Nehemiah 7 SENSIBLE CAUTION
The place where God chose to place His name and dwell with His people was certainly important to Him and it was also important to Nehemiah. Probably more than anyone in his day, he had his heart centered in the same place God's heart was. The city of Jerusalem and the temple were now safely inside the completed wall. It was to be a place of safety governed by holy order. It was there the worship of God by the nation and the service of God could be carried out as God intended.
Where the Lord meets with His people today is just as important as the place where He met with the Jews in the past. The assembly of God's people is not some haphazard, casual, occasional meeting of a few people when it is convenient for them. One of the reasons for a local fellowship of believers is to provide a place of safety for God's people. There they can be preserved from the open attacks on Christians personally because they are united with others of "like precious faith." In "the place of the name" there is order provided by those the Holy Spirit raises up to be overseers of the flock of God. There is order in the public practice of the priesthood of all believers, and there is room for the privilege and responsibility for each to be involved in divine service.
Hanani, the brother of Nehemiah, was the one who brought the news of the state of the city of Jerusalem and the wall that had been broken down. Now this tried and proven man who had been with the people laboring to build, was put in charge of the city. He had been honest in his description of the condition of things at first and had been a trustworthy participant in the work. It was appropriate for him to take public responsibility for the maintenance of the city even though he was the brother of Nehemiah. In the assembly of God's people, the personal qualifications of leadership are what is important, not whether he is the brother of another leader.
Hananiah, another man who had proven responsibility for guarding a building, did well in his care of the citadel. These men had the fear of God in them and were doing what they did conscious of the fact that God was overseeing them. These two men were now charged with the safety of the city. Those who God raises up to lead other people, need to be consciously aware of the need of being watchful, careful, cautious and at the same time approachable.
People of integrity can be trusted because they fear God and are conscious of the value of other people. They are able to do the work of the Lord and do it in a scriptural way. A reverence for God and faithfulness in labor on behalf of other people, gives credibility to the leadership of such men. This is in contrast to those who are easily moved by the opinions of other people and cannot be counted on to participate in the work. There are some who take the place of leadership who can tell others what to do, but do not join in the actual work. The rulers and nobles in Jerusalem were like that.
The spiritual safety of God's people is a major concern in assemblies today. Many voices are heard on radio and TV that seem so convincing and authoritative that people accept what they say with little question. Men quote scripture verses and use them in a way to support their own personal agenda. Books are written that convince people that new truth has been revealed to them that must be accepted. "Gates" need to be closed until the bright light of day, the bright light of God's word, clearly reveals anything that is brought in among the Lord's people. Not only the leaders of the assembly, but everyone in the assembly should be on guard in their own sphere of influence lest an enemy come in through their own area of responsibility. In Jerusalem there were guards on the wall, but everyone was expected to guard the area of their own homes.
The city was large enough to accommodate a lot of people but not very many wanted to live there for some reason. The assembly is not going to be a popular place for people who are attracted to worldly things. There is room for many, but only those who want to follow godly order in life, worship and service are willing to move inside "the walls" of biblical truths that guard the dwelling place of God. Attractions of business, success and pleasure lead many to places where there is no public testimony, or where they "can feel comfortable." There are many reasons people have for moving away, but the scriptures still say, "Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice."
God guided Nehemiah to a list of names of people and their occupations to fill the needs that were in the city. They were to fill the needs for order, the worship of God and the service of God in His work. The spiritual condition of God's people is the concern of true leaders who have been placed in that role by the Lord. Qualifications for different works are not left to chance or personal preference. Ezra's list was plain. This reminder of the past was the same thing that gave hope and guidance for the future. Ezra was the spiritual leader of the people and Nehemiah was the government leader responsible to meet the needs that were among the citizens.
The public leaders were identified by name. From those men came the areas of responsibility they were obligated to fill. It wasn't up to a vote, nor to personal preference. The designation of responsibility was clear. Ordinary people were identified by families and dwelling places. They all knew there was a significance in their lives and work to be who they were and do what they did for God. Priests were called upon to act before the Lord toward the people and for the people to the Lord. They were not excused from that work. Likely some priests remain in Babylon where they were not able to do the work of the priesthood and so blended in with everyone else.
Some religious groups today limit "priestly work" to a few who have been trained in denominations schools to be professional "spiritual advisors." In scripturally gathered assemblies there is opportunity for the public practice of the priesthood of all believers to be carried out. There are different roles of priestly ministry depending on the person and the God-given gifts they have received. Some have an audible role and others a silent role. Some work is out in the open and others work is unseen by almost everyone. It is public because of its nature in the life of the assembly, not in the visual sense. In the "house of God" there is room for all to be part of the work of God.
Levites and temple servants as well as those whose forbearers were servants of Solomon all had a place to be identified with in service. The temple, the city, the nation all had certain areas of work that were to be filled by those who were qualified by their place in the genealogical record of the nation. Some had made the journey from Babylon who could live and raise their families among God people but who could not prove their citizenship. Consequently, they could not participate in the work of God.
Only God knows who are truly His people. Occasionally we must simply wait for evidence of reality to be seen before certain ones can be part of the fellowship of the assembly. God has His own way of making plain to the assembly those who are truly children of God and those who are not. We do not have the Urim and Thummim to give us answers from God, but we do have the word of God and the Holy Spirit of God to "bear witness" to the truth.
In assemblies of God's people, the financial responsibility is voluntary and sacrificial. Financial support is an obligation but is not imposed on the people by men. Each person gives to the Lord from that which the Lord has given to them as individual. "Let every one of you lay by in store as God has prospered him." Some of those who were family leaders and government leaders generously contributed to the work of God. But their names are not given because they were giving voluntarily to the Lord and were not paying taxes to the government nor to the house of God.
The goal of building the wall, establishing the work of the Lord, and functioning as a province was done orderly and peacefully. Even though enemies had been threatening throughout the process, under the wise leadership of Nehemiah, the objective was reached.