Nehemiah

Narrator: Chris Genthree
 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 9
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Temperament
In comparing the individuals—Ezra and Nehemiah—we find them to be quite different in temperament. Ezra seems more subdued; he was the ready scribe and the priest of God. Ezra was sent to Jerusalem to restore things ecclesiastically. He was to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of God and to teach those that did not know it (Ezra 7:14,2514Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand; (Ezra 7:14)
25And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not. (Ezra 7:25)). For this work, he was perfectly fitted. Nehemiah, on the other hand, was a man of action and, it would appear, a natural leader. His position in the court of the king may well have had some bearing on this. Often God uses seemingly insignificant circumstances in our lives to prepare us for greater things. In contrast with Ezra, Nehemiah’s return to Jerusalem was connected with the restoration of the civil state of things. One should be careful in elevating the one over the other; each walked according to the measure of faith that they had received. Why was it necessary for God to send Nehemiah to Jerusalem when Ezra was already there? Had Ezra failed? No, each had a role that the other could not fulfill.
Different Roles
We should avoid ranking our brethren and, worse still, exalting ourselves. “We dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Cor. 10:1212For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. (2 Corinthians 10:12)).
It is human nature to delve into things that we have not seen and to promote one’s sense of spirituality and superiority, but let us be clear, this is not of God. “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding the Head” (Col. 2:18-1918Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. (Colossians 2:18‑19)). It was this very thing that led to the Gnostic errors that the Apostle John had to counter through his epistles late in his life. This is not to say that all believers are spiritually minded or that all exhibit the same degree of maturity. We see this clearly in the books we are presently considering. Those who made the sacrifice to leave Babylon and return to the land were exercised to do so. Some, however, seemed to be satisfied with merely being there—they were at God’s center, were they not? Others, however, were willing to put their necks to the work, and of some we read, “They were counted faithful” (Neh. 13:1313And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren. (Nehemiah 13:13)). Sad to say, there were also those for whom this place of privilege meant very little, and their behavior only served to undermine that feeble testimony that God in His grace had permitted.
In the New Testament, James, Cephas and John were conspicuous as being pillars in the assembly (Gal. 2:99And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. (Galatians 2:9)). For one, however, to take a superior view of their position among their brethren and to lord it over God’s heritage is condemned by the Apostle Peter (1 Peter 5:33Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:3)). The Lord did not ask Peter to condescend to feed His sheep, but rather it was to flow from Peter’s affection for Christ. Anything that exalts man, whether it is myself or another, detracts from Christ. “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:3030He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30)).
N. Simon