Nehemiah Week Five
Nehemiah Part Two • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsNehemiah begins to rebuild the community by appointing leaders who fear God,
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Day One
Day One
The Story: Nehemiah appoints leadership
The Story: Nehemiah appoints leadership
Six long months had passed since Nehemiah presented his requests to King Artexerxes (), and in that short time, Nehemiah and the people had watched God provide, protect and strengthen them. Where rubble and brokenness once laid, the completed, strong, new wall now stood. Some might have seen the work as completed when the wall became whole again, but Nehemiah knew that God had a plan not just for a strong wall but also for a strong people whom He would raise for the glory of His name!
With a passion to see God’s people living out the purpose for which He set them apart from all other nations, Nehemiah’s work continued. The wall had been built but the infrastructure of the city still needed restoration. Few homes stood in the rubble, and the population of the city remained extremely low. Recognizing the need for leadership, Nehemiah appointed Hanani and Hananiah to lead the city. These men stood out from the mass because they possessed integrity of character and fear of God. Based on these characteristics, Nehemiah judged them qualified, and to them he entrusted responsibility to lead.
The Truth: God gives fear
The Truth: God gives fear
In this passage, seeing the truth about God requires a little extra work. In instances such as this, we are wise to ask, “Why did Nehemiah do what he did?”
Imagine yourself conducting an interview with Nehemiah about the days he led the restoration project. You get to this event when he selected leadership and the interview proceeds:
You: Why Hanani and Hananiah? Of all the men you could have chosen, why did you choose them?
could trust them. I could give them responsibility and know they would make wise decisions and conduct themselves rightly.
You: What made you so confident?
Nehemiah: They knew God. They feared Him. They knew His awesomeness and His steadfast love. I had seen them worship; truly, they have seen Him. Surely, they have spent time in His presence.
I am certain the interview would go this way, for Nehemiah knew that wisdom begins with the fear of God, and the fear of God comes through seeing, beholding and knowing Him.
English Standard Version Psalm 34
17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
Nehemiah understood that behavior and the knowledge of God could not be separated. To know God is to fear God and to fear God is to obey God. Remember how Nehemiah attributes his own correct behavior to the fear of God, “The former governors… laid heavy burdens on the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God” (). Also notice how Nehemiah connected the people’s disobedience to their lacking the fear of God, “The [taking of your fellow Jews as slaves] that you have done is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of God?” (). God produces right living by producing proper fear of Him in those who know Him.
The fear of God is the animating and invigorating principle of a godly life. It is the wellspring of all godly desires and inspirations. - Jerry Bridges. Joy in Fearing God. 24-5.
Bridges, Jerry. Joy in Fearing God. 24-5.
The Instruction: Find and esteem those who fear God and walk according to His instruction
The Instruction: Find and esteem those who fear God and walk according to His instruction
As a college student, I spent hours filling out job applications, going to interviews and anxiously waiting for a response. In some form or another, each job listing communicated a set of qualities or skills that employer desired to see in the applicant. These expectations could always be placed in two categories - necessary and preferred. Often in the necessary category of expectations were qualities such as reliable transportation, high school diploma, capable of lifting fifty pounds and at least two years of experience. If these necessary requirements were not met, the person would no longer be considered for employment even if the applicant possessed many other desirable qualifications.
Like the potential employers of my college days, Nehemiah also identified a couple of necessary requirements for those to whom he would entrust the important work of the kingdom - 1) the fear of God and 2) faithful obedience to His instruction. Just as Nehemiah, the church must be careful to apply the same standard and expectation of those to whom they give responsibility. Unfortunately, the church often chooses leadership based on how well they play the keyboard, entertain and inspire the congregation or organize large and small events. Sometimes we entrust our children to leaders not knowing whether they fear God or not. Instead we deem them qualified because they have served in Sunday School for 15 years. A church moves into dangerous territory when they entrust responsibility to deacons who spend little time in quiet and private presence of God with His Word open in front of them. A church opens itself to destruction when it elects pastors who yield to popular opinion, the path of least resistance or the trail around controversy. To fear God and walk in His ways will always be unpopular, always be exposed to resistance and always be marred in controversy. The men and women despised and rejected by the world and even the religious should be the ones esteemed and elevated by God’s people. Let us be careful in selecting and appointing those who lead ministry in the body of Christ. Let us choose men and women who have a history of fearing God and serving him faithfully.
English Standard Version Chapter 3
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things
English Standard Version Chapter 11
12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
Day Two
Day Two
Day Two
Day Two
The Story: Nehemiah repopulates the city
The Story: Nehemiah repopulates the city
The Truth | God gives vision
The Truth | God gives vision
The Instruction | Seek the kingdom and call others to do the same
The Instruction | Seek the kingdom and call others to do the same
Day Three
Day Three
The Story
The Story
The Truth | God gives assurance
The Truth | God gives assurance
The Instruction | Invest in the seemingly hopeless
The Instruction | Invest in the seemingly hopeless