Ready Labour

One thing I admire about Nehemiah is his willingness to lead from the front, to lead by example in service to the LORD even though he had no personal experience in building a wall or managing a construction site.  God put it in his heart to visit Jerusalem after hearing of the distressed and dilapidated state, and his connections to the king as cupbearer provided means and authority to oversee the construction of the wall by faith in God.  Nehemiah (as the book goes to show) would prove to be a skilled delegator, yet he did not ask others to do what God called him to do.  He entered into the same labours and suffered the same lack of comforts as labourers, loaders and builders endured though he was accustomed to the comforts of life in a palace.

Due to the real possibility of enemy attack, as people worked they either carried a weapon in one hand or had a sword girded on their thigh.  This readiness was undoubtedly a deterrent to potential enemies, for the workers did not present themselves as a disorganised, easy target:  they were determined, prepared and were willing to put their lives on the line, their resolve steeled to see the walls successfully built.  Nehemiah 4:17-18 reads, "Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon. ¹⁸ Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me."

Notice Nehemiah did not watch at a distance alone in the shade of a tent with attendants waiting upon him, for he placed himself among the workers with an assistant who was tasked to sound the alarm with a trumpet.  He was in the thick of the action, conversing with workers and was on the pulse of how everything was going.  The construction site covered a large area, and the sound of the trumpet marked the mustering location to Nehemiah who would lead the people in their defence against their enemies.  I have no doubt this was Nehemiah's chosen arrangement, not because he was skilled in battle or military tactics, but due to faith in God who would be their defence and refuge, the living God who fights His people's battles.

There is a brand of Christian who embrace a soldier-mentality to a fault, neglecting other aspects of spiritual life that resemble faithful, obedient labour like gathering and stacking stones.  Loading carts and lifting rocks is not glamorous like defeating Goliath with sling and stone or being credited with slaying thousands of enemies like David.  It was dirty, heavy, taxing work with no triumph at the end; it was mundane labour without notoriety at a personal cost of time, sweat and blood.  The citizens of the kingdom of God are called to profitable labour for Christ's kingdom and to be ready to give a defence for the hope that is in us.  Our call is not to pick fights or lash out with the sword but to keep the Sword of the Spirit girded on our thigh as we labour in doing the LORD's will.  It does not appear the enemies of Nehemiah attacked once during the 52 days they faithfully worked outside during the day, but the workers were ready to defend at all times.  As children of the light and day, this illustration provides a good perspective how Christians are called to live.

Earnestly and Carefully

"After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest."

Nehemiah 3:20

In the section of Nehemiah that explains who repaired the wall and gates of Jerusalem and the specific areas each person or group worked on, the verse concerning Baruch stands out because it shows how he worked.  The rebuilding of the walls, gates and bars of Jerusalem was a huge group effort, and people took up tasks outside their normal field of expertise to collaborate to accomplish the building project in a relatively short time.  Baruch's earnestness to repair a section of the wall is a good illustration of the focus, diligence and dedication God's people ought to exercise in their service unto Him.

Webster defines "earnestly" as "warmly, zealously, importunately, eagerly, with real desire."  Of all the people who laboured on the wall, Baruch was the only one described as working earnestly.  The NKJV rendering of the same word is "carefully," and this provides a helpful clarification.  Earnestness does not mean a person works efficiently, for desire to accomplish a job speedily can result in haste, wasted effort and materials, and inferior results.  I remember a friend of mine was so zealous to use his new power saw in one day he cut through 3 power cords which required valuable time to repair and replace.  Working earnestly with care conveys diligence combined with accuracy.  Baruch sounds like a worker who was pleased and felt privileged to contribute in the work effort.

As there are people who want to do the least amount of work possible for the most pay, there is a person who puts off doing hard work as long as possible to do as little as possible.  This is unbecoming of a child of God who has been granted life, all resources, ability and opportunity to serve the LORD and one another faithfully.  Paul wrote to believing slaves in Colossians 3:22-24:  "Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."  In building Baruch worked towards a completed wall that would provide security, protection and a clear vantage point, and in all we do the child of God is to fulfill our obligations to labour as doing it for God's sake.  In this way all our labours are sanctified with earnestness and sincerity of heart, knowing our reward is not only found in a job completed--but confidence in receiving the reward of the inheritance from Christ.

It is satisfying to see a job coming along well and finally complete, yet the reward of the inheritance Jesus gives is far better.  Jobs finished today will always require maintenance going forward, but what we receive as Christ's inheritance is infinitely greater and enduring.  Christians are promised an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance reserved for us in heaven (1 Peter 1:4), and the LORD is our inheritance as it is written in Psalm 16:5:  "O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; you maintain my lot."  Rather than working to gain, we are to labour from the place of already having all things, being satisfied in Jesus Christ our Saviour who is our life.  No longer is our mindset to be, "What's in it for me?" or "What do I stand to gain?" but in confidence in our eternal inheritance we put our hands to the plow and our necks to the yoke for Jesus Christ is our portion we have already received and rejoice in.

Hearts Actually Clean

I was reminded of an awkward situation recently.  After using an electric griddle I wiped it clean--only it wasn't very clean.  Small bits of the wet paper towel I used broke off and littered the surface, but I didn't notice them.  When I walked by and saw someone cleaning it, I informed them I had already cleaned it.  Then I received an explanation that the griddle wasn't actually clean, and more cleaning made perfect sense.

One time when we were hosting a family I noticed the bathroom shower looked a bit dull, and upon further inspection it was due to a build-up of soap residue.  As I began the process of cleaning the fiberglass shower enclosure, one of our guests mentioned the shower had just been  cleaned.  The clear insinuation was that I was re-doing what had already been done.  I responded by running my thumbnail along the surface which produced a curled strip of soap similar to how a block plane produces wood shavings.  I had no reason to doubt the actions of cleaning had taken place, but actual cleaning (according to my standards) had yet to be done.

Proverbs 20:9 says, "Who can say, "I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin"?  King Solomon expressed the spiritual truth that God's righteous standards are infinitely beyond our capacity to measure up to:  we cannot keep our hands clean, much less purify our hearts from sin.  The Pharisees accused Jesus of blasphemy in their hearts when He claimed the ability to forgive sins, for that is God's sovereign territory.  Though we have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory, He is able to cleanse our hearts, purify us from sin, and impute the righteousness of God to us by faith in Jesus.  Like unclean lepers cleansed of their defiling disease by Jesus, sinners can be cleansed (actually clean!) by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus.

The psalmist sang in Psalm 130:3-4, "If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? ⁴ But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared."  God has the ability to forgive and cleanse us from all sin, and He delights to do so.  His word had a cleansing effect upon our minds, and He expunges the sins of those who confess and forsake them as if they had never been committed.  David prayed according to God's gracious goodness toward all people in Psalm 51:9-10:  "Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. ¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."  God's conditions for cleansing is not perfection, but that we would humble ourselves in repentance of sin, trust in Him and ask.  Having been forgiven and cleansed from sin, we ought to walk in the fear of God who has demonstrated such love for us.

Nehemiah's Prayer

God's word is powerful and able to rebuke, exhort and encourage at the same time.  I had this experience as I considered the prayer of Nehemiah in chapter 1 after he heard about the desolation of Jerusalem and the affliction of God's people.  After a period of intentional inaction, fasting and mourning, Nehemiah prayed to God in a way that is, to some degree, foreign to my regular approach.

What I observe in Nehemiah's prayer is how he prayed for what he knew and believed God would do according to His word and promises:  that God would be attentive to his prayer and the prayers of God's servants who turned to Him, and that Nehemiah would find mercy in the eyes of his king whom he served.  What is absent from Nehemiah's prayer is any request or suggestion what God could do to alleviate His servants who were afflicted and reproached.  He said nothing about how God should help rebuild the walls of Jerusalem or mend gates burned with fire.  Nehemiah prayed as a man who knew God already knew about the situation and the desires of his heart and could do all that was required without help or suggestions.  Nehemiah simply requested to be heard, seen (despite many transgressions) and for mercy.

I wonder:  how many times do we pray to God like He is not God, that like others He must be informed of the dire situation at hand or listen to our suggestions about what He ought to do so what we deem necessary can be done?  Rather than praying according to what God could do, Nehemiah's prayer illustrates our need to pray in faith in alignment with what God has already said He will do.  Nehemiah spent the middle portion of his prayer reminding God what He had said in the Scripture, and he prayed for what God had already guaranteed.  This might seem an unnecessary thing, to pray that God will hear and see us when we know very well as the omniscient and omnipotent living God He will.  If we quickly skip over that bit because we assume it is true concerning God's character, it is possible we take that very thing for granted and thus neglect to pray according to God's will.

Taking the example of Nehemiah on board, this morning I prayed for things I already know are God's will according to His word, and I found it put me more in a posture to listen and wait than to speak.  God had already spoken concerning casting cares upon Him because He cares for me, and that mercy surrounds those who trust in the LORD as it is written in Psalm 32:10-11:  "Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him. ¹¹ Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!"  The consideration of God's word before and during prayer brought a notable shift in the trajectory of my praying, for I prayed according to His promises rather than my felt needs.  Seeing God has promised to provide for our needs, though our faith be small (Matthew 6:30), we can pray God would provide for our needs with joy knowing we are heard and God has spoken!

What a great demonstration of faith and reminder Nehemiah's prayer is to pray to God knowing He is God, has spoken, hears and does according to His word.  What joy God endows His people with by faith in God and surrounded by His mercy:  a people heard, seen and loved of our almighty heavenly Father.