Nehemiah Chapter 6 part 2

In verse 10 Nehemiah was approached by someone that he trusted.  He must have had some trust in this guy because he went to his home.  This guy, Shemaiah, tried to convince Nehemiah that his enemies were going to kill him and that Nehemiah should go into hiding.  I find it interesting that they are trying to take out the leader, but I am getting ahead of myself.  When I first read verse 11, I kind of thought that Nehemiah was being arrogant.  Then I went back and reviewed chapter 4.  He wasn’t being arrogant he was being a consistent leader and example.  Remember in chapter 4 that the enemies were threatening the lives of all of Nehemiah’s people.  He didn’t allow them to hide.  Now his life was being threatened.  What kind of example would it have been had Nehemiah gone into hiding?  The word that comes to mind is “Hypocrite”.  Nehemiah wasn’t being arrogant.  He was being humble.  He was saying that he was no more important than any of the people.  If they didn’t hide then who is he that he should hide.  I recently heard a pastor ask what kind of life we were living.  Was our Christian walk one that made others want to be a part, or was it one that reinforced the negative opinion of church and Christianity.  I hope and pray that I may be as Nehemiah was so that others will know that I am not just a man of words but a man of consistency and integrity.  I hope that when others look at my walk they will want to be a part.

In the end of the chapter the wall is completed.  It took 52 days to complete the wall that had lain in ruins for hundreds of years.  I would say that 52 days would be impressive in today’s time but almost miraculous for back then.  There were obstacles as there are for all of us in life.  There were external problems and internal problems.  We all will face them if we haven’t already.  There were threats on those around Nehemiah.  We all have friends, family, and co-workers who are facing threats.  There was conflict from within.  We all face conflict in our families, our work teams, our schools.  As we have seen in the previous chapters it is not what or if something comes against us that makes the difference.  It is how we deal with it when it comes that makes the difference.  If we are leaders then we must understand that we are targets and that someone is always watching.  Leaders are not just leaders because they have a title.  It doesn’t matter if you are a supervisor or an employee, husband or wife, father or son you can be a leader.  Leaders must stay focused on the goal.  Leaders must always remember that the opposition understands that most of the time as the leader goes so goes the group.  Take a parent out and the whole family suffers.  Get a pastor to fall and the church suffers with him.  As leaders we must be vigilant until the goal is achieved.  Not when the goal is close but when it is done.

As a final note I would like to leave you with one of my favorite poems.  This has served as a source of inspiration for me quite often.  I hope that it may do the same for you.

                When things go wrong as they sometimes will,

                When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill

                When the funds are low and the debts are high,

                And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

                When care is pressing you down a bit –

                Rest if you must, but don’t quit

                Life is strange with its twists and turns,

                As every one of us sometimes learns,

                And many a fellow turns about

                When he might have won had he stuck it out.

                Don’t give up though the pace seems slow –

                You may succeed with another blow.

                Often the goal is nearer than

                It seems to a fair and faltering man,

                Often the struggler has given up

                When he might have captured the victor’s cup,

And he learned too late when night came down,

How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out –

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems afar,

So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit, --

It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.

Author Unknown

Nehemiah Chapter 6 part 1

Here we go again.  In chapter 4 we saw the enemies of the work that Nehemiah was trying to accomplish come against the people.  Nehemiah responded brilliantly by arming his people and putting them back to work.  Sometimes we need to just go back to work when the fears and worries of this world come against us.  Now we find ourselves in chapter 6.  The wall is almost done.  Nehemiah had dealt with his enemies and in chapter 5 he dealt with internal problems.  Now that they had almost completed everything chapter 6 should be all about a celebration, right?  Wrong.  The opposition raised its ugly head once again.  This time they weren’t threatening the people.  They weren’t mocking the work.  This time they were coming directly at Nehemiah.  I have often heard it said that the most dangerous part of a trip is the last mile.  Maybe it is because of exhaustion or maybe it is because we become complacent thinking that we have already arrived.  Whatever the reason, it would seem that more problems arise when we are closest to achieving success than when we first began. It does not matter what our journey is.  It does not matter what we are trying to accomplish.  We need to pay special attention to how Nehemiah handles these distractions when he is almost done with the wall.

The chapter begins with the enemies’ realization that the wall has been rebuilt.  It wasn’t complete but it was close enough.  They send word to Nehemiah that they want to meet with him.  Nehemiah replied appropriately in verse 3 saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down.  Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”  My interpretation is he said, “We are about to achieve what you said we couldn’t do, and I do not have time for your nonsense.”  He was keeping his eye on the prize.  This wasn’t direct opposition they just wanted him to take some time away from his work to meet with them.  It was a distraction.  So often we fight through the obstacles and the opposition that when we have the finish line in sight we get distracted by simple things.  Nehemiah was determined to finish this wall.  He was not going to be distracted.  These guys were not about to stop.  They requested the meeting four times, and four times Nehemiah gave them the same answer.  That is focus. 

In verse 5 we see that these guys sent a fifth request.  They were smart about it this time because they sent it in an “open letter”.  It is believed that this was to increase the peer pressure on Nehemiah.  They sent this letter so that everyone would know what they were saying.  The letter made accusations of rebellion and stated that it was rumored that Nehemiah was trying to make himself king of Judah.  Best of all they said that these rumors were going to be reported to the king.  Now remember that this king is the one who gave Nehemiah permission to be in Jerusalem building the wall.  The king granted Nehemiah safe passage and provided an armed escort.  This was the king that Nehemiah served as cup bearer.  The problem that these outsiders overlooked was that Nehemiah had served the king well.  He was close enough to the king that when he was sad the king noticed.  While his enemies overlooked these facts Nehemiah knew them very well.  He also knew that there was no shred of truth to what these trouble makers were saying.  So, he told them that.  His response, thoughts and prayer are verses 8 – 9.  My interpretation is that he said something like, “liar, liar, pants on fire” or perhaps even, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.”  However you interpret it, the outcome was that he still did not take the time to meet with these yahoos.  There are a couple of good take aways here.  First, do everything you do to the best of your ability because your reputation and your character can bring you comfort in the face of opposition.  Second, doing things with the utmost integrity will bring you peace of mind in the midst of any storm.

There is more to this chapter but I will post it later.  Be sure to check back when I post Chapter 6 part 2.

Nehemiah Chapter 5

If it isn’t one thing then it is another.  In chapter four it was one thing, dealing with criticism and threats from outside the city.  In chapter five it was another thing, dealing with contention and strife within the city.  The chapter begins with the people crying out about the things they were facing.  Their complaints reveal three specific problems that the people were facing at the same time that they were trying to build the wall.  The first problem was that the people had large families that they had to feed.  The second problem, which compounds the first, was that there was a famine.  The third problem was that the people could not afford to pay their taxes.  It is difficult to feed a large family but it is very difficult to feed a large family during a famine.  Then they had to bear the tax burden.  This sounds like a major issue but the real problem is revealed in verses six and seven.  The people were being charged usury by the nobles and rulers within.  When the people couldn’t afford to feed their families then they borrowed money from the nobles.  As a result the nobles were collecting on these debts plus interest by taking the people’s property and forcing them to sell their children into slavery.  Remember from chapter three that these nobles were also not supporting the work.  Also, remember from chapter three that Nehemiah did not take any action toward the nobles for not helping out.  He just seemed to ignore the fact that they were not supportive.  Now we see a very different response.  It was okay for them to not be supportive but now they were being destructive.  Nehemiah got angry and he took action.  He confronted the issues with the nobles in front of the people.  The nobles agreed to return the property.  There are a couple of lessons to learn from this. 

The first thing that I notice is that when the threats were coming from the outside that Nehemiah armed the people and sent them back to work.  When the threats came from the inside he stopped the work to have an assembly.  As I read and re-read this I asked myself why he would stop the work for this issue.  He didn’t stop the work when the people’s lives were in danger but now that they have a financial issue from inside the camp he stops the work?  Then a couple of things occurred to me.  First and foremost the problem was internal.  External problems have a way of uniting members.  I don’t care how dysfunctional your family may have been.  When someone from outside the family starts to make threats the family comes together.  Our bodies are the same way.  When something from the outside attacks our body all of our internal systems start working together to defend us.  It is the internal problems that destroy us.  Families are torn apart from the inside.  I know that some would argue that their family was torn apart by people or problems from the outside and a few may be correct.  For most, though, I would argue that if you looked closely enough you would see that it was an internal problem that ultimately allowed the external problem to become the straw that broke the camel’s back.  Our bodies suffer the most damage when we have internal problems because of a disease, deficiency, or system failure.  Nehemiah understood that the people could face the external problems with minimal discomfort but an internal problem had the potential to destroy everything that they were working for.  If you are facing any kind of internal problem I encourage you to take care of it post haste.  The second thing that I see is that there is a difference between the external threat and the financial problem.  I think it is safe to say that if you have any life experience then you have experienced external problems and financial problems.  I think it is also safe to say that external problems are much easier to get through than financial problems.  Financial problems are always there in the back of your mind.  You can’t shut them out when you go home.  You can’t just forget about them when you go to bed.  They nag at you.  People will do crazy things when it comes to financial problems.  Nehemiah understood this so he took action.  If you are having financial problems then please seek out some help.  I have a degree in finance and I am always researching and studying ways to deal with finances.  Money is a lot like relationships.  There is no clear cut way to do things.  If you have financial problems then I urge you to sit down with someone who is smarter than you in that area and get their advice.  You have to take care of the financial problems as quickly as you can because they will just grow out of control until you are driven to do something radical to escape the pressure.  People can become irrational when the financial pressures get too great.  They may go to payday loan places and pay 300% interest.  They might turn to crime.  They could choose to find ways of escaping reality through drugs, alcohol, or even suicide.  The people in Nehemiah’s time were selling their children into slavery.  Don't let it get this far.  I am an engineer so I know that there is a solution to every problem.  The solution may not be pretty but it is a solution. 

The second lesson is revealed later in the chapter.  Nehemiah points out that at some point he was made governor and because of that he was entitled to a posh life with choice foods.  What did he do with this?  He shared it.  Freely he received and freely he gave.  He fed hundreds of people with what was rightfully his.  How could the nobles argue with his example?  Besides the fact that they were in front of an assembly of very upset people they were faced with Nehemiah’s example.  The food was rightfully his yet he shared it with hundreds of people.  The interest that the nobles were charging was in reality against the Jewish law of the time.  Nehemiah saw a need and did what he could to meet it.  The nobles saw a need and did what they could to exploit it.  We have all come across people with a legitimate need.  These people were hungry.  That is legitimate.  How do we respond?  Do we give freely?  Do we exploit?  Do we give just because we can?  Do we give expecting something in return?  Do we give at all?  I am not just talking about money.  Does your wife need you to show her that you still love her?  Does your husband need to know that you still see him as the stud that you dated?  Does your child need to have some time with you?  Does someone at school need to feel understood and accepted?  Does someone at work need to know that they are valued as a person and not just an employee?  These are all legitimate needs.  Will you meet them?  Will you meet just one?  Nehemiah changed the lives of the people with his actions.  Will you change someone’s life with yours?

Nehemiah Chapter 4

As construction on the wall began so did the ridicule from those who opposed the work.  As the progress continued the insults increased into threats and intimidation.  To an extent I believe that every person who has ever set out to do anything has encountered this.  Opposition is a fact of life.  The simple act of getting up every day is in direct opposition to the force of gravity.  Gravity wants to pull us back down.  Now this force is a minor one because we learn to overcome it without even thinking about it.  What about when other things or people oppose us?  How do we react?  Let’s take a closer look at what Nehemiah and his workers did in chapter 4.

Initially it was just more ridicule.  Remember back in chapter one that Nehemiah learned that the people were in distress and reproach.  Well, since the work was underway these influential outsiders were poking fun at the people building the wall.  We have all been there.  Whether it was the popular kids in school, critics at work, neighbors, the media, or family members we have all had people criticize something that we were doing or hoping to do.  We’ve heard things like, “You can’t do that,” “You’ll never amount to anything,” or “What makes you think that you are so special.”  It hurts when people say that.  How should we respond?  I think that it is best to respond the way Nehemiah did.  He prayed about it and then ignored it.  Did it hurt?  I’m sure it did.  How much more would it have hurt if Nehemiah had allowed their words to stop the construction of the wall?  Sometimes the best response that you can give your critics is to just ignore them until you achieve success. 

As the wall grew the critics saw that their criticism was not having an effect so they decided to do something about it.  They decided to get aggressive and started plotting an attack.  Isn’t that just like some people in life?  When they can’t get the response that they want they get violent.  What should we do when people threaten us?  I believe that we should do what Nehemiah had the people do.  He armed the people.  He told them to remember God.  He told them that they would be fighting for their families and their property.  Then he sent them back to work.  Yes, I said he sent them back to work not to war.  Violence was only to be used in self defense.  Then the work continued and these bullies backed down. 

Through the entire period Nehemiah gave the people unity and purpose.  He prepared them for battle bud did not allow that to distract from the main goal.  The mission was to complete the wall not to defeat the enemies.  I think that there are times when we get so focused on other people that we forget about the thing that we are supposed to be doing and why we are doing it.  I hesitated for a long time about this blog out of the fear of criticism.  I had self doubt and a lack of security about how I would face the critics and their critiques.  Well, I have started building my wall and so far I have only received positive feedback.  The goal is for me to gain a better understanding of the Bible and hopefully help others do the same.  Critics will come but they are not the purpose and I hope that I can remember that.  We all have something inside us that we feel we should do but we are afraid.  We doubt our abilities.  We wonder how others will respond.  I hope that this chapter encourages you.  Pray about whatever that thing is and then get to work.  Prepare yourself for opposition because it will come.  Arm yourself for battle but only in self defense.  Let them talk.  I know it hurts but it will be so worth it when you finish your “wall”.  If you are like me you are thinking, “What if I fail?”

“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumph even though checkered by failure, than to rank with the poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.” ~Theodore Roosevelt

So what if you fail.  At least you tried.  Get back up and try again.  “What about the critics?”

“If someone is kicking you in the seat of the pants you know that you are in front of them.” ~Jack Hyles

What about the critics?  When they come then you will know that someone is taking notice.  Now go build your “wall.”

Nehemiah Chapter 3

In the third chapter we get to see Nehemiah put leadership into action.  He strategically placed the people to work on the wall.  The majority of the chapter reveals the various locations of the people working on the wall.  Building a wall in the desert in late spring and early summer is not a simple task.  Nehemiah knew that building the wall was not going to be easy so the people were placed where they had the most incentive to do the job well and see it through to completion.  Many of the people were working on the wall that was in front of or very close to their home.  Talk about incentive.

It is also important to note the frequent use of the phrase “next to them”.  Nehemiah understood the value of teamwork.  Could you imaging going out to build a wall day after day in the hot sun?  That would be difficult but going out day after day and seeing that no one was helping would be enough to make anyone give up.  Nehemiah ensured that all the sections were covered.  Everyone could see someone else bearing the burden.  They weren’t all building the same amount of wall but at least they were building.  At this point I must clarify.  It is clear that not everyone was pulling their own weight.  The text tells us that the nobles were not supporting the work.  Isn’t that the way it always is.  No matter what the project there is always someone that refuses to help.  There is always someone that refuses to get involved.  Nehemiah handled it beautifully.  He ignored it.  As you read the text he makes a quick mention that they are not supporting the work and then he continues on with all the people who are supporting the work.  He had a wall to build and he had the support of most of the people in building it.  As long as the nobles weren’t in the way then they weren’t a concern.  Nehemiah understood that sometimes there are people that just have to be left out of the work we are doing.  His attitude was, “I am not going to pull your weight and I am not going to beg for your help.  We are going to do something great and if you want to be a part good if not then just stay out of the way.”  While I am on this note I think it is also important to see that it was the nobles who were not supportive.  These are the people with the power, the position, the wealth and yet they are not supporting the work.  Well, as we will soon see God doesn’t need people with power, position, or wealth.  This leads me to the next point that I see in the chapter.

Prayer alone did not accomplish the work.  We saw in the first two chapters that Nehemiah prayed a lot about this wall.  According to historians this wall had lain in ruins for at least 140 years.  I think it is safe to say that a lot of prayers had been said about rebuilding the wall.  I cannot tell you how many times that I have heard people say we just need to have faith and pray.  Then we sit in “faith” waiting for God to do something.  So did Nehemiah lack faith?  NO!  The faith is clear.  Nehemiah had faith.  Nehemiah knew that praying was necessary.  He knew that faith was necessary.  He also knew that he must do what he could and let God do what Nehemiah could not.  I wonder if we are too often content to “have faith” because we are in fact too lazy to do anything else.  We pray for the starving when our kitchen cabinets are over flowing.  We pray for the homeless but we do nothing to provide them shelter.  We pray for orphans but don’t do anything to help them.  I know those are all big endeavors.  How about this, we pray for our nation but won’t take the time to vote.  I found this quote a while back and think it fits quite nicely into this discussion.

 “Past the seeker as he prayed came the crippled and the beggar and the beaten.  And seeing them he cried, ‘Great God, how is it that a loving creator can see such things and yet do nothing about them?’  God said ‘I did do something.  I made you.’”  ~Author Unknown

I have heard it said many times that faith without works is dead.  Mother Theresa didn’t end world hunger, but she made a difference.  Edmond Burke said it best when he said, “No one could make a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.”  What are you doing?  What could you do if you tried?  Who could you help?