Nehemiah 6-7. The neighboring Gentles attacked the city with military might. They did some damage

Transcription

1 Nehemiah 6-7 Nehemiah has successfully defended the city and the peple frm attacks, bth frm thse utside the city and thse inside The neighbring Gentles attacked the city with military might They did sme damage But the peple regruped under Nehemiah s leadership Then the enemy began t stir up strife and discrd amng the Jews inside the city Cmplaints arse ver the unfair treatment f wealthier Jews f prer Jews But nce again Nehemiah stepped in, righted the wrng, and brught the peple back tgether again S then the wrk resumed This peratin is a triumph f fcus and determinatin Nehemiah and the peple aren t merely challenged t rebuild a wall They are challenged by the enemy and the wrld in the walk with Gd S it ges when the Lrd wrks t restre us in fellwship It will be a battle frm start t finish If it s nt ur flesh drawing us away int sin, it s the wrld tempting us t replace the Lrd s pririties with their wn If it s nt the wrld, it s the enemy s schemes and temptatins And if it s nt the enemy, it s ur brthers and sisters in the faith cntending with us, r ur leaders disappinting us...r smething else The fact that restring fellwship with the Lrd can be s difficult is a lessn in itself f the imprtance f abiding in Christ at all times 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

2 Nehemiah f 23 Last week we ended in chapter 5, with the peple refcused and the enemies f Israel still seeking a way t defeat the plan In chapter 6, we mve int a new set f lessns fr hw gdly leaders must respnd in leading Gd s peple t bedience Neh. 6:1 Nw when it was reprted t Sanballat, Tbiah, t Geshem the Arab and t the rest f ur enemies that I had rebuilt the wall, and that n breach remained in it, althugh at that time I had nt set up the drs in the gates, Neh. 6:2 then Sanballat and Geshem sent a message t me, saying, Cme, let us meet tgether at Chephirim in the plain f On. But they were planning t harm me. Neh. 6:3 S I sent messengers t them, saying, I am ding a great wrk and I cannt cme dwn. Why shuld the wrk stp while I leave it and cme dwn t yu? Neh. 6:4 They sent messages t me fur times in this manner, and I answered them in the same way. With the wall finished, Israel s enemies are running ut f ptins The walls are up, but the city gates have yet t be put in place This means the enemies f Israel can still enter the city as they please S they use this limited pprtunity t pay a visit t Nehemiah in side the city Sanballat, Tbiah and Geshem send a message t Nehemiah by way f a messenger asking fr a meeting They ask Nehemiah t travel t On On is a plain abut 25 miles west f Jerusalem near the sea It was a n-man s land between Judah and Samaria, a remte place f lawlessness They tell Nehemiah t meet at Chephirim The wrd Chephirim is the plural wrd fr village, s it may just describe a cllectin f twns in the area f On Interestingly, it might be translated with the lins which wuld be an apt descriptin f what wuld happen t Nehemiah shuld he g 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

3 Nehemiah f 23 Naturally, Nehemiah knws this is a trap He says they were planning t harm Nehemiah If he went t this place, he wuld likely never return Furthermre, even if Nehemiah did manage t escape their grasp, by the time he returned frm his fur day trip, the enemies f Israel wuld have likely attacked and destryed the city Withut Nehemiah sustaining and leading the peple, they wuld crumble in the face f an attack S Nehemiah wisely avids the trap He says I m t busy t meet yu The enemies f Israel recgnized that Nehemiah was the key t the peple s success Leaders exist in the bdy f Christ fr a reasn While we might like t think that because every Christian is led by the same Spirit therefre we are equally capable f leading urselves But if that were true, the Lrd wuld never have designated 12 f his disciples t be apstles The truth is Gd makes distinctins amng men and wmen fr gd reasn He assigns sme the respnsibility t shepherd His sheep, feeding them s they will grw spiritually They als guard the flck, making them t pass under the rd and leading them t int an eternal reward While we may rightly avid men wh attempt t lrd ver us by assuming t much pwer in the bdy f Christ... Then let s als acknwledge that we d have need fr strng servant leaders wh mdel Christ by calling us t fllw and bey the wrd 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

4 Nehemiah f 23 The enemy certainly understands this truth S he makes a pint t attack the head f every cngregatin as ften as he can Thse attacks will be all the mre severe and persistent if that leader is particular effective in carrying ut Gd s cmmands It s a brilliant strategy, and ne the enemy has lng used: attack at the strngest pint first If the strngest defender falls, then yu wn t even have t fight the weak pints This strategy wrked perfectly in the first battle, in the garden The enemy set his eyes n defeating Wman rather than Adam Wman put up a fight, defending the Lrd with His wrd, thugh withut sufficient understanding t recgnize the enemy s deceptin Once the enemy had defeated wman, he didn t even bther with Adam Adam was clearly the weak link in the chain, as we see when he accepts the fruit frm wman withut argument Unfrtunately, ver the centuries many men (and wmen) leaders in the church have fallen t the enemy s schemes like Wman They ve fallen fr the same reasn Wman fell Because they didn t recgnize the enemy s techniques and learn hw t defend against them In this chapter we ll see three ways the enemy wrks t defeat a leader and thereby bring dwn Gd s peple In vs.1-4 we see the first f these attempts: the enemy seeks t distract r deceive Nehemiah int letting his guard dwn and making a misstep In Nehemiah s situatin, the deceptin was t lead him t think that a cmprmise with the enemy was pssible Perhaps Nehemiah was tiring f the fight 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

5 Nehemiah f 23 Perhaps he had a weak spt fr being liked and hnred and flattered If he accepted their verture, he wuld be deceived and distracted frm the task If we had a dllar fr every church leader wh succumbed t the enemy s deceptins and distractins, we culd buy the temple Pastrs have traded the pulpit t run fr public ffice, t run crpratins, t prmte best selling bks r campaign fr scial causes Others have remained in the pulpit but been distracted in their message Preaching prsperity, scial equality, health and healing, r just entertaining the crwds became mre attractive than preaching Christ and Him crucified Elders and deacns and teachers and Sunday schl leaders have likewise set aside their calling and diligence because the enemy dangled sme shiny bject in their path A prmtin at wrk, a new girlfriend, a midlife crisis The defense t distractin and deceptin is fcus and understanding Our leaders must be men and wmen wh wake up everyday reaffirming their cmmitment t the hard wrk f ministry And when smething intriguing cmes alng, they need t be wise enugh t expect the enemy t thrw such things in ur path And the Lrd allws the enemy a degree f freedm t test ur hearts We need t be in prayer fr ur leaders that they nt take the exit ramps that the enemy places in their path We want leaders wh will make the kind f sacrifices that serving the Lrd requires, because they make thse sacrifices n ur behalf S it s in ur best interests t pray fr them t stand strng 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

6 Nehemiah f 23 Nw we mve t the enemy s secnd cmmn technique: dishnr and discrediting leaders Neh. 6:5 Then Sanballat sent his servant t me in the same manner a fifth time with an pen letter in his hand. Neh. 6:6 In it was written, It is reprted amng the natins, and Gashmu says, that yu and the Jews are planning t rebel; therefre yu are rebuilding the wall. And yu are t be their king, accrding t these reprts. Neh. 6:7 Yu have als appinted prphets t prclaim in Jerusalem cncerning yu, A king is in Judah! And nw it will be reprted t the king accrding t these reprts. S cme nw, let us take cunsel tgether. Once again, Sanballat uses a letter t thwart Nehemiah s leadership, but this time it s an pen letter In this day, an pen letter was literally what it sunds like It was a written instrument that hadn t been sealed clsed Usually, a letter was sealed with wax r sme ther way t ensure the cntents f the letter remained private until read by the intended recipient The curier was tasked with ensuring the integrity f the seals But in this case Sanballat desn t seal his letter t Nehemiah He sends an pen letter precisely s that the curier and all wh the curier encunters will eavesdrp n the cnversatin Sanballat s purpse is t discredit Nehemiah as a leader befre the peple In the letter, Sanballat impugns Nehemiah s mtives and purpses in assuming leadership ver the city rebuilding He says it s been reprted amng the natins that Israel is planning t rebel against Persian authrity Furthermre, Nehemiah has designs n becming king f Israel And the prphets are walking arund declaring that a king is in Judah Finally, Sanballat says that these things will be reprted t the king in Persia 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

7 Nehemiah f 23 The implicit threat is clear: the peple f Israel are in jepardy because f the reckless schemes f Nehemiah Breaking dwn the elements f the deceptin, we can see the enemy s thinking clearly First, Sanballat lends credibility t his accusatins by creating the impressin f multiple witnesses withut actually having multiple witness He says thers are saying... N ne else is saying anything, but it sunds like there are multiple surces, which makes the accusatin seem mre credible That s the danger with gssip N matter hw many peple repeat a lie, it s still a lie But because many peple repeat it, mre peple are likely t believe it, making it all the mre dangerus That s why we must nt cntribute t gssip and in ding s, giving truth t the lie This is als why Paul cmmands that we nt accept an accusatin against ur leaders withut independent cnfirmatin f the accusatin 1Tim. 5:19 D nt receive an accusatin against an elder except n the basis f tw r three witnesses. Secndly, the enemy attacks the mtives f the leader He desn t attack the actins, since the actins are self-evident But he takes the gdly, righteus actins f a leader and calls them smething else He fills in details, assumes mtives, and creates a narrative t fit his view f the facts There is n substance t his cmments, and there is anther stry that fits the same facts 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

8 Nehemiah f 23 Instead f rebellin, Nehemiah is rebuilding the wall t strengthen the kings pwer in Judah Instead f wishing t be king, Nehemiah is cntent t serve as gvernr fr nly a time This illustrates the danger f interpreting a leaders mtives r heart based smene else s interpretatin f their actins If the peple f Israel agreed with Sanballat s assessment, they wuld have been rejecting their leader withut cause And that was the enemy s hpe and the reasn he made sure his letter was pen Dn t participate in such speculatin And pray that the truth will reign in yur church Thirdly, Sanballat misuses the wrd f Gd t supprt his attempts at discrediting Nehemiah Hesays he s heard the prphets saying a king is in Judah The prphets f Nehemiah s day were Haggai and Malachi Bth these men walked arund declaring the wrd f the Lrd cncerning the future, including the future f the Messiah That ne day Israel s king wuld reign in Judah as prmised Sanballat tk that truth and twisted it t fit his lie abut Nehemiah This is literally the enemy s ldest tactic T twist the wrd f Gd t indict thse wh lead Gd s peple In the first case, it was Satan indicting the wrd Gd spke t Adam, asking if indeed he frbid eating f any fruit in the garden That was a distrtin f Gd s wrd, leaving the impressin that Gd s wrd brught negative, destructive utcmes t Gd s peple Likewise, here Sanballat twists Gd s wrd t cause the peple f Israel t fear that Nehemiah s leadership will bring them destructin at the hands f the Persian army Nthing culd be farther frm the truth 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

9 Nehemiah f 23 Gd s peple must knw Gd s wrd s that when the enemy distrts it in an attempt t tear dwn ur leaders - r t tear dwn the wrd itself - we are prepared As a teacher, I ve endured ccasins when my teaching f Gd s wrd has been twisted with an intent t discredit me r the ministry Usually, the pint is t accuse me f mishandling the wrd f Gd in a malicius way But if we knw the wrd well, then we wn t fall fr that discredit tactic Nehemiah respnds t these reprts with a timeless respnse Neh. 6:8 Then I sent a message t him saying, Such things as yu are saying have nt been dne, but yu are inventing them in yur wn mind. Neh. 6:9 Fr all f them were trying t frighten us, thinking, They will becme discuraged with the wrk and it will nt be dne. But nw, O Gd, strengthen my hands. Nehemiah calls it like it is He says nthing yu are saying it true The NIV captures the sense f this even better Neh. 6:8 I sent him this reply: Nthing like what yu are saying is happening; yu are just making it up ut f yur head. [NIV] Besides being an awesme retrt, Nehemiah s statement serves as a great example f nt playing the game n the enemy s turf Nehemiah didn t engage in a debate ver his mtives He didn t try t argue Sanballat s lie with a different stry T d s lends even mre credibility t the accusatins And it wuld lk defensive and weak The enemy desn t deserve a respnse t his schemes The Bible tells t resist the enemy, but it desn t tell us t engage with him n his terms 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

10 Nehemiah f 23 When the enemy brings vices t impugn the mtives f ur leaders, we need t fllw the instructins f scripture and wait fr multiple, independent witnesses befre passing judgment In the meantime, dn t expect yur leaders t answer the accusatins with a defense Instead, expect Nehemiah s respnse After calling it a fraud, Nehemiah appeals t the Lrd fr a defense He knws the peple might nt be s strng in the face f this scheme S he asks the Lrd nt nly t stp the attack But als t strengthen the peple t resist the temptatin t believe the slander and turn n Nehemiah s leadership Nehemiah s return t prayer each and every he is challenged is such a great example fr all f us But nce mre, after the attack, they get back t the rebuilding f the city Neh. 6:10 When I entered the huse f Shemaiah the sn f Delaiah, sn f Mehetabel, wh was cnfined at hme, he said, Let us meet tgether in the huse f Gd, within the temple, and let us clse the drs f the temple, fr they are cming t kill yu, and they are cming t kill yu at night. Neh. 6:11 But I said, Shuld a man like me flee? And culd ne such as I g int the temple t save his life? I will nt g in. Neh. 6:12 Then I perceived that surely Gd had nt sent him, but he uttered his prphecy against me because Tbiah and Sanballat had hired him. Neh. 6:13 He was hired fr this reasn, that I might becme frightened and act accrdingly and sin, s that they might have an evil reprt in rder that they culd reprach me. Neh. 6:14 Remember, O my Gd, Tbiah and Sanballat accrding t these wrks f theirs, and als Nadiah the prphetess and the rest f the prphets wh were trying t frighten me. Finally, the third tactic f the enemy plays ut, a plt t disqualify Nehamiah On this ccasin, Nehemiah visits the hme f a Jew by the name f Shemaiah 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

11 Nehemiah f 23 Nehemiah says he was cnfined in his hme He may have been cnfined fr health reasns, like a shut-in But the wrd cnfined usually means being detained, as in a prisner, suggesting he was under huse arrest The pint is he s nt an upstanding member f Jewish sciety We dn t knw Nehemiah s reasn fr visiting, but it appears Shemaiah summned Nehemiah t hear a prphecy he wanted t deliver He suggests that bth f them flee int the temple fr prtectin frm the enemy s f Israel, wh wish t kill Nehemiah Shemaiah wants Nehemiah t believe this is a wrd frm the Lrd, and therefre Nehemiah must heed the warning He tells Nehemiah t enter the temple, past its drs and shut himself in Given the state f the city at that time, the temple was easily the mst secure and defendable structure in the area Much like the Texans retreating t the chapel in the Alam against the Mexican army In v.11 Nehemiah respnds by asking shuld a man like me flee, and culd I g int the temple? Nehemiah recgnized the tw aspects t this plt t disqualify him frm leadership First, by fleeing frm a threat, he lses his standing befre the peple as an example f faith and reliance n Gd While there is a time t flee, Nehemiah has based his psitin f authrity n calling the peple t stand firm, fulfill their duty t Gd and trust in Gd t defend the city Hw many times have we heard Nehemiah praying t Gd fr defense? And hw many times has Nehemiah appealed t the peple t wait n Gd expecting Him t cme t their aid in a time f distress? 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

12 Nehemiah f 23 S what wuld the effect be if Nehemiah turned tail and ran at the suggestin that Gd s enemies might attack? It calls int questin everything he has said This is why leaders are called t the highest standards f cnduct in their service t Gd s peple A leader has n pwer t cmpel gdliness in thers while he is mdeling sin in his wn life A teacher can t persuade thers t bey Gd s wrd while failing t bey it himself N ne can accmplish anything fr the Lrd thrugh hypcrisy It wuld have been the height f hypcrisy fr Nehemiah t lck himself up in the temple having just exhrted Israel t stand firm the face f threats And f curse, had Nehemiah taken this advice, he wuld have eliminated himself frm the actin He wuld have been neutralized by his absence And this is exactly what dishnr and disqualificatin brings It remves a sldier f Gd frm the battle It creates a casualty n the battle field The war cntinues n, but the casualty is left behind The secnd way this plt wuld disqualify Nehemiah is by leading him int a very public sin resulting frm pride and arrgance Nehemiah asks wh am I t enter the temple? He is referring t the limits impsed by the Law n wh may enter the Hly Place f the temple When Shemaiah suggests Nehemiah enter past the drs, he is speaking f the Hly Place f the temple Only the Hly place was secured by a set f drs Yet the Law stipulated that nly the priests culd enter int the Hly Place 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

13 Nehemiah f 23 Nehemiah is nt f the tribe f Levi, s he has n right t enter the Hly Place If he had taken Shemaiah s advice, he wuld have been knwing vilating the Law f Gd withut cause We knw there are times when men crss bundaries establish in the Law with the apprval f Gd As when David at the shw bread reserved fr the priests But in this case, Nehemiah wuld be acting in sin, since he has nt received permissin frm the Lrd t enter the Temple Ntice in v.12 Nehemiah realizes that the prphecy f this man was n prphecy at all, but rather a lie intended t entrap Nehemiah Were Nehemiah gullible enugh t accept this advice, he wuld have been sinning in a very serius and public way And the peple wuld have rightly interpreted his sin as a reflectin f his arrgance and pride What kind f man thinks he can walk int the Hly Place n his wn initiative, they wuld have asked? At that pint, Nehemiah wuld have lst all supprt amng the peple He wuld have been disqualified as a leader It s imprtant t nte the rder f events in vs Only after Nehemiah rejects this suggestin des he then cme t understand that the prphecy is n prphecy at all The rder f these events demnstrates an imprtant principle f hw Gd wrks in us in the face f the enemy s schemes Gd waited fr Nehemiah t make the right chice, based n the knwledge already available t him, befre the Lrd revealed the backstry Even befre Nehemiah was made aware that the prphecy was a trick, he knew enugh t understand Shemaiah was giving bad advice 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

14 Nehemiah f 23 Nehemiah s knwledge f Gd s wrd cmbined with his wn cmmn sense was enugh t reject this suggestin Once Nehemiah had cme t the right cnclusin, the Lrd cnfirmed his chice by giving him the insight t knw this man was hired t trick him The Lrd wanted Nehemiah t be cnfident in his decisin, knwing the Lrd was behind him But Gd typically allws us t wrk thrugh these tests withut special revelatin, r burning bushes r vices frm Heaven He has already given us all that s required fr gdliness in His wrd and thrugh His Spirit 2Pet. 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied t yu in the knwledge f Gd and f Jesus ur Lrd; 2Pet. 1:3 seeing that His divine pwer has granted t us everything pertaining t life and gdliness, thrugh the true knwledge f Him wh called us by His wn glry and excellence. Befre the Lrd will mve t give us mre, He waits t see if we are willing t use what He has already prvided Meanwhile, ntice hw the enemy wrks t undermine ur trust in Gd s wrd Shemaiah called t Nehemiah claiming t have a wrd frm the Lrd Hw ften has the enemy pulled that trick ut f his bag? The enemy makes an appeal t ur flesh by enticing us with smething special, miraculus, mysterius He knws that if ur chice is between heeding the wrd Gd delivered ver the centuries thrugh His prphets... Or receiving an exciting, divine revelatin delivered special delivery frm Gd t yu Then ur flesh will always prefer the special new thing But ur flesh is self-destructive and easily manipulated by such nnsense 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

15 Nehemiah f 23 We must be trained by scripture itself t turn aside frm special revelatin r a wrd frm Gd especially when it ges against what we knw in scripture When we d this, we becme trained in hw t distinguish truth frm nnsense, as Hebrews tell us Heb. 5:12 Fr thugh by this time yu ught t be teachers, yu have need again fr smene t teach yu the elementary principles f the racles f Gd, and yu have cme t need milk and nt slid fd. Heb. 5:13 Fr everyne wh partakes nly f milk is nt accustmed t the wrd f righteusness, fr he is an infant. Heb. 5:14 But slid fd is fr the mature, wh because f practice have their senses trained t discern gd and evil. Nehemiah was trained, and s he rejected this bad advice, and as he did, the Lrd revealed t him that this man culd nt be trusted at all Ntice in v.13 Nehemiah crrectly cncluded that this tactic was intended t cause Nehemiah t act ut f fear, rather than faith Acting ut f fear is a sin in scripture Because acting ut f fear is the antithesis f walking in faith The Bible desn t say that being afraid is sin, but it cndemns allwing fear t rule ur hearts and decide ur actins Secndly, Nehemiah understands that the scheme hped t drive Nehemiah int sin, and thereby discredit him befre the peple Nw yu can see why it s s imprtant that ur leader remain vigilant against schemes that might discredit them Ntice als in v.14 Nehemiah mentins ther prphets and prphetesses wh must have tried t trip him with ther scalled wrds fr the Lrd This wasn t an islated attack, s image all the ways the enemy must have tried t create fear r give a false wrd frm Gd The fact that a wman was invlved as well might indicate that a sexual trap was amng the schemes the enemy tried We need t pray fr ur leaders t be wise and brave in the face f this nnsense 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

16 Nehemiah f 23 And we need t be prepared fr the attacks urselves fr the day when we re called int a leadership rle urselves Nehemiah places all this in Gd s hand, asking Him t remember the evil deeds f these peple In ther wrds, Nehemiah didn t take revenge himself He let it g, trusting Gd t take revenge in the prper time Dn t becme distracted by the scheme nr by a pursuit f the guilty Leave it all t Gd, and get back t wrk ding what he has called yu t d Neh. 6:15 S the wall was cmpleted n the twenty-fifth f the mnth Elul, in fifty-tw days. Neh. 6:16 When all ur enemies heard f it, and all the natins surrunding us saw it, they lst their cnfidence; fr they recgnized that this wrk had been accmplished with the help f ur Gd. Neh. 6:17 Als in thse days many letters went frm the nbles f Judah t Tbiah, and Tbiah s letters came t them. Neh. 6:18 Fr many in Judah were bund by ath t him because he was the sn-in-law f Shecaniah the sn f Arah, and his sn Jehhanan had married the daughter f Meshullam the sn f Berechiah. Neh. 6:19 Mrever, they were speaking abut his gd deeds in my presence and reprted my wrds t him. Then Tbiah sent letters t frighten me. Remarkably, the peple cmpleted this prject in nly 52 days Even under ideal circumstances, that was a remarkable feat Cnsidering hw lng it sat in disrepair, the speed f this wrk is bth a testimny t Gd s pwer and an indictment f Israel s disbedience They have been living in the city fr abut 100 years since the first return frm exile, All this time they have suffered attacks and harassment and fear And they were always just 52 days away frm having their wall 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

17 Nehemiah f 23 The speed f the effrt testified t Gd s pwer, as the peple f the land acknwledged In v.16 the peples declared the greatness f Israel s Gd Here s the pint f the whle exercise in ne verse Gd s peple are called t accmplish a great wrk and are given a leader s that the result wuld be a witness t Gd s pwer And as a result, the wrld testifies t Gd s glry This must always be ur aim in serving Gd Nehemiah ends this chapter with a ftnte n anther adversary, Tbiah The name Tbiah is a Jewish name And this man appears t have been wrking all the while t drive a wedge between the nbles f Israel and Nehemiah They were writing letters back and frth Thugh we dn t knw the cntents f the letters, Nehemiah des tell us that these nbles were behlden t Tbias thrugh family cnnectins Tbiah used thse cnnectins t cmpel the nbles t cmmend him t Nehemiah, s that Tbiah might have greater influence ver him Ultimately, that effrt failed as well, but it ges t shw the immense pressure Nehemiah experienced thrughut the prject Nt nly frm utside the camp But als frm cmprmised members f Israel wh did the enemy s bidding Reading this accunt causes me t wnder what accmplishment fr Gd lies just 52 days away? fr me What impssible task and seemingly insurmuntable challenge is mre achievable than I imagine? 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

18 Nehemiah f 23 Where has the Lrd brught leadership int my life t spur me nward s that I might finally achieve the thing that s been waiting fr me fr t lng? What an encuragement it can be t knw that when we take a step f faith in a new directin, the utcme desn t depend upn us Are we hesitating t serve Gd in sme way because the enemy has succeeded in distracting, deceiving r discrediting us alng the way? Are we sidelined because f fear, dubt r weariness? If s, cnsider yu may be clser than yu think t the success Gd has in stre Yu may be 52 days away frm living in peace and security Yu need nly take a step f faith As with priests wh crssed the Jrdan carrying the heavy ark Jsh. 3:14 S when the peple set ut frm their tents t crss the Jrdan with the priests carrying the ark f the cvenant befre the peple, Jsh. 3:15 and when thse wh carried the ark came int the Jrdan, and the feet f the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge f the water (fr the Jrdan verflws all its banks all the days f harvest), Jsh. 3:16 the waters which were flwing dwn frm abve std and rse up in ne heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and thse which were flwing dwn tward the sea f the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were cmpletely cut ff. S the peple crssed ppsite Jerich. Jsh. 3:17 And the priests wh carried the ark f the cvenant f the LORD std firm n dry grund in the middle f the Jrdan while all Israel crssed n dry grund, until all the natin had finished crssing the Jrdan Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

19 Nehemiah f 23 With the wall finished, it cmes time fr the peple t celebrate and enjy the fruit f their labr by mving int the city Neh. 7:1 Nw when the wall was rebuilt and I had set up the drs, and the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appinted, Neh. 7:2 then I put Hanani my brther, and Hananiah the cmmander f the frtress, in charge f Jerusalem, fr he was a faithful man and feared Gd mre than many. Neh. 7:3 Then I said t them, D nt let the gates f Jerusalem be pened until the sun is ht, and while they are standing guard, let them shut and blt the drs. Als appint guards frm the inhabitants f Jerusalem, each at his pst, and each in frnt f his wn huse. First, Nehemiah gives instructins n hw t secure the city and cntrl the gates After living in an unwalled city fr s lng, the peple needed training n hw t perate the gates Nehemiah says the gates remain clsed at night and dn t pen until the sun is high enugh t be ht Only in daylight hurs is the city pen fr business And Nehemiah appints trustwrthy men t guard the city walls and cntrl the gates What a shame it wuld be t lead a great prject and achieve great prgress nly t place the wrk int the hands f untrustwrthy men Many a great wrk f Gd s peple has cme t ruin when a great builder was fllwed by a incmpetent steward With the city walls built and the security f the city established, Nehemiah nw needs a way t determine wh will ccupy the city Just as with the riginal exile under Zerubbabel, the Jews wanted t ensure that nly thse wh were truly Jewish culd receive a prtin f this land S Nehemiah searches and finds the list f names frm the riginal exile The list is almst identical t the list given in Ezra 2 We will read it as a single unit, mangling names as I g 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

20 Nehemiah f 23 Neh. 7:4 Nw the city was large and spacius, but the peple in it were few and the huses were nt built. Neh. 7:5 Then my Gd put it int my heart t assemble the nbles, the fficials and the peple t be enrlled by genealgies. Then I fund the bk f the genealgy f thse wh came up first in which I fund the fllwing recrd: Neh. 7:6 These are the peple f the prvince wh came up frm the captivity f the exiles whm Nebuchadnezzar the king f Babyln had carried away, and wh returned t Jerusalem and Judah, each t his city, Neh. 7:7 wh came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mrdecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number f men f the peple f Israel: Neh. 7:8 the sns f Parsh, 2,172; Neh. 7:9 the sns f Shephatiah, 372; Neh. 7:10 the sns f Arah, 652; Neh. 7:11 the sns f Pahath-mab f the sns f Jeshua and Jab, 2,818; Neh. 7:12 the sns f Elam, 1,254; Neh. 7:13 the sns f Zattu, 845; Neh. 7:14 the sns f Zaccai, 760; Neh. 7:15 the sns f Binnui, 648; Neh. 7:16 the sns f Bebai, 628; Neh. 7:17 the sns f Azgad, 2,322; Neh. 7:18 the sns f Adnikam, 667; Neh. 7:19 the sns f Bigvai, 2,067; Neh. 7:20 the sns f Adin, 655; Neh. 7:21 the sns f Ater, f Hezekiah, 98; Neh. 7:22 the sns f Hashum, 328; Neh. 7:23 the sns f Bezai, 324; Neh. 7:24 the sns f Hariph, 112; Neh. 7:25 the sns f Giben, 95; Neh. 7:26 the men f Bethlehem and Netphah, 188; Neh. 7:27 the men f Anathth, 128; Neh. 7:28 the men f Beth-azmaveth, 42; Neh. 7:29 the men f Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah and Beerth, 743; Neh. 7:30 the men f Ramah and Geba, 621; Neh. 7:31 the men f Michmas, 122; Neh. 7:32 the men f Bethel and Ai, 123; Neh. 7:33 the men f the ther Neb, 52; Neh. 7:34 the sns f the ther Elam, 1,254; Neh. 7:35 the sns f Harim, 320; Neh. 7:36 the men f Jerich, 345; 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

21 Nehemiah f 23 Neh. 7:37 the sns f Ld, Hadid and On, 721; Neh. 7:38 the sns f Senaah, 3,930. Neh. 7:39 The priests: the sns f Jedaiah f the huse f Jeshua, 973; Neh. 7:40 the sns f Immer, 1,052; Neh. 7:41 the sns f Pashhur, 1,247; Neh. 7:42 the sns f Harim, 1,017. Neh. 7:43 The Levites: the sns f Jeshua, f Kadmiel, f the sns f Hdevah, 74. Neh. 7:44 The singers: the sns f Asaph, 148. Neh. 7:45 The gatekeepers: the sns f Shallum, the sns f Ater, the sns f Talmn, the sns f Akkub, the sns f Hatita, the sns f Shbai, 138. Neh. 7:46 The temple servants: the sns f Ziha, the sns f Hasupha, the sns f Tabbath, Neh. 7:47 the sns f Kers, the sns f Sia, the sns f Padn, Neh. 7:48 the sns f Lebana, the sns f Hagaba, the sns f Shalmai, Neh. 7:49 the sns f Hanan, the sns f Giddel, the sns f Gahar, Neh. 7:50 the sns f Reaiah, the sns f Rezin, the sns f Nekda, Neh. 7:51 the sns f Gazzam, the sns f Uzza, the sns f Paseah, Neh. 7:52 the sns f Besai, the sns f Meunim, the sns f Nephushesim, Neh. 7:53 the sns f Bakbuk, the sns f Hakupha, the sns f Harhur, Neh. 7:54 the sns f Bazlith, the sns f Mehida, the sns f Harsha, Neh. 7:55 the sns f Barks, the sns f Sisera, the sns f Temah, Neh. 7:56 the sns f Neziah, the sns f Hatipha. Neh. 7:57 The sns f Slmn s servants: the sns f Stai, the sns f Sphereth, the sns f Perida, Neh. 7:58 the sns f Jaala, the sns f Darkn, the sns f Giddel, Neh. 7:59 the sns f Shephatiah, the sns f Hattil, the sns f Pchereth-hazzebaim, the sns f Amn. Neh. 7:60 All the temple servants and the sns f Slmn s servants were 392. Neh. 7:61 These were they wh came up frm Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addn and Immer; but they culd nt shw their fathers huses r their descendants, whether they were f Israel: Neh. 7:62 the sns f Delaiah, the sns f Tbiah, the sns f Nekda, 642. Neh. 7:63 Of the priests: the sns f Hbaiah, the sns f Hakkz, the sns f Barzillai, wh tk a wife f the daughters f Barzillai, the Gileadite, and was named after them. Neh. 7:64 These searched amng their ancestral registratin, but it culd nt be lcated; therefre they were cnsidered unclean and excluded frm the priesthd. Neh. 7:65 The gvernr said t them that they shuld nt eat frm the mst hly things until a priest arse with Urim and Thummim. Neh. 7:66 The whle assembly tgether was 42,360, 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

22 Nehemiah f 23 Neh. 7:67 besides their male and their female servants, f whm there were 7,337; and they had 245 male and female singers. Neh. 7:68 Their hrses were 736; their mules, 245; Neh. 7:69 their camels, 435; their dnkeys, 6,720. Neh. 7:70 Sme frm amng the heads f fathers husehlds gave t the wrk. The gvernr gave t the treasury 1,000 gld drachmas, 50 basins, 530 priests garments. Neh. 7:71 Sme f the heads f fathers husehlds gave int the treasury f the wrk 20,000 gld drachmas and 2,200 silver minas. Neh. 7:72 That which the rest f the peple gave was 20,000 gld drachmas and 2,000 silver minas and 67 priests garments. Since we cmmented n the list in Ezra 2, I will nt take time t d that here again Instead, we need nly briefly nte the purpse in the retelling f the list First, this list established which families in Nehemiah s day had right t enter the city and live there S by re-reading the list, Nehemiah demnstrates that Gd s wrd will reign in the city Secndly, he is reflecting the faithfulness f Gd These peple are the children and grandchildren and perhaps great grandchildren f the first exiles And yet here they are experiencing the faithfulness f Gd t fulfill His prmise that the peple wuld re-inhabit a city with walls and a temple What was nce rubble has returned The time required fr that fulfillment was a result f the peple s delay, nt the Lrd s His faithfulness never waned He remained true t His wrd, sending prphets and teachers and leaders t ensure the wrk was dne And He even fretld the delays in the bk f Daniel when we cunted ut the years that wuld be required t rebuild the city with a wall in Daniel 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

23 Nehemiah f 23 But fr nw, the peple can see the pwer f Gd t keep His prmises ver time and distance, frm generatin t generatin Neh. 7:73 Nw the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, sme f the peple, the temple servants and all Israel, lived in their cities. And when the seventh mnth came, the sns f Israel were in their cities Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.