Cementing Relationships - Lesson #7

Laying the Foundation

We discover that not all of the obstacles to rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem came from the outside enemies.  Serious internal problems threatened the unity of the Jewish community.  Selfishness and greed threatened to do what armies could not—halt the work of God.  This turn of events must have devastated Nehemiah, but he knew he had to face the problem and deal with it.  It made no sense to fortify Jerusalem if the people inside it were corrupt.

Forging a Band of Brothers ________________________________

There was a widespread outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish countrymen.

 2 Some were saying, "We, our sons, and our daughters are numerous. Let us get grain so that we can eat and live." 3 Others were saying, "We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine." 4 Still others were saying, "We have borrowed money to pay the king's tax on our fields and vineyards. 5 We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless because our fields and vineyards belong to others." 6 I became extremely angry when I heard their outcry and these complaints. 7 After seriously considering the matter, I accused the nobles and officials, saying to them, "Each of you is charging his countrymen interest." So I called a large assembly against them 8 and said, "We have done our best to buy back our Jewish countrymen who were sold to foreigners, but now you sell your own countrymen, and we have to buy them back." They remained silent and could not say a word. 9 Then I said, "What you are doing isn't right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God and not invite the reproach of our foreign enemies? 10 Even I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop charging this interest. 11 Return their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses to them immediately, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and olive oil that you have been assessing them." 12 They responded: "We will return these things and require nothing more from them. We will do as you say." So I summoned the priests and made everyone take an oath to do this. 13 I also shook the folds of my robe and said, "May God likewise shake from his house and property everyone who doesn't keep this promise. May he be shaken out and have nothing!" The whole assembly said, " Amen," and they praised the LORD. Then the people did as they had promised. [Nehemiah 5:1-13]

Biblical Foundation_________________________________________________

Nehemiah’s brother, Hanani, had told him when they first met in Susa, “the survivors in the province, who returned from the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace.”  Hanani, made it clear that more than walls and gates needed rebuilding.  Ideally, Nehemiah had wanted to complete the physical rebuilding first in the hope that success would inspire the people to seek out spiritual renewal as well.  As it turned out, some spiritual issues could not wait.  These issues needed addressing even as the wall went up.

Principles to Live By_______________________________________________

Anyone who’s been in a leadership position knows about conflict resolution.

Principle 1

Dealing with internal problems

The internal conflict Nehemiah experienced in Jerusalem and Judah was so severe it could have scuttled the whole project.  Worse yet, it threatened to bring reproach on the name of the Lord.  Some people were running out of food due to focusing their time and energy on the wall project at a time when famine pinched everyone’s food supply.  Many had mortgaged their homes and land to buy food.  Others had borrowed money at an exorbitant rate from wealthy fellow Jews.  Finally, a wave of foreclosures resulted in the selling of children into slavery to pay their parents’ debts.

Principle 2

Don’t ignore internal problems

Can you imagine how Nehemiah must have felt when he faced these new problems?  He was already engaged in a psychological battle with enemies.  In addition he felt the full weight of responsibility for keeping Israel in a state of military preparedness while keeping the wall construction project on track.  There are times when a leader wants to give up.  The pressures get so great it seems impossible to go on.  Surely, Nehemiah had those feelings.  Once again, however, we see the power of his character.  He had come too far to give up.  Morale had hit rock bottom, and he knew he could not show signs of personal fatigue and discouragement.

Principle 3

Divide the negative emotions and handle the internal conflict

When Nehemiah heard the Jewish children were being sold into slavery and that wealthy Jews were oppressing the poor ones, he “became extremely angry”.  In spite of his fatigue and stress, low physical and psychological tolerance did not prompt Nehemiah’s anger.  The selfishness, greed, and insensibility of some of his fellow Jews caused his fury.  In spite of his intense anger, Nehemiah did not take immediate action.  Rather he backed off, got control of himself, and did some very careful and serious thinking.  He established some emotional distance from the problem so he could gain proper perspective.

Principle 4

Leading by example

Nehemiah pulled no punches when he finally confronted the offending nobles and officials.   He could expose their hypocrisies and inconsistencies because he had a track record of compassion and selfless concern for others.  He didn’t hesitate to point out what he and others had been doing to help the poor among the Jewish community.  He made it clear that he and others had been paying money out of their own pockets to free indebted and enslaved Jews.  “What you are doing isn’t right.  Shouldn’t you walk in fear of our God and not invite reproach of our foreign enemies?”

Forging a Band of Brothers - Lesson #6

Laying the Foundation
Tonight, we’ll consider the cold, hard details of the days leading up to the completion of the walls and gates of Jerusalem.  The defenses were in place.  Workers and leaders had accepted the burden of double duty.  It was going to be a long, arduous push to the finish line, but it was too late to turn back.  The workers had invested so much in the walls that they needed to see the job done!  Things were as bad as they could get.  Nehemiah convinced them to continue and persevere; they are doing God’s work!

Forging a Band of Brothers ________________________________

15 When our enemies heard that we knew their scheme and that God had frustrated it, every one of us returned to his own work on the wall. 16 From that day on, half of my men did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers supported all the people of Judah, 17 who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried the loads worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. 18 Each of the builders had his sword strapped around his waist while he was building, and the trumpeter was beside me. 19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: "The work is enormous and spread out, and we are separated far from one another along the wall. 20 Wherever you hear the trumpet sound, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!" 21 So we continued the work, while half of the men were holding spears from daybreak until the stars came out. 22 At that time, I also said to the people, "Let everyone and his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day." 23 And I, my brothers, my men, and the guards with me never took off our clothes. Each carried his weapon, even when washing. [Nehemiah 4:15-23]


Biblical Foundation_________________________________________________
Since Sanballat’s psychological warfare campaign against the Jews failed miserably, the enemies of the Jews realized they needed a fresh approach to stopping the wall construction…and they needed it NOW!  Given the pace of the construction, there was no time to lose.  Sanballat and his partners came up with a plan which they thought would turn the tide of the events to their favor.


Principles to Live By_______________________________________________
Nehemiah defeated Sanballat and Tobiah in round #1 by maintaining morale in the face of their mockery.  He defeated them in round #2 by organizing defenses in anticipation of their surprise attack.  To get through the rest of the ‘bout, he had to keep the workforce at a high level of preparation and performance.  His leadership was masterful because his faith in God was unshakeable.



Principle 1
Be On Constant Guard
When Sanballat and his cohorts discovered that their plan for a secret attack on Jerusalem was common knowledge and the children of Israel had organized and defended themselves, they backed off.  From that day on, half of Nehemiah’s men did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows and armor.  Even those who continued the work carried weapons.  Nehemiah also knew the city and its builders were vulnerable due to dispersion of the workers all around the walls.  Consequently, he stationed a trumpeter next to him.  In case of an attack, the trumpeter would blow a blast to signal everyone to rush to counterattack the enemy!


Principle 2
Stand Together in Our Battle
One of the greatest challenges Nehemiah faced in rebuilding the wall was to develop a strategy for a unified force in case of an attack.  The work is enormous and spread out, and we are separated from one another along the wall.  As we have seen, he appointed a man who would follow him everywhere he went, and in case of an attack he was to sound the trumpet to rally everyone to the spot of the battle.


Principle 3
God Will Fight for Us
To make sure the people really knew they could proceed with confidence, Nehemiah once again underscored the divine nature of their task.  In the same breath that he issued a warning to listen for the trumpet so they could prepare to take military action, he also promised, Our God will fight for us.  Once again, Nehemiah was telling the children of Israel that if they did their part, including moving ahead by faith, then God would do His part.

The work went forward.  Everyone worked diligently from daybreak until the stars came out.  Those living outside the city didn’t even return to their homes.  Rather they spent the night in Jerusalem, laboring by day and guarding by night.  Even when they stopped to rest, they didn’t remove their clothes.  They kept their weapons within arm’s reach so that, at any moment’s notice, they could be ready to defend themselves.

Renovating Hope - Lesson #5

By Deep Creek Baptist Church in Under Construction · Edit Doc

Laying the Foundation
Tonight, we examine the second stage of opposition that Nehemiah and the wall builders encountered from the hands of their opponents. When intimidation did not work, they tried sneak attacks… Wonder if Nehemiah will call the National Guard?

Round Two: A Conspiracy Theory ________________________________

7 When Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they became furious. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw it into confusion. 9 So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard because of them day and night. 10 In Judah, it was said: The strength of the laborer fails, since there is so much rubble. We will never be able to rebuild the wall. 11 And our enemies said, "They won't know or see anything until we're among them and can kill them and stop the work." 12 When the Jews who lived nearby arrived, they said to us time and again, "Everywhere you turn, they attack us."
13 So I stationed people behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. 14 After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes." 15 When our enemies heard that we knew their scheme and that God had frustrated it, every one of us returned to his own work on the wall. [Nehemiah 4:7-15]

Biblical Foundation_________________________________________________
Since Sanballat’s psychological warfare campaign against the Jews failed miserably, the enemies of the Jews realized they needed a fresh approach to stopping the wall construction…and they needed it NOW! Given the pace of the construction, there was no time to lose. Sanballat and his partners came up with a plan which they thought would turn the tide of the events to their favor.

Principles to Live By_______________________________________________
The Jews were definitely ahead at half-time as they went into the locker room. Nehemiah was clearly a better quarterback. Sanballat, on the other hand, couldn’t seem to get his team across the line of scrimmage, let alone in the end zone. When the second half came, things were different. Nehemiah’s team had worked their hearts out in the first half. They were physically and emotionally exhausted. That is when Sanballat brought in fresh recruits and a completely new set of plays.


Principle 1
Persevere
Nehemiah and the Jewish workers were energized and excited about what they were doing. They had attacked the project with a spirit of unity and zeal to serve the Lord. But once they reached the halfway point in rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem they faced a normal motivational problem. Even in the best of times, it’s easy to let down when you’re halfway there. Furthermore, in the face of Sanballat’s and Tobiah’s mockery, they had used up an incredible amount of emotional and physical energy.


Principle 2
Hope
When Nehemiah and the Jews heard of the secret plot to attack Jerusalem, they met this “corporate threat” with “corporate prayer.” Nehemiah’s personal prayer model was paying-off. He reported, “we prayed to our God”. They had all learned that prayer and hard work go hand-in hand. However, their strategy did not yield immediate results. Word kept pouring in of an impending attack. Guards were posted at night. Predictably, the task before the children of Israel began to look bigger than it really was. The piles of rubbish seemed to be getting bigger!


Principle 3
Example
Nehemiah had modeled for the Jews both how to pray and how to work hard. However, anxiety and fear spawned by daily rumors grew in the hearts of the people. Nehemiah knew he had to keep hope alive. He called both leaders and people together and challenged them to reject fear and trust God. In addition to guards, whole families were put in harm’s way to protect the project. In view of the threat of annihilation, Nehemiah challenged them to fight for their country, their families, and their homes. He would not let a deteriorating situation alter his objectives and his motivation. He would not give up!