Thursday: “Doing a Great Work”
Read Nehemiah 6:1-13. Why does Nehemiah see the work he is doing in Jerusalem as a “great work” (Neh. 6:3)? What were the attempts in this case to stop him?
Chapter 6 describes many attempts on Nehemiah’s life. Sanballat and Geshem kept sending Nehemiah letters in order to get him to come to them under the pretext of a meeting. However, the meeting was in the plain of Ono, which was in enemy territory, and thus gave away the true intent of the invitation.
Doing a “Great Work”
Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem see a window of opportunity that will last only until the wall is finished and the gates are shut. The Jews have the protection of the Persian king, and therefore their enemies cannot conquer them through a full-frontal attack. But if they get rid of the leader, they will stunt the progress or perhaps even stop the Jews forever. They are not giving up. Even if Nehemiah is not responding, they keep trying. It must have been frustrating to Nehemiah to have to deal with opposition at every turn. He responds to them by stating, “I am doing a great work” (Neh. 6:3, NKJV).
By the world’s standards, Nehemiah was doing a great work as a cupbearer for the king, which was a prestigious occupation, one of the highest in the land where he served as an advisor to the king. But building a city that was in ruins, that had no apparent worldly significance? That’s what he calls a great work? Nehemiah considered the work for God as “great” and more important because he realized that the honor of God’s name was at stake in Jerusalem.
Also, when God set up the sanctuary services, He instituted the priesthood. In order to keep the sanctuary holy and special in the minds of the people, He allowed only the priests to perform the duties inside the temple. On our own, we have a hard time seeing the holiness of God; therefore, God made provision to help the Israelites come into the presence of God with reverence. Nehemiah knew that temple courts were for everyone, but not the inner rooms. By his words, about meeting inside the temple, Shemaiah not only shows himself to be a false prophet by suggesting something that was contrary to God’s directive, but also exposes himself as a traitor.
| What are ways that we, today, with no earthly sanctuary, can keep before us a sense of God’s holiness? How does the realization of God’s holiness, in contrast to our sinfulness, drive us to the cross? |
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It is interesting to see the "great work" of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem in the big picture of the history of Jerusalem. There were several building/rebuilding efforts throughout the history of the city.
Originally it was a small well fortified city called Jebus and only occupies about 50,000 sq metres.
During the time of David and Solomon (~1000BC) the city was enlarged and became the capital city of Israel. The city wall was extended and fortified during this time.
This wall remained in place until Nebuchadnezzar destroyed it around 587/6 BC.
The wall was rebuilt in the post exilic period by Nehemiah and Ezra between 516 - 438 BC.
The post exilic wall formed the basis of Jerusalem's fortification until the Roman siege but it was extended and renovated a number of times. Firstly in the Hasmonean period and later by Herod the Great (37BC) and Agrippa I (41-44AD)
This wall was completely destroyed in AD70 during the great Roman siege. It wasn't rebuild until the time of Emperor Diocletian (298 -300AD) and extended during Empress Aelia Eudocia's banishment to Jerusalem in 298 -300AD.
In 1033 the wall was destroyed by an earthquake. Some rebuilding took place under Muslim occupation but was later destroyed for fear that the Crusaders would use them. The wall essentially laid it ruins until Suliman the Magnificent rebuilt them in 1535 - 1538 AD. These are the walls that you see if you visit Jerusalem today.
In the grand vista of history, Ezra and Nehemiah's contribution is a small but pivotal piece in the jigsaw puzzle of the Jerusalem's history. While the temple has since been destroyed and the walls destroyed and built several times since then, the really important work of God interacting with his people has continued. Where do we stand in that history?
Maurice: you said "Originally it was a small well fortified city called Jebus and only occupies about 50,000 sq metres." Abraham met Melchizedek the king of Salem. I have always heard that Salem was an early name of Jerusalem. Is that not correct?
There are a number of names associated with the general area of Jerusalem, depending on the language of the records. The early Egyptians referred to Rusalim. There is a series of clay tablets representing correspondence between Egypt and the rulers of Canaan where Jerusalem is referred to as Urusalim.
The name Jebus is documented in the Bible, Judges 19:10, the story of Saul looking for his donkeys.
The name Salem has also a long association with Jerusalem Originally Shalim or Shelem, referred to the goddess of dusk in the Caananite religion, and meaning Peace in Hebrew. In Joshua's time Yireh was added to Salem giving it the meaning, the abiding place of peace.
Zion was originally a part of the city (like a suburb or locality) but became associated with the whole city later.
As you can probably see, there is quite a history in naming Jerusalem; something that is not all that surprising given the age of the city.
Thank you, Maurice. As usual I learned much from you.
For the enemies this was a “now-or-never” time. If they didn’t do something immediately to stop the work, the walls will be completely finished.
There will always be those who are friendly to your face, but plan your downfall behind your back. Beware of the fawning, flattering Christian who is always fluttering around you.
Discernment is the ability to judge matters according to God’s view of them, and not according to their outward appearance. We are often deceived by outward appearances.
Christians today suffer a great deal because we often lack discernment. Many follow leaders and teachers who give a good appearance, but are deceptive.
Many accept things blindly because it looks good or sounds good, without carefully judging it against the whole counsel of God’s Word.
How can we develop discernment?
First, if you want to see things as God sees them, get to know His Word.
Second, discernment comes through spiritual maturity; Hebrews 5:12-14 says that discernment is something spiritual babies don’t have (a baby will stick anything in his mouth).
Third, discernment can be given as a gift from the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:10). Seek Him for it.
Holy Ghost guide me into your words.
Nehemiah was faced with lots of difficulties but purposed in his heart to go forward. He also encouraged the men to move on with the work. This was nothing new to people in the Bible times.
Moses faced difficulties for each 40 years but still moved forward. So were all the other people in the Bible. Many times people expect this life to be a smooth sailing path. People complain for everything, E.g the sun is too hot so we can’t go out today and work, rain falling too heavy, the snow too much, the place too cold, the children is a problem today, don’t have much material, on and on we go.
He and his friends had lots to complain about but instead they focused on what was at hand. They worked together to accomplish one task despite what the enemy was plotting for them.
If the church in our time can be so committed, this work that is set before us will be accomplished in our day.
Many talk the talk but do not walk the walk. The question is asked, how do I recognize and acknowledge the holiness of God compared with my sinfulness.
My body is the temple of God. He wants to come and live in me. He wants to take away my sinfulness. By faith I have to believe and acknowledge him as my personal savior. Ask him to come in and change me to his image.
I have been trying to relate Nehemiah's great work of re-building the wall to our situation these days. Should we be building a wall around the seat of power of our denomination, to keep out those we perceive as adversaries?
What was the real work of Ezra and Nehemiah that was symbolized by re building the temple and the city? I believe it was re building the peoples relationship with the LORD. They had been sent into exile because they did their own thing, after 70 years they were brought back to do God's will, but after 490 years (7 x 70) they had strayed again and so the temple and city were destroyed. Why? I believe that the LORD had showed that each individual needs to have its own relationship with the LORD. When this is delagated to group control eventually the focus is on maintaining power and not on doing a great work for the LORD.
Shirley, I like your thought, on how the ultimate goal was a personal relationship and commitment to God. Yet rebuilding was a group effort. The whole community was involved (perfumers, priests, government officials, Shallum’s daughters..). There’s a command about us “assembling together”. So apparently, for us to develop that personal relationship with God, we need relationships with fellow believers. Whether you are building a temple, building a wall, or building a life of faith, we absolutely need God, and we need each other.
The power of the Holy Spirit to discern the enemy from within our mist.
Secret Enemies
Open opposition may be fierce and cruel, but it is fraught with far less peril to God’s cause than is the secret enmity of those who, while professing to serve God, are at heart the servants of Satan. These have it in their power to place every advantage in the hands of those who will use their knowledge to hinder the work of God and injure His servants. PK 658
Do we have the inside enemies like Nehemiah in his day? Do we know who they are? If yes, then what are we doing about them. If no, then what? Many have departed from the faith and given heed to seducing spirits but are present in church on Sabbaths. The wheat and tares will be together until the Lord comes. Let us be faithful.
The applications in the study of Ezra and Nehemiah are somewhat difficult to apply to our lives today. I usually go instead to other books in the bible to read. The controversy over the rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem is somewhat interesting, and Gods leading in Ezra And Nehemiah is inspiring. We may find an application along the way.
Daniel 10:12,13,20. Have complementary applications to Ezra 3 and 4. A bit confusing. The lessons for next quarter will be on the book of Daniel also. Just a side note.