More on Nehemiah

When Nehemiah had surveyed the walls of Jerusalem and noted what needed to be re-built, he called together the group of people who would do the work and said, "Come, let us start rebuilding."  Immediately, they were attacked, mocked and ridiculed by those who had no part in the work:  What do you think you are doing? they said; what are they building? ---if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones. 

Nehemiah's answer was this:  The God of heaven will give us success...but you will have no share in Jerusalem nor any claim or right to it.

What follows is a rather boring list of who-built-what.  Here's a small sample:

Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate.  They dedicated it and set its door in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel.  The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zaccur son of Imri built next to them.

The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah......and the list continues for an entire chapter (chapter 3). 

Now the list looks as tedious as the earlier geneaologies of the Old Testament---until we realize that what we are reading is God's record of how each one of us rebuilds the broken-down walls of the church, God's people.  The Holy Spirit / Nehemiah takes notice of what needs to be done to repair the damage; He calls together those who will do the work, encourages them, repels the attacks and ridicule of Satan, and provides the supplies which he has obtained from the king/God.  Finally, he carefully records who-did-what.  Nothing we do for the kingdom of God goes without notice---the Holy Spirit knows even a cup of cold water (or glass of wine) given in His name. 

In the process of re-building the walls, the people had to endure the laughter of their enemies at their feeble efforts, the discouragement of constant attacks from the outside, weariness, exhaustion, disbelief, discouragement:  the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall."  Also our enemies said, "Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to their work."  Then the Jews who lived near them (the enemies) came and told us ten times over, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us."

Nehemiah's answer to the attacks and to the discouragement was to station some of the people at the lowest parts of the wall, with "swords, spears, and bows."  And he said to the people, "The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall.  Whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there.  Our God will fight for us!"

The entire book of Nehemiah is a wonderful portrait of the church, directed by the inspiration and gifts of the Holy Spirit, who calls together the people who will do the work of repairing the broken-down walls that are supposed to ensure safety in the church.  Though the work is extensive and discouraging, though we are widely separated from one another, yet "at the sound of the trumpet," we come together for worship and to strengthen and encourage one another in the assigned tasks.  We draw strength from knowing that "God will fight for us," and from the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, who directs the work. 

It's a book worth reading!