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Nehemiah: A Picture of the Intersection of Faith and Action... (8 of 9)
Victory: Completed Walls!
Nehemiah 6:15-7:4
Nehemiah 6:15-7:4 (ESV) –
“So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 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. Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah's letters came to them. 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. Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.
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, 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. And I said to them, “Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their guard posts and some in front of their own homes.” The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt.”
We’ve traced the rebuilding project through a series of challenges. The workers persevered and overcame ridicule, mockery, violent opposition and discouragement.
Considering God’s mighty acts in history should encourage, strengthen and motivate us. We’re reminded that even in the context of a great victory, the work is never complete this side of glory.
1. Nehemiah is a thrilling and encouraging account of God bringing great victory. The walls of Jerusalem were completely restored.
Nehemiah 1:3 (ESV) –
“The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
Nehemiah 4:6 (ESV) –
“So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”
Nehemiah 6:1 (ESV) –
“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).”
Nehemiah 6:15-16 (ESV) –
“So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 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.”
Less than 6 months after Nehemiah boldly spoke with the King in Persia requesting to be sent to Jerusalem to rebuild it, the walls were complete!
Nehemiah 2:1 (ESV) –
“In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes...”
Nehemiah 6:15 (ESV) –
“So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul...”
Jerusalem’s hostile neighbors became very afraid the moment the city was able to defend herself. When they realized the only explanation for this triumph was God’s hand, they (ESV, 6:15) – ...fell greatly in their own esteem... Realizing that the Lord brought this victory led to fear.
Joshua 2:8-11 (ESV) –
“Before the spies went to sleep that night, Rahab went up on the roof to talk with them. “I know the Lord has given you this land,” she told them. “We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror. For we have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed. No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.”
1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV, emphasis mine) –
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
Matthew 21:21 (ESV) –
“Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.”
Gazing on God’s mighty acts in history ought to strengthen and grow our faith in Him and lead us into worship. Considering God’s mighty acts in history should encourage, strengthen and motivate us today.
2. Even in the context of victory continued vigilance and caution were necessary. Opposition and danger didn’t disappear.
Nehemiah 6:19 (ESV) –
“And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.”
The need to stand firm continues to be as important as it always has been.
2 John 8 (ESV) –
“Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.”
The need of the hour was to stand firm and stand guard so that the progress that had been worked so hard for would not be lost. The completion of the walls was a huge victory but the struggle wasn’t over, not by any means.
We need to understand that a bold proclamation of the truth of the Gospel and faithful leadership with integrity will always be opposed by some.
Nehemiah 1:2 (ESV) –
“... Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem.”
Nehemiah 6:2 (ESV, emphasis mine) –
“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.”
Choosing leaders who can be described by the phrase – ... a more faithful and God-fearing man than many... – assured that the next stage of rebuilding the people would be carried out faithfully. We ought to ask – Does this describe me?
Nehemiah 7:4 (ESV) –
“The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt.”
2 John 8 (ESV, emphasis mine) –
“Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.”
Ephesians 6:13 (ESV, emphasis mine) –
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”
We need to be on guard and continually vigilant because past faithfulness to God doesn’t guarantee future faithfulness. It’s common to begin well and end in disaster. Kingdom work with opposition will continue until Jesus comes.
Matthew 24:14 (ESV) –
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
3. This picture points beyond itself: We need to look not only to the safety and security offered by city walls but to the eternal safety and security that is only found in Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 (ESV) –
“Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.”
Isaiah 53:6 (ESV) –
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way...”
We’re all sinners and what we justly deserve for our sin is death, eternal separation from God, everlasting conscious punishment, hell. The news of this utter peril is much, much worse than the news of Jerusalem’s ruined walls.
The Lord’s Supper proclaims the greatest act of deliverance the world has ever known and will ever know.
Romans 5:8 (ESV) –
“...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (ESV) –
“...that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures...”
1 Peter 3:18 (ESV) –
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God...”
The destination of Nehemiah and all the Bible is Jesus. The city they were rebuilding, Jerusalem, was the place where 400-500 years later Jesus walked the streets, taught in the Temple, healed and of course was arrested and ultimately went to the cross and was crucified.
Christ’s body was broken and His blood was shed to offer rescue to all who will ever receive it so that we can have forgiveness of sins, eternal life.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (ESV) –
“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.”