Nehemiah and the wall of separation and protection
Nehemiah was a servant of the king of Persia, a cupbearer, an Israelite.
He was in a place of relative safety….of wealth and comfort…
….yet his heart worried over the Israelites which had gone back to the land of Israel, to build a temple there,…..for they were in bad straits.
And Nehemiah was a true worshipper of God,…who sought the good for the returned remnant….so he prays.
This is very wonderful….and it also should be the basis of our actions in the world….prayer for guidance and blessing for the Will of God….in us and through us.
Nehemiah wanted permission to go to Jerusalem and help them against their enemies.
Nehemiah 1:5-11 “…I beseech Thee, O Lord God….that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love Him and observe His commandments:
…that Thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray…day and night…for the children of Israel…and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against Thee:….
….Remember, I beseech Thee, the word…If ye transgress, I will scatter you…
But if ye turn unto Me, and keep My commandments and do them;….yet will I gather them from thence and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set My name there.
O Lord, I beseech Thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of Thy servant, and to the prayer of Thy servants, who desire to fear Thy name: and prosper, I pray Thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man….”
If he was to get permission to go to Jerusalem….God would have to do it.
Yet the means of prayer and obedience was to be used…that is God’s Way of bringing His Will to pass….through His servants who confess their sins, and seek His Will.
So Nehemiah bravely asked to go to Jerusalem and help the poor Israelites there.
Nehemiah’s concern was the wall. It had been destroyed under Nebuchadnezzar, torn down and burnt. It was now just rubble….and there was no separation or protection without it.
(Proverbs 25:28 “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”
Without the walls of God’s Will and Word to separate us from the world’s influence….we will be subjects to every attitude and emotion…rather than subjects of our King, Christ Jesus.)
He is given permission…..with a timeline to return…..
…so Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem!
He is made the governor…..yet works to express his authority against the wicked, rather than the righteous….unless there is sin in Israel to deal with.
He waits….secretly looking things over….before he speaks (Nehemiah 2:12-15).
But then lays out the plan the Lord showed him:
Nehemiah 2:17-18 “Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire:, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
…And they (the Israelites)said, Let us rise up and build….”
They had to remove the old stones….by using what they could. Each family, each man building by their house….or moving into a house by the wall. (Nehemiah 3:28)
The wall was a masterpiece….separating these Israelites from the people who were in the land, around them.
Nehemiah 4:6 “So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof; for the people had a mind to work.”
It gave them safety….walls are always for safety against the enemy around us….none can get in unless they are let in.
It gave them stability….they were staying….not like a homeless people among other people….
….but with a city, Jerusalem, again…..and a temple to worship God….and a plan for moving forward with God.
And mostly it gave them purpose. Each family was given their part to build….and they were to be careful how they built….to place it straight….to build joining together for a fortress.
(And we have a purpose to build God’s “building”….
Ephesians 2:20-22 “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone;
In Whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
In Whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
…and we are to….”take heed how we build thereupon”.)
They were also to build with their sword on their thigh….or a weapon close at hand….for there were enemies.
Nehemiah 4:9, 17 “Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them…
They which builded on the wall, and they which bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.”
Prayer was kept first, for God’s help is always the best…then,
There was a trumpeter to blow if this section was being attacked….the others could come running to aid them.
(We are to be watchful in prayer….with the Word of God, ready to be used anytime. )
There were gates, built also…… they were open during the day, the time of light…..so people could come in if they wanted to. There was a watch, we must watch always….but there was open gates….if any man would come in at the appointed time. Nehemiah 7:3
(Our walls of separation are not so many bricks and mortar…..but our devotion and obediences to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
A few might admire our devotion to God…..some may send encouragements….
….but many will resent or fight against us….in thought, word or deed.
Yet the work needs to be done….we must build….right next to us.
In our own homes, and families….with our friends and our workplace….our neighborhoods….our town.
Remember we are building a wall….a strong fortress of God’s Will in our lives and in the lives of others…to separate us to God, and from the world’s influence.)
When the walls were done….there was celebration with the Word of God being read before all the people. There was seven days of celebration…”the joy of the Lord is our strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)
There was still much to do….but they were established….separated to God’s Will…hearing the Word of God….and being taught in the truth.
(And the Lord will establish us…in His grace and truth…
1 Peter 5:10 “But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect (complete), stablish, strengthen, settle you.”)
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 