In building the wall Nehemiah and his people had to dig down through much rubbish to get to the old foundation on which they built. And in like manner much rubbish has accumulated in the church down through the ages — ecclesiastical forms, etc. But the Spirit of God would ever lead us back to that simplicity of worship, order and service which marked the early Church in the beginning — to that order of things which has been laid down for our guidance today in the Word of God.
The wall, as elsewhere in Scripture, speaks not only of protection, but of separation. Thus the child of God, bought with the precious blood of Christ, is called to a holy walk with Him within, in separation from all evil and worldly associations without. And it is this that gives both happiness and moral power.
But this arouses the opposition of the enemy. Sanballat and Tobiah now have a third associated with them, Geshem, the Arabian, and the weapon they use in seeking to hinder the building is ridicule. “They laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? Will ye rebel against the king?” To the men of this world, for that poor little remnant to attempt to restore the wall, did look like a foolish thing. How many have given up the path of faithfulness to Christ because of scorn and reproach. But not so with Nehemiah. He had been much before the Lord about this matter and he gives them this decided answer: “The God of heaven, He will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.” To be in the path of obedience gives courage to withstand the enemy. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you,” we read in James 4:77Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7) Again, “If God be for us, who can be against us.”
In chapter 3 we have the different ones that took part in the rebuilding of the wall, where, and sometimes how, they labored. Some were from other cities; they came from all walks of life. Those of high degree mingled with those of a lower station in life. Women as well as men were engaged in the work, which would ordinarily have been too strenuous for some of those engaged. But where there is a work of the Spirit of God, class distinctions largely disappear and the necessary strength is given for the task that is at the moment engaging the attention of the Lord’s people for His glory.
It is an encouragement to know that the Lord has a work for each of His own. We may feel our weakness and lack of ability, yet the Spirit of God fits each for his or her particular service, and that work can be done best by the one to whom the Lord gives it.
First mentioned are Eliashib the high priest and his brethren. They built the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it. Doubtless the sheep gate was that through which the sheep entered, and this makes us think of the words of the Lord Jesus: “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture... I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.” The Good Shepherd calls His own sheep by name and when brought into His own company they have perfect security, liberty, and sustenance. (John 10.)
ML 06/28/1959