Nehemiah 2:11-3:32
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good night last Sunday with the affirmation of our deacons and acceptance of a new constitution and by-laws.
Thankful for the unity in our church and pray that our love for one another will continue to abound as we live out these books we’ve been studying on Wednesday nights in Ezra and Nehemiah.
Tonight we are going to be in the second chapter of Nehemiah starting in verse 11 and going all the way through chapter 3.
Beginning in verse 11 we see that Nehemiah has made it back to Jerusalem and didn’t do anything for three days. After three days he arose in the night with some men and began to inspect the walls.
I. Nehemiah’s Inspection
I. Nehemiah’s Inspection
Neh 2:12-
12 And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.
13 And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.
14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king’s pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.
15 Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.
16 And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.
We find in verse 12 that he was keeping his purpose to himself. He wasn’t sharing with everyone his exact plans at the moment.
He then goes out with and walks around the walls inspecting their condition and he finds them in disarray.
Even after the inspection the rulers of Jerusalem did not know what he was doing.
I’ve asked myself why? Why not tell the rulers and get them involved in the rebuilding?
it appears that it was a leadership decision because we see once he told the leaders in v17 that Sanballot and Tobiah found out.
Sanballot, whos name means “Sin Has Given life”, was the governer of Samaria and Tobiah who is believed to be person of prominence in the persian empire that was serving with Sanballot.
These two men were upset that someone was coming that cared for the jews. That’s found in
10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
So to keep them from being aware of what was happening Neh had to keep it from those Jewish leaders until he was ready and prepared for the work.
II. Nehemiah’s Admonition
II. Nehemiah’s Admonition
When he did tell the Jewish Leaders, he laid out a great pattern for us to follow.
17 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
Neh 2:17-
He points out to them the problems around them they that had just come to accept. He says “look…the wall is not in the best condition it could be”
They had gotten comfortable with the walls around them and felt they were sufficient because of the state Jerusalem was in. The exiles had returned yet the city was still rebuilding and not back to the way things were prior to the exile. They were limping along as a culture.
Then God sends an outsider in Nehemiah to come back and rebuild the walls and begin developing jerusalem into what He wanted it to be and not just what it was.
Now he has inspected the walls, told the Jewish leaders and people what he is about to do, and faced ridicule before they even lifted a hammer.
He responds to that ridicule though.
20 Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
20 Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
When we as Christians desire to step out in faith for God there is always ridicule. People who stand on the sidelines and want to tell you shouldn’t be doing what your doing or that you wont’ be able to do what your attempting.
One of the leadership qualities he demonstrates here is conflict resolution.
It’s during these times we must be like Nehemiah and focus on the Lord. Draw closer to Him and allow Him to reaffirm our decisions and actions.
Nehemiah maintained his focus on God and the great purpose that was bestowed upon Him and kept working.
At times when conflict or ridicule arises it is best to let it go in one ear and out the other. however, this conflict would
He used the work of God to motivate the people, not fear, not guilt, or anything of that nature.
Nehemiah preached what God had called him to do, asked others to join him and then got to work.
III. Nehemiah’s work
III. Nehemiah’s work
Now we are into chapter three. We are not going to read this tonight but your welcome to during your spare time.
We find a number of things in this repetitive chapter when we apply some critical thinking skills to what God is showing us.
First we see that it takes teamwork to make the dream work.
The entire 3rd chapter is nothing more than a list of people who worked on parts of the wall and what part they worked on.
Nehemiah couldn’t do the work on his own.
Even during his day the walls were high and long.
The work God had called him to complete was impossible to accomplish on his own.
Anytime God is going to do something great I believe he calls a leader to make it happen and calls His people to follow.
think of the great commission.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
the uttermost parts of the earth....how in the world could one person do that? they can’t…but many of us can.
I did a little google search of the population of Bristol and the surrounding towns. Bristol has a population 60,223 and the surrounding towns where we have people that come to church from with that is 137,682.
The work God has called us to is not something that can be done by one person…we must work together to make it happen.
Secondly, we find the different types of people that are involved in the work.
There are people from all different types of roles and walks of life that get involved with the building of the wall.
The work of God, the serving of others, is not reserved for a person with a title it is commanded of each of us. The question is will we get involved or will we disobey our savior?
And the work is not the same for each person. Some rebuilt gates, some rebuilt portions of the wall, some rebuilt towers, and some rebuilt furnaces.
The key thing to take away from this is everyone did something…what are we doing?
I told you I’m loving this study of Ezra and like the idea of writing a book about them on the topic of biblical revitalization of churches for the 21st century. They are a great example and call to action to us as believers to see that God desires His glory to be seen through us and that we have a work to do.
Let’s pray.