Work Pictures

Nehemiah 3:1 CSB

The high priest Eliashib and his fellow priests began rebuilding the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and installed its doors. After building the wall to the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel, they dedicated it.

INTRO—

Comeback to what??

The commandment and commission of God…and how we can most faithfully live this out.

It’s not so much about getting back to the “good ol’ days,” or to back when we did this or that thing that’s my favorite…now, it might involve that, etc., etc.

Before and After pictures…for a project you’ve worked on are so cool. Especially the pictures of the crew (if it’s a crew project [like VCB over the years] working on the project together). Like I’ve said about my time on those projects in the past, I was so often the guy who was just, “Point me in a direction and show me what I need to do.” I’ve never been the foreman of this kind of work!

Chapter 3 of Nehemiah is quite a bit like the work pictures of the Jerusalem Wall Rebuilding Project. Soooo, let’s dive in and see whose there and what they are doing...

THERE BUT NOT ENGAGED (Nehemiah 3.5)

I just want to briefly focus on this…because the Holy Spirit inspired Nehemiah to preserve this bit of information…

Nehemiah 3.5 “Beside them the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not lift a finger to help their supervisors.”

[[Side note: What famous biblical person was from Tekoa? AMOS! (Amos 1.1)]]

While the nobles didn’t, people from Tekoa did double duty! (Nehemiah 3.5, 27)

These nobles either considered themselves ‘above’ the work…or thoroughly despised, rejected the project altogether!

Seems unfathomable…doesn’t it?? I sure hope that attitude seems/is unthinkable for all of us.

Aside from the “Big Three” (Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem), these nobles are the only non-participants mentioned.

THE WORK CREW (Nehemiah 3)

The High Priests & Fellow Priests

Nehemiah 3.1 “The high priest Eliashib and his fellow priests began rebuilding the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and installed its doors. After building the wall to the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel, they dedicated it.”

The Men of Jericho…Tekoites…etc.

Nehemiah 3.2 “The men of Jericho built next to Eliashib, and next to them Zaccur son of Imri built.”

Many general, anonymous groups known only by their village or ancestor.

The “Unqualified”

Nehemiah 3.8 “After him Uzziel son of Harhaiah, the goldsmith, made repairs, and next to him Hananiah son of the perfumer made repairs. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.”

Sooo…being honest, who expected to see—specifically listed and called out—a goldsmith’s son (as a wall repair guy) and a perfumer’s son (also a wall restorer)??

This is weird, right??

The “Unexpected”

[expectation = what we would anticipate seeing; whom we expect would, should be asked]

Nehemiah 3.12 “Beside him Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs—he and his daughters.”

“This isn’t women’s work”…therefore don’t ask them…therefore I don’t have to participate.

The “Other” Nehemiah

Nehemiah 3.16 “After him Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of half the district of Beth-zur, made repairs up to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool and the House of the Warriors.”

Also one among many rulers of various districts throughout Jerusalem.

The Levites

Nehemiah 3.17 “Next to him the Levites made repairs under Rehum son of Bani. Beside him Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, made repairs for his district.”

Nehemiah 3.18 “After him their fellow Levites made repairs under Binnui son of Henadad, ruler of half the district of Keilah.”

WORK, WORK EVERYWHERE

Next to…next to…next to…

Nehemiah 3.2 “The men of Jericho built next to Eliashib, and next to them Zaccur son of Imri built.”

Nehemiah 3.21-22 “Beside him Meremoth son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz, made repairs to another section, from the door of Eliashib’s house to the end of his house. And next to him the priests from the surrounding area made repairs.”

Across from the house…

Nehemiah 3.10 “After them Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house. Next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs.”

Nehemiah 3.23 “After them Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs opposite their house. Beside them Azariah son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah, made repairs beside his house.”

Doubling up…

Nehemiah 3.5 “Beside them the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not lift a finger to help their supervisors.”

Nehemiah 3.27 “Next to him the Tekoites made repairs to another section from a point opposite the great tower that juts out, as far as the wall of Ophel.”

[[Nehemiah 3.4 “Next to them Meremoth son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz, made repairs. Beside them Meshullam son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel, made repairs. Next to them Zadok son of Baana made repairs.”

Nehemiah 3.21 “Beside him Meremoth son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz, made repairs to another section, from the door of Eliashib’s house to the end of his house.”]]

Seeing it through…

Nehemiah 3.3 “The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They built it with beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars.”

Nehemiah 3.15 “Shallun son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it and roofed it. Then he installed its doors, bolts, and bars. He also made repairs to the wall of the Pool of Shelah near the king’s garden, as far as the stairs that descend from the city of David.”

CONCL—

We, the people of God today—specifically in the church known as Claycomo Baptist, are being called to a significant…and somewhat daunting…work. Some of us are rebuilders, while some of us are not (more like goldsmiths and perfumers).

When we look at the story of our Comeback…I fully believe it’s gonna take all our effort…& we’ll see all our fingerprints on this project.

Nehemiah 3:32 CSB

The goldsmiths and merchants made repairs between the upstairs room on the corner and the Sheep Gate.