Look Outside The Box! (Nehemiah 3:6-12)

6 Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the Gate of Yeshanah. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 7 And next to them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, the seat of the governor of the province Beyond the River. 8 Next to them Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, repaired, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. 9      Next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired. 10 Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph repaired opposite his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah repaired. 11 Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. 12 Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters.

THE STUDY:

          What we are going to see in these 7 verses (6-12) is how God used a vast variety of people to accomplish his will. We read in verse 6 about Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah. Joiada is the fourth high priest after the Babylonian Exile. Not a lot of information concerning Meshullan.

          We read in verse 7 that next to them was Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite. A person from the town of Gibeon was not allowed to marry a Jew and the town of Meronoth which may have come from Jehdeiah. He was the herdsman of the royal asses in the time of David and Solomon (1 Chr. 27:30) and he received this name.^[1]

          The list of names goes on but I want to point out the occupations of the individuals: Priest, leaders, government officials, goldsmiths, perfumers, and rulers of districts. All took part in this undertaking.  

         

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding of two things: 1) With God, all things are possible no matter how big the project. 2) God can and will use any and every one he chooses.

APPLICATION:

What I find interesting when addressing a project or problem is how people will try to pick and choose that certain (15%-20%) group of people to assist them. We fail to look outside that 20% and see that there are others who may be able to do as good if not a better job than those within the 20%.

What causes people to do this? First, it may just be that they know these people and their abilities and so they know the project will get done. Secondly though, they may find it difficult to work with certain one from this 80% group. I can understand the first reason but I am not sure the second reason is acceptable. What we tend to resort to in a crisis situation is what we know. We fail to get to know the others 80% and so we miss out on the potential to do bigger and better things. Don’t resort to being comfortable when it comes to dealing with people. Get to know them and allow them to take part so that you can accomplish more than you could have imagined.

Today, you have an opportunity to do something phenomenal, don’t miss out on it because you chose to be comfortable opposed to looking outside the box to that group of people who have the potential to help you take things to a whole new level.  

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

---

^[1] Easton, M. G. (1996). Easton’s Bible dictionary. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Fear Factor! (Nehemiah 3:3-5)

The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 4 And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired. 5 And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.

THE STUDY:

          We are continuing to look at the sections of the wall that was being repaired by each person or group of people who lived, resided, or worked near that part of the wall. Today we are looking at the 2^nd gate that is being repaired and we see that Hassenaah is to repair the Fish Gate. As we go down the wall we start seeing the names of those who were working on their assigned sections.

          The verse that stands out to me is verse 5, And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord. The city of Tekoa was located about 12 miles southwest of Jerusalem in an open plain in the Judaean wilderness. What was interesting to me was the fact that the nobles would not stoop to serve their lord. This is the only time in the book where individuals are identified as refusing to participate in the rebuilding project. Tekoa was vulnerable to attack, especially by the neighboring Arabs. The leaders of the city may have anticipated the opposition of Geshem the Arab to the rebuilding project, and they did not want to join ranks with Nehemiah, thereby giving the Arabs a reason to attack their defenseless city.^[1] Since Tekoa was close to the area controlled by Geshem the Arab, perhaps the nobles were influenced by or afraid of him. Whatever their reason, it indicates that some of the Jews did not support Nehemiah’s plan.^[2] The men of Tekoa seem to have compensated for the faults of their nobles by repairing two sections of the wall (v. 27).

         

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that it may have appeared that everyone was on board with Nehemiah's plan but not everyone was. As a leader, this is one aspect you must get over: not everyone will agree!

APPLICATION:

Fear is a devastating thing! It can cause us to miss out on the many blessings God has for us. It can negatively affect us physically, mentally and emotionally. What we read in this passage is that these nobles (leaders of Tekoa) let fear determine their choice. What we also read is how the Tekoa people were not in agreement with them and so they felt the need to do double duty to make up for their leaders decisions.

Today you are going to be faced with someone or something that will cause fear to rise up within you. Remember two things: 1) If God is in it then you want to be a part of it. 2) Not everyone will think it’s a good idea! Don’t let those people cause you to miss out on the blessing or miracle God has for you today.

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

---

^[1] Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ne 3:5). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

^[2] Breneman, M. (1993). Vol. 10: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (electronic ed.). The New American Commentary (187). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Focus Were You’re At! (Nehemiah 3:1)

Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel.

THE STUDY:

          Moving into Chapter 3 we now are seeing the wall being divided up into sections. In this chapter we will look at 10 gates that will be repaired and who will be assigned to repair them. The first gate is the Sheep gate which Eliashib the high priest along with the other priest were assigned to rebuild.

          Some of the significant aspects found in this verse is the fact that Eliashib means “God restores.” He is the grandson of Jeshua, the high priest during the time of Zerubbabel’s rebuilding projects (Ezra 3:2).

          The Sheep Gate is located at the northeastern corner of the wall, near the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:2). The gate probably took its name from the sheep that were brought through it to be offered on the altar at the nearby temple. There may have been a market there where sacrificial sheep were sold. The Sheep Gate may have been the same as the Benjamin Gate (Jer 20:2; 37:13).^[1]

          What is interesting about this section of the wall is that when the people finished the “whole” wall, they had a dedication ceremony. This is the only section where a separate dedication is mentioned. Some scholars believe that this amounted to the high priest’s dedication of the whole project and that it shows its religious significance.^[2]

         

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that each section of the wall will be repaired by the group of people who lived, reside, or work in that area. The priest would be found near the Sheep Gate because this is where the animals that were to be used for sacrifices would be brought in for inspection by the priest.

• We also walk away this morning with the understanding that it is important to ask for God’s blessing on the project before hand and after the project is completed as well.

APPLICATION:

Today, we can get so discouraged by the events in this “big world” but let us not focus so much on the “big world.” Let us stay focused on our little section of the world and work there. We have work to do and it starts there and then progresses outwardly. I am not saying we should not dream big dreams. What I am saying is that we should look to change the world we live in and the rest of the world will then be positively affected.

We have great examples of this in our world today. Billy Graham didn’t start by focusing on evangelizing the world. He started evangelizing within his community first. Mother Theresa didn’t want to end world hunger first. She wanted to end hunger in the community she lived in. John Maxwell didn’t focus on training leaders all over the world. He focused on the ones within his community first. All three of these examples started within their own little section of the world but through their dedication and God’s blessing they have reached beyond their little world and into the bigger world. We can do the same! Today, focus on the little section of the world God has blessed you with and go from there.

  

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

---

^[1] Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ne 3:1). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

^[2] Breneman, M. (1993). Vol. 10: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (electronic ed.). The New American Commentary (187). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

WE WIN! (Nehemiah 2:20)

Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.”  

THE STUDY:

          Nehemiah is addressing the three individuals who seem to be trying to discourage and even halt the rebuilding of the wall. He states 3 facts in this verse: God will give them success, the people will rise and build, and Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem have no right or claim in Jerusalem.

          For the sake of the workers, Nehemiah’s response to this first oppositional strategy was important. His answer had three parts: (1) He did not speak of his authority or the king’s but of his trust in “the God of heaven.” (2) Nehemiah advised his people to ignore the ridicule and threats and simply work. (3) He refused to compromise. He denied his opponents a share in the work, the land, or the worship of the Jewish community (cf. Ezra 4:3).

          In former years Sanballat and Tobiah may have had some jurisdiction over the affairs of Judah, but now Nehemiah was in charge, commissioned by the king. The “historic right” Nehemiah mentioned is the term zikaron, which can mean “a reminder.” The word can refer to historic rights (property, participation in the community, etc.) but probably was used in the sense of a right to participate in the temple worship.^[1]

         

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that Success comes from God. We need to stay focused on the job at hand and not get sidetracked by Satan’s diversions. Finally, nonbelievers have no civic, legal, or cultic rights in the community of faith.

APPLICATION:

 As I watch over the next few months the presidential debates culminating to the election in November, the one thing that stands out in my heart is knowing my God is in control. I don’t get to bent out of shape when it comes to the outcome. My God rules! I encourage the church to stay focused on the Cross and not the candidates. They seem to tell us what we want to hear and not what needs to stated.

I believe that as time will tell God wins and the only ones who will be able to claim this victory is the believers. All the Sanballat’s of the world will realize the victory is ours (believers) and they will have no claim to it.

Today, you will be faced with the world and all it has. Remember three things: 1) God is in control. 2) Stay focused on the Cross. 3) In the end, WE WIN!  

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

---

^[1] Breneman, M. (1993). Vol. 10: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (electronic ed.). The New American Commentary (184). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Time and Time Again! (Nehemiah 2:19)

But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”       

THE STUDY:

          Not one brick has been laid. Not one tree has been cut, Not one hour has been completed in the rebuilding of the wall and already the criticism has begun. We read that Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem are mocking and scorning Nehemiah and the people.

          These enemies, especially Sanballat and Tobiah, knew that Nehemiah had credentials from the king. Thus they tried to stop the work by disheartening the people who were building. They used ridicule as their tool. The enemies even accused the Jews of rebellion, which would have brought back memories of the official action against Jerusalem noted in Ezra 4:12.

          When the enemies of God’s work can find no legitimate basis for opposition, they may use ridicule, questioning the significance of our labors. This sometimes does more harm than even questioning one’s credentials or good intentions (which Nehemiah’s enemies also did) because it attacks the very incentive for action. Ridicule is especially hard to endure when the recipients are in the minority. Chrisitians experiencing it should remember what Heb 11:36–39 says about the biblical heroes of faith: “Some faced jeers and flogging.… The world was not worthy of them.… These were all commended for their faith.” Jesus also suffered ridicule and mocking on many occasions (Luke 22:63–64; 23:11), and his followers can expect to face the same kind of opposition.^[1]

         

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that no matter how excited you are, no matter how motivated your team (family, church, co-workers) is to do the work of the Lord, there will always be someone who will be in opposition. How we deal with these individuals is what will be the key to success or failure.

APPLICATION:

I am reminded of my days before Christ. I was Sanballat or Tobiah, ridiculing the believers and challenging their walk with God. I was very hard on one certain individual at my work place. I made fun of him, laughed at him, and even at certain times was angry with him. WHY? One on the major reason for this was due to what he had and what I didn’t have, PEACE! I felt I was fighting to succeed (survive) and he was sailing toward success.

What he had was, what I now realize, the key to it all, CHRIST! Nehemiah was anointed by God and blessed by the authorities of the land and this is what gave him peace. He was not disheartened or discouraged by all the negativism pointed in his direction. He knew this project was going to succeed and God was going to be the key to it all.

Today you may be facing something in your life that can compare to Nehemiah’s rebuilding of the wall. You may have people who are ridiculing and/or trying to discourage you and those on your team. Remember this, with the anointing of Christ, whatever it may be that He has you do, it will be successful. We read it time and time again in the scriptures. We read it time and time again in the newspapers and books. We will read it time and time again in our lives as long as we remain in Him.

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

---

^[1] Breneman, M. (1993). Vol. 10: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (electronic ed.). The New American Commentary (182–183). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.