Wall Building: Strategies & Opposition

Teaching by Jan S.

Notes by Linda G.

Today Jan covered Nehemiah, Chapters 3 and 4. She began her teaching with a description of the man Nehemiah. We have learned so far that he was a servant, a cup bearer, and that he was obedient to the Lord. At this point in Jerusalem the temple has been rebuilt but everything else is a mess. Jan used an analogy to give us a picture of the situation. She asked us to imagine what it would be like if we invited guests to our home and that the kitchen was in order yet the remaining areas of the house were in total disarray. She proposed that this is how others felt about Jerusalem. The walls needed to be rebuilt.

Jan explained that the first strategy Nehemiah employed was one of order. The strategies Nehemiah used were evidence of his leadership skills. The walls were rebuilt in a counter clockwise order, beginning with the Sheep Gate. She pointed out that the priests were responsible for rebuilding this gate. The Sheep Gate is where the animals meant for sacrificial purposes were brought in. As we know, this was one of the priests’ responsibilities.

Another strategy that Nehemiah used was to position the workers in front of the homes they occupied. We see evidence of this throughout chapter 3. Jan explained the wisdom in doing this. The builders had a vested interest in doing this – she likened it to the mindset that differentiates renting or owning your home. She also pointed out that they would be protecting this area, not just rebuilding it. Additionally, Jan mentioned that we see in Nehemiah 3:12 that “Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters”. The point she was making was that everyone helped.

In total, ten gates were repaired and four towers. Jan focused on three of the significant gates. These were the Sheep Gate, the Dung Gate, and the Fish Gate. Jan used these three gates as Old Testament symbols of the New Testament process of sanctification. The Sheep Gate: This is the gate where the sacrificial sheep were brought. In the New Testament , Jesus is our Sacrificial Lamb. “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). We gain salvation by accepting that Jesus was the sacrifice that was made to cover our sin, once and for all. Dung Gate: Outside of this gate the garbage of the city was burned in the Kidron Valley. In the New Testament Jan likened the Dung Gate to the place in our walk where we come to the realization that the things in our lives that once did not bother us now grieve us, in regard to our behavior, actions, or sinful thoughts. We need to repent of these things. We want to remove the ‘stink’ of sin in our lives. Fish Gate: Jan compared this physical place where the fish were brought in to the spiritual place where we, as New Testament believers, become free from the things of this world that ‘bog us down’. We have become disciples of Christ. We are free now and we want others to experience that same freedom. We want to follow Jesus so that He ‘will make you fishers of men’ (John 4:19b).

In Chapter 4 we once again see that the Israelites are being met by opposition. “When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, "What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?" Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, "What they are building—if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!" (Nehemiah 4:1-3). A very important point that Jan made is that we cannot control the responses of people in our lives or the opposition that may face us. What we have the power to do is to control our responses as Nehemiah did. “Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders” (Nehemiah 4:5-6). Nehemiah cried out to God in prayer. As it says in the word, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19.

As chapter 4 progresses Jan described the discouragement the people were experiencing as the enemy continued to taunt them and the task at hand seemed overwhelming. “They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it” (Neh 4:8). Nehemiah prayed again and then took action by posting guards. The enemies of Israel were angry because of the progress the wall was making. Nehemiah saw that the Israelites were reaching their breaking point. He encouraged them with these words "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes (Neh. 4:14b). Jan compared these words of encouragement used by Moses, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deu. 31:6) and the words of Joshua , “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Joshua 1:5).

God gave Nehemiah the battle strategy that was needed to complete the work on the walls. Jan described three factors of this strategy. They had a communication system - “Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!" (Neh. 4:19-20). She also pointed to the fact that they were committed and worked together as a team - “When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work. From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked” (Neh. 4:15-18a).

Jan drew some parallels between the work of Nehemiah and the Israelites as they rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem and the obstacles that Monmouth Worship Center has faced as we have ‘built our walls’ on Vanderburg Road. Like the Israelites, our neighbors did not want us to occupy this land although according to local statutes, we had a right to be here. Our neighbors were organized and were vocal in their displeasure. MWC did not want to antagonize those who opposed us - we want them to know that they would be welcomed in this place. During this time the state changed environmental laws that could have had serious negative consequences on our building plans. We experienced financial challenges as the economy spiraled downward. We also faced challenges from the winter weather. Despite all that came against us, we persevered. The body prayed, fasted, and believed and trusted God and saw the victory that the Lord brought.

In concluding, Jan emphasized that adversity will come yet we can overcome it. She explained that a sign of maturity is our response to these circumstances, more so than the circumstances themselves. Adversity provides opportunity for us to grow. As we go through these things we can become more like Jesus. We will want to please God and whatever God says to do will be the right path. “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him” (John 8:29).