Returning to Unity

ME

Our world is becoming more and more fractured. Everyone has an opinion, or an opposing opinion on a variety of issues. It has come to the point where many can’t seem to talk to one another anymore in a civil manner. You can’t say you are for some issues and against others. You have to take on the whole package so you can be labelled left or right, conservative or liberal. Some of these issues have bled into churches, particularly in the United States. All you need to see is the twitter volleys back and forth over so many issues.

WE

We in Canada, especially in Chinese churches, aren’t affected as much. That’s perhaps the saving grace for ethnic churches. Now that doesn’t mean we are free from the threat of disunity. Or that it can easily be achieved. In fact, our cultural issue is often we don’t face our differences head on, but go around the issue in a game of saving face, of bestowing honor or shame. So fissures are hidden, kept under the surface, until they spew over again. The sacrifice? Our younger generation would rather be part of a people who is vulnerable, transparent, and willing to admit mistakes. They would like to know that they can have a say and are valued, and that everyone can work together. When this doesn’t happen, some leave the Chinese church or the faith because of this disillusionment.

So what does God have to teach us about unity in the pressure and threat of challenges from outside and within, as individuals, as a people, called to represent his kingdom?

GOD

We’ve been exploring what it means to return to normal, and we are half way into this discussion. with the rest of November to go. And whether it’s returning to normal, to worship, to opposition, to prayer, to faithfulness and last week to mission, normal is not going to be the same. That’s because God is leading us to rebuild after the pandemic, this crisis that has destabilized our usual patterns of life. It has caused many of us to think in new ways about what it means to be a Christian. And so today, as we continue to explore what it means to “return”, it’s important that we return together. Nehemiah is part of a memoir from the book of Ezra-Nehemiah. It is a historical account of the Jews’ return to Jerusalem after being exiled in Babylon. They rebuild the temple and the city walls in order to restore the worship of the LORD and preserve covenant faithfulness. This week, we will finally see how the wall was built. We also see more challenges arise, both from within and outside the Jewish community. These challenges will test the faithfulness of Nehemiah’s leadership with the people of Jerusalem.

This is the main point:

Our Unity is Witness to God’s Kingdom.

So if you have a Bible, turn with me to chapter 3, even though we will spend the bulk of our time in chapter 4. Because depending on how you read it, we already know the end of the story. The wall is rebuilt in chapter 4 verse 6.

Nehemiah 4:6 ESV

6 So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

And even though it is half its height, as probably compared to the previous wall, it is a strong start to ensure some level of protection for the people. What goes on before verse 6 and after verse 6 actually jumps around in time, where the story starts with the wall being built and then goes back in time to explain how it was built. This is a plot device you see in movies as well. This is an example of a frame story. The climax of the story is shown first, and then they go back in time to explain everything leading up to the event. The movie “Titanic” is an example of this, where the movie starts with Rose as an old woman and then goes back to tell her story when she was a young woman on the ship. Or Forrest Gump talking to a stranger as a feather spins upwards and goes back to his childhood.

For that, we have to go back to chapter 3 where it all started, our first point.

I. Our Unity is Shaped by a We and Us mentality (3:1, 5, 8, 12)

Now it’s easy to skip chapter 3 because it basically has a lot of names followed by another group of names in a counter-clockwise fashion building up the wall. But if you read it carefully, you will see some interesting pattern emerge, right from the first verse:

Nehemiah 3:1 ESV

1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel.

When Nehemiah has motivated the people to build, the first to rise to the occasion is the spiritual leadership of the group: Eliashib the high priest, along with other priests. The sheep gate, where the sheeps are led in to be sacrificed, is also near the temple mound, shown here.

(show diagram)

Notice that they not only built the gate, but they also consecrated it and the doors, as well as the two towers. Even though it is a physical project, it is also a spiritual project. But just like any other project, you have supporters and you have detractors. Verse 5:

Nehemiah 3:5 ESV

5 And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.

And this is pretty rich. The Tekoites are more than willing to help, and again they appear in verse 27 to help. But here it’s explicit that their leaders “would not stoop to serve their Lord.” Depending on which Lord you are thinking of, it’s just as bad if it’s their earthly lord or the leader Nehemiah or God himself. And they had another opportunity and still wouldn’t support the cause. And we will see this attitude permeate further into chapter 4. Next, in verse 8:

Nehemiah 3:8 ESV

8 Next to them Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, repaired, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.

What’s a goldsmith doing repairing walls instead of making gold? And why is one of the perfumers there, and not making perfumes? Wouldn’t it make more sense for the perfumer to rebuild the dung gate? Okay, jokes aside, there is an obvious benefit to their trade once a wall is built. Their business will no longer be at the mercy of bandits and people will feel safe to buy and sell. However, we also see here people who aren’t so tied to their role because the mission and purpose is greater. Yes, our church loves to split us into AV or worship singers, or sunday school teachers, or small group leader, but we are united by an overarching goal. We shed those identities temporarily so we can all roll up our sleeves and be the hands and feet of Christ. Lastly, in verse 12:

Nehemiah 3:12 ESV

12 Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters.

In contrast to the nobles of Tekoa, Shallum didn’t care for his title and status but got into the project, and even brought his daughters along to help. This is a family enterprise. When the task is so broad and vast, all hands need to be on deck.

So we can see when something bigger than one of us requires all of us. And most will be onboard, and will do their part, irrespective of title, status, or whether they fit that role or not. Some live in the immediate region and others travel from nearby cities. Yes, there will always be some who oppose from within, but the many united can always overcome the few who dissented.

Our second point:

II. Our Unity is threatened by the Naysayers and the Echo Chambers (4:1-3, 7-8, 10-12)

Nehemiah 4:1–3 ESV

1 Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. 2 And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?” 3 Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!”

For those who have been following our series, Rev. Alvin spoke about the enemy of the rebuilding effort, Sanballat. He first appears in chapter 2 of Nehemiah. He was the governor or satrap of Samaria to the North, assigned by the Persian empire to oversee the mixed-Jews in his province. He feels threatened by the wall and what it may do to his own people’s loyalty to his governance, and fears the Jews would prosper and rebel. Feeling threatened and afraid makes us do scary things. His temper turns his fear into rage and then into jeering, not only to his kinsmen but also to the army. To his eyes, these people called the Jews are a bygone people of a bygone era still thinking they can return to their glorious days, but they are nothing. He questions the motives behind the wall. Is it to re-establish their worship? Will God accept your sacrifice (look at yourselves now)? Only by magic or a miracle can this be possiblly built in a day! You are starting with nothing but reminders of your failure as a state (the heaps of burnt rubbish from the Babylon defeat). Did you count the cost? Surely, this would affect the morale of the united people on this project! To add insult to injury, Tobiah, a Jew whose name means Pleasing to The LORD, and a governor of the Ammonites says the wall they are going to build is so fragile a fox or jackal just needs to jump on it and it will tumble! Verse 7-8,

Nehemiah 4:7–8 ESV

7 But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. 8 And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it.

When the jeering didn’t embarass or shame the Jews from their ongoing work on the wall, they, along with more enemies turned to violence. They planned to go to war and spread rumours to spread fear among the people.

Such is the trajectory of sin. It is that restless fire which becomes more and more violent and intense. They become more angry because they were basically ignored and not seen as important. And these two neighboring governors would have none of this disrespect.

(show map)

And now comes Geshem from the South, and the Arabs, Ammonites from the Northeast, and Ashdodites from the West, (they are fortunately protected by the Dead Sea to the East). All the hostile neighbours have conspired to pressure the Jews from achieving their goal. How will Nehemiah and the people continue under such enormous and growing opposition?

Well actually, Nehemiah was not completely passive. He did what he knows he can only do, pray to the true leader of the project and build up his defense.

III. Our Unity is Strengthened by the Offense of Prayer, Strategy and Action (4:4-5, 9-12, 14, 15, 20)

He says:

Nehemiah 4:4–5 ESV

4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. 5 Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.

Similar to the prayers of Jeremiah in 18:23, or David’s Psalms on his enemies, Nehemiah didn’t start a shouting match with Sanballat or Tobiah. He turned to God to vindicate the shame and ridicule, asking God to bring justice against them because more important than his or his nation’s pride, God is the one who is mocked and jeered at. But when the enemy escalated their threats, Nehemiah didn’t resort to prayer. He took deliberate and concrete action:

Nehemiah 4:9–12 ESV

9 And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night. 10 In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.” 11 And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” 12 At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.”

Now a guard is a group of armed soldiers that take different watches throughout the day. There are signs that those who live closer to their enemies than those in Jerusalem were beginning to have their faith shaken. The people in Judah became overwhelmed with the scope of the task and were disturbed by the threat of death. They then plead for their families to return and abandon the project.

Picture a relief organization going to a warring country on a compassion and humanitarian project to build shelters. Upon hearing that there’s threat of an imminent war, their families overseas ask them to return. PIcture this scenario, and you can sympathize with Judah’s requests. To assure the people of Judah, Nehemiah took further action to arm the wall builders with swords, spears and bows according to their clans. The wall builders were especially vulnerable as they were standing in the gaps where the enemy could see them. With the strategy of arming the wall builders, this would make their enemies unsure about whether there might be more armed soldiers behind the parts of the wall that they couldn’t see. This would give peace of mind to the people to ensure they aren’t prey for the plucking. Now that the unrest within is subdued, Nehemiah encourages the anxiety from outside:

Nehemiah 4:14 ESV

14 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”

Nehemiah reminds them of who it is that they serve and his character. He also reminds the people of their corporate, not individual nature as families. This is your battle, not just somebody elses’. You are protecting your own family, and by extension your community, and your land, all of which by God’s grace has been restored to you. So although God will be your defender, you also need to prepare! And furthermore, the original readers of Ezra-Nehemiah would recognize a name in the list of workers and their faith would be strengthened. This would be like someone today seeing the name of a soldier who was a family member in the Arlington cemetery and taking pride. This will become Remembrance Day for the exiles!

The result:

Nehemiah 4:15 ESV

15 When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work.

Now that the immediate threat is removed, the morale which was threatened by the enemies also need to be regained. So Nehemiah rallied the people and divided the task force into two groups. One half was to provide protection armed with weapons and armor. In the meantime, the other half would continue construction, with leaders standing behind the people to assure them they are not alone. To further alleviate the fear of an attack, Nehemiah put in place a warning system to alert of a possible breach and attack. They will then defend as one.

Nehemiah 4:20 ESV

20 In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”

His last words echo that of Moses and Joshua, even David, in a battle cry long forgotten since the defeat by the Assyrians and Babylonians. Nehemiah knows this is God’s will and plan to rebuild the walls to his city on which his temple, where he promise to meet his people from heaven, resides. They are, and always have been, his people, and he will always be their God. The LORD of hosts, the Lord of angel armies is always by our side! He will ultimately be victorious over his enemies. But arming ourselves to defend is not a lack of faith. Though there are times where the miraculous does happen, God also uses the mind he gives us to be part of his solution.

YOU

How do we face a Sanballat in our life? If we put aside the anger and the desire to cause harm, there are actually some helpful things to consider in the words of his taunts. For instance, even Jesus reminded us to count the cost before we attempt to build something or go to war. And the suggestion that you only need to pray and it will come into existence? It’s a reminder to rely on God, but to also depend on hard work. When the opposition becomes too great, and we are thrown off course, discouraged, fearful, and anxious, God draws us to himself so we can pray to him. Just a quick aside, Nehemiah’s prayer to wish revenge and harm on his enemies seems to be antithetical to Jesus’ command to love your enemies at first glance. However, these prayers, known as the imprecatory prayers, is a well tested form of prayer in the book of Psalms. David prays at least 14 imprecatory prayers. However, it is important to note that while he pours out his disdain on those who oppress him (raw but real feelings and emotions to someone who has harmed you), he leaves justice and judgment to God. He will not take revenge for himself (recall how he let go of King Saul twice when he had the opportunity to make his imprecatory prayer a reality). It is ultimately an exercise of faith in a God who is bigger than our worst wishes for our enemies and more just than any retributions we can dish out. In life, there will be Sanballats, and the way to defeat them is to see the truth in their accusation, (or at least consider it) and leave their hostiity with God. But do share your hurts with your community. And if it is possible, Forgive. This is how to dismantle the work of Satan behind a Sanballat.

Lastly, I want to address something that is not often brought up in Chinese communities in the context of a pandemic. That is the notion of the vaccine and faith. Is it faithless to rely on a vaccine? Is it showing more faith to pray to get better without any medical intervention? What is the wisdom that Nehemiah offers? That it is never an either or but a both and approach. Nehemiah prayed his enemies would be stopped, but he didn’t then just say we have a hedge of protection around us, we are safe. No, he put forward a strategy, and armed his workers. Does he not trust God? No where in scripture is there a hint that is the case? What Nehemiah does know is faith without works is not only dead, it can be futile. So applying to this controversial topic, to love our neigbours as ourselves is the great commandment. So to be vaccinated is the best way to protect one another. Does that mean we stop praying that the pandemic would be over? No, because we still know the pandemic is raging, now in Alberta and Saskatchewan, and less than 5% of people in Africa are fully vaccinated. So we pray God would do what only he can do, to transform hearts and heal, while we do our part to keep one another safe while going about being a community for the sake of the gospel. We keep our government officials and chief medical officers of health in prayer, that they would make wise, equitable decisions. And perhaps turn the dial down on social media sites which tend to inflame matters and twist the truth.

WE

We must strive for unity. The world and society is becoming more and more fractured and with labels of left and right, evangelicals and exvangelicals, pro-abortion or anti-vax. We must be a witness of the kingdom which paves for a better way forward for not just our church, but for a united people who can live together to build a flourishing society.