Nehemiah 2:17-18 (NIV) 17 Then I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace." 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me.
They replied, "Let us start rebuilding." So, they began this good work.
Nehemiah 3 (NIV)
1 Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel.
Question – Whatever it is you are building, are you dedicating to the Lord.
Psalms 127:1 (NIV) 1 Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand watch in vain.
The high priest is the first person mentioned who pitched in and helped with the work. – This is a true sign of leadership.
- Spiritual leaders must lead not only by word but also by action.
- Nehemiah had the priests repair this gate and section of the wall, respecting the priests' area of interest and at the same time emphasizing the priority of worship.
- Every leader's life should be a reflection of worship.
2 The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them.
3 The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place.
One of the main roads through Jerusalem entered the city through the Fish Gate (2 Chronicles 33:14). The fish market was near the gate, and merchants from Tyre, the Sea of Galilee, and other fishing areas entered this gate to sell their goods.
4 Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the next section. Next to him Meshullam son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs, and next to him Zadok son of Baana also made repairs.
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.
The leaders from Tekoa were lazy and wouldn't help. These men were the only ones who did not support the building project in Jerusalem.
Every group, even churches, will have those who are lazy or think they are too wise or important to work hard. Gentle encouragement doesn't seem to help. Sometimes the best policy is to ignore them and continue the work. They may think they are getting away with something, but their inactivity will be remembered by all who worked hard.
*A Word of Warning*
- Keep your eyes on God and not man.
- Guard your heart.
Proverbs 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life"
This emphasizes the importance of protecting your inner self, as it is the source of your thoughts, actions, and overall well-being.
- Continue the Work.
Colossians 3:23-25 (NIV) 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.
6 The Jeshanah Gate was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. 7 Next to them, repairs were made by men from Gibeon and Mizpah—Melatiah of Gibeon and Jadon of Meronoth—places under the authority of the governor of Trans-Euphrates.
8 Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired the next section; and Hananiah, one of the perfume-makers, made repairs next to that. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. 9 Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section. 10 Adjoining this, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house, and Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs next to him. 11 Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens.
Cross Training People Is Important – Multiplicity of things (not just one thing).
12 Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters.
Shallum's daughters helped with the difficult work of repairing the city walls. Rebuilding Jerusalem's walls was a matter of national emergency for the Jews, not just a civic beautification project. Nearly everyone was dedicated to the task and willing to work at it.
13 The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah. They rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. They also repaired a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the Dung Gate.
14 The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Rekab, ruler of the district of Beth Hakkerem. He rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place.
15 The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Kol-Hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt it, roofing it over and putting its doors and bolts and bars in place. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Siloam, by the King's Garden, as far as the steps going down from the City of David. 16 Beyond him, Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of a half-district of Beth Zur, made repairs up to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool and the House of the Heroes. (House of the Mighty Men).
17 Next to him, the repairs were made by the Levites under Rehum son of Bani. Beside him, Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, carried out repairs for his district.
18 Next to him, the repairs were made by their fellow Levites under Binnui son of Henadad, ruler of the other half-district of Keilah. 19 Next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section, from a point facing the ascent to the armory as far as the angle of the wall. 20 Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the angle to the entrance of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 21 Next to him, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired another section, from the entrance of Eliashib's house to the end of it.
22 The repairs next to him were made by the priests from the surrounding region.
23 Beyond them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house; and next to them, Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, made repairs beside his house.
24 Next to him, Binnui son of Henadad repaired another section, from Azariah's house to the angle and the corner, 25 and Palal son of Uzai worked opposite the angle and the tower projecting from the upper palace near the court of the guard. Next to him, Pedaiah son of Parosh 26 and the temple servants living on the hill of Ophel made repairs up to a point opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the projecting tower. 27 Next to them, the men of Tekoa repaired another section, from the great projecting tower to the wall of Ophel.
Even though their leaders would not participate (3:5), the people of Tekoa were motivated to work on the project. Regardless of the failures of leadership, we must do what is right, accomplishing what needs to be done.
What do you do to stay encouraged when leaders don't perform how you think they should?
When leaders fall short of expectations, it can be discouraging, but there are several ways to stay encouraged and maintain a positive perspective:
- Focus on What You Can Control Rather than dwelling on a leader's shortcomings, shift your focus to your own actions and attitude. Continue to lead with integrity, work hard, and be an example of the qualities you wish to see in leadership.
- Find Strength in Your Purpose Remind yourself why you do what you do. If your work aligns with a greater mission or purpose, let that motivate you rather than relying solely on leadership for inspiration.
- Seek Wise Counsel Surround yourself with people who encourage and challenge you. Trusted mentors, colleagues, or spiritual advisors can provide wisdom and perspective when leadership is disappointing.
- Learn from Their Mistakes Every leader, good or bad, provides lessons. Observe what isn't working and commit to not repeating those mistakes when you're in a leadership position. Growth often comes from difficult situations.
- Pray and Seek Guidance Faith is a part of our lives, prayer can provide clarity, peace, and encouragement. Ask for wisdom on how to handle the situation and for strength to keep moving forward and to continue the work.
Regardless of the failures of leadership, we must do what is right, accomplishing what needs to be done.
28 Above the Horse Gate, the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house.
The Horse Gate was at the far eastern point of the wall, facing the Kidron Valley.
Each priest also repaired the wall in front of his own house, in addition to other sections. If each person was responsible for the part of the wall closest to their own houses,
- They would be more motivated to build them quickly and properly
- They wouldn't waste time by traveling to more distant parts of the wall,
- They would defend their own homes if the wall was attacked, and
- They would be able to make the building a family effort.
Nehemiah blended self-interest with the group's objectives, helping everyone to feel that the wall project was their own.
If you are part of a group working on a large project, make sure each person sees the importance and meaning of the job that he or she has to do. This will ensure high-quality work and personal satisfaction.
29 Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house. Next to him, Shemaiah son of Shekaniah, the guard at the East Gate, made repairs. 30 Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. Next to them, Meshullam son of Berekiah made repairs opposite his living quarters. 31 Next to him, Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and the merchants, opposite the Inspection Gate, and as far as the room above the corner.
The Inspection Gate was in the northern part of the eastern wall.
32 and between the room above the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and merchants made repairs.
All the citizens of Jerusalem did their part on the huge job of rebuilding the city wall. Similarly, the work of the church requires every member's effort in order for the body of Christ to function effectively (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). The body needs you!
Questions? - Are you doing the part you've been called to do? Find a place to serve God, and start contributing whatever time, talent, or money is needed.
Jerusalem was a large city, and because many roads converged there, it required many gates. The wall on each side of these heavy wooden gates was taller and thicker so soldiers could stand guard to defend the gates against attack. Sometimes two stone towers guarded the gate. In times of peace, the city gates were hubs of activity—city council was held there, and shopkeepers set up their wares at the entrance. Building the city walls and gates was not only a military priority but also a boost for trade and commerce.
God's Blueprint is as follows:
- A Unified Effort: The chapter highlights a communal effort involving priests, rulers, craftsmen, and residents.
Ephesians 4:3-6 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
- Includes Diverse Roles & Talents: Everyone contributes, regardless of social standing or occupation.
1 Corinthians 12:4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them….
- Strategic Placement: Builders are often assigned sections near their homes for added motivation.
Hebrews 10:24-25 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Ask God to equip each person with the courage to serve, lead, and build with purpose.