Nehemiah 2:9-20 RISE UP AND BUILD There is no question as to Nehemiah's qualifications and patriotic heart towards the city of his fathers. When he finally arrived there after four months of prayer and fasting, and many miles traveled to get to Jerusalem, he rested for three days. To actually see the condition of the city and walls in ruins and no gates to secure the citizens and keep them safe, would have brought the task before him in all its clarity. His name means "Jehovah hath consoled," which gives us some insight into this man who took into his heart and mind the counsel of God. He got information from other men, but was a self-contained man who seemed to be reserved and resolute.
When a person has a specific aim, he is not easily turned aside by the indifference of his brethren or opposition from those who oppose for other reasons. An inspired purpose overcomes all obstacles when our loyalty to the Lord is consistent and on track. A person who knows a need is there, and is sure God had chosen him to fulfill that need, will see things with his own eyes and is not manipulated by the pessimism or unrealistic optimism of others. To reach that goal he will not act in haste or unduly hurry into the task before him without counting the cost. Once he has started the work he will not stop until it is finished.
The arrival of Nehemiah and those with him including the armed guards was certainly a cause of interest among the people. Sanballat, the governor of Samaria nearby, and Tobiah the government of Ammon were "grieved... exceedingly" because they were the controlling leaders in the area. A lot of small isolated villages are much more easily kept under the domination of unscrupulous men than a walled city with gates for security under the leadership of a patriotic Jew who was a soldier, statesman and had the ear of the king.
Hostility is to be expected when the light of God's truth shines in the darkness of people who are demoralized and lethargic. Aggressive demands are often angrily made in the desire to intimidate a Christian. But one who knows why God has sent them to a place to work for Him is not moved by outbursts of anger. Ridicule is another method used by those who oppose the work of the Lord as they seek to stop a work by embarrassing those who are engaged in it. Creating fear, guile and false accusations accompany those who are determined to keep God out of their lives because they love darkness rather than light.
The noble disinterest of Nehemiah in the challenges of lesser men must have infuriated them. He was a man who knew how to say a lot with a few words. When a man has a humble dependence on the Lord and is true to God and His truth, enemies and obstacles really do not change him. He is true to his principles and is not ashamed to admit to his dependence on God. The character of a person stands out best under the attacks of evil men. It was obvious to those who opposed the work of God placed in the heart of Nehemiah that they were up against a formidable opponent. This person was different from the acquiescence they were used to from people who were only surviving and had no dynamic leader.
Nehemiah knew that God was with him in the work before him and rather than wait too long, he "arose in the night" to reconnoiter the area and view the ruined walls and gates. The three days of rest would have calmed his spirit and renewed his body. It would also have been made plain to him the fact that there would be opposition to the rebuilding of the walls. His task was clear before him. The public worship of the Lord's people had to be done safely or they wouldn't even come to the temple. Family life had to be safe in order for it to be normal and pure. The Sabbath day had to be kept and the people had to be confident in the leadership for all of this to happen. Ezra was a student of the word of God and a preacher. Nehemiah was a strong political leader and a soldier who wasn't afraid to use the sword if necessary. Both are needed in the work of the Lord. One knew the times and the practical needs of the people. The other knew the word of God and their spiritual needs.
Balanced leadership needs more than one person. It is an important part of assembly life to have men who know all areas of need. Plurality of leadership may not mean the elders are all alike. Usually there are those who step out in front like Nehemiah and can organize the people and define the objectives in terms everyone understands. There are those who may be quiet in public but their spiritual weight is unmistakable and their guidance is plainly from a divine perspective. One is practical; another is spiritual; others may be supportive and yet others are cautious. When guided and controlled by the Holy Spirit, this creates balance in assembly life.
After three days of consideration and rest, Nehemiah was ready to take action. He had formulated a plan which needed a clear personal understanding of what needed to be done and how to start. In the night there would be no crowds of people around asking questions or speculating as to what he was doing. In the darkness of night there were no distractions, and even though it was night, he could "view the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire." He knew what God wanted him to do so he didn't have to make decisions based on men's opinions. He got the information he needed first hand by observation and assessment as to the damage and the way to realistically rebuild.
Time taken to realistically approach the work of the Lord includes prayer, reading the word of God, meditation, a biblical approach to the work and "a few men." When the final objective is clear in one's mind, then we can consider what we have to work with, what has to be scrapped, what can be used again, how to remove the obstacles and how to delegate responsibility to those to those with whom we will be working. Nehemiah's nighttime tour gave him the understanding he needed. Some parts he could ride a horse through and the debris was such in other places that he had to walk. Because of that first-hand knowledge he could now speak with confidence and assurance to the priests, nobles, rulers and "the rest that did the work."
The announcement he made was not premature as an advertisement about what he was going to do, but was 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 he told them the time was come to remove the disgrace that was upon the people of God. He also plainly identified himself with the Jews who were 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."
That principle works, when we apply it to any work, we are called upon to do. When we know God has called us to this work and He is in it, we have confidence that it is right. When there is evidence that proper authority has been given to those involved, then we can rally people to the cause and promote it with vigor. Enthusiasm on the part of those who lead, creates a workforce that does "rise up and build." Discouragement and disillusionment about our situation ("There is no point in doing that in this place" or "These are the last days and we are just trying to hold on till the Lord comes") can be overcome when we see things through God's eyes. Vision leads to vitality, and vitality leads to venture. Defeated people can become unified and positive when a leader like Nehemiah raises their sights above that which they have become used to. "And they said, 'Let us rise up and build.'"
It usually happens today just the way it did then when Sanballat and Tobiah charged them with rebellion. To them the charge they made was rebelling against the king. Today the charge usually is that we are against the "status quo" and are "intolerant." "Upsetting the applecart... you are intolerant... why can't you leave well enough alone?" are common challenges. Enemies opposed the Jews by ridicule, mockery and anger. Behind the challenges made by Sanballat and Tobiah was the design to intimidate the previously demoralized and weak-hearted Jews into thinking the king of Babylon would come against them.
Nehemiah had already told the Jews the way the Lord God of Israel had led them, so neither he nor those with him in the work were moved by the threats of the enemies. "The God of heaven, He will prosper us" was all he said in regards to their questioning the rebuilding. He identified the Jews as "His servants" indicating they were under the highest of all authority. Then Nehemiah calmly and bluntly put the enemies in their place. "Ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial in Jerusalem." In others words he was telling them to mind their own business, get out because you are trespassing on our property. They had to back off from their offensive charge when Nehemiah took the offense and made it plain that under God's authority he was in control of the situation, not them.