Nehemiah 8:9-12 – Rejoice in the Lord!

The day when the people gathered at the front of Water Gate to hear the Law read was significant and special. The Word of the LORD was read for the first time after a long time.  The eyes of everyone were fixed and every ear attentive to Ezra who read the word from a wooden platform. They were focused on the word from the scroll.

As the word was heard, the people were moved to tears.  Though it was a day to celebrate many became emotional. The leaders, namely Nehemiah who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe and the Levites who were there to explain the word stressed to the people that it was not a day of mourning. It was to be a day of celebration, a day where everyone was urged to share a feast with the less fortunate. The people were urged not to grieve but to find joy in LORD.  For the joy of the LORD would be the source of their strength. So the people celebrated the day with festivity. They celebrated not because the wall was built but because the Word was heard and understood.   

As God’s people, we must learn to joyfully hear the Word and rejoice in Him. He is the reason for our joy. Though we have been saved, we are not immune from the trials of life. Hence, we must not only exult in peace, but we must also learn to exult in trials. Here is what James 1:2-4 urge us to do and tells us what that can do to us. He said,  ^“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, and let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”  So hear the word of Paul to the Philippians afresh. He said, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).      

Nehemiah 8:1-8 – Be Word-centred

The walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt. On the first day of the seventh month, the sacred month in the Jewish calendar, the people gathered as one in front of the Water Gate. Ezra who was not mentioned during the building of the walls of Jerusalem was now being asked to bring the book of the Law of Moses. He was not just a priest but also a scribe skilled in the Law.  The good thing here was that the people wanted to hear the Law. So obviously they asked Ezra the godly scribe to read it for them.

Ezra read the Law of Moses to a great assembly of people who could understand. Instead of gathering at the temple ground, the gathering was at the Water Gate. This was because they needed a place to accommodate the bigger group. It was also because the Water Gate was one of the places of the center of life in the community.   

 

Those who gathered to listen to the reading of the Law comprised of men, women, and “all who could listen with understanding.” Verse 4 said that Ezra stood and read from  a wooden podium made for the purpose. Standing beside him on his left hand stood “…Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.” These were most likely the leaders of the community. It was important that the leaders band together for such a momentous occasion such as this.  How much of the Law was read was not specified, but we are told that Ezra read it from morning to midday.

 

This was the first time after a long time that the Word of God was read. So the people responded with enthusiasm and much respect. Everyone stood up for the reading of the Word. When Ezra blessed the LORD, the people  responded with Amen with lifted hands. Then they prostrated and with their faces on the ground, they worshipped the great Yahweh. Nehemiah 8:5-8 said that thirteen Levites namely Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah were at hand to explain the Law to the people. They were there to help explain the Word to the people to enable them to apply the law.  Reading alone was not sufficient, in order for people to aptly apply what they had heard, they must first understand it. That accounted for the presence of the Levites.  

 

The Word of God is a key component in our faith life. They are God’s revelation of Himself to us as well as His instruction for us. The Word of God must be read, studied, memorized, and applied if we are to know how to live a God-pleasing life. There is a need for us to accurately interpret the Word because our application of the truth can only be as accurate as our interpretation of it. So let’s take the admonition of 2 Timothy 2:15 seriously, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”       

Nehemiah 7:5-73 - Start well, stay strong and finish with distinction

The list of names listed here were the people who made it a point to return to Jerusalem after their exile. But for a little difference, the list is almost the same as the one given in Ezra 2. In the latter’s case, Ezra had the list prepared while in Babylon. Whereas Nehemiah’s list was actual returnees who had returned. One was an anticipated list whereas one was the actual one. That accounted for the slight difference.

Having the list was important for two reasons. Firstly, it provided continuity for the community and facilitated their link with the past. Secondly, to be able to properly organize for the future, it was needful to know the number of people one has.  

 

One important lesson to glean from here is that of follow-through. It is important to start a project well but far more critical is to ensure its continuity and ultimate completion. It would be terrible to start with a lion’s roar and end with a mouse’s squeal. Not so with the able leadership of Nehemiah.  This can only be accomplished with good leadership, supportive workers, and careful maintenance of records. All these are lessons for or learning concerning Christian service. Be sure to start well, stay strong, and finish with distinction.  

 

 

  

Nehemiah 7:1-4 – Be an active builder of the kingdom

Nehemiah made it his first task to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Though he had to face opposition, he managed to complete the rebuilding in 52 days. That was quite an achievement. However, as important as having the wall built, his job was far from over. Now he had to consider building the community. And this would be a far more difficult and formidable responsibility.   

The wall, according to Nehemiah 7:1, had been rebuilt with all the doors put up in place. Nehemiah then wisely appointed the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites.  Appointment of the Levites was important because Israel was a worshipping community and worshipping God was their first priority. The same is true of the church today. Like Jerusalem, our first agenda for our being should be to worship God. We are made to worship God and that must always be our primary reason in life.  

Next Nehemiah appointed Hanani his brother and Hananiah, a commander to oversee the fortress bordering the temple.  They were given charge of Jerusalem. The latter was said to be a faithful man and one who fear God more than many others. For safety reasons, the gates of the city were opened late and closed early. This was a precaution taken to prevent needless infiltration by the enemies either early in the morning or late in the night.  Guards were also assigned strategically around the city. Every resident was to be ready to guard their own home. The key was for all to be watchful.   

It is one thing to have the wall built but quite another to have the community established. Like Jerusalem, the church is not the building. it is the community of people whom God had brought together. Remember we are the people of God called out of the world of darkness, to bear His name and to proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us.  We are called to worship Him and as we do, we must also seek to build up this community. In the task of building, we must be watchful. We need to be alert and not allow the enemies to sow discord and destroy our unity. Let’s be on guard all the time.         

Nehemiah 6:15-19 – With God’s help, we will achieve

The work Nehemiah and the Jews were called to do was not straightforward. It was attended by many obstacles and opposition. One person Nehemiah knew he could count on right from the onset was God. That was why the first thing when he heard of the plight of Jerusalem, was to go into fasting and prayer. Nehemiah 6:15 said that the wall was rebuilt in 52 days. It was hectic but certainly gratifying. In all, it took approximately 10 months to rebuild the walls, from the time he first learned of the plight of the city from his brother Hanani.

Fifty-two days to rebuild such an extensive wall was nothing short of remarkable. The contributing factors to the success were: firstly, was because of the blessing of God. He was present with the workers to supernaturally enable them. Secondly, they had a godly and energetic leader in Nehemiah who had learned to put his trust in God. Thirdly, it was because everyone was willing to put their heart into the task. Fourthly, it was because many people were involved in the work.  In the upbuilding of the church which we are part of, we too need these factors. To ensure that we are progressing in God. We need workers with willing hearts to work. We need godly and energetic leaders who learn to trust God wholeheartedly. We need more people to join hands to work. Most importantly, we need God, without whose help we will accomplish nothing, for apart from Him we can do nothing.

When the church understands her mission and everyone put in their fair share of contribution, we can frustrate the enemies as did Nehemiah and the Jews. Verse 16 had this to say, “When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.” Our success in God can discourage the enemies and make them less effective in seeking out downfall. They may try but with God, on our side, we will be hard to defeat.

In Nehemiah’s case, the enemies even had an internal link. Tobiah one of the opposers was linked by marriage to someone within the community. Besides, he had many loyalists with him who constantly spoke in ways to unsettle Nehemiah. But the latter was not affected. Though Tobiah was a constant pain in Nehemiah’s neck, he was not as successful in discouraging him as he would have wanted. In Christian service, the greatest joy is to know that when God is for us, no attempt can frustrate what He wants to do through us. Let’s take heart, trust the Lord and do what we can and leave Him to do what we cannot.   

Nehemiah 6:10-14 – Be trustworthy

When slanders, rumors, and attempts to get Nehemiah to compromise failed, the enemy now resorted to using mercenary prophets to lure him into discrediting himself. One of the key ones was none other than Shemaiah. For some unexplained reason, this man chose to stay home. He urged Nehemiah to meet him in the temple secretly, giving the impression that he wanted him protected from possible assassins who could be plotting his life. This was obviously a move to give the impression that Nehemiah was a coward and needed to hide for his own safety. Had he taken the bait, he would have done his own credibility in! 

But this wise servant was too smart for that. His response to Shemaiah was  “Should a man like me flee? And could one such as I go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.”  He perceived that God did not send Shemaiah to him but that he was hired to give him the wrong direction so that he would be misunderstood as a terrified man who only thought of his own security.  He would be perceived as one who would say one thing to appear bold but would do another to save his own skin. Apparently, Shemaiah was not the only one hired to do this. Nehemiah 6:14 also indicates that a prophetess named Noadiah and other prophets were hired to try to discredit Nehemiah too. He realized that the instigators of the move were Tobiah and Sanballat.  They were the ones that had hired those so-called prophets to trap him. And as his usual custom was, Nehemiah simply committed the matter to God in prayer.

The preacher in the book of Ecclesiastes in the first part of chapter 7:1 reminds us that a good name is better than good ointment. What does he mean by that? A good character is better than what one looks or smells like outwardly. Without character how one looks or smells will not matter. It is said that first impression counts, yes they certainly will. But what will make us truly trustworthy is our character. Yes, a good name is better than good ointment. And Nehemiah wanted to ensure that. What about us?  

Nehemiah 6:5-9 – Character precedes reputation

Sanballat and Geshem had invited Nehemiah to meet with them together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono. He turned down their proposal to meet four successively times. But just as determined to distract Nehemiah, Sanballat sent a messenger to him a fifth time but this time with an open letter as well. It was a letter of a malicious rumor accusing Nehemiah and the Jews of plotting a revolt against the king of Persia. It said that Nehemiah had appointed prophets  to proclaim him as king of the Jews once the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt. Deceptively, Sanballat tried to get Nehemiah to meet with him. He told Nehemiah that he wanted to confer with him to hear his side of the account first before he would report them to the king of Persia.

The intention of Sanballat was patently clear. Firstly, he sent an open letter which meant that the content of it could be read by anyone. In fact, official letters between governors were usually sealed and classified but he deliberately left this one unsealed. Secondly, he insisted that Nehemiah should meet with him to give his account of the matter proving his intention. If what he had insinuated were true, he would have gone directly to the king. Why should he want to alert Nehemiah to it? The king would certainly be swift to act to squelch it once the report had reached him. 

Being an astute leader, Nehemiah must have smelled a rat. His response to Sanballat was straightforward. Through a messenger, he simply denied it. His exact words to Sanballat captured in verse 8 are, “Such things as you are saying have not been done, but you are inventing them in your own mind.”  Nehemiah literally accused Sanballat of being the source of the rumors saying that it was the figment of the imagination of his mind. He exposed him for fabricating those lies. In verse 9 Nehemiah then went on to expose Sanballat’s motive. He knew the latter was attempting to stop the work of rebuilding the walls. Without hesitation, Nehemiah shot an urgent prayer to the Lord saying,  “O God, strengthen my hands”

Rumors and accusations are common tricks of the enemies to distract us from the work God has assigned us, especially when we are progressing well in the Lord. Rumors and accusations are often intended to take our attention away from the task to solve an imagined situation. We would be on a wild goose chase when we take the bait. One sure way to take care of rumors is to take care of our character. When we are known for our character, we will have no fear for our reputation. Let’s take care of our character and it will take care of our reputation.