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The Story of Nehemiah Lessons from the life of In fifty‑two days the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt because "the people had a mind to work". How much can be accomplished when those who labour do so willingly, joyfully and purposely. It must have been a wonderful moment when the last brick was laid, the doors were all hung and the city could once more resume its function as the centre of national life. Good though it was for God's people to dwell in safety within the city wall, and delightful as that wall was to look upon, Nehemiah's great work did not stop at that point. It now remained to be seen whether the zeal and co‑operation engendered by patriotism for their national heritage could be carried over into everyday life. Jerusalem was the city of worship, and its restoration meant that the voice of prayer and praise could once again be heard in the holy place. The greater work of restoring the ancient faith of their fathers now began. Israel had to be reconciled to the Lord if they were to enjoy his blessing under their covenant with him. They had to understand and keep his law if they wished to have his care and protection. So Nehemiah, having completed the first phase of his work, called upon his colleague, Ezra the scribe, to read and teach the Jews from their Holy Scriptures. The Levitical priesthood was reinstated amongst the people, their method of worship as instructed by Moses was again operative and the Hebrew way of life was re‑established in the city of peace. Thus prosperity began to return to this God‑fearing remnant in Israel. Not infrequently servants of God in our own day become so engrossed in the service of God that the vital need for prayer and the reading of his Word is forgotten. No great work can be accomplished for our Heavenly Father unless we are in close touch with him. Whatever outward success there may be in our labours of love, the deeper issues of our faith must be kept well to the forefront. Serving the Lord and knowing about his purposes are valuable assets in the Christian life but they can never become substitutes for prayer and worship. We shall in fact be quite unprepared spiritually for our tasks for the Lord unless we spend much time at the Throne of Grace. Natural talent cannot make up for genuine spiritual power received at God's own hand. Nehemiah accomplished his great work because the driving force of his life was derived from communion with God and not from self gratification. It was quite natural for him to turn to religious reform after the outward material essentials had been restored. Nehemiah's cleansing of the priesthood and people from the surrounding nations is not to be interpreted as an act of snobbery. The interlopers in the recently built city and reconstituted nation were not the friends of Israel nor lovers of her God. They had for the most part been the very ones who had tried to hinder the rebuilding scheme and had sought to bring disgrace upon Nehemiah. Having failed in one direction they now planned to wreck God's people by mixing their own heathen blood with that of Judah. There was only one way into the nation of Israel by Gentiles—and that had been specifically laid down in their law. Haphazard inter‑breeding on the part of the Hebrews would have quickly reduced them as a nation to the depravity of other nations. Rigid separation from the language, customs and worship of their national neighbours was the only solution to their strength and holiness before the Lord. Once again the parallel between Israel and the Christian Church reflects how the same conditions have brought subsequently spiritual prosperity or bankruptcy. Thus we must turn the light of God's Word upon our own consciences to see if in truth we too have "separated ourselves from the people of the land". This in no way signifies a "holier than thou" attitude, into which Judaism finally developed, nor does it prevent us being sufficiently in the world to let our light shine. On the contrary, God's commission to Israel is to be found in the words of the prophet Isaiah "It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth'" (Isa.49.6), Israel failed in her day of opportunity and the light of ancient Jerusalem was snuffed out by ritualism and base gain. Paul therefore declares to the people of Antioch in Pisidia that this privilege of bearing witness to the light of God's truth had fallen to the followers of Jesus (Acts 13.47). Darkness yet abounds in the world. Without compromising with that darkness let us shine forth as the children of our Heavenly Father, in preparation for the day when the New Jerusalem shall descend from Heaven as a bride prepared for her husband. May God help us to bestir ourselves and continue the work of past ages and generations. It is no use sitting down and expecting miracles to happen to fulfil God's work. Nehemiah when assured of his work undertook it in a spirit of zeal and perseverance which shows up in marked contrast to the inertia of the twentieth century Christian Church. God awaits our co‑operation and is ready to place within our hands the credentials of service such as we frail mortals can do, but only in his strength, and by his Spirit. "Without God, we cannot: without us, God will not." So ends a remarkable book by Mildred Cable, who did so much for spiritual Zion in central Asia. "Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen and Amen." The End AOH |
