"Planning to Rebuild" (Whole Service)

Shawnee Bible Church Pastor Jon Gohdes Sunday May 17, 2020 “PLANNING TO REBUILD” (Nehemiah 2:11–20) Leadership requires incredible wisdom. That’s not to say that leaders necessarily have that wisdom, but it is to say that they desperately need it. In his plan to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in chapter 2, Nehemiah demonstrates remarkable wisdom and skill—he plays his cards right; he doesn’t scramble the egg; he enters the situation in Jerusalem as an outsider effectively leading the insiders to move forward. This can be extremely difficult to do. Generally speaking, insiders don’t like outsiders—as was the case during the fascinating aftermath of the assassination of President James Garfield in 1881. He was shot by a disgruntled office seeker, who was likely insane, considering his frequent and outlandish delusions of grandeur. What’s fascinating however is the story about the medical treatment that Garfield received at the hands of his doctors for two and half months after he was shot. It was only a number of years before that event that Joseph Lister, a British doctor, had pioneered research and understanding of antisepsis—the need for sterilization in order to prevent septic disease and infection. Lister had visited America only four years prior to Garfield’s assassination, presenting his findings and urging the American medical establishment to understand his crucial findings and change their treatment practices. Very few heeded him, concluding that the sterilizing process was too time-consuming and that it was just too preposterous of an idea that microscopic germs had such an effect upon things. Among the American medical professionals who rejected this notion was Dr. Wallard Bliss, the main physician who had treated Abraham Lincoln after he was shot and would oversee the treatment of Garfield 15 years later. Bliss was aware of Lister’s work but still led his team of doctors to treat the president’s gunshot wound with constant probing by unsterilized fingers and instruments. Ultimately Garfield died of what today would have been a treatable wound, historians agreeing that the problem likely was that he developed a massive infection. His death was, at least in part, due to his doctors arrogantly neglecting input from an outsider. Similar disappointment and tragedy could have easily befallen Nehemiah when he came to Jerusalem to lead the rebuilding of its walls and defenses, but we’re relieved that he finds cooperation: read Nehemiah 2:11–20. While Nehemiah is a man of action, he’s not impulsive. He is a planner, and that comes out clearly in the initial steps he takes after he arrives. 1) PLANNING TO REBUILD MEANT KNOWING THE SITUATION (vv. 11–16) It goes without saying that a person cannot lead anything about which he knows nothing. The situation into which Nehemiah enters when he comes to Jerusalem is far from an easy, casual, or garden-variety project. Up until this point he has only heard of the situation—walls are broken down, gaping holes stand where gates used to be, the city is basically surrounded by sorry heaps of rubble. But he comes determined to first know and then restore the situation. Verse 11: Notice he was also one who engaged in proper rest—he was there three days (doubtlessly planning, yes), but taking adequate time before venturing out to survey the damage for himself. It’s evident that he’s driven to do his own research in order to truly know the situation. We wouldn’t expect anything less, considering that he already demonstrated such immense powers of forethought before he engaged in his infamous conversation with the king. Here in Jerusalem, he personally familiarizes himself with the situation by going out at night to see for himself. It’s difficult to know the exact portion of the city’s walls that he inspected (verses 12–16). One commentator confesses: “It has been very difficult to locate the places mentioned in these verses. The walls and gates inspected by Nehemiah on the north and west sides no longer exist, or are buried under Herod’s temple platform. The King’s Pool on the eastern side is probably to be identified with the Pool of Siloam. The valley referred to here is most likely the Kidron Valley. Excavations have shown a strewn mass of stones, which are at least like the ones that blocked Nehemiah’s path. Nehemiah had evidently chosen to abandon the eastern slope of the town and to build the new city wall there. Thus the city was certainly smaller than in pre-exilic times. It is estimated that the circumference of the city at this time was about one and a half miles, enclosing perhaps eighty or ninety acres. (IVP Bible Background Commentary: OT: Nehemiah 2:13–15) Nehemiah knew that any ability to formulate a plan for rebuilding meant knowing the situation. It would seem Nehemiah was aware of several important proverbs that applied to his situation: Proverbs 18:2; 13. Indeed, Nehemiah was no fool. Verse 16 starkly comments in passing that he had numerous and various groups of people he would have to convince to follow his lead: Officials = likely Persian authorities The Jews = the citizenry in general The Priests = religious and political leaders The Nobles = heads of families (likely “elders”) He has the good sense to familiarize himself with the situation before moving forward, which we see includes more wise planning on his part. 2) PLANNING TO REBUILD MEANT JOINING THE SITUATION (v. 17) Few things are more frustrating and even enraging than when someone tries to jump into a situation without first knowing it and without actually committing to it himself. A major principle of leadership is that you cannot lead anyone in any area where you are not more disciplined and involved than they are. In other words, you cannot lead people where you are not willing to go yourself. This has huge implications for husbands with regard to wives, for fathers/parents with regard to children/grandchildren, for elders and deacons with regard to the congregation. This has huge implications for all church members and disciplers with regard to one another. Verse 17: As we shall see throughout the book, Nehemiah is not some type of aristocrat sitting in a tower enjoying sumptuous fare. He’s in it with these people! He has wept and mourned for days and months because he was so disturbed by the situation in this city where he until now has never lived! He’s compelled to come and join with the people to see Jerusalem restored. 3) PLANNING TO REBUILD MEANT INSPIRING THE SITUATION (v. 18) The commentator notes: “Sometimes it takes a stranger to see sharply what has been softened by familiarity. Nehemiah’s perspective is significant. On the debit side it is the disgrace, not the insecurity of their position, which strikes him—for Jerusalem should be seen as ‘the city of the great King’ and ‘joy of all the earth.’ And on the credit side he speaks first of the hand of… God upon him, and only then the words (of) the king. This was indeed the right order, as cause and effect. It was also his genuine conviction… and as such it was infectious. But in truth, so total a response from such a group was as miraculous as that of Artaxerxes.” (Kidner, Ezra-Nehemiah, 83) When brought to see the “hand of God” over the work, God’s people are inspired to follow. You can always tell true followers of God because they are inspirable to join God’s work. As we’ve emphasized before throughout this series and as is reflected in our title (“building the heart”), today God is not working to build physical walls or temples. He’s working to build up his church by building up the hearts of his people. Ephesians 3:19–22 and 4:15–16 The question for each of us becomes, are we inspired to be a part of that? Are we inspired to persevere through suffering and repent of sin, as we are joined together as a local body that pictures the great and awesome body of Christ which God is building—a reality of more eternal glory than building a wall or a temple. But not all hearts are inspired to love and join in God’s work—both in Nehemiah’s day as well as in our own. After the excitement of the people’s response, for Nehemiah… 4) PLANNING TO REBUILD MEANT CONFRONTING MANIPULATION (vv. 19–20) I think manipulation is the right word for this encounter because these men don’t have the authority to stop what’s going on—but they are trying, nonetheless. In biblical counseling, we define manipulation this way: “…manipulation is often an attempt to gain control of another individual or situation by inciting an emotional reaction rather than a biblical response from that individual. It is often accomplished through intimidation. This involves selfishly coercing someone to or inhibiting them from a particular course of action by (directly or indirectly) causing him to sense some kind of threat.” (Priolo, Manipulation, 5–6) That describes the scenario here pretty well. Ever been there? Ever been in those situations where someone is trying to get you to do something or stop doing something that you are pretty sure it’s OK? (They might even be doing it with a smile on their face.) Their questions cause an uneasy feeling—inciting doubt, fear, uncertainty, and uneasiness. The example par excellence of manipulators in the Bible was the Pharisees in their interactions with Jesus as they constantly sought to trip him up. Not only did Jesus adeptly handle his manipulators, but Nehemiah ably handles his as well! They teach by providing an important example. The biblical twofold pattern for responding to manipulation (cf. Priolo, Manipulation): 1. Know and appeal to personal responsibility (“we His servants will arise and build”) 2. Know and appeal to God’s will (“you have no portion, right, or memorial in Jerusalem”) We see both dynamics here, and we see them repeatedly with Jesus also. (But you’re sensible people, and I leave you to go look for them in the Gospel narratives.) Strikingly, Nehemiah doesn’t even seem phased by their intimidation! We would expect that he’d appeal to his personal relationship with the king, or to his paperwork with the king’s seal upon it! But no—Nehemiah knows whose opinion and whose will really matters—and that’s a battle we face often as well. I think Nehemiah was aware, not exactly in the words of our modern hymn, but in something along these lines, that… There is a higher throne Than all this world has known Where faithful ones from ev'ry tongue Will one day come Before the Son we'll stand Made faultless through the Lamb; Believing hearts find promised grace— Salvation comes Hear heaven's voices sing; Their thund'rous anthem rings Through em'rald courts and sapphire skies Their praises rise All glory, wisdom, pow'r Strength, thanks, and honor are To God our King, who reigns on high Forevermore (“There Is a Higher Throne” by Keith and Krysten Getty)