WORK DONE WITH THE HELP OF OUR LORD
Nehemiah 6:15-7:73
Key Verse 6:16
When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.
Introduction
In this passage we can see what Jeremiah did after completing the wall. The wall was finally completed but enemies’ attack continued. Nehemiah set up doors, gatekeeper to protect the city and restored worship to God. He also chose leaders who would be in charge of Jerusalem. Furthermore he did census to let people settle in Jerusalem and other place and rebuild priesthood. It was the work to rebuild community of Israel people to be restored to live as God’s holy people.
1. Read verses 6:15-19. When was the wall completed.(15) How did the enemies of
God’s people respond to this and why? (16) How did Tobiah and the nobles of
Judah intimidate Nehemiah? (17-19)
1-1. Read verses 6:15-19.
15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.17 Also, in those days the nobles of Judah were sending many letters to Tobiah, and replies from Tobiah kept coming to them. 18 For many in Judah were under oath to him, since he was son-in-law to Shekaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah. 19 Moreover, they kept reporting to me his good deeds and then telling him what I said. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.
1-2. When was the wall completed.(15)
· So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days
· The wall was completed despite of all enemy’s attack and other difficulties and problems inside and out. God’s will and his work will be done and completed no matter what happens.
· When Nehemiah didn’t give up but continued doing God’s work by faith, God worked behind to get the job done.
· Once God helps us and works with us, any seemingly impossible work or mission can be done with the help of God “they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God” (16)
· In fifty-two days - The job was done so quickly.
1) They really concentrated on the work and devoted themselves fully to the work and poured all their energy and resources for the work. Completing work or mission is not a matter of time but devotion and concentration and faith in God.
2) Completing the work in such a short period of time seemed an impossible thing. But God enabled them to complete it quickly with His mighty power.
3) We should not delay doing God’s work. We should do it as God is working for it. If we delay God’s work, we could have more chance of Satan’s attack and even we could not complete it after all.
1-3. How did the enemies of God’s people respond to this and why? (16)
· When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.
· All the enemies and all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence because they could see clearly that God was with his people and worked for them.
- Seeing the impossible work be done so quickly - they could see clearly that it was God who did the work.
- The enemies threatened Nehemiah and his people but now they were afraid and lost their self-confidence instead after seeing God’s help. God makes our enemies lose their heart by giving us victory.
- When we let God’s power and glory be revealed through our faith, people can see God’s glory and fear and honor him. We should let others see that God is with us through our good faith and work.
1-4. How did Tobiah and the nobles of Judah intimidate Nehemiah? (17-19)
Also, in those days the nobles of Judah were sending many letters to Tobiah, and replies from Tobiah kept coming to them. 18 For many in Judah were under oath to him, since he was son-in-law to Shekaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah. 19 Moreover, they kept reporting to me his good deeds and then telling him what I said. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.
· Some nobles of Judas were still communicating with Tobiah, the enemy of the people secretly. Many in Judah were under oath to him because of their personal relationship with him.
- Tobiah had close relationship with the nobles of Judah- he was son in law to Shekaniah son of Arah. Arah was ancestor of one family who returned with Zerubbabel. (7:10), Shekaniah was the guard at east gate (3:29) Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house. Next to him, Shemaiah son of Shekaniah, the guard at the East Gate, made repairs.
- Jehohanan married with the daughter of Mesullam, who was priest (3:4) 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.
- Tobiah had strong influence over the nobles through personal relationship.
- The nobles didn’t stand at God’s side clearly. Instead they stood between God’s side and enemy’s side according to their benefits. They were opportunist that God hates always.
- They put their human relationship with enemies first than their relationship with their own people in the Lord.
- They cared their own benefits and interest more than God’s will and his work.
· They kept reporting Tobiah’s good deeds to Nehemiah so that Nehemiah might become a friend with him. They also report what Nehemiah said to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate Nehemiah.
- The nobles worked for the enemy for their interest. As a result, they became the servants of enemy. It means they became enemies of God.
- When people live for their selfish interest not for God’s interest they become enemy of God being used by enemy.
- Enemy Satan can use people who are close to us and who are among us, the people who have human concern in mind instead of the concerns of God.
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”(Mt 16:23). Satan used Peter who was the top disciple of Jesus to let him stumble when Peter had human concern in his mind rather than the concerns of God.
· Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me - Our enemy always tries to intimidate us not to serve God’s will.
- Satan intimidates us through others’ word. We should not listen to the words that intimidate us. Rather we should hold the word of God.
- We should never intimidate in serving God’s work and his will. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.(2 Timothy 1:7)
2. Read verses 7:1-3. What did Nehemiah do after rebuilding the wall? (1) Who was
put in charge of Jerusalem? (2) What direction was he given? (3)
2-1. Read verses 7:1-3.
After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed. 2 I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do. 3 I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.”
2-2. What did Nehemiah do after rebuilding the wall? (1)
After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed.
· By setting up the door rebuilding wall was perfectly completed.
· The doors were controlled through gatekeepers. The gatekeepers should work to manage the time of opening and closing the door and monitoring people coming in and going out so that the city may be well protected.
· The musicians and the Levites were appointed- Nehemiah worked to restore worship at the temple. Probably the worship at the temple was not offered properly while the wall was broken since the temple was not protected well. Now Nehemiah restores worship to God and God’s people may offer proper worship to God. This is the ultimate purpose of rebuilding the wall of the city. Rebuilding our worship to God is the core of rebuilding our spiritual life.
2-2. Who was put in charge of Jerusalem? (2)
I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people
· Nehemiah put two people in charge of Jerusalem so that they may rule and mange the city
He chose his brother not because of human relationship with him but because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people.
- Hanani was the one who reported Jerusalem situation to Nehemiah 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. (1:2)
- We can learn what kind of person we should choose as a servant who serves God’s people and his property.
- Good servant of God should be a man of integrity and fear God first before having any other ability.
- It is important to rebuild wall but it is also important to manage and protect the wall well to keep it safely. Powerful nations, churches and ministries collapsed after failing to manage them properly.
2-3. What direction was he given? (3)
The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.”
· Nehemiah set up rules and guards to protect the wall and city. He didn’t allow to open the door early in the morning worrying enemy’s sudden attack early morning.
· He made all efforts to protect the city from the enemies who could any time attack.
· We have to keep watching for enemy’s attack after rebuilding the wall. Satan keeps looking for a chance to break down the wall again.
We should guard the wall after rebuilding it being alert all the time and setting up spiritual guards.
3. Read verses 4-62. What was the status of the city of Jerusalem? (4) What did
God let Nehemiah do? (5-6) Who were the leaders of the people who returned?
(7) Who were the people who returned from exile? (8-62)
3-1. Read verses 4-62.
3-2. What was the status of the city of Jerusalem? (4)
Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.
· Even though the wall was rebuilt and city was spacious there was not enough number of people in the city. If people don’t live in the city, all labor for rebuilding wall is meaningless. The city was supposed to be filled with people. The city was built for people. Also more people were needed to protect the city.
- Nehemiah wanted to let people move into the Jerusalem.
· Jesus’ sheep pen, his church and God’s kingdom are large and spacious. His church and his kingdom are supposed to be filled with people. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.(John 10:16) We should work hard to fill Jesus’ church and God’s kingdom with people. There should be no empty spot in the city of Jerusalem in heaven.
3-3. What did God let Nehemiah do? (5-6)
So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families. I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return. This is what I found written there:6 These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town,
· God led Nehemiah to let people register by families. The census was needed to let people to move into Jerusalem according to the place where their ancestors used to love.
· The people who came back first from the captivity returned to Jerusalem and each their own town. But some of people who were supposed to live in Jerusalem lived in different place.
3-4. Who were the leaders of the people who returned? (7)
Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum and Baanah:
3-5. Who were the people who returned from exile? (8-63)
· Refers to the people in the list.
· People listed in 8-24 were the people who proved their family line through record.
· People listed in 25-38 were the people who lost the record of family and couldn’t prove it. They didn’t know where their ancestors lived. They couldn’t prove that they belonged to Israel. They couldn’t be included to the community of Israel.
· the list of priest family (39-42)
· Levi family (43-45)
· The people of temple servants (46-56)- used to be gentiles, low class in Jewish society.
· The descendants of the servants of Solomon(57-60)- used to be gentile, low class in Jewish society.
- These two servants group could live better life in Persia but they returned to Judah to live as God’s people.
4. Read verses 63-73 Why did Nehemiah order some who were descendants of
priests not to eat any of the most sacred food? (63-65) What was the total
number of people who returned? (66-69) Who contributed to the work of
rebuilding the wall? (70-72) Where did they settle?(73)
4-1. Read verses 63-73
And from among the priests:
| the descendants of |
|---|
|
64 These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 65 The governor, therefore, ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there should be a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.
66 The whole company numbered 42,360, 67 besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 245 male and female singers.68 There were 736 horses, 245 mules,[a] 69 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.
70 Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics[b] of gold, 50 bowls and 530 garments for priests. 71 Some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the work 20,000 darics[c] of gold and 2,200 minas[d] of silver. 72 The total given by the rest of the people was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas[e] of silver and 67 garments for priests.
73 The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the temple servants, along with certain of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns.
4-2. Why did Nehemiah order some who were descendants of priests not to eat any of the most sacred food? (63-65)
| And from among the priests:the descendants of |
|---|
| Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name). |
64 These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 65 The governor, therefore, ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there should be a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.
· Nehemiah excluded some not to eat any of the most sacred food because they couldn’t find their family records even though they were descendants of priests.
· Nehemiah wanted to set up priests who were fully qualified to serve their duty as priest being recognized to be clean.
· Nehemiah restored priesthood following God’s instruction in the law.
4-3. What was the total number of people who returned? (66-69)
· The whole company numbered 42,360, 67 besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 245 male and female singers.68 There were 736 horses, 245 mules,[a] 69 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.
4-4. Who contributed to the work of rebuilding the wall? (70-72)
· 70 Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics[b] of gold, 50 bowls and 530 garments for priests. 71 Some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the work 20,000 darics[c] of gold and 2,200 minas[d] of silver. 72 The total given by the rest of the people was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas[e] of silver and 67 garments for priests.
· Leaders of the people showed good example to contribute to the work of God by offering their properties.
· Rest of people contributed – not just leaders of the people but many people contributed.
· They contributed by offering their money and material. Offering our money and actual property to serve God’s work is so important contribution. Many of God’s work cannot be done without such contribution.
· The wall was rebuilt through the contribution of many people including leaders, head of families and many unknown people.
· God’s work can be done through the contribution of all people in the community.
4-5. Where did they settle?(73)
The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the temple servants, along with certain of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns.
· People who had returned from the captivity settled in their own towns where their ancestors used to live. There were people who were supposed to live in Jerusalem according to their family line and record.
Conclusion
The wall was completed by the help of God and the enemies became afraid and lost their self-confidence realizing all the work was done by the help of God. When we continue to serve God’s will and carry out the mission that God gave us by faith, God let us complete the work by his help. May God help us to work hard and fight good fight believing God’s help until we complete the mission that God gave us so that people may see God’s glory and fear him and worship him. The family has also been the most central to the healthy Christian society and nation. And at the core of that Christian family and society must be the holy worship of God. May the Lord help us to rebuild healthy family and worship continually.
One word, “WORK DONE WITH THE HELP OF OUR LORD”
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