the preaching of the Word had that effect on them, but do not cry forever, for they that mourn shall also be comforted. Take great comfort and joy in your sorrow, for it is over that sin which God hates, but if you hurt over it then rejoice for this is God doing a work in you. He Who has begun a good work in you will also be faithful to complete it.

This is awesome, they had not kept the feast of Booths the way it is described by Moses, but as soon as they discover this in the law, they want to do it. There is a joy indescribable in obedience, and it goes missed most of the time, most of the world over; no one naturally thinks that it would ever make them happy.  

Booths

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#618 Upside Down Ravine

After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed. 2 I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do. 3 I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.”

The List of the Exiles Who Returned

4 Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it,and the houses had not yet been rebuilt. 5 So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families. I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return. This is what I found written there:

6 These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town, 7 in company with Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum and Baanah):

The list of the men of Israel:

8 the descendants of Parosh 2,172

9 of Shephatiah 372

10 of Arah 652

11 of Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab) 2,818

12 of Elam 1,254

13 of Zattu 845

14 of Zakkai 760

15 of Binnui 648

16 of Bebai 628

17 of Azgad 2,322

18 of Adonikam 667

19 of Bigvai 2,067

20 of Adin 655

21 of Ater (through Hezekiah) 98

22 of Hashum 328

23 of Bezai 324

24 of Hariph 112

25 of Gibeon 95

26 the men of Bethlehem and Netophah 188

27 of Anathoth 128

28 of Beth Azmaveth 42

29 of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah and Beeroth 743

30 of Ramah and Geba 621

31 of Mikmash 122

32 of Bethel and Ai 123

33 of the other Nebo 52

34 of the other Elam 1,254

35 of Harim 320

36 of Jericho 345

37 of Lod, Hadid and Ono 721

38 of Senaah 3,930

39 The priests:

the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua) 973

40 of Immer 1,052

41 of Pashhur 1,247

42 of Harim 1,017

43 The Levites:

the descendants of Jeshua (through Kadmiel through the line of Hodaviah) 74

44 The musicians:

the descendants of Asaph 148

45 The gatekeepers:

the descendants of

Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita and Shobai 138

46 The temple servants:

the descendants of

Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,

47 Keros, Sia, Padon,

48 Lebana, Hagaba, Shalmai,

49 Hanan, Giddel, Gahar,

50 Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda,

51 Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah,

52 Besai, Meunim, Nephusim,

53 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,

54 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,

55 Barkos, Sisera, Temah,

56 Neziah and Hatipha

57 The descendants of the servants of Solomon:

the descendants of

Sotai, Sophereth, Perida,

58 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,

59 Shephatiah, Hattil,

Pokereth-Hazzebaim and Amon

60 The temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon 392

61 The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended from Israel:

62 the descendants of

Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda 642

63 And from among the priests:

the descendants of

Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name).

64 These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 65 The governor, therefore, ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there should be a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.

66 The whole company numbered 42,360, 67 besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 245 male and female singers.68 There were 736 horses, 245 mules,[a] 69 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.

70 Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics[b] of gold, 50 bowls and 530 garments for priests. 71 Some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the work 20,000 darics[c] of gold and 2,200 minas[d] of silver. 72 The total given by the rest of the people was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas[e] of silver and 67 garments for priests.

73 The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the temple servants, along with certain of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns.

Ezra Reads the Law

When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, Nehemiah 7 NIV

Nehemiah is thorough, for even after the wall is built, he puts gate keepers in place, those that filter who comes in, and musicians and singers, proclaiming Who this city is for. This is the city of the Great God, the only High God, the Creator of all things, this is the place He has chosen for His temple and to reveal His word. 

I cry out by day, O my God, but You do not answer, and by night, but I have no rest. 3Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4In You our fathers trusted; they trusted and You delivered them.…Psalm 22:2-4

The gates are not to be open till the day is well established and they are to be closed before the night can conceal those things that love the dark. Walls do not watch themselves, they are not made to be unattended. It is like the river, it will not stop every crosser, but it will give him pause, and this pause will give the crocodile time to position himself. A single guard can watch a great area of wall, and blow the trumpet sounding the alarm, buying time for those within to act. It allows the peaceful to sleep at night, and it slows the approach of the predators. 

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered on behalf of all men 2for kings and all those in authority, so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. 3This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,…1 Timothy 2:1-3

It is a good principle of leadership to provide for the common defense, and to make as quiet and peaceful a place for your people as possible. Nehemiah came and did a job, but also put into place the things which were needed to maintain it. It was not a hit and run, but rather he thought much about it's longevity. The wall serves only part of a purpose, but reduces what it takes to maintain the boundary. He does not here declare himself king, but finds a brother who "fears God more than most." This is the mans great qualifier to lead, he fears God. Lord, let that be said of me, that I feared You more than men, more than approval, more than riches and honor here. Let it be said that I paused often, afraid to speak what shouldn't be said, what didn't honor or glorify You. Praise the God of Israel.

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#617 I Hear Dead People

When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates— 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages[a] on the plain of Ono.”

But they were scheming to harm me; 3 so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” 4 Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.

5 Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter 6 in which was written:

“It is reported among the nations—and Geshem[b] says it is true—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king 7 and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us meet together.”

8 I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.”

9 They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.”

But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”

10 One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, “Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you.”

11 But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” 12 I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me.

14 Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets have been trying to intimidate me. 15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.

Opposition to the Completed Wall

16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.

17 Also, in those days the nobles of Judah were sending many letters to Tobiah, and replies from Tobiah kept coming to them. 18 For many in Judah were under oath to him, since he was son-in-law to Shekaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah. 19 Moreover, they kept reporting to me his good deeds and then telling him what I said. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me. Nehemiah 6 NIV

Come hang out, take a bit of a holiday, climb in my chariot so that people see us together. Redpath wrote this well:

“Whether you be a pastor or a teacher or evangelist or Sunday school leader, or whatever your position may be in Christian leadership, let me say that there will always be those who are friendly to your face, but plan your downfall behind your back. Beware of the fawning, flattering Christian who is always fluttering around you, and who behind your back will be the first to rejoice when you go down.” (Redpath)

We shouldn't forsake the lost, we shouldn't be set against reconciliation, but we also must be wise as serpents while we are being harmless as doves. These are our relations, our cousins, even husbands and wives at times, that call us away from what God is asking us to do, or the way He is telling us to conduct ourselves. Expect the world to act like the world, don't be shocked, but don't be easily deceived, that is often a form of pride as well, they wouldn't do this to me, they know who I am. There is nothing to worry about until we do the thing we should have thought first about, we find ourselves in the position we could have avoided. 

For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, and the adulteress preys upon your very life. 27Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned? 28Can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet?…Proverbs 6:26-28

This applies to those in government as well, not everyone has your best interest at heart. They approached him 4 times and 4 times the greater character prevails. The next time they send a letter with a threat in it, something that will make him look bad to the tidal king. "We know what you are up to, and we have a signed testimony to prove it." I have learned to accept rebuke from anyone, to pause and consider their words, to look at the facts, because I can be wrong, and I have watched those of good intent, who were much better men, be taken down by those of much lesser character. A coral snake is not that big, but if he gnaws on you enough to break the skin, oh the damage. It's not true what they are saying, so the better thing is to finish the work, the proof will be that when the wall is done, what they say will happen does not happen. 

Faithful are the wounds of a friend;

profuse are the kisses of an enemy. Proverbs 27:6

These guys thought they were gangster, but Nehemiah was the OG. I fell often and hard into this trap for a long time, knowing that God said, "do these things, walk this way." In the name of unity or friendship, I made light of those things that God said, I put down that cross, for it was not so good for those I was talking to to look at. It didn't fit through the doors of some of the places I was asked to go. They smiled at me, called me the "cool" Christian, the "tolerable one". Jesus said, "deny yourself, take up your cross and come follow Me. Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake."

Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; 38 and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.…Matthew 10:37

Nehemiah did not go to the ambush, and then they tried to paralyze him with the letter, we are going to defame you. I have no choice but to report this because it was brought to our attention. Go ahead, I have work to do. I have personally experienced that and caved to a point that it bothered me, letting someone get into my head with threats and taunting my ego. You have the truth on your side, but they are not there for that, not bound by logic or reason, so there is no point in stopping the work to argue. Nehemiah calls it like it is, "you are a liar, you are making these things up from your own depraved mind." Next tactic is his religion, when people know that God matters to you, they will attempt this angle too. "Stop the work, it is immoral, look at this scripture here about feeding the hungry." The best way to respond is by giving them the whole counsel of God, and the best way to know this is to read and study the Bible for yourself, and go to a church with an expository teacher. A man, who is considered a prophet, tells Nehemiah to come and hide inside the temple. He wants him to do what God hasn't told him to do, by saying what God hasn't said. He comes in the name of God, claiming to be the oracle of God, but God did not call Nehemiah to the work of the temple, but rather as governor to build the wall. God did not send this man, greed did. He worked for the enemies of the wall, the enemies of the good of Jerusalem overall. 

The anger of the LORD will not diminish until He has fully accomplished the purposes of His heart. In the days to come you will understand it clearly. 21I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. 22 But if they had stood in My council, they would have proclaimed My words to My people and turned them back from their evil ways and evil deeds.”…Jeremiah 23:20-22

So many voices, and again those of the nobles, the respected, they sing the praises of Sanballat and Tobiah. Well, he's never been mean to me. My daughter is married to his son. I trade with him for oil. He let's me use his boat whenever I want, so I don't understand why Nehemiah has such a problem with these guys. They raise some good points too, I bet Nehemiah is going to announce himself as king, that he is hungry for power. These are probably the same nobles who were willing to sell their neighbor's kids to pay off debts due to the nobles overcharging. Their bar might be set a little low, or they may just be that naive, but Nehemiah has something they don't, discernment. He has also decided to honor God, to trust God and let his works speak for themselves. He has not taken the tax due to governors, he refuses to destroy the sanctity of the temple, has no use for flattery and dammit, how do you get to someone like that? He is going to finish this, his eyes are on the prize.

His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!' Matthew 25:21

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#616 Devil Inside

Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. 2 Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.”

3 Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.”

4 Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. 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 When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. 7 I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, “You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large meeting to deal with them 8 and said: “As far as possible, we have bought back our fellow Jews who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your own people, only for them to be sold back to us!” They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say.

9 So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? 10 I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let us stop charging interest! 11 Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the interest you are charging them—one percent of the money, grain, new wine and olive oil.”

12 “We will give it back,” they said. “And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.”

Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised. 13 I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “In this way may God shake out of their house and possessions anyone who does not keep this promise. So may such a person be shaken out and emptied!”

At this the whole assembly said, “Amen,” and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.

14 Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year—twelve years—neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. 15 But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels[a] of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. 16 Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we[b] did not acquire any land.

17 Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. 18 Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people.

19 Remember me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people. Nehemiah 5 NIV

There was that enemy without, and that did not stop the work, the building of the wall against those things that come against us from outside. But listen to what is going on within, and sadly I think it sheds even more light upon the "nobles". The people have been working on something that is to the benefit of the whole city, protects the life and worship of all who come here. It is returning the rubble and ruins to peace, clothing the nakedness of Jerusalem, but the time here has cost these families much at home. 

“If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. 26 If ever you take your neighbor's cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, 27 for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate. Exodus 22:25-27

I was listening to the news the other day and there was a story about El Chapo and the former President of Mexico. Why is no one concerned about crime down there we ask, or why are some not concerned about the spill over here? In the chapter before, the nobles were mentioned and I think here applies more to their infamy as well. There was testimony that the prior president in Mexico received 100 million dollars in pay off money from the infamous head of the Cartel, and that he approached El Chapo, originally asking for 250 million. Men are greedy, and it is not a state dependent upon what social or economic class they are born in to. It is very easy to take money for doing nothing, being paid to do nothing, turn your back on the work that would not be as lucrative. As one who governs, you are the president of all the people, not just the nobles, and the Cartel is an enemy to good and the rule of law, an enemy to justice, a reducer to the value of human life. Doing your actual job would put you at odds with such people not in bed with them. Once someone has power, there interest does not always turn to the job, the betterment of the people, but rather themselves and staying in power. The nobles were able to obtain money, probably trade with their enemies, be shown some level of "respect" from such, which is all a farce. Their brothers came to the new governor, Nehemiah, and they told him, we are hungry, and our children are hungry. We have had to borrow in order to pay the federal tax to the king of Persia, there is also the local tax, and our brothers are charging us a usury of 12%. All this and we are not working our lands while we are building the wall, but they take our children and would sell them when we cannot pay. There is a famine due to rains and other things these people cannot help. They are not without for lack of industry; they have done well by their country, and there are Jewish laws that forbid taking advantage of people in their distress. I understand charging interest for those things that you don't need, like if I buy a boat or a Lamborghini, but that is not the situation here. Nehemiah is angry and rightly so, this is what a governor looks like, this is wisdom. 

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 1 John 3:17

Nehemiah ponders this, he and some of his like minded Jews have been buying back their brethren who are slaves elsewhere, to set them free. These men are taking the children of their countrymen, not to work off their debts legitimately, but selling them to foreigners, against the law. Nehemiah accuses them as law breakers, and here he is with means, using them to buy back what these men have sold and disgraced. Greed, power, lust are powerful things. My most self proclaimed bleeding heart associates and acquaintances will denounce the wealthy, but say of a woman, well, it's her body to do with as she pleases and if I don't pay her someone else will. If I don't sell her drugs someone else will, it's her choice. Thank God you are not rich, you would probably be worse than those who are. 

23Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”…Matthew 19:23-25

Nehemiah confronts them for breaking the law, admits that he is lending also, but let's not charge interest. Give them back their lands. He returns their personal property, their stake in this place, and he is entitled by law to charge them a governor's tax, but he finds his current means more than sufficient so he does not impose more tax. He leads by example, his words and his life match up. This is his journal and his diary, I wish our leaders today could grasp these things, oh God please change our hearts. 

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#615 Sword and Trowel

When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, 2 and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?”

3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!”

4 Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. 5 Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.

6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.

7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. 9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.”

11 Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.”

12 Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”

13 Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. 14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

15 When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work.

16 From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, 18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.

19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!”

21 So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out. 22 At that time I also said to the people, “Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve us as guards by night and as workers by day.”23 Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water. Nehemiah 4 NIV

Sanballat was angry that the Jews were closing up the wall, restoring the gates. It would no longer be easy to kill, to steal and destroy. First he makes fun of them, to his fellow naysayers, his echo chamber. 

He calls them feeble, which probably bears some truth. They live in a city with broken walls and are at the mercy of these Samaritans, who are not like the Samaritan in Jesus parable. The labor we see in the past chapter is not the most skilled, not a lot of carpenters and masons mentioned. It's the first part of his attack, and it works on some, I have seen it countless times. "You don't really believe that? What are you going to do, sacrifice, pray? Hey look at these idiots, they are praying about a wall, praying for God to hear them, deliver them. Walls don't work, even a fox could knock it down." Then why do you care? Why are you taking the time to make fun of the builders, to demoralize them, to mentally break them down? This is where a lot of people fail, maybe part of the noble's problem as well, you let the words of those who hate you and hate God get to you. It is like Gideon and the lapping of water, don't worry, whoever is left standing is all you needed anyway, and God needed none of you, so be excited, be encouraged, that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.

The Jews take it to the Lord in prayer and continue building the wall, which makes the enemies to their security mad again. "What, me making fun of you wasn't enough? You saw through it, so now I have to plot deeper and bring in others, lie about you, start a movement, threaten violence." The men arm themselves against this, they put up a watch after they pray. Prayer was not the last resort for Nehemiah, true to how he got here, he remains. He also has the edict from the king, he is not here on a whim, Sanballat knows that this is sanctioned from higher up than he. "God, I believe this is what you sent me here to do, so I am going to trust You to deal with these men, we will plan on evil, prepare for attack, but we are going to keep building the wall." I guess even knowing that the king has commissioned this, Sanballat is far enough away that he feels free to stir up trouble. The people continue with prayer and watch. Remember, faith without works is dead, if you really believe it enables you to work. If you are a fig tree then I will find figs in your season, but remember, they didn't just pray and have a wall appear. Nehemiah prayed and planned for months before he even arrived. You will one day look back upon the labor, the opposition, the jeering and the tears, and thank God that He gave you any part in this that belongs to His honor and glory alone.

Now they have been busy about their work for some time. They have not gone out to antagonize the enemy, only to improve the protection of their city. The builders are half way there, but they are tired and there is much that needs to be cleaned and put away. It is also at this time that the enemy has realized the only way to stop them is to kill them. The threat of it has not been enough to do more than discourage them for a while, and this Nehemiah always has an answer. He does not seek their harm, he gives that to God, but he arms himself against their attack. When you attack someone else and they defend themselves, it is upon your own head, it is self defense. Having done all to stand, it is now time to put on your armor, to engage in warfare if they insist. Be ready for the sound of the trumpet, with the trowel in one hand and your sword in the other. 

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.…Ephesians 6: 11-13

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#614 Building the Wall

Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. 2 The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them.

3 The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. 4 Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the next section. Next to him Meshullam son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs, and next to him Zadok son of Baana also made repairs. 5 The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.[a]

6 The Jeshanah[b] Gate was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. 7 Next to them, repairs were made by men from Gibeon and Mizpah—Melatiah of Gibeon and Jadon of Meronoth—places under the authority of the governor of Trans-Euphrates. 8 Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired the next section; and Hananiah, one of the perfume-makers, made repairs next to that. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. 9 Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section. 10 Adjoining this, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house, and Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs next to him. 11 Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. 12 Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters.

13 The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah. They rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. They also repaired a thousand cubits[c] of the wall as far as the Dung Gate.

14 The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Rekab, ruler of the district of Beth Hakkerem. He rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place.

15 The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Kol-Hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt it, roofing it over and putting its doors and bolts and bars in place. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Siloam,[d] by the King’s Garden, as far as the steps going down from the City of David. 16 Beyond him, Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of a half-district of Beth Zur, made repairs up to a point opposite the tombs[e] of David, as far as the artificial pool and the House of the Heroes.

17 Next to him, the repairs were made by the Levites under Rehum son of Bani. Beside him, Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, carried out repairs for his district. 18 Next to him, the repairs were made by their fellow Levites under Binnui[f] son of Henadad, ruler of the other half-district of Keilah. 19 Next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section, from a point facing the ascent to the armory as far as the angle of the wall. 20 Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the angle to the entrance of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 21 Next to him, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired another section, from the entrance of Eliashib’s house to the end of it.

22 The repairs next to him were made by the priests from the surrounding region. 23 Beyond them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house; and next to them, Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, made repairs beside his house. 24 Next to him, Binnui son of Henadad repaired another section, from Azariah’s house to the angle and the corner, 25 and Palal son of Uzai worked opposite the angle and the tower projecting from the upper palace near the court of the guard. Next to him, Pedaiah son of Parosh 26 and the temple servants living on the hill of Ophel made repairs up to a point opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the projecting tower.27 Next to them, the men of Tekoa repaired another section, from the great projecting tower to the wall of Ophel.

28 Above the Horse Gate, the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house. 29 Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house. Next to him, Shemaiah son of Shekaniah, the guard at the East Gate, made repairs. 30 Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. Next to them, Meshullam son of Berekiah made repairs opposite his living quarters.31 Next to him, Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and the merchants, opposite the Inspection Gate, and as far as the room above the corner; 32 and between the room above the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and merchants made repairs. Nehemiah 3 NIV

Some time later there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool with five covered colonnades, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda. 3On these walkways lay a great number of the sick, the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed.…John 5:1-3

When I first looked at this passage, I thought perhaps I could attach it to the next, there really didn't seem to be much here. The truth is, you could do a study on each of the gates, on the background of some of the men, places they were from, trail after trail of beautiful country and scenes. The more I study it the more daunting my notes become. I pray that I can pick a column to support the weight of one tiny bridge, that's all, and that the rest will stay in my heart in mind, ready to be stirred up upon the next sturdy pillar of support. 

It is of note, and I think important for sure, that not only the priest, but also the high priest, worked on and dedicated the sheep gate and it's surrounding wall. I have known pastors when I was younger that claimed to have healing hands, preaching hands, this stated as others worked  on their house or after I offered them a job when they needed money. I am fine with pastors being paid, but their work as a leader is by example, and I think it is inspiring to see these men take up the brick and the mortar. Read on if you disagree, I think the text more than supports it. The sheep gate is where the shepherds brought the sacrificial lambs to be sold at the temple market.

O king, Araunah gives all these to the king.” He also said to the king, “May the LORD your God accept you.” 24“No,” replied the king, “I insist on paying a price, for I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25And there he built an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then the LORD answered the prayers on behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was halted.…2 Samuel 24:23-25

The fish gate is next and props to the men who joined in the work, and especially the men of Tekoa, that while their nobles would not work, they saw that the work was good and right even without their own leadership. I have known many that turn their backs to those who could use assistance, thinking that anything more than standing there was beneath them. I myself am not good with my hands, not like a craftsman, but if he is doing work for me then I want to either pay him well, or if he is doing volunteer work near me, then I should offer up my untrained hands and feet to fetch for him. I can bring water, turn a wrench, mix mortar, carry blocks, keep him at the place where his skill set is most useful. I am not a craftsman but I have assisted many, done research, looked up parts, appropriated funds, flipped burgers for their lunch, leaders are servants or they are not leaders. As we get older and weaker, when we are sick or have need, it is then when we realize how much the simplest things mean, and how much we could have done but chose not to because it was beneath us. The nobles of Tekoa, what a way to be remembered, in the canons of scripture no less, refusing to help your brothers. God forgive me for every time I thought so much of myself. This is also the gate of the fishmongers, bringing to the market that which was taken from the Mediterranean and also Galilee.

“On that day,” declares the Lord,

“a cry will be heard from tthe Fish Gate,

ua wail from vthe Second Quarter,

a loud crash from the hills. Zephaniah 1:10

Jeshanah, also called the old gate, many were mentioned here as coworkers in this great build. It takes many hands and all sorts of labor.

The Valley gate was finished and the wall all the way to the Dung gate. 


And he burned his sons as an offering in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and used fortune-telling and omens and sorcery, and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. 2 Chronicles 33:6

The Dung gate went to the dump, the place of refuse, also where King Manasseh made sacrifices of children to idols. If we were smart and realized the holiness of God, we would not place our children here, but rather that refuse which He hates. This was also known as the Potsherd gate.

The fountain and the water gates were near the house of David. The men of Tekoa are made mention of again. They finished their earlier work without the help of their nobles and yet found zeal and desire to continue the building elsewhere. Many were commended also for fixing what was next to their houses. This is always the case, that both charity and love start at home. There is an old saying that if each man will just sweep the walk in front of his house, then the whole walk will be clean. There were sons, daughters, priests, goldsmiths, perfumers and Levites, all doing this work to make their city secure, to restore Jerusalem, to take back the control of what comes in and where. God uses very ordinary people to do the most extraordinary things. 

I was cupbearer to the king. Nehemiah 1:11

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#613 Come The Doing

In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, 2 so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”

I was very much afraid, 3 but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?”

Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

6 Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.

7 I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? 8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests. 9 So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.

10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.

Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Walls

11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days 12 I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.

13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal[a] Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; 15 so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.

17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me.

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”

20 I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no sharein Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.” Nehemiah 2 NIV

A cup bearer is the last wall of protection to the king, his body guard and scapegoat. Well the Lord spoke, when He said, "let this cup pass from me." It was meant for us, and He understood what was in it. I find it strange that any king would choose from those whom he has conquered. Where is his fear of revenge, or does this speak so much to what must be very obvious about Nehemiah's integrity? You may see him as expendable, but there would have to be so much trust here. His role has put him before the king, his character has placed him between the king and death. 

Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have set. 29Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men. Proverbs 22:28-29

Now the two are not strangers to each other, and maybe the king has learned that there is still one more wall of protection, his own awareness. He is familiar with Nehemiah and ask why his face is down cast. Keep in mind this is some four months after Nehemiah learned of the plight of his brothers on the other side of  the river. This burden has not left him and he has been praying all this time, what can I do, what do You want me to do? He has probably thought this out a million ways. From where he sits he has had time to learn the ways of the courts, projects of the king, and met with dignitaries from other lands. He is just a cup bearer, you say, but his is probably the best seat in the house, like Joseph, Daniel, Ester, learning the business, living righteously before the world, then using their influence to help others. 

"I was very much afraid," and the more I think about those words, they are truly not a bad start. It is honest, like "Lord I believe, help me with my unbelief." It is the start of some of the best relationships, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. I remember having decided never to marry, because I could not see far enough down the road. It was a scary prospect, that someone could be given so much power to hurt me. When I did decide to marry my wife, it wasn't that I had come to some belief that she would not hurt me, but rather that she was worth that hurt to me. I would forgive her in advance, and she has scared me since, but I trust God and I tell her that I love her anyway, but she assures me that it's she who loves me beside myself. It is okay to be afraid, but don't be paralyzed in it. Don't wait around for a crystal ball, for someone at your church who thinks he or she is a prophet, seek the will of God, on your knees, in your closet, and in His word. Nehemiah is like Bilbo Baggins, just a Hobbit, a cup bearer, ready to embark upon a wonderful journey. 

What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops. 28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead,fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.…Matthew 10:27-29

Nehemiah goes, and he was a wise planner though, this was not a house built upon sand. He had prayed and thought for 4 months, so when the king asked what he wanted, he prayed again quickly, then blurted it out. It is at this stage, the doing, that he knew the enemies of Jerusalem would appear, but he was ready with letters from the king. I have probably told the story too many times, but it is worth it even if I am only talking to myself. I was just newly married and my wife was only a recent convert. We were invited by a friend to attend his church, which according to him was like no other, and the pastor was a "special sort", to say the least. He came out onto a stage, and they had a lot of people who were very gifted musically, that they prepared long hours for, practiced. When it came to the sermon however, he hadn't studied, he said there was no need. God gives him the message usually sometime before the service, but not today, God was running a little behind schedule, and then out of nowhere, like the kind of stomp you would see Hulk Hogan do on pro wrestling, boom, he had it. He had it, and it still made no sense, whatever it was. Nehemiah thought long and hard about this, was able to detail his plan, anticipate resistance, tools, accommodations and materials. He went to God to move the king, to meditate on God's word, even praying God's promises. Some people claim a faith based ministry, but faith is not without reason, without study, as Paul commands his young student Timothy to do. Faith is not telling an audience that God has showed you that this person should give this much and so on, but maybe if people planned, read, studied God's word and prayed, they would know to do what my wife did as a baby Christian, she went to the car. I realized later on, as parents, we are the cup bearers for our children. They should expect the world to act like the world and not be astonished by it, but the church is the body of Christ, and the expectation should be that though broken as we are, we want to honor and respect Him. I am not just afraid of the king, but I am more afraid of disappointing God in front of the king, of poor representation of the gospel, of letting Christ down.   

“You will often find it best not to commit your plans to others. If you want to serve God, go and do it, and then let other people find it out afterwards. You have no need to tell what you are going to do, and, I may add, there is no need for you retelling what you have done, for very, very frequently God withdraws himself when we boast of what is being done.” (Spurgeon).

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,

but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. Proverbs 21:5

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:28-33

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