December 27

If find it interesting in Nehemiah that the Jews who lived outside the city came and helped build the wall. If we can see the imagery here we would see a lesson for us. The walls, those things that protected people, were in ruins. They had been ruined in the takeover and exile of the Israelites and also after Ezra’s efforts to rebuild the wall. This meant that the people of the city AND the place of worship were left unprotected and thereby in disgrace. Nehemiah was changing that through building up the wall of protection for all to see the greatness of God and that God was again with the Israelites. There is some good stuff there. But check this out:

Nehemiah 3:5 (NIV84) — 5 The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.

There were some people who were above (in their heads) the task of rebuilding a wall for someone else. These men were from a city that was 12 miles to the south and although there were plenty of Jews who did help from Tekoa, the nobles didn’t! Whether they didn’t care or didn’t want to get dirty or didn’t think it was a worthy cause, we don’t know. What we can deduct is this – they wouldn’t help others. They were involved with themselves. Hmmm…. Imagine being mentioned in the Bible… now imagine that you were mentioned because you wouldn’t help.

Others are unprotected and it is our job, our ministry, our right and privilege to help build them up so they can be self-protected. That is discipleship!