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“search the scriptures” John 5:39
The work summary follows an anticlockwise journey around Jerusalem’s perimeter, beginning at the north. It reports the activity of individuals and groups with attention drawn to certain features of the city’s walls.
Nehemiah was concerned for God’s people, and for the place associated with His name, Neh. 1. 2; here he saw progress. He was instrumental in preparing the work and chapter 4 records his participation, but he does not directly figure here -the words ‘I’ and ‘me’ are absent.1This is fitting, for it was the Lord’s work and it could not have been accomplished alone. Credit is given to each labourer.
This study focuses on the people. Workers were male and female, older and younger, of varied social standing, and of different spiritual heritage. Imagine Nehemiah’s joy to witness the work underway and to observe God’s people labouring together for the honour of His name.
In our day too, it has pleased God to take up His people from all walks of life, that unitedly they might further His work and testimony. What a privilege!
Building work was necessary where gates, towers, and sections of wall needed to be entirely reconstructed. Where enough of the original structure was still standing, repairs were performed. A sound structure requires a proper foundation, from which a building takes its shape.2Paul wrote that the household of God is ‘built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone’, Eph. 2. 20; cp. Matt. 16. 18. Of God’s building, he said, ‘I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon … other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ’, 1 Cor. 3. 10, 11. Assembly testimony must be built and shaped on none other.
Repair work differs from building. Compromised material needs to be removed before remedial works take place.3 Nehemiah’s report refers to building work seven times, but to repairs, thirty-five times. Error soon emerged in the early church that had to be identified and addressed. In the Epistles, this often involved returning to foundational aspects of truth and restating the gospel, practices which are still necessary.4
The broad wall was fortified, v. 8. Every section required inspection, and strengthening where necessary. Are all doctrinal bases covered in our personal readings and collective ministry for our spiritual strength? Paul said to the elders of Ephesus, ‘I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God’, Acts 20. 27. Peter wrote, ‘I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth’, 2 Pet. 1. 12.
As work around the city involved different aspects of work, concerning the church we read, ‘there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all’, 1 Cor. 12. 6.
Their approach was demonstrated by Eliashib the high priest, who, ‘rose up … and … builded’, v. 1. ‘Every one’ of the priests who lived in the city attended to the wall, ‘over against his house’, v. 28. Though not occupying the city, ‘the priests, the men of the plain’ also toiled, v. 22, but since they were associated with this place, the finished wall would give them dignity. They would be ‘no more a reproach’, 2. 17.
How sad that whilst the ‘Tekoites repaired … their nobles put not their necks to the work’, v. 5! It seems that necks that wore lordly chains refused to wear the yoke of service. These earthly lords, used to being waited on, did not do ‘the work of their Lord’.
Better is said of the two rulers of the ‘the half part of Jerusalem’, vv. 9, 12, who rolled up their sleeves. Other rulers who repaired came from Bethhaccerem, v. 14; two from Mizpah vv. 15, 19; and of Bethzur, v. 16. The rulers of Keilah were more honourable than their ancestors who would have delivered up David to Saul, 1 Sam. 23. 12. These repaired a portion of wall helping to secure his memorial, vv. 16-18.
Leaders today are called to be a pattern to others, paying heed to God’s word and labouring among His people, 1 Pet. 5. 3. Timothy was counselled, ‘be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity’, 1 Tim. 4. 12; cp. Titus 2. 7, 8.
Fellowship describes the spirit of Eliashib, who rose up ‘with his brethren’, v. 1. This was also found amongst the workers; the word ‘next’ appears in conjunction with ‘him’ or ‘them’ fifteen times, vv. 2-19. The phrase ‘next unto him’ indicates that where someone took responsibility for their own portion of wall, they were near to others - no-one was a ‘lone wolf’. Understanding between the parties would have been necessary to bond together the sections of wall.
Shallum’s family shared his exercise, for we read that ‘he and his daughters’ repaired, v. 12. ‘And his sons’ appears nowhere in the passage, but it is good to see that there was fellowship amongst other families, for ‘brethren’ repaired alongside one another, v. 18. This was not a privilege ‘the sixth son of Zalaph’ enjoyed, v. 30; his faithfulness is commendable, but where were the other five?
The importance of unity amongst the Lord’s people cannot be overstated and the theme is present in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Believers are not intended to work alone, and if anything is to be accomplished for God, love is essential.5 It is a particular blessing when families are able to share together in the Lord’s work, but those who are alone among their natural family should be able to enjoy the fellowship of God’s family.
Following Israel’s victory over Sisera’s host, Deborah sang of those who ‘jeoparded their lives’; but not all the tribes had contributed, Judg. 5. 16-18. Similarly, after one of ten lepers cleansed by the Lord returned to offer thanks, Jesus asked, ‘Where are the nine?’ Luke 17. 17. Whilst our labour does not merit salvation, it is one answer of a regenerate and thankful heart for Christ’s finished work for us, Titus 3. 5; Heb. 6. 10. Whatever He enables us to do, let it be in fellowship with others, and for Him, 1 Cor. 3. 8, 9; Eph. 4. 16.
Stewardship of each portion of work was necessary. Every gate, tower, and section of wall was essential to the whole. Some had the honour of building the sheep gate near to the temple, v. 1; others repaired the wall by the dung gate, vv. 13, 14. Some industrious workers repaired ‘another piece’. Was this because others had not risen to the task? Thankfully, someone took responsibility for every breach.6
Every believer has a work for which God has exclusively enabled him or her. Let us neither despise nor seek another’s role, for all ‘are necessary’. Some might appear to have a more honourable role, but ‘the members should have the same care one for another’, 1 Cor. 12. 20-25. Each of us have ‘gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us’ and are vital, Rom. 12. 6-8. So let us take responsibility for, and wait on, the ministry for which we have been equipped.
Workmanship would have been important for structural integrity. Following the repairs described in the south, the expression ‘after him/them’ occurs sixteen times, vv. 16-31. Along this uphill section of wall, the upper portion would have depended both on the completion and the quality of the lower.
The quality of our work for God affects the whole testimony and other people. It has a bearing on the heritage to be received by the following generation. Paul said, ‘let every man take heed how he buildeth’, for, at the Judgement Seat of Christ, it will be tried to see ‘of what sort it is’, 1 Cor. 3. 10, 13.
A number of workers performed repairs ‘over against [opposite]’ their dwelling.7 Azariah repaired ‘by his house’ - perhaps near or adjoining the wall, v. 23. Others laboured near to a shared dwelling, v. 23. Meshullam worked ‘over against his chamber [room]’; small as his lodging was, its security mattered, v. 30. The priests repaired ‘every one’ over against his own house, v. 28; but repairs near the house of Eliashib the high priest were undertaken by Meremoth - ‘from the door… even to the end of the house’, v. 21 - did Eliashib neglect his own house?
God’s testimony is affected by the spiritual condition of our homes, however small they are. The sad experience of Eli is a stark warning, where both his household and the testimony was lost, 1 Sam. 3, 4. If the household of God is to be properly maintained, homes must be well ordered, especially those of spiritual leaders, 1 Tim. 3; Titus 1.
There is more to be gleaned from the many workers mentioned in the chapter, but the following are worthy of note for their attitude.
The business of ‘the men of Jericho’, v. 2. Of their city, whose walls God brought down, Joshua said, ‘Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city’, Josh. 6. 26. They did not occupy themselves in a dishonourable and fruitless work but busied their hands with the worthy task of Jerusalem’s wall -God’s centre of testimony. They did not set out to make themselves a name but contributed to the place associated with God’s name. Likewise, let us be diligent, making the Father’s business our priority.
The humbleness of goldsmiths, merchants, and ‘the son of one of the apothecaries’, vv. 8, 31, 32. Their hands exchanged gold for stone, and the aroma of sweet perfume was replaced with dust. They worked willingly alongside more lowly men. Paul encouraged believers to ‘mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate’, Rom. 12. 16. In the same Epistle, greetings were sent from Erastus, the treasurer of the city of Corinth, found alongside Quartus - a name likely given to a slave - who is called ‘a brother’, Rom. 16. 23.
The earnestness of ‘Baruch the son of Zabbai’. His is the only work preceded by an adverb; he ‘earnestly repaired’, v. 20. Comparison could be made with Epaphras’ fervent prayer and zeal for the saints in the Lycus valley, Col. 4. 12, 13. Such fervour is also reminiscent of the Lord Jesus, our supreme example, whose passion for God’s sanctuary reminded His disciples of Psalm 69 verse 9, ‘the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up’, John 2. 17. He said, ‘My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work’, John 4. 34.
May we aspire to labour for our Lord and count it our privilege to engage in His work as ‘labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building’, 1 Cor. 3. 9.
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