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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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NEHEMIAH’S
ORGANIZATION OF THE WORK (Pt. 1) (Neh 3:1-5) 3/21/10 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. THE SHEEP GATE WAS
REBUILT (3:1-2) A. Chapter two ended with a
compelling appeal by Nehemiah to “rebuild the walls of Jerusalem so that they
would no longer be a reproach” (2:17). So successful was his appeal and so
successful was the “hand of God,” that the people responded, “Let us arise and
build” (2:18). It is in chapter three that we begin to see the actual
rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem. We can begin to see that Nehemiah was
indeed “God’s man to rebuild Jerusalem.” B. Eliashib, the high priest, was the first
to be named as those who rebuilt the wall and the
Sheep Gate (1). 1. Eliashib
may have been mentioned first because of his
importance as high priest. This task was not a mere menial task, but was a
divine undertaking, having been directed by God and
for God. It was also very fitting that Eliashib be mentioned first because he
was the grandson of Jeshua, the high priest at the time when Zerubbabel
rebuilt the Temple (Ne 12:10; Ez 3:2). 2. There were other priests who were under
the leadership of Eliashib and
together they rebuilt the “Sheep Gate.” The Sheep Gate was located at the
northeast section of the city. This was considered
by some to be its weakest point because it did not have the protection of
natural topography. 3. After they built the Sheep Gate, they
consecrated (qadash - set apart, sanctified, made holy, Grk. equiv.
hagiázō -
“holy”) it, which means they “set it apart unto God for His use.” This
appears to have been an initial dedication (cp. Ne 12:27). 4. Nehemiah’s practical organization joined
the task of rebuilding of the Sheep Gate with those who were located closest
to it. In this case, the Temple and the priests’ living quarters were nearby.
Nehemiah continued this practical organizational principle throughout the
construction of the wall (cp. 3:10, 23, 29). 5. There were numerous towers along the city
walls, however two were located on the north wall.
The Tower of the Hundred was on the eastern part of the north wall and the
Tower of Hananel on the west side. A tower was an inner fort connected to the
wall. It held a garrison of troops as well as provisions. It was not only a
strategic position from which to battle, but was a place of defense as a last
resort. The priests rebuilt the walls adjoining these two towers. 6. The Sheep Gate has an interesting
history. It was situated towards the opening of the Valley of Kidron, a vast
wilderness of pasture land. Through the Sheep Gate,
the shepherds would bring their flocks into the city. Purportedly, there was
a market just inside the walls by the Temple. In particular, the Sheep Gate
was close to the Temple, where flocks were brought in
for sacrificial purposes. 7. In the time of Jesus, The Sheep Gate was
part of the setting where Jesus healed a man who had been ill for
thirty-eight years (Jn 5:2). 8. It was no doubt the setting for Jesus’
famous “Good Shepherd Discourse” (Jn 10:1-30). 9. The Sheep Gate has one final allusion. To us Christians the
situation of the Sheep Gate has a far more touching significance. It seems to have stood near where the St. Stephens Gate now
stands; here, then, would be the way most used by our Lord in coming to and
fro between Jerusalem and Bethany, the way by which He went out to Gethsemane
on the last night, and probably the way by which He was brought back as a
sheep among her shearers, as a lamb led to the slaughter. (Expositor’s Commentary in loc.). C. The phrase “next to” (yad
- lit. “hand,” but here implies “at hand” or “next
to”) is used 15 times in 10 verses in this chapter (Ne 3:2, 4, 5, 7, 8,
9, 10, 12, 17, 19). This phrase is a beautiful picture of leadership. The
Jewish people were “next to” each undertaking the work through Nehemiah’s leadership
(2). 1. The “men
of Jericho” traveled approximately 15 miles southwest to take part in
rebuilding the wall. 2. “Next to” the men of Jericho, Zaccur
rebuilt the wall up to the Fish Gate. When a single name
was mentioned by Nehemiah, he was not suggesting that he did the work
himself. Rather, Nehemiah was recording the name of the leader who was appointed over the heads of families. Nehemiah
delegated his leaders to others in order to accomplish this immense task. 3. Another beautiful picture of leadership is illustrated in the word “built” (banah - building of
structure or construction). This word was used in Nehemiah’s initial
request (2:5), his appeal to the people (2:17), the people’s willing response
(2:18), and even Nehemiah’s bold confirmation to Sanballat (2:20). In
Nehemiah 3:1-2ff, the construction unfolded before their very eyes. II. THE FISH GATE WAS REBUILT
(3:3-5) A. Having people work on the
wall up to the Fish Gate, it was the sons of Hassenaah who
were assigned to rebuild the gate (3). 1. Since
this gate faced north, it was through this gate that traders from sea coast would enter. The Mediterranean Sea was only
aprox. 50 miles away and fisheries would sell fish through merchants. The
Jordan River, some 20-30 miles away kept a fresh supply of fish in the city. The Sea of Galilee, aprox. 90 miles away, would have to be
included as a source fresh water fish. In addition, men
from Tyre who live aprox. 130 miles away, were recorded to have
imported fish to Jerusalem (Ne 13:16). 2. In fact, the fish industry was so
important and plentiful that Rabbis advised on different kinds of delicacy
fish, different times to eat them, and recipes how
to prepare them (cf. Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah,
Vol. 1). 3. At least four of the twelve disciples had
made their livelihood in the fishing industry (Peter & Andrew - Mt
4:18-22; James and John - cp. Jn 21:2-3). However, Christ made them, “fishers
of men,” along with all believers. 4. They completed the reconstruction of the
beams and doors, along with its bolts and bars on the Fish Gate.. B. After the Fish Gate, the
wall continued westerly and southerly and was repaired
by several leaders and their groups (4). 1. Included
was Meremoth (a man who had helped Ezra 13 years earlier, Ez 8:33) the son of
Uriah the son of Hakkoz, Meshullam the son of Berechiah the son of
Meshezabel, and Zadok the son of Baana. 2. These groups repaired the wall. The word
“repair” (chazaq) literally means to grow strong or strengthen. From
this, we can surmise that they repaired gaps and holes in the wall (used in
every verse from 4-31) as opposed to the wall being leveled. C. The Tekoites (men from the
city of Tekoa, Amos’ hometown, Am 1:1) came to Jerusalem to help repair a
section of the wall between the Fish Gate and the Old Gate (5). 1. While it
is noteworthy that they traveled 12 miles northeast to Jerusalem to help,
their nobles refused to lend a hand with the wall. They did not support the
work (literally, “applied not their neck” as to a yoke) and did not subject
themselves to the leaders. 2. Whether lazy or in alliance with Tobiah,
these nobles are infamously immortalized in the pages of Scripture because
they had no part in rebuilding Jerusalem. III. OBSERVATIONS AND
LEADERSHIP APPLICATIONS A. Leadership dedicates the
work of the Lord (Ne 3:1). 1. Wise
leadership understands that they serve the Lord and do His work. 2. Holy tasks begin with prayer,
consecration, and a holy mindset (Pr 16:3). B. Leadership delegates its
leadership to faithful disciples and leaders (Ne 3:2; 2Ti 2:2). 1. Delegation
includes not only labor, but also leadership (Ex 18:21-22). 2. Delegation may take more time, but in the
end will save time and build up the body. C. Leadership concentrates on
the task when others refuse to work (Ne 3:5). 1. We must
not become bitter when few are left to do the work of many (1Ki 19:13-18). 2. Not only does God teach leaders, but leaders teach others by example (Jn 5:17; 9:4). D. Leadership learns how to
work effectively with all types of people (Ne 3:5). 1. We must
understand that a task is not more important than people. 2. A large part of ministry is working with
people so they can grow in Christ. 3. Those under leadership must realize that
God takes authority very serious (Ro 13:1f). 4. Those under leadership must know how to
work well with those in authority (He 13:17). 5. Delegation
may take more time, but in the end will save time and build up the body. (Ec
4:9). |
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