It's a team effort
The heart of a prophet - Book of Nehemiah • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 55:34
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Whats’ in a list?
Whats’ in a list?
What is the importance, significance of a list of names? I think we will see in this chapter there are things we can learn from the list.
We have all been to graduation ceremonies while we sit and wait, sometimes for a long time, to hear the name of our loved one. Tonight sit and engage, wait as we work our way through this together and make some observations from this name filled chapter.
The chapter is 32 verses long, filled with names, so we are going to peace-meal this through, so, a little different than we normally do. If you have questions as we go, stop and ask, for I’m sure I will have some too.
The Sheep Gate
The Sheep Gate
Gates were critical to the security of the city. They were the entry and exit points of the city and the walls were built around the gates. The chapter focuses on the gates and then the wall. So,the work started on the gates and worked out from there.
1 Then Eliashib the high priest arose with his brothers the priests and built the Sheep Gate; they consecrated it and hung its doors. They consecrated the wall to the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel. 2 Next to him the men of Jericho built, and next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built.
Notice the beginning, started with high priest Eliashib.
The High priest was not to high and mighty to not get invested in the work, he along with the other priests got in and got their hands dirty.
He acted as any good leader should do, get involved, the work was not beneath him, it was in him and to be exampled to others.
We too have a high priest who leads by example, Jesus Christ our Great High Priest. He was a great servant leader.
Maybe you think He and the other priest knew they were doing the work for the Lord. Just as we are instructed
17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Sheep gate would be the entry point of the sheep that would be brought in for the sacrifices, where shepherds would bring in their flocks to be sold.
The Fish Gate
The Fish Gate
3 Now the sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate; they laid its beams and hung its doors with its bolts and bars. 4 Next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz made repairs. And next to him Meshullam the son of Berechiah the son of Meshezabel made repairs. And next to him Zadok the son of Baana also made repairs.
5 Moreover, next to him the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not support the work of their masters.
In this chapter you start to take notice of a couple of things
The workers were “son’s of,” you will see that many times over.
You will also see that not everyone got involved. Though all encouraged to be involved.
The fish gate was near the fish market, hence the name.
It says they made repairs, and in the Hebrew word it is used 35 times in this chapter, and it has the idea of strengthening, encouraging, of making something strong. Sound’s like it could be more than a physical repair, doesn’t it?
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
Next you see the Tekoites, though the nobles did not help, it did not stop the people from helping. For the most part people participated, but some refused or thought it was beneath them.
The Old Gate
The Old Gate
6 Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the Old Gate; they laid its beams and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars. 7 Next to them Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, also made repairs for the official seat of the governor of the province beyond the River.
8 Next to him Uzziel the son of Harhaiah of the goldsmiths made repairs. And next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. 9 Next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, the official of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs.
10 Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs. 11 Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and the Tower of Furnaces.
12 Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the official of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs, he and his daughters.
The old gate and surrounding areas were being built by non-builders
A goldsmith
A perfumer
Other leaders from district of Jerusalem
The most important quality God uses is not ability, it is availability.
Meaning of a few names, people who built in front of their homes.
Jedaiah whose name means he who calls unto God.
In our home we need to be people, and it be a place where the family calls on God.
Benjamin (3:23) - name means son of my right hand.
Speaking of being a protector. Our homes must be a place of protection and peace.
Meshullam (3:30) - name means devoted.
Our homes must be places of devotion unto God.
Malchijah (3:11) we know made past mistakes but repented and got to work regardless of the past.
He had been rebuked by Ezra for taking a foreign wife, he put her away got right with God and then got to work for God.
Shallum . . . and his daughters (3:12) - the call was for all to get involved, this leader had his daughters involved.
As you can see to accomplish a great work for God it takes many different people to do the work. But when doing the work it is with the same mind and heart, the mind of Christ with a heart for pleasing God. Just like any ministry work today we need to work together as a family to do it.
Valley, Refuse and Fountain gates
Valley, Refuse and Fountain gates
13 Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They built it and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars, and a thousand cubits of the wall to the Refuse Gate. 14 Malchijah the son of Rechab, the official of the district of Beth-haccherem repaired the Refuse Gate. He built it and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars.
15 Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, the official of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He built it, covered it and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars, and the wall of the Pool of Shelah at the king’s garden as far as the steps that descend from the city of David. 16 After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, official of half the district of Beth-zur, made repairs as far as a point opposite the tombs of David, and as far as the artificial pool and the house of the mighty men.
17 After him the Levites carried out repairs under Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him Hashabiah, the official of half the district of Keilah, carried out repairs for his district. 18 After him their brothers carried out repairs under Bavvai the son of Henadad, official of the other half of the district of Keilah.
19 Next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, the official of Mizpah, repaired another section in front of the ascent of the armory at the Angle. 20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the Angle to the doorway of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
21 After him Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz repaired another section, from the doorway of Eliashib’s house even as far as the end of his house. 22 After him the priests, the men of the valley, carried out repairs.
23 After them Benjamin and Hasshub carried out repairs in front of their house. After them Azariah the son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah, carried out repairs beside his house. 24 After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah as far as the Angle and as far as the corner.
25 Palal the son of Uzai made repairs in front of the Angle and the tower projecting from the upper house of the king, which is by the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh made repairs.
Again many names here, maybe note that this is one of six kings gardens noted in the scriptures
Others being Eden, Gethsemane, Garden Tomb, Human heart, Church as a whole, Garden of paradise in heaven.
Water, horse gate, and Miphkad gate.
Water, horse gate, and Miphkad gate.
26 The temple servants living in Ophel made repairs as far as the front of the Water Gate toward the east and the projecting tower. 27 After them the Tekoites repaired another section in front of the great projecting tower and as far as the wall of Ophel.
28 Above the Horse Gate the priests carried out repairs, each in front of his house. 29 After them Zadok the son of Immer carried out repairs in front of his house. And after him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, carried out repairs.
30 After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah carried out repairs in front of his own quarters. 31 After him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, carried out repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and of the merchants, in front of the Inspection Gate and as far as the upper room of the corner.
32 Between the upper room of the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and the merchants carried out repairs.
Do you see a familiar name? Tekoites (3:5, 27) they came to help in another area
Shemaiah: All was well near his home, so he went to pitch in and help in other areas
Meshullam a single room dweller (3:30) - says dwelling, which means “chamber.” one room, but with one heart and one mind chipped in to help
Look at the clock, hopefully still have some time to make some observations, applications from the chapter.
Observations
Observations
God works through people. Not that He has too, but He chooses to use people.
It was God’s work in Nehemiah that made him to care enough to ask, pray, to go to the king, to ask of the king, to be bold to the king, and to go to Jerusalem for the work.
Nehemiah knew it was the God of heaven that was doing the work (2:20)
God worked through Priests, the leaders, the common workers, the unskilled workers, men, women, those who were willing.
God saved us for work (Eph2:10) for us to do, good work. He wants us to take responsibility for the work.
Leadership comes at all levels
It started with humble servant Nehemiah who cared to ask, pray and get involved and delete responsibility and authority to others.
Nehemiah knew it would take many to get involved and to do that it meant delegating, giving responsibility and authority.
As a teacher, my job is to help equip the saints (Eph4:12) - but that does not mean I am not to get my hands dirty, for I am too.
God’s work necessitates participation by the masses.
“The work of God happens most effectively when everyone participates” (Mark Roberts) In this work you see a variety of occupations, social status, and gender, all working together to accomplish the task.
Find meaning in our piece of the wall
God intends to work in this world through us, through our participation as the church. We can find fulfillment, and joy when we all work together for the kingdom of God.
(Prayer) (Close)