Nehemiah: Rebuilding A Community. The People. Nehemiah 6:15-7:73

Nehemiah: Rebuilding A Community
The People

Nehemiah 6: 15 – 7:73

 

The People (v. 15 – 19)

• The walls were finished
  • 25th of Elul – End of Sept. / Beg. of Oct., 445 BC
  • 52 days after beginning the building process
  • 1 simple verse to acknowledge this
• News traveled quickly to surrounding nations
  • They were afraid and lacked confidence
  • Not because of the determination of Nehemiah
  • They could see that this was accomplished by God through the people

1. 17 shows that all was not well with all of the Jews

Many of the nobles had economic and political agreements with Tobiah

Tobiah stayed in contact with them through the whole building process

The nobles tried to influence Nehemiah and Tobiah tried to intimidate him to no avail

 

Life after building (v. 7: 1 – 5)

• Walls were done but needed the gates
  • Gates were made of wood and were very heavy
  • This secured the city from the outside world
  • Gatekeepers, musicians and Levites appointed
• First thing Nehemiah did was to delegate responsibility to others
  • First he gave authority to Hanani, his brother
  • Then to Hananiah, the commander of the citadel
  • “He was a man of integrity who feared God more than most do”
  • Wisdom in who he gave authority to:
  • Trustworthy
  • Integrity
  • Feared God
• Gives clear direction about what should be done
  • Gates open a limited time
  • Appoint guards for the walls
  • By their houses
• City is safe but underpopulated
• God puts in Nehemiah’s heart the registration of the people
  • Genealogical record found (Ezra 2: 1 – 70)
• The record varies slightly with that in Ezra Chapter 2
• This helped to prove claims to citizenship as well as priestly claims
• Tobiah had no proof and was told that
• He recounts their giving for the rebuilding: (v. 70 – 72)
• Three groups giving mentioned:
  • First is the governor
  • Second are the Heads of families
  • Third are the people
    • 41,000 drachmas of gold or roughly 1,133 lbs
    • 4,200 minas of silver or roughly 6,300 lbs
    • 597 garments for the priests

 

 

 

So What?

• What is our view of success? Do we view things in the short term or have a long range view?
• Is our desire to expand God’s Kingdom here on earth? If so, what are we willing to do about that?
• What are the things in our life that come before doing the work of God? Family, comfort,

stuff?

 

 

 

 

 

Meditation Verse:

Philippians 2:4, ESV

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."