I tease my wife that she was the first woman to ever have a baby. Our world can be rather small at times, limited in it's view. We had 15 books on pregnancy, my wife personally diagnosed Lily with autism because of the way she kicked inside the belly and then pronounced her dead when she didn't think she felt her kick. We rushed to the hospital where a sonogram revealed a very active baby. While Meegan was in recovery I went to pick some things up for her from our house and my godmother's house. I was exhausted and I have epilepsy so my godmother thought it would be good for me to take a nap, since I had been up for two days. I passed out on the couch and meant to take only a nap, but I stayed out for 6 hours. When I got back to the hospital my wife was crying and told me that she now understood that she was a single mother and it was just her and Lily in this world. Ah red heads, they truly are nuts, but all of us can become self absorbed. Nehemiah was probably a very busy man, a man in the middle of much of the affairs of the state, even if his title only says "cup bearer". He was around important people everyday, and he had access to the king, but he still had a heart towards Jerusalem and God's people. He was truly interested in their affairs and not just asking to be polite. When he found out the true nature of their predicament he started to pray.
This remains consistent with Nehemiah, his life is a conversation to God, seeking the will of God, desiring to do that will, always surrounded and strengthened by prayer.
Nehemiah uses his station, his influence, to help others. He takes their situation upon himself in genuine concern for their well being. He prays, but then when God opens the door, he walks through. He is a doer of the word and not a hearer only, not a talker either. Nehemiah plans and therefore can present well to the king his proposition. We should research things, lay them out, consider the cost and have a wise answer for the hope that is in us. He knew what he would like to do, and if it was laid upon his heart, he would use those resources of his position as best he could, knowing that if God was in it He would also go before him, preparing the way.
He was brilliant with resources, a man gifted in the ways of stewardship, and he employed everyone in the work of securing their city. He did not go uncontested, his way was not easy to the eye, for their were issues both without and within. It is the nature of our world that we will have enemies to good work, but also that we ourselves may be the worst of all our foes.
They needed a wall to protect their freedom and a way of life that their enemies would happily destroy. Nehemiah responded to this and incorporated the hands of every man, woman and child that was willing. Some of his biggest opponents to the wall and this work were those that governed in the area. They were sell outs to their relationships around them, they were fleecing their own people, putting a high tax upon them while catering to foreign business men and diplomats. Money was an idol here and while those that are part of the church or government should be there so dedicated and able to draw a salary, there are also times and places where it is better to be a tent maker, and therefore Nehemiah refrained from the governor's tax and the people stopped their loan sharking and selling of their brethren.
We learn from the book of Nehemiah that the building of the rebuilding of the temple was not the end, for it needed a wall to protect it. The building of the wall was not the end for it needed men at intervals to watch it. There are pastors, elders, deacons, Sunday School teachers and music ministers. It was not just the structure that declared the sovereignty, but the continual worship of those that stood watch, that met and that walked along it's length.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;[a]
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5 For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100
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