We continue our study in the book of Nehemiah and in this chapter, Nehemiah is in Jerusalem. What does he do or not do? What lessons can we learn from his approach?
(A) On the ground: Personal conviction and planning carefully (Neh 2:11-16)
Before we look at today’s passage, let us read the words of Jesus in Luke 14:28-30. Jesus’ call is simple — take up our cross and follows Him. This is what a disciple does — follow the master. A prerequisite is to know what following Jesus will cost you.
When Nehemiah goes about building the wall, he is not doing a socio-political exercise. He is not thinking about the security of Jerusalem but is thinking about the covenant purposes of God. He desires the preservation of the kingdom. Psalm 79 is the heart cry of a man like Nehemiah. He sees the state of Jerusalem and the people — like a sheep without a shepherd. And he thinks of how he can use his position and access for the sake of God and His purposes.
This is where we pick up in Nehemiah 2.
Who does Nehemiah need still? He has the king, the king’s army but he still needs his people.
Nehemiah is in Jerusalem for 3 days (Neh 2:11) and he does not seem to do anything in those 3 days. Following that, he arose in the night with a few men but did not tell anyone what God had put in his heart to do for Jerusalem (Neh 2:12a). He arose to head to the gates, and kept the group small (Neh 2:12b). This text deliberately highlights how Nehemiah went about this without telling anyone. It would make more sense of him to go with others for safety and security reason, but Nehemiah records for us how he went on this solo inspection trip by night.
Nehemiah 2:13–15 records for us Nehemiah’s route on his night ride. He went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, to inspect the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. Then, he went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under him to pass. Then he went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned.
He inspected the city and saw for himself the state that it was. There were parts that even his animal could not pass.
In his account, Nehemiah stressed how he was alone (“did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told ….”, Neh 2:16). He came to his own conclusions as a result of what he saw. Why is it so important that Nehemiah establish the fact that his judgement was his own? Nehemiah is a man of personal conviction. No one could make him do what he believed was necessary. Thus, it was important for Nehemiah that the judgement was his own.
Do you arrive at the choices that you make out of your own conviction and conscience?
Proverbs such as Provers 14:15, 21:5 help us to think about planning as a Christian. This is helpful because so much of what the world and even modern Christian thought tells us today that we need to act and go immediately. But friends, the Holy Spirit also works through our plans and strategies. We do not need to act only spontaneously.
(B) Rising up: Work with those God strengthens (Neh 2:17-18)
Nehemiah then makes an appeal to his countrymen. Firstly, Nehemiah states the obvious, the reality of things (Neh 2:17). He does not whitewash the circumstances or tries to motivate them. He begins with reality. This is also applicable to the Christian life — we need to see where we are and the state we are in. This is what it means to count the cost. Nehemiah recognises that there is so much to be done because they are in a bad state.
Secondly, he invites them (“come, let us”). He brings people in and calls them to leave something behind to work on something new. He is a collaborative leader and does not rely on the power of Persia and the army that he has from the king. Instead, he brings the people together. The wall is not the goal, but the people who are called by God.
In a goal-oriented Singapore, we are wired to think about the outcomes and the ways to measure success. But Nehemiah cares about the people too. In Nehemiah 3, we will read of a list of names, the names of those who responded to Nehemiah’s invitation. They joined their hands to the work and built God’s city. They were named because they came. Nehemiah sought to bring God’s people together to do God’s work.
Finally, he gives them the account of his provisioning (Neh 2:18). God is at work. And the proof? The king had spoken to him — and who else could move the heart of this Persian king but God. Nehemiah explained things in God-centred terms and saw how things worked out because God intervened and acted.
As a result, the people said, “Let us rise up and build” and initiated the work (Neh 2:18). The word “rise” calls to mind a picture of the people leaving their derision, stepping up and moving out of their ruins.
Is there something you know that God wants to change? The church? Your own spiritual circumstances? You will not be able to change it until you acknowledge your spiritual reality, collaborate with others and wait on God to put things in place that are suitable to move things. Remember how Nehemiah did not arrive here overnight but had years of waiting.
How do they respond to him?
We need to be aware when God works in His people. In Nehemiah 2:18b, we see how they strengthened their hands for the good work. They encouraged one another, and was clear that God was leading them together. They also regularly and effectively encouraged one another, motivating one another with God.
Have you experienced this kind of encouragement? Have you experienced being among the people of God with a common drive, purpose that is bigger than your life, and working together with them? It is life-giving.
What is God saying to you today? Are you on the cusp of the good work but standing on the side lines? Or have you thrown yourself into it? Or are you at the side, waiting to see how things pan out?
(C) Above all: Face opposition looking to God (Neh 2:19-20)
Nehemiah mentions Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite and a new person, Geshem the Arab (Neh 2:19). Nehemiah highlights their ethnicity to show how they are not from the people of God. It helps us to understand the geopolitical landscape. Perhaps different nations or groups have been eyeing and taking Israel’s land.
These men recognised the zeal of Nehemiah and did not support his plans. Instead, they jeered and opposed (Neh 2:19).
This speaks honestly about opposition to the plans of God. There will be people who ask if it is worth it, or if there are better things to do with your time. So friends, is it worth it, to build the kingdom of God?
We need to prepare ourselves for opposition. We should not be surprised when people despise our practices, mock what we do, consider us to be fools, leave our churches etc. But we can be surprised when the opposition doesn’t come from outside but within. Later in Nehemiah, we are told that opposition also comes from within.
How does Nehemiah respond to them? Nehemiah focuses on the God of heaven (Neh 2:20).
This is what we need too, when things get tough. We need to recognise who God is and focus on who He is. He is not just our personal God, nor is he just the God of this nation nor of earth. He is the God of heaven, one who is high and lifted up. This God will make His people prosper.
Nehemiah also recognises that they are mere servants and nothing more. And servants do not need to show that they are big. As servants, they will continue what they intended to do (“arise and build”).
Finally, Nehemiah also states that these people will have no portion, or right or claim in this place. He is confident that the enemies of God will be kept out and they own nothing in this city.
When we face opposition, we can trust God to deal with our enemies, and our job is to continue doing what we need to do.
Our business is to do what we need to do in the church, focussing on the holiness of the church. We are not responsible to remake the world to look like the church. We need to be clear about what it means to be us, even as it is clear what it means to be them. Do you know who is in your church? Do you spend more time worrying about what is happening in the world or in the church? In 1 Corinthian 5, Paul calls the Corinthian church to judge what is within the church, not the outsiders.
Now, Nehemiah is not the only one doing the building in the Bible. In Matthew 16:13-20, we read of Jesus and the building He is working on. Jesus said that He will build His church on the confession that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God. All who turn to Him becomes living stones in this church. Jesus is building something now. As we share the gospel, help people grow, give and contribute to this work such that more stones join this building, we join the work of building this church.
Are you involved? Have you counted the cost? Do you know what it means to rebuild the ruins on this confession?