Nehemiah rebuilds the Walls of Jerusalem

Transcription

1 Nehemiah rebuilds the Walls of Jerusalem (Timeline 25-50) 1. Narrative: History: Zerubbabel, along with about 50,000 fellow Jews, were the first of the exiles to return to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity. They had many trials and hardships, but bolstered by prophesies from Haggai and Zechariah, the altar and the temple were rebuilt in Jerusalem. Ezra led the second return from Babylon about 80 years after Zerubbabel s return. Ezra had led a much needed spiritual reform in Judah. However, the enemies of the Jews were still ever-present and they still disliked that God s people had returned and were rebuilding. The Jews as well as their enemies understood just how vulnerable they remained without protective walls around Jerusalem. About 94 years after Zerubbabel s first return, and about 13 years after Ezra s return, Nehemiah also came to Jerusalem. Story: Nehemiah was the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes and around 444 BC his brother Hanani and some other Jews came back to Babylon from Judah. Nehemiah enquired of them how things were for the exiles in Judah. They said, The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire. With this devastating news, Nehemiah wept, fasted and prayed, and confessed the sins of Israel for days. Four months later, as he was serving the king wine, the king perceived Nehemiah was grieving and asked him why. Nehemiah told the king it was because Jerusalem lay desolate and its gates had been burned. The king asked Nehemiah what he wanted, and, after praying, Nehemiah made his request: send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers tombs, that I may rebuild it. Specifically, he asked to rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem, to build a citadel beside the temple, and also a house for himself. Nehemiah asked the king for letters allowing him safe passage and so that he could cut trees from the king s forest for building. The king gave him the letters he requested and sent him with an escort of some officers from his army and horsemen for his journey. As Nehemiah journeyed towards Jerusalem he gave the king s letters to the governors of the land and the keeper of the forest. When the local leaders near LetUsBeOneChurch.org Page 1 of 5 Rev. 1.1

2 Jerusalem, Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite, heard of Nehemiah s presence they were angry, even though he had not yet disclosed to anyone what he intended to do. Three days after his arrival, Nehemiah, now as governor of Judah, arose at night in secret to inspect the walls of the city. After that he approached the leaders and reminded them of what a bad situation they were in with Jerusalem lying desolate and the walls destroyed. Then he urged them to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem so they would no longer be a reproach. The people listened and began the work, but immediately, Sanballat and Tobiah mocked them and accused them of rebelling against the king. Nehemiah answered them saying, The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, right or memorial in Jerusalem. Then Eliashib the high priest along with his brothers arose and rebuilt the Sheep Gate and hung its doors and rebuilt a section of the wall. Then many other officials of various places arose with their people and/or relatives and rebuilt section after section of the walls, its towers and its gates. The whole wall was completed to half of its height, but then Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites increased their disdain and their ridicule. They conspired together to fight with the Israelites to stop their progress. Jews who lived near these enemies became aware of their plans and warned Nehemiah, so he stationed men behind the most exposed sections of the wall. Nehemiah encouraged them with the words, Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses. When Sanballat and his contingent realized the Jews knew of their plans they held back from a battle, and the Jews were free to continue building though they assigned many as guards prepared to fight while others did the building. At that time, the problem of usury amongst the Israelites came to a head. Many of the Jews had purchased other Jews who had been sold as slaves in Babylon and they were continuing to exact usurious charges from them, deepening their poverty. After pondering this issue, Nehemiah confronted the nobles and rulers about it and demanded the practice stop. He required them to give back all that they had taken from these destitute people. They agreed and in the presence of the priests they swore to obey Nehemiah s demands. Nehemiah himself refused to take the governor s allowance from the people, unlike the governors before him. At that time, Sanballat and his co-conspirators tried to lure Nehemiah away from Jerusalem so they could harm him. Each time he refused saying he could not leave the important work he was doing. In his fifth such attempt, Sanballat sent an LetUsBeOneChurch.org Page 2 of 5 Rev. 1.1

3 open letter saying the completion of the wall was so they could declare themselves sovereign and rebel against Artaxerxes. Nehemiah dismissed this accusation as with the others, but when he entered the house of Shemaiah, the prophet, Shemaiah warned Nehemiah that Sanballat planned to kill him that night and that they should conceal themselves in the temple. Nehemiah perceived that the prophet, along with others, had been bribed by Sanballat and because this was set up with an open letter, the Jews would see Nehemiah hiding in fear of their enemies. Nehemiah refused to be drawn into this sin, so the work of rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem continued and was completed in just 52 days. After the completion of the wall, Nehemiah went on to set up the gatekeepers, the singers, and all other required functions of the holy city. The Israelites cast lots so that 1 in 10 that had been living outside the city would relocate inside the walls to populate it. Tithing and observance of the sabbath were restored, and the temple was cleansed. Again they read aloud from the book of the Law, and again the people repented from their marriages with foreigners. Finally, Nehemiah called all the Levites to Jerusalem and organized two great choirs for a dedication of the completed walls around Jerusalem and for the restoration of the holy city. The choirs, accompanied with dignitaries, priests and Levites went to the top of the wall and each traversed the walls in opposite directions, singing and playing instruments with great joy and thanksgiving to God. On that day the people offered great sacrifices and rejoiced so that their voices were heard from far away. 2. Comments: a. As one of the king s most trusted servants, Nehemiah came to Jerusalem and then was to return after 12 years. b. It seems that what angered Sanballat and Tobiah so much was that the king should care about the welfare of the Israelites, who they saw as an enemy. c. When Nehemiah declared to his opponents they had no portion, right or memorial in Jerusalem he was in effect declaring Jerusalem s independence from all authority other than God s. LetUsBeOneChurch.org Page 3 of 5 Rev. 1.1

4 d. Nehemiah returned to Susa after spending 12 years in Jerusalem, during which time the walls were rebuilt and the temple worship was restored. But after some time he came back to Jerusalem, only to find the people had regressed to their former disobedience. e. Eliashib, the priest who first began rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, became related through marriage to Tobiah the Ammonite, Israel s enemy. He gave Tobiah a room in the temple chambers. When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem he found out about it and he threw all of Tobiah s belongings out, cleansed the room and restored it for temple service. 3. Primary passages: Neh. 1-6 Neh. 12:27 43 Nehemiah returns and rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem. Dedication of the wall. 4. Associated passages: Zech. 2:1-5 Amos 9:11-15 God will be a wall of fire around Jerusalem. Prophesy of the church. 5. Lessons a. Nehemiah s strength of character and his strong faith in God kept the Israelites faithful and allowed them to miraculously complete the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem. However, not long after he returned to Susa, the Jews returned to their disobedience to God. We need strong, faithful Christians who can call us out of sin and into obedience to Christ. b. The walls of Jerusalem gave them protection from their enemies around. They were no longer intimidated afraid to be obedient to God. God has promised to be a wall of fire around us. We have no need to fear anyone. c. It was only through god s gracious help that the walls were completed so quickly. When Israel s enemies saw how quickly the walls were rebuilt, they LetUsBeOneChurch.org Page 4 of 5 Rev. 1.1

5 knew that God was with them and they became afraid. When God is on our side, no one can defeat us. 6. Keywords: wall, protection, safety, peace, fire. 7. Scheme of redemption God saw to it that His people of old had a protective wall around them to keep them secure from their enemies so they could freely obey Him in everything. He has promised to be a wall of fire around us so we can similarly live in peace and obey Him in everything. 8. Supplemental material a. LetUsBeOneChurch.org Page 5 of 5 Rev. 1.1