Returning to Focus
Notes
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ME (INTRO)
I think we as a society have a focus crisis. Shannon and I one time were watching a TED-Ed on Youtube which grabbed our interest. I think it had to do with why cats act so weird. Okay, cute enough, and its only 5 minutes. But then right at the end of the video there’s the clickbait. Here’s two more videos on something really interesting. Same thing happened the other day with cute babies escaping their crib, and 5 minutes becomes 10, and then pretty soon half an hour is gone. What was our focus? Why cats are weird and babies escaping their cribs. But how did we end up where we are 30 minutes after?
WE (TENSION)
So I think we at least have a focus crisis. Have you ever had the experience where you wanted to do so many things, but you don’t know how to choose which one to do first. Or, so many things are on your to-do-list, and you become paralyzed because of the seemingly unlimited choices you have? You may choose to do what you like, but at the expense of not having time to do what you need to do. Or if you do what you need to do, then you can’t enjoy what you like. Or worse, if you are the type A who wants to do it perfectly, needing the perfect time and setting and lighting to do something. You just sit there, unable to choose, waiting for the perfect moment. Or just when you suddenly come to a decision, your whatsapp message app buzzes, and you have to go through the cycle all over again.
Focus is REALLY hard. But what we focus on matters a great deal!
GOD
We’ve been talking about returning. And we have established by now that “normal” isn’t what we are aiming for, but something better. Normal would be this sanctuary packed with people. Normal would be not wearing a mask, giving each other a hug, or a high five. Normal would be the foyer filled with us chatting to our hearts content before the Cantonese ushers shoo us to go down to the new basement for chit chat time. Now, I still believe that day can happen. But in this limbo state of seeing a destination, and no longer in lockdown, what things do we need to let go of, and what things do we need to recover?
We’ve been looking at the Book of Ezra-Nehemiah, and we are today in Nehemiah 6. And for those who want a refresher, this book is about the Jewish people restoring the temple and building as a sign of covenant faithfulness to their God. The Jews had previously been in exile because they had abandoned the LORD their God, along with his justice, mercy, and his sole worship. This week, we are almost at the end of the rebuilding of the wall. As we will see, his enemies Sanballat and Tobiah will make one final attempt to prevent God’s plan to come to fruition. Here’s what we can learn from Nehemiah, the big idea:
When Returning is Uncertain, Focus on God
When Returning is Uncertain, Focus on God
The structure is actually pretty simple to notice. There are three sets of challenges and obstacles, and each one is followed by two answers from Nehemiah, and then his petition to God on that matter. In all three challenges, you can see Nehemiah’s focus is on God: God’s task, God’s voice, and God’s remnant.
Our first point:
I. Focus on God’s Task (1-9)
I. Focus on God’s Task (1-9)
1 Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm.
There’s major progression between chapter 4, when we last heard of the status of the wall, until now. If you recall, there were gaps left in order for Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem, the enemies, to see armed builders there and discourage them from advancing violently. Nehemiah bluffed and it paid off! Now even those gaps are not necessary, and the only things left are the doors and gates. Seeing military advance as no longer an option, the enemies devise a new strategy. First they divided their tactics. Sanballat and Geshem teamed up and we will see later Tobiah starts another fire. The request is a simple one. Sanballat and Geshem ask Nehemiah to meet at Hakkerphirim in the plain of Ono, which is half way between Jerusalem and Samaria. It’s about a day’s journey. But Nehemiah saw the threat immediately. He will be well away in the Northwest surrounded by Samaria and Ashdod. Either they could waste his time as it will take another day to return after the meeting, or someone will kill him. Knowing the ploy, Nehemiah replies:
3 And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” 4 And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner.
Nehemiah sends his messengers and says basically my priority is on the finishing of the wall, the wall the LORD God. Nehemiah is probably thinking back to when he first learned about the ruins from his kinsman, Hanani, and of the pivotal role he now has in making sure that the construction is completed. What could be more important than this work which I prayed and fasted and inspected and oversaw, Nehemiah is in effect saying to them. In someways, Sanballat and Geshem could, if it’s of urgency, come to Jerusalem instead. Plus, it’s already quite obvious they weren’t the best of friends. And so the enemies requested his presence four times, and each time he places God’s work above all else.
This determination to place God’s work above all else, is that our attitude? Now I am not saying we need to become a workaholic until we burn out, but the key is knowing the magnitude of the work, who it is for and to de-prioritize any distractions we have. For some, the great work could be time with God in devotion and prayer. Being in God’s presence most certainly is a great work, so that he can transform us to be more Christ-like through allowing the word to read and study us. Or small groups or fellowship, another great work of being in community with brothers and sisters in order for us to be discipled and make disciples. But are there habits in your way which prevent you from this great work? Is it oversleeping? Is it well-intentioned friends who want you to go out to watch a movie or have bubble tea?
I appreciate how last week Rev. Ho said at the end of the service that in-person worship is the preferred way of worshipping. It is a great work, and it mobilizes many of us from registration to AV to musicians to bring back the corporate aspect of worship. In a few moments we will also be taking the communion. It has been 19 months since we were last able to eat together in the same place. That too is a great work we ought not to ignore, especially if the only reason we aren’t coming is because we get to sleep-in. Of course, without children’s ministry, we totally understand why some of you would find it hard to return. Others began joining us during the pandemic and actually do not live anywhere near York Region. But those situations aside, I encourage you to come and be part of this great work of what it means to be a body, a community, a church.
After four rejections, Sanballat and co. turned up the heat:
5 In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king. 7 And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.”
The context is easy to understand enough. Sanballat is using hearsay and rumours to justify why meeting together is paramount. After all, we wouldn’t want there to be any misunderstanding about your motives, Nehemiah. People might think you want to make yourself king, and that’s why the wall is being rebuilt. And who else but Geshem is also saying this, and undoubtedly it will reach King Artaxerxes, so let’s clarify the matter face-to-face. Sanballlat is almost making himself seen as doing Nehemiah a favour! The gall! But his intentions could not be more sinister. I didn’t know at first what the signficiance is of an open letter. But apparently an open letter, not sealed, and delivered to Nehemiah only means anyone can read this letter. The rumour of war and rebellion will spread whereever the letter travels. The enemies are trying to force Nehemiah’s hand to have to come and defend his innocence.
Nehemiah dismissed the whole charade:
8 Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” 9 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.
Nehemiah doesn’t even try to get into an argument with Sanballat and Geshem or anybody else. He just says it’s not true and you’ve made it all up. Two lines, that’s it. Because Nehemiah knows it’s all about the great work they wanted to stop. By connecting the wall to rebellion, the way to prove your innocence would be to stop building the wall. However, Nehemiah has gone through much to get to this point, from prayer and then requesting Artaxerxes to send him back to Jerusalem. God’s hand has been with him. So Nehemiah made a short prayer, to double-down on his enemies. Not only will my hands not drop, but I pray to make me even more determined and focused to get it done! Strengthen my hands!
Our second point:
II. Focus on God’s Voice (10-14)
II. Focus on God’s Voice (10-14)
10 Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.”
Nehemiah the governor was being requested by Shemaiah who is somehow sequestered in his home. He also requests his presence but the meeting place is not the place of Ono, but the temple. The way it’s written in the english Bible doesn’t seem to show the identity of Shemaiah. But if they stacked the last two lines together like this:
Let us close the doors of the temple,
for they are coming to kill you.
They are coming to kill you by night.
And add the words at the beginning “Thus says the LORD” then it is apparent as we will later see Shemaiah is making a prophecy. Now as we know a prophet speaks from the LORD. A false prophet on the other hand speaks his own words either for his own gain or to confuse spiritual matters. A prophet’s words is believable if the prophecy comes to pass. So how should Nehemiah respond to a prophecy on a threat to his life:
11 But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.”
Nehemiah knows his scripture, because in Numbers 18:7 it says:
7 And you and your sons with you shall guard your priesthood for all that concerns the altar and that is within the veil; and you shall serve. I give your priesthood as a gift, and any outsider who comes near shall be put to death.”
Had Nehemiah actually went into the temple which is forbidden except for the priests and levites to enter, he would be trampling on God’s holiness. Even he as a governor, knows he cannot defile the temple, even if it were to save his own skin. He may have remembered from history how Joab went into the tent of the LORD and held the altar in the hopes Solomon would not kill him for his treachery in 1 Kings 2. Or King Uzziah, who got leprosy for irreverently offering incense at the altar in 2 Chronices 26. So he knew Shemaiah intended to harm him:
12 And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me. 14 Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.
Prophets for profit is a travesty to God’s holy calling. Yet we know not only Shemaiah but a prophetess named Noadiah and the rest of the prophets wanted to stop him. Though the building of the wall and temple is close to completion, the hearts of the religious houses are far from restored. We shouldn’t be surprised, because part of the reason the Jews went into exile were the false prophets. Instead of being faithful to God’s oracles, these so-called prophets spoke what was pleasing for people to hear in order to gain wealth and power. Nehemiah’s prayer is a simple one: Remember, LORD. Remember all these people who would challenge the great work you have asked me to do, that they hope in my fear I would sin against you.
What Nehemiah shows us is he understood God’s voice and therefore God’s will because he knew his scriptures. When we are under pressure and distress, can we distinguish God’s voice from all the other noises, including our own which may want the easy way out, even if it may cost us our integrity and truthfulness? God’s voice will never contradict his revelation, primarily in Jesus Christ, attested by scripture. This is why regular devotion and study of scripture is so important, so that it becomes almost instinctual when we face a challenge. We can know whether what others say is from God or from a human perspective, even if it’s well-intentioned. God also gives us his Spirit to bring to mind scriptures which we have read and studied and meditated and memorized in the past to bring to light. Also, we seek God’s voice when we can be still before God, releasing all the other noises and voices to hear Him speak to us. Remember, Jesus says his sheeps know his voice. We need to cultivate the ability to hear his voice, the voice of our Great Shepherd.
Which leads to our last point, third point:
III. Focus on God’s Remnant (15-7:2)
III. Focus on God’s Remnant (15-7:2)
15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.
The speed, steafastness, and focus in which the wall is able to be built in 52 days by a people which has gone through exile and harassment can only come from God. A great work has been done! And instead of intimidating Nehemiah and the rest of the builders with fear, the enemies are the ones who now fear. And with the wall’s completion, we would think that’s when the attacks would subside. However:
17 Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them. 18 For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as his wife. 19 Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.
Let’s not discount Tobiah just yet. Through strategic marriage, he has influence with the nobles of Judah. These nobles, turns out, have been reporting all that has been happening to this enemy. At the same time as Tobiah is trying to intimdate Nehemiah, they try to convince Nehemiah of all the good that Tobiah has done. It’s interesting that this incident wasn’t followed by the pattern of a response and a prayer, but just recorded. No response, no prayer. Perhaps Nehemiah is no longer is afraid of them, and his focus is not on these nobles and their master Tobiah, but God’s remnant:
1 Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, 2 I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many.
God had prepared a remnant despite corrupted prophets, hostile enemies, and shifty kinsmen. Their names were Hanani and Hananiah, who is promoted from just governor of the castle to all Jerusalem. The reason is not because he knows so and so (as probably the nobles and Tobiah got to their place of prominence). Nor is it through treachery or trickery, but because of two things: he was faithful and God-fearing.
Faithful, and God-fearing. That’s why they were put in charge. This again shows Nehemiah must himself be also faithful and God-fearing. He can discern between those with this character trait versus the ragtag character of others, and certainly from the downright power hungry and threatening. Passing the baton to continue the great work is just as, if not, more important in the continuation of God’s will, God’s way, and God’s focus in Jerusalem. There’s still much to be done in the hearts of the people, even though their temple and walls have been rebuilt.
So who are the remnant we are looking for? We are looking for those within our congregation who want to invest into the great work of ministry. To make disciples who make disciples for the gospel. If it’s good enough for Nehemiah, it’s good enough for us, right? Who is faithful? That is, who can you identify who has been here for the long haul, doesn’t just quit when the going gets tough, relies on prayer and hearing God’s voice, and is willing to step up when there’s a need? That’s who we need to focus on. Not those who are here with a more consumer mentality to get what they can from church and not contribute. And God-fearing. Who among us knows God is bigger than their pride, their fame, their influence, who gives all credit and glory to God, who discerns the will of God through careful study and application of the scriptures. And more subtly, perhaps Nehemiah chose two people to govern Jerusalem because he knows how important it is to establish a team mentality. It’s easy to make decisions on your own, but with another person, they may help you see your blindspots, question your decision, and pray with you and provide support. This is actually what we want to move towards in 2022. Instead of having one chair for each ministry, we would have more of a coordinators model where two people will be responsible for a particular task. We won’t do anything if there aren’t at least two people involved. We see this throughout the Bible. Moses has his Joshua. and Aaron. Peter and John. Not Peter or John. Paul has his Silas, and Timothy. Perhaps it means combining like-minded ministries together.
O’ Lord, indeed, strengthen our hands!
WE (CONCLUSION)
As we return to in-person service, and soon in-person sunday school, or small group, or other activities, how might we focus on God’s task, God’s voice, and God’s remnant to continue being God-faithful and God-fearing to fulfill his Great Commission through his Great Commandment? And will you step up to heed the call?
Let’s pray.