His Story (Neh 7)

Your Place in His Story: Nehemiah 7 Open your Bibles to Neh chapter 7 and feel my pain. If your reaction is, “O no, more names!,” you are not alone. I’ll just say it’s a good thing I have study tools and solid commentaries to grease my creativity wheels, otherwise I might be locked up on this one.  But as usual, God’s word is living and active, so he graciously enabled me to find the thread of His story in this portion of Neh’s story. By His grace he’ll empower you to apply it to your story. I. [Before we dive into reading these 73 verses… yep, you heard right… 73. Let me give you the big picture of it and where we’re taking it today.] A. The practical purpose of the early verses – protect the people and the progress B. The practical purpose of the list – repopulate Jerusalem C. In fact, it provides a bridge from the first half of the book to the second. “Chapter 7 begins with three verses describing the precautions that Nehemiah took to guard the newly walled city from attack, thus wrapping up the first half of the book. Verses 4-73 look forward to the reforms of the second half of the book by showing how Nehemiah went about repopulating the city so that it would become a vital center for national and spiritual life. (Steve Cole) Nehemiah uses the list to instill in the people a reminder of their personal and national identity as God’s people and to encourage them to fulfill their responsibilities in light of this identity.” [Now that’s fodder for renewing our minds in anticipation of God continuing his work of transforming us.] D. Here’s what I aim to emphasize: What matters to God must matter to us. What’s important to him becomes important to us. What he cares about, we care about. What he prioritizes, we aim to prioritize. His mission becomes our mission. [You’ll either get the point or I’ll wear you down… or wear you out repeating it different ways.] Think about the things brought out in this chapter that matter to God as his grand story unfolds and therefore why they should matter to you as your story flows from his. E. If you’re a bit hard of hearing, follow along in the bulletin insert handout. If you’re eyesight isn’t super, listen carefully b/c I’ll actually be talking. If you’re both… enjoy your nap. [state main points] II. [Read vv. 1-5 of Neh 7] Worship is central to God’s Story. A. First thing after finishing the wall, the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed. I don’t know how the combination of gatekeeping and worship in singing and serving is combined (choir practice at the gate?), but I do know the emphasis shows a priority place on the city’s safety as well as it’s primary purpose for existing being the worship of God in the temple. B. The last verses also show worship in action through giving generously to the Lord’s work. 70-72 C. We see not only in the bookends of this chapter in Nehemiah that worship is important to God and therefore to his people (and the very reason Nehemiah has rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls), but it was, is, and will be for eternity, central to God’s relationship to His people. 1. In the days of Moses, God gave His people a traveling tabernacle to remember his presence and maintain a close relationship with him. Their responsibility was to use it to worship him. 2. Then in the time of David and Solomon he gave his people instructions to build a temple as a symbol of his presence and loving relationship and faithfulness to them, and to be again a more permanent location for them to express their worship of him. 3. When Christ came to be the culminating revelation, the very manifestation and representation of God, and to be the final sacrifice to atone for sin, he told us that we would no longer worship God in a place but in spirit and in truth (Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4). Or as Stephen says, in his final public sermon in Acts 7 before losing his life (which he had already lost, had already given for Christ! , Mt. 16:25b), “the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands.” [actually, look with me there at Acts 7:44-50] – Then he goads them a good one with his next statement of truthful accusation and they fly off the handle. D. Worship isn’t a spot. It’s not merely an activity. It’s an expression of a relationship. – Revelation is God’s expression of himself to us. Worship is how we express our trusting admiration of him. –In open-handed prayer, in frequent confession, in Christ-exalting singing, in giving cheerfully to his work and those in need, in daily walking in communion with and submissive obedience to God. Ultimately, worship flows out of who we are. Worship is an expression of who God is from who he is transforming you to be. 1. Aren’t you glad that God isn’t limited to a place? That he doesn’t limit your access to him through a Levitical priest? That you can draw near to God wherever and whenever you remember who he is and his design for you? 2. And speaking of worship in eternity, do you sometimes catch yourself thinking about heaven like a kid? The idea of worshipping God forever, as like a primary activity in heaven, sounds boring to some. It stems from a childish and paltry perspective of God. III. Godly leaders are critical to God’s Story. A. In vv. 2&3, we see Neh delegate authority to two other men of character because they were faithful, god-fearing, and watchful. (areas in which we can all find room to grow) – It seems that perhaps Hanani (Neh’s brother) is appointed as civil leader, while Hananiah, who has shown himself a good leader of the tower guard (remember the north end of the city protecting the vulnerable side of Jerusalem?) as military leader. 1. Faithfulness comes from the Hebrew word meaning reliable, truthful, and firm. *Steve Cole offers some practical suggestions for developing faithfulness (in four ways) 2. Fear God – Hananiah feared God more than many. This is not to encourage you to make comparison, but it reminds you that there are degrees of fearing God. Do you fear God like the psalmist in ch. 99:1-5? [read – and Ps 119:120] – Another side of fearing God is having a listening heart. (v. 5) Neh was God’s man bc he inclined his ear to listen for God’s leading. (D.L. Moody to pray; does he have a monopoly on the Holy Spirit? No, but the H.S. has a monopoly on Dwight Moody.) 3. And we need leaders who are vigilant, watchful. Even guarding our own homes. – Neh trusted God but he also posted guards. Faith in God and diligent planning are not mutually exclusive. [Daddy Longlegs making his way across my window ledge using his legs as feelers. God’s word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. Daddy Longlegs approach isn’t the only option.] 4. Godly leadership is needed. Who among you will lead?  EVERY ONE among us should be aiming for and praying for the kind of godly character qualities of biblical eldership. (1 Tim. 3 & Titus 1) IV. People are important in God’s Story. People matter to God so they should matter to us (individuals, families). Consider too that what you’re up to matters to God. A. [Look at the list in vv. 6-69. Can I get a volunteer? Ha ha. Really, I’m not going to try to read all these with the brief time we have.] Instead, brief review. [see marks] [v. 65 – When making decisions, I don’t recommend the magic 8 ball.] B. The names are only slightly varied from Ezra 2, while the numbers are substantially up and down with no obviously discernable explanation. (Inerrancy of God’s word in original manuscript…) C. Imagine yourself standing in a historical hall. – Christian history – Your spiritual lineage is a rich history. God has you in this time and place for His purpose (your place in His Story) 1. Next to self-centeredness, one of our greatest problems in spiritual life is forgetfulness. 2. Often in planning for the future it is helpful to look at the past. (Neh. knew people needed to remember who they are.] 3. Remembering God’s story in the past should lead us to worship and live for him in the present and to plan for faithful involvement in his purposes in the future. (Steve Cole) *Recognize and define the responsibilities that God has given you to do. As a Christian, you are responsible to obey God’s commands to live a morally pure life that honors Him. As a husband and father, you are responsible to provide the basic needs for your family. As a parent, you are responsible to train your children in God’s ways. As a gifted member of Christ’s body, you are responsible to serve Him in some capacity. You cannot be faithful if you are foggy about what you’re supposed to be doing. *Start with and don’t neglect the small things. If you’re faithful in little things, you will be faithful with much (Luke 16:10). In the context, “little things” refers to your managing the money God has entrusted to you. Do you squander it on selfish pursuits or do you invest it wisely for God’s purposes? Do you pay your bills on time? Are you honest in financial matters? Do you keep your word? Do you live an orderly life? Do you keep appointments on time? *Keep your relational priorities straight. Your relationship with Jesus Christ is first. If it goes, everything goes. Spend time alone with Him each day. Your relationship with your family is next. If I do not order my family relationships properly, I am not qualified to lead in the local church (1 Tim. 3:4-5). Relationships are so important that John says that if I do not love my brother whom I have seen, I cannot love God whom I have not seen (1 John 4:20). *Learn to use your time more effectively. Most unfaithful people complain that they don’t have time to do what they are supposed to do. But we all have the same number of hours each day. Faithful people learn to use their time well.