Poetic Licence

One of the essential truths shown in Nehemiah is that if a people put aside their fears, give of who they are despite their weaknesses God will honour it and give the increase. As we see Paul write in 1 Corinthian the church is like a body, it has many parts and for that Body to function every part needs to do its part. Leaders need to lead by example and when they do others will follow. Jesus is the key example but their are many lessons on leadership within the old testament as well. We need to look at the Bible as a whole, there are 66 books each worth reading, not just 27 in the New Testament to ponder.

Nehemiah 3 vs. 8-14 – Builders of the Wall From All Backgrounds

Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired the next section; and Hananiah,                                                            

One of the perfume-makers, made repairs next to that. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.                                              

There were many people from many walks of life involved in the rebuilding, from near and far                                                                     

Goldsmiths and Perfume-makers weren’t professional builders but nevertheless put their all into the wall                      

The wall was up to 6 metres wide in places so it wasn’t a small task to do but they raised the bar                                              

They recognised the importance of the repairs and despite their lack of DIY skills they gave it their all                                   

Sometimes we have to forget ourselves and concentrate on what God desires and let not fear                                                     

Overtake us, rather be prepared to trust God, do what he calls us to do and as we do we can repair a wall

Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section. Adjoining this, Jedaiah son             

Of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house, and Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs next to him.                     

Rephaiah was a ruler but he was prepared to serve alongside those he ruled and together the repair was done                      

Leadership is not about lording it over others, it is by being an example , even when it means going out on a limb                           

Sometimes leaders need to recognise that the work starts in their own backyard, and not far from their home               

Jedaiah took responsibility for the wall opposite his house, sometimes we need to focus on that which is within                      

 Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens.

Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters.

Shallum lead by example as well not just him but his daughters were involved in the rebuilding and got it done                       

They worked together as a family, our churches likewise need to be of the same mind as Shallum and his daughters           

To be prepared to work together towards a common goal which forms part of God’s plan and which glorifies his Son  

For by this shall all men know we are God’s disciples, by our love one for another; truly his sons and daughters

The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah. They rebuilt it and put its doors                                  

And bolts and bars in place. They also repaired five hundred yards of the wall as far as the Dung Gate.                              

Larger groups can accomplish more Hanun and the residents of Zanoah did accomplish far more                                         

The Valley Gate and five hundred yards were rebuilt and repaired, and what was achieved was great                                  

Sometimes we fragment into individual denominations when if we worked together we could do more                              

Is God’s call to the church Catholic this, time to work together and lay aside differences and even hate?                          

To do away with self-interest and work together in our communities to help and save the down and poor                                   

To run community food banks, to run combined budget advice and social services wouldn’t it be great

The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Recab, ruler of the district                                                                                  

Of Beth Hakkerem. He rebuilt it and put its doors and bolts and bars in place.                                                                          

Malkijah repaired the Dung Gate, whatever the task do it without conflict                                                                            

Do it as unto God, seek not your own rights but do it with love and grace                                                                                        

For when we do it to the least of these we do it as unto God, don’t him constrict                                                                       

There will come a time when we be called to account and we need God’s grace.

Mark Maffey, March 2009

(NIV)

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)

Leadership to me encompasses the ability to be able to understand the needs of an organisation or people, to see how those needs can be met, understand the resources and requirements that are needed to met those needs, and  then to be able to sell a vision of how they can be achieved. Nehemiah Chapters 1 and 2 illustrate how effectively Nehemiah went through this process. As we come to the end of Chapter 2 we see how Nehemiah took time to work out the resources and requirements formulated a plan about how rebuilding the walls could be achieved and then sold the vision to the leaders and people of Jerusalem.

The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing                                   

To the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.                                    

Nehemiah had to keep the leaders of Jerusalem in the dark before he could tell them something                                      

He needed to be sure of what needed doing and prepare a plan for them that would work                                                     

Nehemiah had prayed and planned, he knew God’s favour and he believed he could do something                                  

He could rebuild the walls of Jerusalem with the people’s help, he had show them it could work                          

Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned                  

With fire, come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.”                                        

Nehemiah acknowledged where the people were at that they were in trouble and that felt by God spurned                

He stated the obvious that the city was in ruins and it gates burned, a place of disgrace                                                      

But Nehemiah didn’t just leave them where they were instead he call on them to rebuild, be determined                            

To overcome their disgrace to once again be proud of their city and know again a God of grace

I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me.

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

Nehemiah shared with them all that God had done for him, and how King Artaxerxes could see                                         

How important it was to rebuild the walls and had given him timber to do the work                                                     

Nehemiah’s belief compelled them to believe in the plan, in their God, and with him did agree                                          

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it,                               

they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”                      

Often when we do what is unexpected people rise up say why are you doing this? We need to stand not sit               

We need to believe that our God is faithful to do all according to his will, we need to trust in our heavenly king                

Nehemiah knew there would be opposition from his enemies and he had not lose focus but stay with it                                   

He had to rebuke them and show that his God was strong, and the people were not rebelling against the king

I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding,                          

But as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”                                                          

Nehemiah was assured in what he was doing, nothing could come head on against him in the rebuilding                      

For his God was with him and could overcome opposition from those who did not want it                                                  

He said to his opposition go away you don’t have any claim or historic right to it, it is not your belonging                    

You don’t have any business trying to have ownership of what is not yours, you can’t have it                                                                

That Jerusalem was the city of God, and his people would not be stopped from completing its rebuilding                         

We too need to believe in what manner of love God has given to us, do not despise your birthright

Mark Maffey, February 2009

(NIV)

Nehemiah needed to do things by stealth as he inspected the walls of Jerusalem. He needed to assess what was going to be easy to fix, slightly harder to fix, and the hardest to fix. Sometimes we need to look at what has broken down in our lives and assess what we need to do to bring about repair. God’s desire is that we can come to place of completeness, a place of joy.

Nehemiah 2 vs. 11-15 – Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Walls

I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with a few men.

I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem.

Nehemiah had clarity about what he wanted to do and he was to God’s guidance trusting and open

He did not want to arouse suspicion about what he planned to do for Jerusalem

His enemies did not want to see change from a place whose wall were burnt and gates hanging broken

To a place where it was re-built, strong, they did not want a strong Jerusalem

God desires to take not only places, but people from weakness to strength, to heal those who are broken

Nehemiah had a dual mandate of restoration for the people and place of Jerusalem

There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on. By night I went out through the Valley Gate

Toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down,

Nehemiah didn’t need armies to reconnoitre the walls it was better to go alone, and assess walls and gates

To see damage first-hand, to understand the weak points and see what was most urgent and survey the town

Sometimes we need to take time to inventory, take stock of life and assess what is our current life-state

To seek God to let him and accept changes to be made, God’s promise to us is that he will never let us down

And its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate

And the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through;

Nehemiah physically examined the gates and walls; he knew what needed doing at each gate

He knew the scope of the task; the rubble was such his mount could not get through

Sometimes there seems to be too much junk, debris which clog our lives and passion does abate

We need to stop and clear that which blocks progress so that life we can get through

Nehemiah didn’t stop because he was blocked he sought another way around the broken gate

He took a different more difficult route, the road less travelled to make his way through

So I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally,

I turned back and re-entered through the Valley Gate.

Nehemiah wanted to cover every angle and do it safely

Despite the darkness he picked his way to the Fountain Gate

He made sure he knew all he needed to know completely

So that he could brief the leaders and his case clearly state

Mark Maffey, February 2009

(NIV)