Sometimes we can look at a task and say it is too big. For a hundred and fifty years the remnant who had returned from exile in Babylon had lived in Jerusalem. Under Ezra they had managed to rebuild the temple, but they were vulnerable and weak because they had no defences, the walls were broken, their Gates burnt and destroyed. The task to rebuild seemed to big. It is a bit like the analogy of the Elephant you can’t eat it all at once, but it can be eaten if apportioned in manageable chunks. Nehemiah managed to convince and get on board the Jerusalemites from the top down. It is noticeable in verse 1 of Chapter 3 that the first group of builders mentioned is the high priest and his fellow priests. They led from the front demonstrating that leadership is being prepared to roll the sleeves up and show that as leaders we are prepared to do what the followers are being asked to do. Together Everyone Achieves More. Teamwork rebuilt the gates and wall.
Leadership involves servanthood and there are two outstanding examples of this found in John 13 and Phillipians 2. Jesus is the supreme role model for Servant Leadership. One book I recommend on this topic is Robert Greenleaf’s “Servant Leadership”
Nehemiah 3 vs. 1-7 – Builders of the Wall
Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set
its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel.
Nehemiah needed to have teams on various sections of the wall so eventually they would be joined together and meet
People from all walks of life got involved, Eliashib lead from the front prepared to get his hands dirty and work well
He ensured his fellow priests were onboard, they took his lead and together everyone achieved more with hard sweat
Having completed the work they consecrated and blessed the gates for God’s purposes and of it Nehemiah did tell
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 They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place.
Whilst the priests worked on the Gate, the men of Jericho rebuilt the wall and secured the area by the gate
Family groups worked together and they ensured things were done in order and everything was in place
Stage by stage the wall was taking shape, reinforcing that when people work together their fears abate
Those things that for an individual seem impossible can be overcome when people work together in one place
We need to recognise we are parts in a body, when the church is a united body, people will come thru the gate
They will be drawn in because they see a community that is vibrant and real where everyone has a place
Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the next section. Next to him Meshullam son of Berekiah,
The son of Meshezabel, made repairs, and next to him Zadok son of Baana also made repairs.
In a spiritual sense God also wanted to repair the hearts of the people, year after year had been heart-breakers
They had been overcome and worn down by their enemies; they were in a place of despair
They needed to lift themselves out of the mire and to re-establish their ground, their birthright over the acres
That were Jerusalem, to assert the ownership of God, and that they did by their site by site repair
The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their
Supervisors. The Jeshanah Gate was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams
The people of Tekoa were more than happy to do their bit but the nobles weren’t prepared to submit and do the repairs
They saw themselves as above such labour and felt others should shoulder their work, they didn’t want to be in the teams
We too need to be aware that we should put aside selfish ambition and like Christ serve and as we do not just for our peers
The wall was rebuilt because people put aside their perceived rights and submitted to a greater good and laid the beams
And put its doors and bolts and bars in place. Next to them, repairs were made by men from Gibeon and Mizpah
Melatiah of Gibeon and Jadon of Meronoth—places under the authority of the governor of Trans-Euphrates
It wasn’t just people from Jerusalem that rebuilt the walls but from further afield, from Gibeon and Mizpah
Sometimes we need to put aside things we are doing for the greater good and to be a band of confederates
To do things that are for good and not evil to do what God has called us to do, to be audacious have Chutzpah
This is what the Jerusalemites did, they stood up for themselves, rebuilt their walls as strong confederates
Mark Maffey, February 2009
(NIV)