Living and Working in Community

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Living and Working in Community the week of September 18, 2016

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Living and Working in Community Nehemiah 3.1-4.23 Living … working … in Unity Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” Psalm 133.1 On his desk in the Oval Office, President Reagan kept a small plaque with the words: ‘There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he does not mind who gets the credit.” Chapter 3, at a first quick read, almost numbs with unfamiliar names and odd-sounding, obscure places. Such details may have been important in the day but the modern reader is sorely tempted to dismiss them as inconsequential trivia. But step back and allow a longer view. Nowhere in this text do we read of God’s miraculous intervention in rebuilding the wall. Nowhere do we find rousing words of editorial reflection such as “ALL WAS DONE FOR GOD’S GLORY.” Rather, chapter 3 as a whole

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teaches the active acceptance of human responsibility by God’s people rather than God’s “extra-special” divine empowerment of them. Their example is a lesson to be learned today by God’s people.

Briefly, the bare facts: According the ‘Maximum’ view, the circuit of the walls would have been about 2 ½ miles, enclosing 220 acres. According to the ‘Minimum’ view 90 acres would have been enclosed by a circuit of a little less than 2 miles. Either way, the undertaking was enormous! The work proceeds in a counter-clockwise direction around the walls. Some 41 parties are named as participating in the reconstruction of 42 sections. Each of the sections would have averaged between 200 to 300 feet, though an exceptionally long section of 1,500 feet is mentioned (3.13). Some sections were very short (3.21-23). Some groups worked double sections (3.27).

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TEN GATES ARE LISTED: 1. Sheep Gate, 3.1 2. Fish Gate, 3.3 3. Yeshanah (Old) Gate 3.6 4. Valley Gate, 3.13 5. Dung (Ashpot) Gate, 3.14 6. Fountain Gate, 3.15

7. Water Gate, 3.26 8. Horse Gate, 3.28 9. East Gate, 3.29 10. Muster (Inspection) Gate, 3.31

FIVE TOWERS ARE LISTED: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Tower of the Hundred, 3.1 Tower of Hanael, 3.1 Tower of the Ovens, 3.11 Tower from the King’s House, 3.25 Great Projecting Tower, 3.27

THE FAMILIARITY OF LOCAL ‘LAND MARKS’ IS SEEN:        

Stairs that go down from the City of David, 3.15 Tombs of David, 3.16 Artificial Pool, 3.16 House of the Mighty Men, 3.16 Ascent to the Armory at the Buttress, 3.19 Doors of the House of the High Priest, 3.21 Court of the Guard, 3.37 House of the Temple Servants and of the Merchants, 3.31

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CONSIDER HOW YOU WOULD DESCRIBE FAIRPORT VILLAGE. WOULD YOU USE ONLY STREET NAMES? WOULD YOU NOT USE FAMILIAR PLACES, TOO?          

The Canal Bridge Donnelly’s Pub Farmer’s Market Fairport Public Library Potter Park Minerva Deland School Fairport Fire Station Johanna Perrin School Historical Society Railroad Crossing

Observations about “the work” of the people … PERSONAL: In Nehemiah 3, the power of specific names for familiar places is to personalize the importance of the rebuilding. At least four different times it is recorded that workers labored “opposite his own house” (3.10, 23, 28, 29, 30). People are more likely to invest their energies and do a better job if what they are doing directly affects them. Further, people are more likely to pursue excellence if their efforts are known to be a reflection upon themselves. After the work was completed, these people would have to live with their work and answer for it to others. They would wake

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up and look at it every day. Others would walk by and know who had made the repairs.

“OUTSIDERS”: It is significant that people from outside Jerusalem (3.7) cooperated with the rebuilding. Gibeon and Mizpah were about 7 miles to the north of Jerusalem but were closely connected to the fortunes of the city.

ALL ARE INVOLVED: The rebuilding was a genuine community effort. We do not read of “specialists.” People of wealth and those pursuing more delicate trades, such as goldsmiths and perfumers, pitched in (3.8). Significantly, many of the workers were priests. The Levites worked hard. They were not too holy to sweat and get their hands dirty (3.17) Nehemiah 3.22-27 tells of workers who repaired the northern half of the eastern wall around the City of David. These workers included 1) priests living outside Jerusalem; 2) priests who lived just outside the Temple complex on the hill of Ophel; 3) Temple servants who lived close by; 4) people living right next to the wall. The last portion of the workers (3.28-32) includes priests, gatekeepers, goldsmiths and merchants. These would have been people intimately involved in

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carrying out the multitude of functions associated with a functioning Temple. The Temple had many ceremonial items needing constant maintenance. Merchants would sell sacrificial animals to worshippers who had come from too far away to bring an animal from their own flocks and herds (13.15-22).

GRACE NOTES: Three important “grace notes” flavor this section. First, we note Meshullam, who assumed responsibility for more than one section (3.4; 3.30) Doubtless Meshullam was not the only person who went “above and beyond” in personal service. He serves as a reminder there will always be some who will work very hard. Second, we note the nobles of Tekoa, who “would not stoop to serve their Lord.” Nehemiah is not writing propaganda. Including the nobles’ unwillingness to work serves to remind there will always be some who consider work beneath them but who will, undoubtedly, enjoy the benefits of others’ labor. Third, we note the inclusion of the work of Shallum and his daughters (3.12). Even more than today, hard labor was then divided along lines of gender. Shallum’s daughters serve to remind that all should be given the opportunity to serve.

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CONCLUSION: Taken as a whole, chapter 3 teaches what is possible when a unity of purpose embeds itself in the hearts of people. But look: Nehemiah himself is not mentioned. At times Nehemiah is the obvious catalyst motivating people to action (2.17,18). Yet in this chapter there is no focus on him. Instead the focus is on the importance of people working together. This chapter serves as an object lesson in gracious leadership. Without Nehemiah’s humble “thank you,” the names of these people and their valuable work would have been lost to history. The credit goes to each family that did the work. Nehemiah delegated responsibility to the natural heads of families, each assuming responsibility in their own districts, and nowhere does he take any credit for their superb accomplishments. If more leaders among God’s people would follow Nehemiah’s example fewer ministries would be built around the personality of the supposed “great man.” Rather, the focus would be the joyful expectation of hope in what God can accomplish in the lives of faithful workers who quietly do what they can where they can (where God has placed them!) day after day.

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The Crucible of Opposition Peter wrote, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” (1 Peter 4.12) Jesus taught: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5.10-12)

EXPECT OPPOSITION: God’s people have ever been subjects of hostility. This reality ought to surprise no one. Paul told Timothy, “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (1 Timothy 3.12). Jesus promised, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15.20). If being a friend to God’s grace means encouragement to faithfully follow God then the world is no friend to grace. This is true both for the individual and the community of His people.

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The power of sin permeating the fallen world instinctively reacts when confronted by the slightest presence of God’s holiness. This is the way the world works. The world is opposed to God. We ought never to forget this. We ought never to be surprised, as though worldly opposition indicates weakness in God. Our surprise is what the world wants of us. The world wants us to believe such opposition is not within God’s will. On the contrary we ought to re-frame our own perspective. We need to strengthen our resolve, remembering God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble, that darkness will not overcome light, that our hope is always in His power to save. The work of Nehemiah and the people provoked opposition. It is important to realize the root cause of that opposition: “the welfare of the people Israel.” (2.10) A revitalized people of God can only mean God Himself is showing His greatness. The world does not want God’s presence to be known, much less honored. The world is quite content for God’s people to be lame in their pursuit of His glory, meager in their faithful dependence upon Him. Let God’s people claim Him in name only, as long as they do not act upon that claim.

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SEEING THE BULLY: Sanballat is a typical bully. He uses impressive threats and humiliating ridicule. The threats are seen in the anger of coalescing like-minded antagonists. Tobiah, ever the servile lackey, stokes Sanballat’s anger as the proto-typical ‘Yes-man’ (4.3). The sap of Sanballat’s anger rises as not only Tobiah, but also “the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites” fall in line. They begin to marshal their forces and, collectively, present an intimidating threat to God’s people. As the opposition coalesces the propaganda begins to churn. God’s people are labeled “feeble Jews,” impotent for such a large work. Their actual work is demeaned: the stones they rebuild are “heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that.” (4.2) Before any real conflict occurs, Sanballat’s bully tactics begin to degrade the will of God’s people. Such was their initial intent; they wanted to cause “confusion.” (4.8) It worked: “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.” (4.10)

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HOW TO CONFRONT THE BULLY

PRAY … ACT! Yet God is the one who began this good work in Nehemiah’s life and He will see it through. It all starts with prayer. Nehemiah prays to God personally (4.4). Do not overlook the God-ward focus of his prayer: “Hear our prayer, O God … for they have provoked You to anger …” Nehemiah is ever concerned God’s glory is upheld. Like all effective prayer, Nehemiah’s words became flesh: “So we built the wall. … for the people had a mind to work.” (4.6) This pattern of prayer followed by action is repeated: “And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection.” (4.9) What a lesson for any intimidated by opposition. No doubt that opposition will arise and can, (if we let it) cow us into submission by its mere appearance. But the first response ought to always be prayer … prayer followed by action!

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PRUDENCE AND COURAGE: What happens, though, when the corrosive effect of opposition does begin to have its way upon the people? This does happen. (4.10-12) Nehemiah responds both prudently and courageously. He acts decisively to address their specific fears (4.13) by organizing specific protection. But Nehemiah knows the people must not live in a mode of constant crisis management. They must take heart and dig in for the long haul. This requires cleareyed courage: “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.” (4.13) One may turn and run if concerned only for him or herself. Yet reservoirs of courage can be tapped when inward thought for self is turned to outward love for those most dear to us. Nehemiah’s personal example of courageous leadership never shines more brightly than in the latter half of chapter 4. Using himself and his servants as the example to follow (4.16, 23), the work of building and the duty of protection is divided. The leaders followed. The work is organized so that each worker is also a soldier: “each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built.” (4.17,18)

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GOD ALWAYS! Can you imagine what this would have looked like to the opposition? Seeing a people just as prepared to fight as they are determined to build? But lest we imagine either Nehemiah’s example or the people’s willingness was an impulse arising from only within themselves, consider what is written: “God had frustrated [the opposition’s] plans.” (4.15) As surely as the people resolved to depend upon God – and acted upon it! – God was just as surely at work on behalf of His people.