NO MORE A REPROACH. Nehemiah 2:17 Jerusalem had remained in ruins for over 100 years. The people were living among the ruins and had become accustomed to that sad condition. There had been brief attempts to rebuild the walls, but opposition had prevented them from going further, and the residents had grown used to living like defeated people. The reproach they had accepted as normal was a reflection against the Lord
God of Israel, implying that He was not strong enough to restore the people and the place of His name.
The announcement Nehemiah made was not a premature advertisement of what he intended to do, but an honest assessment of what he had found, with no attempt to belittle the difficulties ahead. He told them of "the hand of my God which was good upon me." He told them of his authority from the king and that the time had come to remove the disgrace upon the people of God. He also plainly identified himself with the Jews living there as one of them, even though he had never been there before. There was no "blame-laying" in his words, but there was a realistic view of what had to be done and the goal of the project. "We be no more a reproach."
Spiritual revival in an assembly of God’s people often begins with one person who has spent time with the Lord and sees His people and the gathering center through the Lord’s eyes. He suffered, bled, and died for His people, and has been raised from among the dead. We gather unto Him; He is the magnetic attraction that draws our hearts and minds to Him and makes it a privilege to submit to and act under His authority. When we know what an assembly of believers means to Him, it takes on great meaning for us. When we understand the value of a scripturally gathered company of believers, we need to share that with others. Vision, enthusiasm, and the commitment of leaders and the whole assembly open doors of opportunity.
That principle works. When we apply it to any work we are called to do, we know God has called us to it and that He is in it, so we have confidence it is right. When there is evidence that proper authority has been given to those involved, we can rally people to the cause and promote it with vigor. Do not underestimate God’s people. Give them a clearly defined challenge to see what God can do through a united company of His people. He is working His will throughout the world, and He can do so through us in this place.
When something to accomplish is set before the saints and implanted in our hearts and minds by God, share it with others, pray about it together, lay out meaningful, manageable, and measurable goals, and then go to work. Often, the one who prays for something to be done is God’s answer to their own prayer.
Teamwork has often been God’s way of bringing our prayers and spiritual desires to reality. More than one or two are often needed when God’s people “strive together for the faith of the Gospel.” The Lord chose twelve men to be with Him so that “He might send them forth to preach.” Peter took six other men to meet Cornelius and to open “the door of faith to the Gentiles.” Paul had others with him on his missionary journeys to the “regions beyond.”
Nehemiah didn’t blame anyone or charge the leaders with failure. He included himself in the situation. He not only described what was wrong and what needed to be done, but also urged them to unite and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem right away. That would remove the disgrace of misrepresenting the Lord God of Israel and bear witness to the uniqueness of those who belong to the Lord.