Seeing God in the Boring

Bible Passage: Nehemiah 3:1–32

1. Introduction

God moves in the mundane

One of my favorite verses in all of the Bible is Romans 8:28, where it says,

Romans 8:28 NRSV

28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

One reason I love that verse is because it means God is willing to work through every circumstance to bring about his good. Yet that verse makes me lament our Christian culture because we constantly need stimulation. I find myself there too. We need entertainment. Social media magnifies it as we scroll and post, searching for the next dopamine hit. So we’re drawn to Scripture’s dynamic stories: Jesus walking on water, Elijah confronting 450 prophets of Baal, or something more salacious, like David’s affair with Bathsheba. Because of this, we can miss God in the mundane. We miss him in Nehemiah 3, Leviticus, the Gospel genealogies, or the details of Genesis. But I invite you, dare I say, challenge you, to encounter God in the mundane, the ordinary, even the boring. I truly believe deep holiness is found when we see, appreciate, value, learn from, and encounter God in everyday work and hard labor. Not only in the moment, the mountaintop or valley-low experience, the next gate opening or window closing, but in everyday encounters. With that said, we’re going directly into Nehemiah 3.

Overall context

Israel is splits into two kingdoms:

Assyria conquers Northern Israel.

Babylon conquers the Southern Kingdom, Judah.

Persia conquers Babylon.

Years earlier, God called Zerubbabel the governor to rebuild the temple and Ezra the priest to guide God’s people in proper worship and repentance from sin and rebellion.

Immediate context

Nehemiah hears about the damage to the wall and laments the condition of his people and their continued inability to worship.

Nehemiah courageously gets permission from the king of Persia to rebuild the wall. He is courageous in asking, diligent in planning, wise in execution, clear in vision, and trusts God’s hand the entire way.

Chapter 3 examines the work of rebuilding the wall.

It’s important to note, Real construction is happening, but this story also serves as a real-world example and metaphor for repentance, faithfulness, and restoring God’s people to worship.

2. Audio reading of Nehemiah 3:1-32

1. Repair begins when Leaders lead by example.

Exposition: One of the first people named is Eliashib the high priest, grandson of Jeshua, the high priest during Zerubbabel’s day. He and the other priests repaired the Sheep Gate. These were Levitical priests from Aaron’s lineage who held a high position. According to the Torah (Leviticus 16), on the Day of Atonement, the high priest entered the Most Holy Place once a year and made atonement for God’s people.

The priests were not craftsmen. Interestingly, Ezra 3:7 says they hired contractors to work, but here the priests put hammers in their own hands. They were not builders or artisans, but when it came to restoring worship, the leaders were the first to get their hands dirty.

Illustration: Some of you may not know that my first mentor and pastor had type 1 diabetes. When I met him, he had already lost most of the fingers on one hand and half of one leg. During my time with him, I watched him lose both legs and most of his fingers.

What drew me to him was that although he was 29 years older, teaching and preaching the Word, and physically disabled in many ways, he never let me out-serve him. He changed tires, helped with house repairs, and worked out with members. He was the first to put his hands, or should I say prosthetic hands, to the plow. He taught me a valuable principle.

If you desire to lead successfully, remember that we defined success as obedience and surrender. Successful leadership leads you and those around you toward obedience, surrender, and worship. We do that by being servant leaders who lead by example.

Application:

In the immediate context, this means Christian leaders should be first on the call sheet when it comes to evangelism, loving their wives, and serving the community. I believe this with all my heart: a person is not called or fit to stand center stage if they cannot help offstage.

Mark 10:42–45 NRSV

42 So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Jesus says it perfectly, of course. The world rewards tyrants and “bosses,” but the kingdom calls true leaders to be servants.

This applies to all leaders, not just pastors, teachers, preachers, or elders. At your job, you cannot lead how Christ wants without learning to serve. You cannot lead your family, extended family, or friends toward Jesus without first becoming a servant. If you are in an unequally yoked marriage, you cannot lead your spouse to Christ without service.

A friend from an old church had a marriage in shambles. He joined a “Fireproof” Bible study and began serving his wife and family daily, in word and deed. In his words, “in 6-months, I felt like i was looking at a different wife and kids. I led with my life and they followed.”

True leaders start on their hands and knees, washing feet.

2. Repair begins when our work is set apart to God.

Exposition: The first thing we see the priests do after building the gate is “concecrate it”. What is consecration? This concept first appears in Exodus 13, when the LORD Yahweh tells Moses to “Consecrate” every firstborn. It is a variation of the word “Holy.” It means removed from common use, made sacred, and separated from sin, profanity, or anything ungodly. The Dictionary for Christianity in America defines it this way:

“Consecration refers to the ritual process through which a person, place, or object is designated for holy purposes through ceremonial words and actions” - The DCA

In layman’s terms, the Bible is saying, “This belongs to God and is for his purposes”. Men and women are consecrated. Land and food are consecrated. Throughout God’s Word, people, places, and things are set apart for God.

Illustration: You know what I hate? Scam calls. I could change my number, but I refuse. I’ve had the same cellphone number since high school, 216-647-6908. Back then, I was with Sprint Mobile. I wanted a phone so badly. My dad said absolutely not, but my brother was 18 and said yes. My brother got tired of me using his phone, so he let me get one on his plan specifically for my use.

The problem was that although the phone was for me, I didn’t own the plan, phone, or bill. Nothing was in my name. I used it, but it belonged to my brother. If I ran the bill up, got on his nerves, or even breathed in a manner he didn’t like, he could and would cut my phone off. The phone was designated for my use but owned by someone else.

In Nehemiah 3, the work was entrusted to them and served both their needs and God’s purpose, but it ultimately belonged to God.

Application:

This concept can unlock so many areas of freedom in your walk with Jesus. It’s “Stewardship.” No matter how special, awesome, or unique your calling is, it all belongs to God. Stewardship flows throughout Scripture and applies to every area of life.

God created the earth and called Adam and Eve to steward his creation (Genesis 1–2).

Our finances don’t belong to us.

1 Timothy 6:17 NRSV

17 As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

Our lives don’t belong to us, which means our spouses don’t belong to us.

Romans 14:7–8 NLT

7 For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. 8 If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Our children don’t belong to us; they belong to God.

Psalm 127:3 LEB

3 Look, children are the heritage of Yahweh; the fruit of the womb is a reward.

All ministry belongs to God (1 Peter 4:10)

Why does this matter? Understanding stewardship helps secure our identity and mission

We don’t worship ministry because it isn’t ours.

We don’t lose ourselves when our job or role changes because our lives are not our own.

We don’t push our kids too hard or shield them from every hardship because they belong to him.

We don’t try to control our spouses because they belong to Jesus.

Like the cellphone, I tried my best not to mess it up because it didn’t belong to me. When we fully grasp stewardship, we treat what God has given us rightly. Next, we see:

3. Worship is Repaired when all hands are on deck

Exposition:

In verses 1–2, the priests are in.

In verses 3–7, the sons are in.

In verse 8, the goldsmiths and perfumers are in.

In verse 9, the societal leaders are in.

In verse 13, the daughters are in.

In verse 16, Nehemiah is in.

Throughout the chapter, people finish their assignments and help others complete theirs.

Illustration: Y’all know I’m a Cleveland Cavaliers fan. I often rewatch the 2016 championship series and documentary. I’m what the culture calls a “Stan” of LeBron James and that Cavaliers team. The documentary shows that after every playoff victory, a player received one puzzle piece representing his contribution. Sixteen pieces represented the sixteen wins needed for an NBA championship. There were fifteen players, and after winning Game 7, the coach placed the final piece. Everybody had to contribute to the victory.

Application:

Unity is beautiful, but people often miss a key aspect. Some say we’re doing unity because everybody is in the same room. Others think unity happens when people from different backgrounds and creeds sing a few songs together and go home. True unity brings people together around a common purpose. We cannot have unity until we agree on the mission.

In Nehemiah’s case, the people united around the plan God gave through Nehemiah. In the church, biblical unity happens when people unite around the person of Christ, the work of Christ, and the glory of Christ. That’s why we’re not at every Christian unity event. If we don’t agree on the gospel, welp, we’re out. If we can’t agree that our primary mission is making disciples, welp, we’re out. If we can’t agree on sin and repentance, welp, we’re out.

I am all for unity. However, unity apart from orthodoxy is compromise, especially on the main issues. We can differ on secondary matters like worship style, variations in ministry roles, or doctrines on giving. The danger comes when our preferences become hard biblical truths. We will see true worship when God’s people unite for his glory.

Isaiah 58:12 NRSV

12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.

According to Amos 9:11–12 and Acts 15:16–17, this is not only physical restoration but spiritual restoration, establishing foundations for many generations. As one of my favorite preachers, Eric Mason, says, “When God promises restoration of the streets, he promising transformation of people.”

This applies to the broader church, marriages, and households. Restoration does not happen without unity. Restoring a household, church, or city requires people united around God’s purpose

4. Repair is a work of God’s sovereign plan.

Exposition: If you look throughout chapter 3, the only person missing from the list is God. Like the entire book of Esther, Nehemiah 3 never mentions God’s name. When studying Scripture, what is not mentioned can be just as important as what is. Like Esther, Nehemiah 3 shows God sovereignly working through the hands of men, women, and children in the mundane, not-so-fun task of building a wall.

Illustration: A podcaster said he took his children on an expensive $10,000–$15,000 Disney vacation. Proudly, he asked his girls their favorite part of the summer. They chose a day in the backyard playing with balloons. He was shocked but learned that some of the most impactful moments happen through simple, everyday acts.

Application: For most of us, our most God-glorifying and God-honoring acts will be found in boring, mundane work:

Going to work for your kids.

Reading them devotionals.

Going on dates with your wife.

Balancing your budget.

Cutting your neighbor’s grass.

Buying someone lunch.

Sharing the gospel with a friend.

At a recent conference, a Hmong woman shared how one person came to her village, preached the gospel, and changed the trajectory of her people. In America, there are 370,000 Hmong people, and over half profess Christ because an Alliance missionary visited their village.

Ephesians 1:11 NLT

11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

What now?

If you notice, they complete the wall here in Nehemiah 3. So why do we have ten more chapters? Chapter 3 serves as an overview of the whole project. Their description begins with the Sheep Gate and ends with the Sheep Gate.

This was intentional because the Sheep Gate was the entrance through which animals came for sacrifice. Under the Old Covenant, sacrifice was the way people received forgiveness from God. Repairing the Sheep Gate pointed toward the full restoration of their worship for God’s glory.

John 10:7–10 NRSV

7 So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Jesus is the Sheep Gate. He is our pathway to worship and the first step in restoring our families, churches, and cities. Jesus is the first step of our salvation. There is no restoration project for us, spiritually or physically, without the gospel of Jesus.

At the beginning of the message I quote Romans 8:28 if you keep reading it says,

Romans 8:29 NRSV

29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family.

Consecrate is where we also get the term Sanctified. The process of becoming Holy. That repair is down by the Holy Spirit to all who have surrendered to the Gospel. If you’ve surrened then remember

Take Home

Repair begins when leaders lead by example.

Repair begins when our work is set apart to God.

Worship is repaired when all hands are on deck.

Repair is a work of God’s sovereign plan.