#7 “Book of Nehemiah”
Series
“ORDER IN THE COURT! – GOD'S COURT THAT IS!”
TEXT: Nehemiah
7:1-73
INTRO: A great
deal of effort had gone into building the city of God, the temple first and then
the massive walls around the city. The people had really put their shoulders
to the task for both jobs and now a firm city was established ... but one
important thing was yet missing!
While they had built the city of
God they hadn't reflected on the need to build the citizenship of the
city of God! While they could
rightly rejoice over the city being ready ... they needed to reflect on the
citizenship being ready to begin again as the people of God, a special calling
and unique lifestyle. They needed
to find each other and become one again with joy before
God.
ILLUS: It was
early January and in the doctor's waiting room every seat was occupied. There
was the usual atmosphere of tension, each person concerned with his own
problems. We looked down at our feet, flipped through old magazines, gazed at
the pictures on the walls. Suddenly a woman sitting across the room from me
spoke up. "Why don't we sing? Are you tired of Christmas
carols?"
Every head turned in her
direction. Startled at such an idea, we couldn't help returning the smile on her
happy face. Without waiting for an answer, her strong soprano voice began, "O
Come, All Ye Faithful." My husband, always ready to sing, joined in with his
tenor. A bit more timidly, I added an alto and soon others joined in. We sang
one carol after another, filling the room with joyous music. --
Florence E. Parkes, Laurel, MD.
Christian Reader, "Lite Fare."
And so, as the people prepare to
rejoice over the finished product of the city, Nehemiah takes the initiative to
reestablish the proper order of the people themselves and their unique calling
as the people of God! ... THEN REJOICING WOULD BE
FULL!
PROP.SENT: All healthy life forms have a
correct order to their existence in order for that life form to express fully
its purpose and impact within this world order. Using Biblical illustrations; the church
is the body of Christ, Jesus Himself the head ... and the Holy Spirit the
energizing agent; but the body is to have a healthy amount of structure and
order for it to be fully coordinated and united in function. God has ordained order for the health of
the church ... and to ensure the greatest expression of
rejoicing!
I. PROPER CONCERNS 7:1-3
A. People!
7:1-2
1. Change was in the air, the
project of the city completed it was time to turn to the needed concerns of the
worshipping community!
a. The first thing Nehemiah
takes care to appoint are interesting!
b. These
included:
(1. Gatekeepers - these were for
the city gates, not the temple gates.
(2. Singers - at the entrances to
the city!
ILLUS: Interestingly,
of all the songs in the Book of Revelation, not one is a solo. The twenty-four elders sing and cast
their crowns before His feet, the united voices of countless angels resound,
every living creature in heaven and earth and under the earth and all that is in
them are joined in one song. Those
who are victorious over the beast are given harps and a song to sing. In every
case multitudes of people or angels unite in the same song with absolute
unity. -- Graham Kendrick.
Leadership, Vol. 15, no. 2.
(3. Levites - also near the gate
entrances!
c. What was the purpose in
putting Levites and singers near the soldiers?
2. The Priests and Levites
comprised a huge segment of the population of Jerusalem indicated by the census
taken; it only seemed good to use these men at the gates of the city ... since
they were accustomed to being gatekeepers at the house of
God!
a. In fact this would add
uniqueness to the city not experienced before!
b. With the regular guards
posted at the gates there would now also be the spiritual guards ... and since
the "RAISON D' ETRE" of Jerusalem was
WORSHIP it would be quite fitting!
3. Think of entering this city
of God ... as you approach the gates you might hear songs of praise coming from
the singers and Levites stationed at the gates ... you were literally greeted to
town by songs of Praise! ... Think how this would affect your entire mindset as
you entered town!
a. You would become aware of the
fact that you have entered "HOLY GROUND."
b. You were joining in with the
“people of God” in the “city of God!”
4. THESE GATEKEEPERS were to
watch over the coming and going of the people, ensuring a proper entrance to
God's special people, in this sense they acted like
PASTORS!
5. It was their duty to be sure
no thieves entered to rob the people.
6. They were to keep the enemy
from escape should he sneak in, they made sure the sheep gate was open and
closed properly to allow for the sheep to enter and leave at appropriate times
... under guard!
7. The gates were likely opened
each day with songs of praise ... and shut each day with songs of praise ...
what a great way to start and stop the day!
a. Just think how secure the
inhabitants of the city felt each morning and evening as they could hear the
songs of praise from every direction outside the walls as the gates opened and
closed ... all was well, the gatekeepers had done their
job!
b. The coming and going of the
people were looked after by these PASTORS!
c. The songs of praise and
prayer reassured everyone.
8. Nehemiah also appointed 2
special men to work together in overseeing the congregation of
God.
a. His brother Hanani was put in
charge of Jerusalem itself ... it is interesting to note that this was how
Nehemiah first learned of Jerusalem's fate and need (see 1:2-4) ... thus he knew who had the greatest burden
for the people of the city!
b. Nehemiah knew that leadership
involves a heavy burden ... not just the prestige of being in control at the
top! His brother had a great burden
for the people and had proved to be a great servant, even to the point of
submitting to his brother's leadership when Nehemiah came and took over the
project, he who could serve well in second place would do well serving at the
top!
9. Nehemiah made one other
appointment, this one for the army of God's people.
a. Hananiah was appointed
commander of the citadel ... the great fortress that was next to the temple to
protect the city and temple from the north.
b. This man was chosen FIRST
because of his integrity and respect for God, second for his military prowess
... his reputation was so clear ... he loved and respected God more than most
other men! An obvious devotion to
God that outshone the rest!
c. He would be someone who would
lay down his life for the sheep if necessary! This is the call of the
Pastor!
(1. You don't pastor because
you're the best orator, or administrator, or good at counseling people ... but
because you love God and His people more than your own
life!
(2. God can enable the weaknesses
... but the heart matter is up to us!
d. With the senior Pastor Hanani
... whose burden for God's people was great and the associate Pastor Hananiah
... who would lay his life down for the protection of the city and the temple of
God ... this place was ready for revival!
B. Precautions! 7:3
1. Some important precautions
were taken to account for the way the enemy worked to insure the greatest safety
of God's people!
a. The gates were only to be
open in the light of day!
b. The enemy likes to sneak in,
during darkness ... but there would be no way in since entrance was ONLY IN THE
LIGHT!
c. This is still the only way
into the kingdom of God, Jesus is the light of the world, and you can't sneak
into the Kingdom of God without approaching through this
LIGHT!
d. Membership required salvation
... being part of the people of God!
2. An enemy trying to get in
during daylight while guys were sitting at each gate singing the praises of God
would really be intimidated!
3. The people could go about
their daily tasks rejoicing in the peace of Jerusalem which came by Godly men
looking out for them and the city. IT COULD REALLY LIVE UP TO ITS NAME ...
THE CITY OF PEACE! The world would
not understand this, but they never have.
ILLUS: The Roman
general Pompey noticed how the Jews fought to defend their temple. He was anxious to see what was in their
most sacred room, the Holy of Holies. He was surprised to see that it was
empty. He wondered why they fought
so hard to defend an empty room! He didn't understand their concept of a God
"eternal, immortal, invisible." -- Robert C. Shannon, 1000 Windows, (Cincinnati, Ohio:
Standard Publishing Company, 1997).
4. These extra precautions
afforded protection that not just anybody could creep into the body of Christ
and upset the fellowship and unity provided by the measures put into
place.
5. These measures helped prevent
the disunity that might come from those whose hearts were not really with the
people of God!
6. In light of their earlier
circumstances it was necessary to have these extra precautions in order to
insure pollution from outside sources!
7. It didn't mean a closed
society ... the gates were open, but coming in meant being bombarded by singers
and light at the entrance and holiness and godly living within, the whole
community was in unity in the name of God!
The only way to be comfortable in a place like this was to become a
worshipper! Those who only
pretended were miserable!
II. PROPER CITIZENSHIP 7:4-65
A. Places
7:4
1. The city was huge and mostly
empty, few people were enjoying all this tranquility and joy and
unity!
a. The people had made priority
their relationship to God and rebuilding the city of God; they had not yet
rebuilt their own homes ... now they could work on their
homes!
b. Yet there were many empty
homes as well, still many of their people were in exile and
captivity.
c. The only solution ... FILL
THE TOWN WITH NEW PEOPLE AS WELL AS getting back those who rightly belonged
there!
2. Nehemiah says God put it in
his heart to search for the ones who belonged in the city ... those who were
truly the people of God!
ILLUS: Talk about
what you believe and you have disunity.
Talk about Who you believe in and you have unity. -- E. Stanly Jones, Leadership, Vol. 8, no.
3.
3. They were going to go on an
evangelistic tour, by checking first the good standing of those within the city,
checking to make sure they are really the people of the covenant of promise made
to Abraham!
4. Others would be welcomed too
but they would have to wait until there would again be a priest with the URIM
AND THUMMIN, devices that would tell God's mind when the records were
lost!
5. The point here: THERE WERE
PLENTY OF PLACES FOR MORE PEOPLE!
a. THIS CAN ALWAYS BE SAID ABOUT
THE CHURCH ... WE WANT YOU ... MORE CAN COME ... WE’LL FIND PLACES FOR YOU; THE
KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT CROWDED BY ANY MEANS! Come into the light, the true gate Jesus,
and join the people of God as we live and celebrate our life in Christ
together!
b. Enjoy the peace and security
of knowing others of like faith are looking out for you ... as you join in
praises to our King of Kings! IT IS
A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE OUT YOUR LIFE ... NOT JUST A GREAT PLACE TO
VISIT!
(1. Too many visitors in
church!
(2. God is looking for more
citizens!
(3. There is always more room ...
it is a spacious place!
B. PURITY
7:5-65
1. Nehemiah calls up the
membership list to check on the present inhabitants and their really being part
of the body of saints in the holy city!
2. At that time only those who
records could be traced to Abraham could be declared "PURE" or as available to
serve within the body of believers ... this was part of the covenant of Promise
with Abraham.
3. Yet others had joined and
gotten in, Gentiles like Ruth, Rahab, and a scattered group of other Gentiles
had been allowed in WHEN THEY EMBRACED THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND IDENTIFIED
WILLINGLY THEIR LIVES WITH GOD'S PEOPLE, thus rejecting their old ties to the
world and false idol worship.
4. Once these Gentiles came in
the proper way they too were included in the records of God's
people!
5. As Nehemiah went down the
roll call most went well except a small group of people who had no records
connecting them to God's family ... even some priests were missing their records
tying them to God's family, so sadly for the moment they were not allowed to
serve in positions of authority until the matter could be worked out ... but
this was not as hard sounding as it appears!
6. They were not being rejected
completely, only until God could rule on them by a High Priest who would be able
to consult God by using the URIM and THUMMIM, the vehicle God used in that day
to declare His will when all else was unclear!
7. For these it meant waiting
... but hope was still existing ... God would not reject those who heart yearned
for Him and whose faith was established in Him!
8. The point of all of this was
to make sure the people were pure ... that these really were the declared people
of God ... and that the leadership was intact from the rolls of those who were
sons of Abraham ... according to the law of Moses!
ILLUS: We cannot
expect the world to believe that the Father sent the Son, that Jesus' claims are
true, and that Christianity is true, unless the world sees some reality of
oneness of true Christians. Now
that is frightening. Should we not
feel some emotion at this point? -- Francis Schaeffer in The Church Before the Watching
World. Christianity Today, Vol. 34,
no. 1.
9. Today, we need to be sons of
the living God ... Sons and Daughters of God Himself through Jesus Christ
according to the law of Christ who gave Himself up for all those who believe in
Him! God wants a holy people and
pure people who will be able to do great things for Him as they are united in
spirit and in purpose!
a. Proper citizenship was a
crucial issue to the health and stability of Israel's life and call as God's
people ... it still is in the church today!
b. Sloppy citizenship would not
establish the holy city of God, nor will it a church body
today.
III. PROPER CELEBRATION
7:66-73
A. Provisions
7:66-72
1. Notice what breaks out once
the roll call is established to be proper and the leadership base is established
by Godly means!
a. Generosity breaks out
... by the leaders first and then by the people!
b. Where there is joy ... there is
liberality!
(1. In material
provisions.
(2. In time or availability for
service.
(3. There is no coercion for
giving in this text, generosity just happens!
2. When God's people are united
... and peace is the rule in the church there is a kind of celebration of
Christ's life that seeks to reach out and give to
others!
ILLUS: Anthony
Campolo, sociology professor at Eastern Baptist College and popular speaker,
told of his experience one year at a Women's Conference where he was making a
major address. At the point in the program when the women were being challenged
with a several thousand dollar goal for their mission projects, the chairperson
for the day turned to Dr. Campolo and asked him if he would pray for God's
blessing upon the women as they considered what they might do to achieve the
goal. To her utter surprise, Dr. Campolo came to the podium and graciously
declined her invitation. "You already have the resources necessary to complete
this mission project right here within this room," he continued. "It would be
inappropriate to ask for God's blessing, when God has already blessed you with
abundance and the means to achieve this goal. The necessary gifts are in your
hands. As soon as we take the offering and underwrite this mission project, we
will thank God for freeing us to be the generous, responsible and accountable
stewards that we are called to be as Christian disciples." When the offering was
taken, the mission challenge was oversubscribed, and Dr. Campolo led a joyous
prayer of thanksgiving for God's abundant blessings and for the faithful
stewardship of God's people. -- James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton:
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 239.
3. Show me a joyful saint and I will show you a generous
saint – or, show me a generous saint and I will show you a joyful
one!
a. Joyful saints like to give
out from themselves in service and in other ways!
b. Rarely do you have to
motivate a happy saint ... steering them is more the
issue!
c. It is kind of interesting
that here and in other places in the Bible record we have the actual giving
records of the people ... God does take notice of the many ways we give, and the
amounts!
4. This abundant joy would
supply abundant necessities and above ... the result would be the temple of God
and the needs of the people would be well taken care of ... they would ALL enjoy
the fruits of holiness and unity!
B. Partnership
7:73
1. Now they could all go to
their respected homes, not to separate, but because they were all linked
together as partners, they would share their goods, they would even share their
townspeople. Many towns sent about
1/10 of their citizens to go live in Jerusalem to help populate the city ... the
city would thus become the common link for all the cities in Israel ... they
would be linked together BY THE HOLY FELLOWSHIP OF GOD'S PEOPLE SERVING IN THE
HOLY CITY IN GOD'S PRESENCE!
2. So although many returned to
their own individual towns, because of the ones sent from each town to live in
Jerusalem kept them all linked by the SAME FELLOWSHIP of the one people of
God!
3. Finally they could SETTLE
down … harmony and peace, security and praise were the norm again ... those who
had been scattered because of their previous sins were now being brought
together to live in the land in peace again!
4. The enemy had a new respect
and fear of God's people ... the city of Jerusalem's rebuilding and the unity
the Jews had worked to create had shown the power of God and the strength of
God's people who refused to compromise or quit!
ILLUS: Back at
the turn of the century, there was a plague of locusts in the Plains of the
United States. In a matter of a few days that swarm of locusts swept over the
states of Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas. In less than a week, they did over five
hundred million dollars' worth of damage (in the currency of that
time).
Locusts don't have a king to get
them organized. They don't have a draft board to call them into ranks. By
instinct the locust knows it has to be in community with other locusts. When
that occurs, they are able to topple kingdoms. The wisdom of the locust is the
wisdom that tells us we must have community. -- Haddon Robinson, "The Wisdom of Small Creatures,"
Preaching Today, Tape No. 93.
5. God would make them as an example
again of what the community of God's people could be like ... PEACE, SECURITY,
JOYFUL CELEBRATION, FELLOWSHIP, CONTENTMENT, PRAISE ... all this became the
natural byproducts of a well ordered fellowship with clear godly leadership and
clear directions for joining.
6. The next encounter we will have
with JERUSALEM from here will be a great revival ... they were ripe for one now
that they were established properly!
CONCLUSION:
Through unity and doing
things God’s way the people of God achieved incredible purpose, and with this,
incredible power. God establishes
His people when they purpose to follow His ways and His plans
together.