Nehemiah 6:17 – 7:73 Stepping out in Faith

Nehemiah 6:17 – 7:73 Stepping Out in Faith

This morning we return to chapter 6 to finish up our look at that chapter – time did not permit us to finish up the chapter the last time we were together. The context of things is that the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem has just been completed. It was a project that was 100 some years in the making. The enemy (Babylon) had come in and destroyed both the city and the temple way back in 586 BC. Here we are now in the 440’s. No doubt people had thought about taking on this project before many times, but for one reason or another, they failed to do so. Nehemiah and the other Israelites, however, are able to do what for over 100 years others could not (or would not) do - rebuild the walls. And, as we learned in 6:15, he does so in 52 days.

So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.

Nehemiah 6:15

The people had a mind to work and the hand of our good LORD was upon it. A great victory had been accomplished, but as we will learn in verse 17, that doesn’t mean the battle is over. The battle will continue to be waged and thus the need for diligence will continue.

Let’s look at the latest scheme of the enemy starting in verse 17.

Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them. For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as his wife. Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.

Nehemiah 6:17-19

We have been introduced to Tobiah many times now. Tobiah was the fellow I likened to the little scrawny kid that tags along with the disproportionately big bully in the school yard. In light of these verses, perhaps that is not the best depiction of this fellow. You recall that along with Sanballat, Tobiah was first disturbed by the return of Nehemiah to rebuild the walls (2:10).

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We then saw in chapter four him mocking the work (and the workers) and then becoming angry at the work’s progress. Later in chapter six we see him plotting to lure Nehemiah out into the Plains of Ono where he intended to do him harm. Here in verses 17-19, we see that he is not some little kid standing in the background saying, Yay, What he said, but rather, a schemer and a conniver working hard to infiltrate Nehemiah’s inner-circle.

We see in verse 17, there is a little spy network that’s developed where Tobiah is sending letters to the nobles and nobles are sending letters back to him.

Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them.

Nehemiah 6:17

We can only imagine those letters had some inside information of what Nehemiah was doing and planning. I suspect Tobiah also did some carefully crafted bad mouthing of Nehemiah. Not too strong, just enough to shake the nobles loyalties, which likely wasn’t too hard based on the confrontation we saw between those nobles and Nehemiah in chapter 5 (5:7).

Notice also (verse 18) through a carefully crafted marriage-union, key noble officials in one way or another became bound to do Tobiah’s bidding.

For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as his wife.

Nehemiah 6:18

Finally, notice (verse 19) how Tobiah has these officials singing his praises to Nehemiah whenever possible.

Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.

Nehemiah 6:19

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Aw come on. Tobiah is a great guy. He’s never been anything but kind and generous to us.

They may or may not have believed that, but regardless of how they felt about him, Nehemiah had seen through his various schemes and discerned the real intent of the man’s invites and attacks. Though everyone else may have thought him wonderful, Nehemiah knew that Tobiah was a man that could not be trusted. Tobiah was a man that was opposing the work of God and if he (Nehemiah) was going to accomplish the work of God he would need to be on his guard against him and others like him.

We will close out chapter 6 with one final point. Take notice how the chapter concludes, and Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid

Nehemiah 6:17-19

There is no mention of how Nehemiah responded. The implication being he didn’t. The idea being that he felt no need to respond or defend himself or anything like that. It seems that Nehemiah was content to let it go and let God take care of it. He had far more important things to occupy his time, his energy and his thoughts - like leading the people of God.

That brings us to chapter 7, where we read.

Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many. And I said to them, “Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their guard posts and

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some in front of their own homes.” The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt.

Nehemiah 7:1-4

There are a number of things we should take notice of in these few verses. Notice in verse 1 and 2,

Nehemiah 7:1-2

Nehemiah voluntarily steps away from this position of power and all that they had accomplished. This wasn’t about him – it never was. It was about the Lord and His glory.

Following the American Revolution, General George Washington voluntarily approached the Continental Congress and relinquished control of the armed forces. In response to this incredible act of selflessness, King George III (of England) is said to have declared, If he does this, he will be the greatest man in the world.”

Washington had given so much to secure his nation’s freedom and could have easily gone on to become its’ king. But, like Nehemiah, he laid that all down for the sake of the glorious cause. In Washington’s case – a free republic. In Nehemiah’s case – the glory of God.

For Nehemiah, this wasn’t about building his own little kingdom or establishing his lasting legacy. It was about accomplishing that which God had called him to accomplish and staying out of the way so that people could see God and ascribe to Him the glory and the praise. Nehemiah finds the right men for the job and turns power over to them as quickly as appropriate.

A second point we take notice of in these verses is who Nehemiah turns the power over to. Again, look at verse 2,

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I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many.

Nehemiah 7:2

Nehemiah could confidently relinquish control of Jerusalem to these two men because of the way in which these two men had established themselves prior. Hanani, you may recall, was one of the small group of men that had made their way from Judah to Susa to seek Nehemiah out and inform him of the conditions in Jerusalem.

That Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah….And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed.

Nehemiah 1:2-3

Hanani was a man that was perceptive enough to know that the conditions the people were facing were not good. Additionally, Hanani was also a visionary. He could see how things were, but he could also see what things could be.

One other character trait of Hanani was his willingness to actually do something. Lots of people can see the problem. A large number of people can even see the solution. But few actually get up and take the initiative to make things happen. Hanani was one of those guys as demonstrated by the fact that he traveled over 800 miles from Jerusalem to Susa to see if he could persuade Nehemiah to be involved in the rebuilding effort of the once glorious city of Jerusalem.

More important than any of those character traits is what is said about both him and Hananiah here in verse 2, they were more faithful and God-fearing than many.

I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many.

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These are the two most important qualities anyone looking to serve the Lord and His people must have. It’s important to be educated and to have experience. It’s valuable to hone your skills and develop your craft, but unless those things are joined with a heart that fears the Lord and faithfully serves Him, you will never be greatly used for the kingdom of God. The Apostle Paul tells us that the most important thing (moreover)

Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.

I Corinthians 4:2 that we can bring to the table as a steward of the work of God is trustworthy-ness. He says,

Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.

I Corinthians 4:2

God can use a person, whether they are greatly gifted or not, if they fear the Lord and can be trusted. At the same time, many that are greatly gifted (brilliant mind, excellent orator, etc) will be frustrated in their attempt to serve the Lord due to a lack of character and faithfulness. God can’t bless that – He won’t bless that. Hanani and Hananiah were two men that the Lord could trust and Nehemiah takes notice of this. And because he sees this, he comfortably hands power over to them and gives them charge of the city.

We also take note in these first few verses of Nehemiah’s commitment to maintain diligence in guarding the city even though the walls of the city were completed and the gates had been restored. Look at verse 3,

And I said to them, “Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their guard posts and some in front of their own homes.”

Nehemiah 7:3

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It’s been said, (ascribed to Thomas Jefferson) that Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. The people had done so much to secure these walls. There was personal and financial sacrifice. There were many sleepless nights wondering if the enemy was readying to attack. There were aching bones and fatigued muscles. For 52 days, the people had poured themselves into the building project so that the people might live protected and secure in a place of their own. The walls, you recall, provided them with separation - separation from the world, but also unto the Lord. The walls were essential, but not the end goal.

A tremendous victory had been won when the walls were rebuilt, but those walls weren’t going to protect themselves (remember they had been torn down once before). Diligence would be required to insure that the walls remained in place and that their purpose (separation from the world and unto God…) continued to be accomplished. Knowing this, Nehemiah sets a guard upon the wall

Nehemiah 7:3

And gives instructions regarding the opening and closing of the city gates.

Nehemiah 7:3

The idea is that nothing and no one will be coming in unless it is in the bright, shining light. There is an important principle for each of us as once again we consider the walls that we establish in our own walks with Jesus designed to protect us from the influence of the world and set us apart unto God.

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Are we comfortable letting that which we are bringing in to be exposed to the light? Or is it something (or someone) that we would much rather enter in under cover of darkness? If we inwardly hope that no one else will find out about this, perhaps that’s an indicator that it’s not what we should be allowing to enter in. If you are hoping no one will know about that TV show, that book, that relationship, that (fill in the blank), you should be real careful about letting that enter into your life. That check in your spirit is likely the Lord telling you, Be careful with this. For things such as this are the very reason the walls were erected in the first place. But the walls won’t protect themselves. They need to be carefully monitored by the inhabitants of the city – which, as we saw, Nehemiah is diligent to do.

We come now to the fourth point I would like to draw out from the opening verses of this chapter which will lead us into the remaining verses of this chapter. In verse 4, we learn that the city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt.

The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt.

Nehemiah 7:4

For the last six chapters we have seen the tremendous, laser focus that was paid to the rebuilding of the walls of the city. When we were studying the Book of Ezra, we took notice of the similar attention that was paid to the Temple. The Temple is up and going, and the walls are once again rebuilt, but the homes and buildings of the city itself are going to now need the attention of its would be inhabitants. So while the 50,000+ returning exiles have returned to Jerusalem, they are not living in Jerusalem. (Likely the returning exiles were living in small numbers within the walls with the majority of the 50,000+ living outside of the city in the surrounding filed areas).

So, as we have seen before, Nehemiah attacks the problem by first fully assessing the problem. Do you recall when Nehemiah first arrived in Jerusalem way back in chapter 2, how he arose in the night time with very little fanfare (just an assistant and a few other men to take some notes for him) and how he carefully went around the entire wall inspecting what would need to be done? Here now, he essentially does the same thing as he orders a census to be taken of all of 8 | P a g e

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the returning exiles? (verses 6 to 73). Who are the people that are here? What family are they from? Where are they currently residing? So we read in verse 5,

Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written in it:

Nehemiah 7:5

Now the book of the genealogy that Nehemiah mentions in verse 5,

Nehemiah 7:5 is the one Ezra published back in Ezra 2 over 100 years earlier. The lists are not exactly the same, but they are nearly identical. (You’d expect some change in 125 years as some die off, others begin to be known by variations of their original names).

I picture Nehemiah laying out the scroll listing the names of each of the family heads and the number of their descendants on a big, long table much like a military leader would lay out a map of the area he or she was preparing to go to war against. And then in my mind, I picture there is a corresponding map on the wall and the scene goes something like this. Genealogy scroll opened and lying on the table. Existing map of Jerusalem over here on the wall (left side) Old map of Jerusalem and the records of who owned what and where over here on the wall (right side). And then verse by verse they begin to go through the list. Ok verse 8, the sons of Parosh, 2172. What’s their status? Nehemiah says, Show me on the map where they are currently settled. (Someone shows him). Ok, and where did their ancestors settle within the walls? What do the records show? Someone else goes to the old map and shows him). Excellent. Who’s next? Verse 9, the sons of Shephatiah, 372. Let’s do this again. Where are they currently settled?……… And then, family by family they make their way through the long listing of names allowing Nehemiah and the nobles to fully assess the situation before moving

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forward with a plan to attack the problem. Nothing wrong with taking your time to assess things before jumping in and attempting to solve the problem.

Now, we come to a long listing of names like this and ask ourselves . Why exactly did the Lord chose to list all these names in His Holy Word? Not only that, but why did He chose to do it twice (Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7)? May I suggest it is an encouragement from the LORD that the LORD sees, and the LORD takes note. Remember, this wasn’t just a listing of 50,000 random people. These were the 50,000 pioneering souls that said, If the Lord is in it, then I am in it. These were the 2% of the Jewish population, though while in captivity were living in the splendor of the empire of Babylon, that said, I want to be a part of what God is doing.

Things were comfortable in Babylon. Things were established in Babylon. Jerusalem was a city that lay in ruin for 100 years. Why would anyone want to go back there and leave all that was safe and secure? Well, that was the question many were asking, but not these guys. These guys are instead saying, Why wouldn’t anyone want to go back? These were men and women worthy of mention and the Lord sees to it that they be mentioned twice.

You and I will never have our names written in Holy Scripture, but the scripture does say that as He did with these brave pioneers, the Lord will take notice of the courageous steps of faith you take as well. We read in Malachi 3,

Then those that feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed His name.

Malachi 3:16

Keep serving the Lord faithfully – He sees and He takes notice.

Now, the list of these men and their families that stepped out in faith, abandoning it all for the sake of the call. Verse 6,

These were the people of the province who came up out of captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile. They returned to Jerusalem

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and Judah, each to his town. They came with Zerubbabel, jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah.

Nehemiah 7:6-7a

I’m not going to read through the list of names again for you – we did that back in Ezra 2 (Can I get an Amen?). I’ll let you do that on your own. But I will draw your attention to a few points scattered throughout this genealogy. The first is that in addition to the various individual families that come, you also have folks coming with specific roles. We see in verse 39 that included in the returning exiles are those that would serve as priests in the yet (at that time) to be built temple

The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, namely the house of Jeshua, 973. The sons of Immer, 1,052. The sons of Pashur, 1,247. The sons of Harim, 1,017.

Nehemiah 7:39-42

In verse 43, we see the Levites that would assist the priests in the performance of their duties.

The Levites: the sons of Jeshua, namely Kadmiel of the sons of Hodevah, 74. The singers: the sons of Asaph, 148. The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, 138.

Nehemiah 7:43-45

And then down in 46, the temple servants who would assist the Levites in their assistance of the priests.

The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, the sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon, the sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Shalmai, the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Hagar, the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephushesim, the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, the sons of Bazlith, the sons of

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Mehida, the sons of Harsha, the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons Temah, the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha.

Nehemiah 7:43-56

All of these guys (the priests, the Levites, the temple servants) went forward. Each of them would be temple servants in one way or another despite the fact that there was no temple and there hadn’t been a temple in close to one hundred years. They went out in faith based on a promise that God could do what He said He would do. Which is what all the great men and women of faith have done throughout the pages of scripture and throughout the annals of history. And it is what you and I must do as well.

We read in the Book of Hebrews that without faith it is impossible to please God.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6

You want to please the LORD, than walk in faith. Step out as He leads trusting He will do as He says. We also read in Hebrews,

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. And by it the people of old received their commendation.

Hebrews 11:1-2

And may I add, By it the people of ‘new’ will receive their commendation as well. The temple servants of various kinds went out to serve in a yet to be built temple – they did so by faith. That’s the kind of faith the Lord desires each of us to have. That we would seek His will and then step out in faith and obedience when He leads.

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Again, I’ll let you read this long list of names on your own. In the meantime, skip down to verse 66

The whole assembly together was 42,360, besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337. And they had 245 singers, male and female. Their horses were 736, their mules 245, their camels 435, and their donkeys 6,720.

Nehemiah 7:66-69

Now some of the heads of the fathers’ houses gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 basins, 30 priests’ garments and 500 minas of silver. And some of the heads of fathers’ houses gave into the treasury of the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver. And what the rest of the people gave was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver, and 67 priests’ garments.

Nehemiah 7:70-72

So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel, lived in their towns.

And when the seventh month had come, the people of Israel were in their towns.

Nehemiah 7:73

Well, that brings us to the end of our study today. Be encouraged today that: The Lord sees and takes notice of your faithfulness. Take courage and step out as the Lord leads. He blesses that sort of faith. It’s the sort of faith possessed by all the great men and women of the faith and it’s the sort of faith the Lord wants for you as well.

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