Nehemiah 3 -- Reading Between the Line (And the People)

I’m sure that back when this was occurring, people could have told us much about why so-and-so was working next to someone else, and what was important about the motivations behind where they worked.  Some may have been correct and others wildly off-base, as it can be today.  Forgetting that, we can still gain a lot of insight by what we’re shown here.  My commentary began by mentioning how the residents had little impetus to improve their own homes because, with the walls down, nothing was safe from invasions.  “Over the years, they’d become accustomed to this, content to live with the status quo.”  We’ve got to watch out for that, too!

“The people finished this difficult task (in just 52 days!) because they obeyed the same leader, kept their eyes on the same goal, and worked together for the glory of God.  Neither the enemy outside the city nor the difficulties inside the city distracted them from their God-given task.  Like Paul, they said, ‘This one thing I do.’”

There was much to notice about the people mentioned, but here are just the highlights, according to my commentary:

God uses all kinds of people.

Some people will not work.

Some people do more work than others.

Some people work harder than others.

Finally, it said, “No one person could have accomplished the work of repairing the walls and restoring the gates.  It took leadership on Nehemiah’s part and cooperation on the part of the people.  Each had a place to fill and a job to do.  So it is with the church today:  We must work together if we are to finish the work to the glory of God.”

Father, help each of us to see our own part, assigned by You, that we should be doing.  Help us not to worry about someone else’s, but to trust that You have it all well in hand.  Lead us together to glorify You in all that we do – not ourselves.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford