• The Explore the Bible lesson for Feb. 1 focuses on Nehemiah 7:1-8.
On the second weekend of December each year, my church hosts a Christmas Store for low-income families. In partnership with our sister church in South Dallas, we serve the families of 1,200 children in that area, 125 children in our church’s community, and another 300 with a sister church in Lima, Peru.
The Christmas Store requires a significant commitment of funds and preparation. The leadership and logistical requirements for this event are enormous. It is one of the most meaningful collective experiences of our church’s history, and it draws hundreds of volunteers from the church and local community. As we hear volunteer testimonies from people who serve each year, they certainly enjoy helping provide toys, clothing, support and care to families in need, but they also derive substantial joy from the experience of coming together as the body of Christ to complete a God-sized task.
Rebuilding the walls
The exiles who returned to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem had a similar experience. It was a God-sized task that required everyone coming together to do his or her part. In Nehemiah 3, we see the various building assignments as different families and groups of people worked on different sections of the walls. Their cooperation was essential to the rebuilding effort, and it is notable when some refused to do their part. The Tekoites were condemned for neglecting their role in the task, because “their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors” (Nehemiah 3:5). After the walls were completely repaired, Nehemiah organized people to ensure the safety and security of the city.
The specifics of these first verses are somewhat debated. The roles in verse 1 typically were associated with the Temple gates, not the city gates. One scholar includes this as evidence that Nehemiah’s group rebuilt the city walls. But most scholars explain the logistical choice as temporary, emergency provisions for the newly re-established city. Nehemiah chose reliable and trustworthy people as leaders. Some believe Hananiah to be Hanani, Nehemiah’s brother, since Hanani is a shortened form of the longer name. However, that makes the sentence construction awkward, and it is more likely Nehemiah is referring to two men with similar names.
Interpreting the Hebrew terms in verse 3 also is a challenge. Mediterranean cultures then and now valued the afternoon siesta, when most people took naps after a large meal. It would seem absurd to wait and open the gates during this time, when people stayed inside and the guards would have been drowsy.
A task that required everyone
Most scholars suggest a better translation would be, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened while the sun is hot,” as a way of further ensuring the city’s security. Finally, by asking people to keep watch near their own houses and neighborhoods, Nehemiah is sure to have enlisted those with the most motivation. Re-establishing the newly rebuilt Jerusalem was a task that required everyone’s participation, and each person and family had a role to play.
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Not only did the people each have a role to play, they also found a place to belong. The newly rebuilt city was vulnerable. The best way to ensure the city’s security was to repopulate it. In order to organize the repopulation, God inspired Nehemiah to conduct a census. Note the contrast from David’s census in 1 Chronicles 21:1, which was incited by Satan.
As a starting point for counting the people, Nehemiah used a registry of returnees from more than 90 years prior, during the reign of King Cyrus, which also is found in Ezra 2. The count reinforced the idea that everyone was important to the work God was doing in the newly reestablished city, and it affirmed God’s faithfulness in God’s promises to Abraham. It also established legitimate residency for the returnees. Four chapters later, we see the repopulation was successful. The city was settled by its leaders, a draft of every tenth family, as well as volunteers who were commended for their willingness to live there (Nehemiah 11:1-2).
The entire body of Christ must do its part
In Nehemiah’s newly re-established Jerusalem, every person had a part and a place to belong. In God’s kingdom, we find the same holds true. Carrying out the mission of God requires all in the body of Christ do their part. And when the body of Christ comes together to carry out a God-sized task, we find a close-knit, inclusive, God-honoring community is a certain result. Proverbs 14:23 says, “All hard work brings a profit.”
The church today would profit from following the leadership example of Nehemiah. One of the best ways to enhance church unity, to assimilate people on the fringes, and to attract unbelievers to the church is by cooperation and collaboration on a task that brings glory and honor to God. When God’s people collaborate together on a mission, the body of Christ lives out its calling to do God’s kingdom work.
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