Through the Bible - Nehemiah

And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven... (Nehemiah 1:4)

How God walks His people down the road to restoration—rebuilding worship, then strength, then a life that says no to evil.

The Road to Restoration

The book of Nehemiah is similar to the book of Ezra that we looked at last week. You could give it a title: The Road to Restoration. At the end of 2 Chronicles, the children of Israel were exiled into Babylon—not by their own choice, but because of their own sin. There for seventy years they experienced the judgment and chastening of God. But Hebrews 12 tells us the chastening of the Lord comes only upon those whom He loves. Because He loved His people, He allowed them to go into exile.

God had given a promise through Isaiah that after those seventy years a king named Cyrus would decree that the children of Israel could return to the land of their birth. The book of Ezra focused on that first group leaving Babylon under Zerubbabel, who took about 50,000 people back. Nearly a generation later, Ezra the scribe brought a much smaller group. About fifteen years after Ezra finishes, we come to Nehemiah.

The book divides into two parts. The first seven chapters deal with the reconstruction of the wall. Now you would think you would build the wall first for protection—but notice God's sovereignty. In Ezra they built the temple first, because these books picture our lives. The first thing to be dealt with is not protection, but worship and praise. They focused first on worshiping the Lord. And just as the temple was met with opposition, so the wall will be too. The road to restoration is never an easy one.

Concern, Confession, and Commitment

The first chapter begins with a concern. A man came back from Jerusalem and reported that things weren't going well—the people had no protection because they had no wall. When Nehemiah heard these words, he sat down, wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed.

The wall is a picture of reestablishing strength, and we all need strength. At the new birth we receive a new heart, as Ezekiel 36 describes, and that new heart desires to obey God. But do any of us perfectly obey God? No—because we are without strength. We need the strength of the Lord. Yet before strength can be rebuilt, there must first be a concern for the ruin in our lives.

That concern turns into confession. Nehemiah, a man who loved and sought the Lord, includes himself in the sin of his nation: "both I and my father's house have sinned." He reminds God of His promise through Moses—that if they transgressed He would scatter them, but if they turned back He would gather them again.

And confession is followed by commitment. Nehemiah had a plan. He prays, "grant me mercy in the sight of this man," because he was the king's cupbearer. That was a privileged and dangerous position—he tasted the king's food and wine for poison, and would lose his life if any were found. Nehemiah recognized God had placed him there for a reason.

Notice the contrast with Ezra. In Ezra 8, Ezra refused to ask the king's help because he had already told the king God was on their side. Nehemiah is different. They serve the same God, but their personalities differ. Nehemiah says, "I have this position with the king—I'm going to use it."

The Commission of the King

The next day, when wine was before the king, Nehemiah was sad in his presence for the first time. The king asked, "Why is your countenance sad, seeing you are not sick?" Nehemiah was afraid, but answered, "Let the king live forever," then explained that the city of his fathers lay in waste and its gates burned with fire.

The king asked, "What do you request?" And I love verse 4: "So I prayed to the God of heaven, and I said to the king..." It is such a clear, simple prayer. He asks to be sent to Judah to rebuild the city. The king commissions him, gives him letters, and sends captains and horsemen with him.

But as soon as Nehemiah arrives, Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite are grieved that someone has come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. After the commission of the king comes the concern of the enemies.

Then we see the courage of Nehemiah. He rises in the middle of the night and goes through the city by night with just a few servants, surveying the walls and gates before he ever speaks to the rulers. After inspecting the damage, he calls the rulers together: "You see the distress that we are in... come and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach." He tells them of God's hand upon him and the king's words, and they say, "Let us rise up and build."

In that day, a city without walls was hardly a city at all—the walls meant protection and put you on the map. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian laughed them to scorn: "Will you rebel against the king?" This is the contention of the enemy. Whenever you desire to walk closely with the Lord again, you will hear the mockery of the devil saying, "You've tried this before; you'll never stand."

But Nehemiah answers in confidence: "The God of heaven will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build." It is God who does the work of restoration in our lives. Philippians 2:12 says, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling"—and if it ended there, we would leave trembling. But the next verse says, "for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." God starts the desire and supplies the power.

Doing What Is Right in Front of You

In chapter 3 the people gather to build, and the work centers on erecting the ten gates of the city. The work was accomplished quickly because everyone built the section of wall directly in front of their own home. They didn't start at one end and try to encircle the city—each person built what was nearest to them.

There is an important principle here. As Christians we easily become scatterbrained—I have to go to this prayer meeting and that class and this service, read so many pages, pray for so long—until we get flustered and deflated. But the principle is to do what is right in front of you. The Lord desires that we obey Him in the simple things He sets before us.

We saw the same picture in Joshua. Israel didn't send armies into every stronghold at once; they went to the city right in front of them—Jericho. When the walls fell, they went straight up into the city and took only what was before them. Don't get stretched out trying to do fifty things; do the one thing the Lord has placed before you now.

The Ten Gates

The work begins at the only place restoration could begin. Verse 1: "They builded the sheep gate." The sheep gate was where the sacrifices were brought in. You cannot think of the sheep gate without thinking of the Lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world. Our strength starts at the cross. We have no strength apart from what Jesus did there.

Next, in verse 3, is the fish gate. Jesus said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). This speaks of our witness. One of the first things we encourage new believers to do is share their faith with someone.

Then the old gate in verse 6. Jeremiah 6:16 helps us: "Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein." Like Joshua, we are to stand in the truth, not turning to the right hand or the left.

The valley gate appears in verse 13. The valley brings to mind Psalm 23—the valley of the shadow of death, a place of lowliness and humility. Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Luke 9). The valley gate speaks of putting off the flesh and following in humility.

When we do that, we find the dung gate in verse 14—the gate through which the city's refuse was carried out to the valley of Hinnom, later called Gehenna, where the trash was burned. In rebuilding the strength of our lives, we must get rid of the junk. He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.

The fountain gate is in verse 15. The fountain recalls the living water Jesus spoke of in John 4 and John 7. At the Feast of Tabernacles, for six days the priests carried water from the Pool of Siloam up to the temple and poured it out amid rejoicing. On the seventh, the great day, in solemn silence, they carried up an empty vessel and poured out nothing—a remembrance of when the water ceased. But on that great day, in complete silence, Jesus stood and cried out, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me... out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7:37–38). John explains, "But this spake he of the Spirit." Once we empty out the refuse at the dung gate, we must be filled with the Holy Spirit at the fountain gate.

The water gate in verse 26 speaks of cleansing. Ephesians 5 says God washes us "with the washing of water by the word." The Word of God must be present as we build.

The east gate, mentioned in verses 26 and 29, still remains sealed in the wall of the Temple Mount today. It is the gate of hope, for we believe Christ will return through it. It speaks of the hope of the resurrection.

The horse gate in verse 28 symbolizes warfare. When you build the wall, you will experience spiritual warfare. Paul says in Ephesians 6 that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers, so we must put on the whole armor of God.

The last gate, in verse 31, is the gate of Miphkad, a Hebrew word meaning command. God gave His law through Moses, and told Joshua, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night... that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein." We must be dedicated to obeying the Lord's commands—not that obedience saves us; that strength begins at the sheep gate. Notice verse 32 ends back at the sheep gate. The wall begins and ends with the cross, but God's command stands in the middle. Andrew Murray's little book The Blessings of Obedience speaks well to this.

And the wall was built in only fifty-two days—because the people were determined to do what was right before them.

Persecution and Tribulation

Chapters 4 through 6 deal with what always comes when you strengthen your life: persecution. First comes contempt (4:1–7), as Sanballat and Tobiah mock the work. When that fails, they turn to conspiracy (4:8), plotting together to fight against Israel. Finally comes cunning (chapter 6), the wiles of the devil. They try to lure Nehemiah into a meeting to kill him, even sending a false prophet. But Nehemiah says, "I perceived that God had not sent him." The Lord was with him.

The result: "So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days." When the enemies heard, "they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God." The people had a mind to work, they focused on what was in front of them, and their enemies recognized God was in it.

The Restoration of the People

Chapter 7 finishes the reconstruction by gathering all the people. Then chapters 8 through 13 turn to the restoration of the people—and chapter 8 is really where we as Calvary Chapel get our whole order of service.

The people gathered as one man before the water gate and asked Ezra to bring out the book of the law. Ezra brought it before all who "could hear with understanding." This is why we provide children's ministry—so children can hear with understanding on a level they grasp. Mark and Sonia have a curriculum that goes verse by verse for the kids.

Ezra read from morning until midday, and the people were attentive. He stood on a pulpit of wood made for the purpose, with Levites beside him. When he opened the book, all the people stood up—standing all morning, with no chairs. Ezra blessed the Lord, and the people answered, "Amen, and Amen," lifting their hands, bowing their heads, and worshiping with their faces to the ground.

Then the Levites "caused the people to understand the law... So they read in the book... distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading." This is why we teach the Word—we read it, then give the understanding of what it says. That is exactly the pattern of Calvary Chapel, straight from this passage—though we've shortened the service a little.

When the people heard the law, they wept. But Nehemiah and Ezra said, "This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep... neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength." This was not a day for mourning—the temple was rebuilt, the wall erected, and the Word of God going forth. The next day they gathered again for more instruction and found written that they should keep the Feast of Tabernacles, the remembrance of their wilderness wandering—and so they kept it.

Confession and Covenant

In chapter 9 comes the confession of the people, who recount almost the entire history of Israel. God chose Abram and brought him out of Ur; He found his heart faithful and made a covenant. He saw their affliction in Egypt, divided the Red Sea, led them by cloud and fire, came down on Sinai, gave them His Sabbath and commandments, and fed them with bread from heaven and water from the rock.

But "they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments." They made a molten calf, yet God in His manifold mercy forsook them not. For forty years He sustained them so they lacked nothing—their clothes waxed not old, their feet swelled not. He gave them kingdoms and the land.

"Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets." The prophets came to turn them back to God. When God delivered them into their enemies' hands and they cried out, He heard them from heaven and gave them saviors. Again and again they did evil, again and again He delivered them. Is this not a great and good God? "Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God."

So they confess: "Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly." Then, "because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it."

In chapter 10 comes the oath and covenant of the people. All who had separated themselves unto the law of God—men, women, sons, and daughters, everyone having knowledge and understanding—entered into a curse and an oath to walk in the law of Moses and to observe all the commandments of the Lord. Chapter 11 brings a reordering of the people, and chapter 12 the dedication of the temple.

Nehemiah's Resistance to Evil

Chapter 13 shows Nehemiah's resistance to evil. The men and women God has used powerfully in history have been those willing to say no to evil. It appears Nehemiah returned to Babylon for the set time he had promised the king, then obtained leave and came back to Jerusalem—and found trouble.

The priest Eliashib had prepared a chamber in the courts of the house of God for Tobiah—Nehemiah's wicked enemy. "And it grieved me sore." Now I like Nehemiah. When Ezra heard of sin in Ezra 9, he tore his clothes and plucked out his own hair and sought the Lord silently. Not Nehemiah. He cast all of Tobiah's household goods out of the chamber and commanded that they cleanse it.

He also found the Levites had not received their portions—the people weren't supporting those who tended the house of God. So he contended with the rulers: "Why is the house of God forsaken?" and set the Levites back in their places, restoring the tithe.

Then he saw men treading winepresses and bearing burdens on the Sabbath, and merchants from Tyre selling their wares in Jerusalem on the Sabbath. He contended with the nobles: "What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?" He shut the gates. When the merchants camped outside the wall once or twice, he warned them, "If ye do so again, I will lay hands on you." They came no more on the Sabbath. And he prays, "Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy." Several times he casts himself on the Lord's mercy while asking God to remember his work—he knew he was not a perfect man.

Finally he found Jews who had married wives of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab, whose children could not even speak the language of the Jews. "And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair." Ezra pulled out his own hair; Nehemiah grabbed theirs. (If Ezra reminds me of Pastor Josh, who cries out to the Lord on behalf of others, Nehemiah reminds me of Pastor Eric.) He reminded them, "Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things?... Nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin."

When he found that a grandson of the high priest had married the daughter of Sanballat, "therefore I chased him from me." And he prays again, "Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood... Remember me, O my God, for good." Those who truly make an impact on God's work, and are remembered by the Lord, are those like Nehemiah who can take a stand and say no to evil.

Strength Gained and Retained

The whole book pictures the reconstruction of the wall—the strengthening of the city—and how that strength is retained. You may have the temple; you may worship and pray. But have you been strengthened? Do you have the wall around your life?

The first section shows how to rebuild the wall and regain strength. The second section, the restoration of the people, shows how to retain that strength: returning to God's Word, confessing your sin, and covenanting to follow Him. This is an important book. Amen?

Closing Prayer

Lord, we do thank You for the truth of Your Word. We ask, Lord, that You would help us to hide Your Word deep in our hearts that we might not sin against You. There are people here tonight who have that worship of You, and yet they need the strength only You can give—the strength found as we come before the cross, the sheep gate. I thank You that You have made that way open.

As we have gone through Nehemiah tonight, help us see how we are to strengthen our lives—whether through sharing our faith at the fish gate, standing in the truth at the old gate, denying ourselves at the valley gate, emptying ourselves at the dung gate, asking You to fill us with Your Spirit at the fountain gate, being cleansed by Your Word at the water gate, looking with hope at the east gate to Your return, being readied for war at the horse gate, or walking in Your commands like Joshua. But ultimately it all comes back to the foot of the cross at the sheep gate. We pray, Lord, that You would help us to enter into this strong city. For we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.