RETURN TO UNITY

---

DAY 16 - January 20

I’m not sure if you noticed, but yesterday we left off having only read about half of Nehemiah chapter 2.  Don’t worry.  That was intentional.  So today, we are going to start by reading the final 10 verses of chapter 2 along with the entirety of chapter 3.  So go ahead and grab your Bibles, and read Nehemiah 2:11-3:32.

First, I’d like to point out the immediacy of Nehemiah’s obedience!  Though he took lots of time to seek the Lord in WHAT to do, once the Lord spoke, he acted!  First in approaching the king and then in heading to Jerusalem to get to work, as verse 11 makes clear,

“So I arrived in Jerusalem.  Three days later…” Nehemiah 2:11 (NLT)

But there’s something unique about his obedience, which is evident from the very beginning of his “mission”, if you will.  Anyone have a guess at what that unique thing is?  If you guessed that he didn’t ever work alone, you guessed correctly!  For we see, even during the “recon phase” of his obedience, even when he’s surveying the land and making a plan, he “slipped out…taking only a few others with me…” (verse 12).  

And it was after having reviewed the severity of the destruction and the need that he then filled those others in on the mission at hand (verses 17-18), and the people of God began to work to rebuild the physical walls of Jerusalem…TOGETHER!  But though they were all on the same mission, chapter 3 makes it clear that they did not all serve in the same role or focus on the same task.  Instead, they split up, each owning their own part, accomplishing the daunting, seemingly impossible task much more quickly and efficiently.  What were those groups, and what were their varying roles and tasks?

Nehemiah 3:1-2 tells us that the priests and people of Jericho rebuilt the Sheep Gate, and that Zaccur son of Imri worked on the portion of the wall next to it.  

Nehemiah 3:3-5 tells us that the sons of Hassenaah repaired the Fish Gate with a whole line of people working on the subsequent sections of the wall, beginning with Meremoth, son of Uriah, then came Meshullam and Zadok, and finally the people of Tekoa.

This listing of gates and wall sections continues throughout the entirety of the chapter!  That’s 32 verses dedicated to outlining how God’s people had come together to accomplish ONE mission - HIS mission.  

There are 3 key lessons that we can learn from this recounting of the wall's rebuilding.  

First, the importance of true UNITY.  This chapter tells us clearly that people from all walks of life - young and old, poor and rich, priests, rulers, merchants, and commoners - worked side-by-side, using their varied skills and backgrounds to form a strong, collective effort.  And we are called to do the same.  The Lord makes that clear to us in 1 Corinthians 12:18 & 27,

“But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where He wants it…All of you

together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.” (NLT)

Second, the importance of taking personal ownership of the task and mission the Lord has called us to.  As we read in today’s passage, everyone owned the repair of the section of wall immediately across from his own house.  And we are called to do the same.  2 Corinthians 10:13 says,

“We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority.  We will boast only about what

has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us, which includes our

working with you.” (NLT, emphasis added)

What may appear at first to be Paul bragging about all he has accomplished is in fact what he is saying is “I take pride in the work the Lord has empowered me to do, not overstepping what God has asked for me to do.” - taking personal ownership of what the Lord has called him to, working with focused diligence and excellence in completing it, and fulfilling the role the Lord had supernaturally equipped him to fulfill.  

Third, it is the work done on ordinary days that leads to an extraordinary outcome, which is how a chapter filled with names and somewhat boring details leads to great celebration, as detailed out for us in Nehemiah 12:27-43.  A few key elements of that celebration included the Levites singing and making music with cymbals, harps, and lyres (v 27), singers (v. 28-28), two large choirs (v 31), the priests playing trumpets (v 35), and the sacrifice of many offerings (43).  This wasn’t just a “pat on the back”, “good job, guys” moment.  This was a throwdown of a celebration!  A celebration brought about because they were faithful to the daily, mundane tasks the Lord had called them to do.  

Notice, the mission was the same for all of them - rebuild the wall - but they each had their own “piece” of the wall to build.  And the same is true for us today.  We aren’t called to build a physical wall, focusing on the section of wall in our neighborhood, but we are called to build the kingdom of God, focusing on “the section of wall in our neighborhoods” (aka - on those in our sphere of influence).

Today, I encourage you to take a few minutes to reflect on the following questions. Don’t forget to take the time to write down your answers.  And then, just as we have done from the very beginning of these 21 days, I want you to take time to pray over each answer, making note of all the Lord speaks to you.  

1. Nehemiah waited patiently to hear from the Lord (fasting and prayer for 40ish days), but once God spoke, he acted without delay.  In what areas of your life has the Lord been calling you to move from “waiting” to “acting”?  Is there anything that has been delaying your obedience?

2. Even during Nehemiah’s “recon phase,” he brought others with him.  Who has God placed around you to walk with you in the work He has called you to do?  Are you inviting others in, or are you trying to go it alone?

3. In Nehemiah, each person repaired the part of the wall closest to their own home.  What is the “section of the wall” God has entrusted specifically to you right now?  Who are you reaching?  Where are you serving? Are you fully investing in that assignment, or are you distracted by what others are doing?  What would it look like for you to work with focused diligence and excellence within God’s calling for you?

4. What “ordinary” or mundane tasks has God asked you to be faithful in right now?  

5. Who are the people in your “neighborhood” or sphere of influence God is calling you to invest in?  What is one practical step you can take this week to “build the wall” (build the kingdom) right where you are?

“For we are God’s masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things

He planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)