Nehemiah – Cupbearer To Builder

by HICKLING, S. | Category: Builders For God | Mar 2008

Cupbearer to the king ... builder for God

As cupbearer to the king of Babylon, Nehemiah enjoyed a position of unparalleled influence in the king's affairs. His authority in the Persian court would have been second only to that of the king. But the scriptural narrative leaves us in no doubt that Nehemiah’s accomplishments as a builder for God far outweighed the honour of his secular post in God's estimation.

After more than 140 years of lying in ruin, approximately two miles of wall, together with ten gateways, their doors, bolts and bars, and several towers were reinstated in just 52 days! The figures speak for themselves: Nehemiah's work of re-constructing the ruined wall of the city of Jerusalem was truly remarkable and distinguished him as an outstanding builder for God.

Yet Nehemiah differs from some of the other builders we have been considering. So far in this series, we have looked at those men who were directly responsible for the building and rebuilding of the house of God and the objects found within it. Unlike them, Nehemiah didn't have a hand in the construction of God's house itself, but his building work directly supported the preservation of God's dwelling place and was essential to the continuing service of God's covenant people in the place which God had chosen for His name.

The purpose of the wall

What, then, was the significance of the wall? Scripture would seem to teach us that the wall, its gates and towers had a dual purpose. The first and most obvious benefit of the wall was that it would protect the city and the house of God against threat of attack. It enabled God's people to go about the service of God without fear of their enemies, the towers making it possible for watchmen to warn of any hostile presence. In short, the wall shut out Jerusalem's enemies.

In happier days long before the invasion by Babylon, good King Asa recognised that it was God who had given the people rest from their enemies such that they might build and fortify their cities with walls (2 Chron. 14:7). As with any building for God, however, success follows only when God Himself is in the work.

‘Unless the LORD builds the house,

they labour in vain who build it;

Unless the LORD guards the city,

the watchman keeps awake in vain’. (Ps. 127:1)

It's in recognition of this truth that the building of Zion and its walls was demanded of God and attributed to Him by great builders of the Old Testament (Ps. 51:18).

There was a second aspect of the wall's purpose. It created a clear physical boundary around certain things which were of great importance to God: His house, the priests serving in it and the people coming up to worship at it. The wall shut in these objects of God's affection and the gates allowed for control to be exercised over access to God's dwelling place and participation in divine service. With the wall in place, there would clearly be an 'inside' and an 'outside' in the divine service of the God of Israel.

What went on inside the wall was to be, first and foremost, for God's enjoyment and pleasure. The word translated 'wall' literally means 'joining' and inside that wall, separated from the other peoples of the earth, the people that God had joined together and to Himself would be permitted to worship Him as He commanded. To those outside, the wall represented God's protection for Himself of what belonged to Him.

Such protection was in order that God might receive for Himself the very best of His people's service for as long as they were obedient to His covenant. If the people's loyalty was divided, such that their separation to God failed, God would cause that wall to be thrown down, just as easily as He had built it (Is. 5:5). Nehemiah's singleness of eye, in his devotion to God and his love for the place of God's name, marked him out from the people of his day. The city sprawled without walls, indicative of a people who had no vision of their God, who had cast off the restraint of God's covenant, whose spirits were out of control (Prov. 25:28; 29:18).

As far as we can tell, Jerusalem's walls had lain in ruin since Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard of King Nebuchadnezzar, had thrown them to the ground in 586 BC (2 Kin. 25:10). This is particularly surprising given that, at the time of Nehemiah's arrival in Jerusalem, the temple had been rebuilt for some 70 years. Finally, in Nehemiah, there came a man who realised the importance of separation in collective service for God. The Jews of Nehemiah's day had no sense of identity as God's own people and no security against attack from their enemies. If the rebuilt house of God was to be preserved and fruitful service there re-established, the wall had to be restored!

Is a wall required today?

Today, God has a spiritual house on the earth, but His demands for the people connected with the service of that house are unchanged. They are to separate themselves to Him, if they are to enjoy the privileges of His house (2 Cor. 6:17). The need for God's holy nation to maintain the 'wall', the visible expression of their separation to Him, is only heightened by the large distances that divide this people physically.

Nehemiah's words to the Arab, the Horonite and the Ammonite, who mocked the builders, were clear: ‘The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, right, or memorial in Jerusalem.’ (Neh. 2:20)

The enemies of God were in the midst of His people and they had no right to be there! The things connected with God's house are to be touched only by that holy nation for whom God has prepared them.

The mark of an outstanding builder

Nehemiah was an exceptional builder for God, whose efforts undoubtedly secured the safe access of God's people to His house for years to come. What can we learn from this outstanding builder?

Direction of heart. First and foremost Nehemiah loved his God and that produced in him a desire for God's dwelling place (Neh. 1:2). Though he had probably never seen it before, Nehemiah's heart was towards the city of God. That direction of heart meant that he was willing to leave a position of wealth, power, and influence to share the reproach of his people.

Desire of God. The desire to build did not come from Nehemiah, but from God (Neh. 2:12) and Nehemiah waited patiently for God's timing in the matter. Even on arriving in Jerusalem, Nehemiah ensured that human ideas and opinions would have no place in planning to build for God; his survey of the wall was carried out in secret! Nehemiah had come to carry out what God had shown him to do and he assured others of God's part in it (Neh. 6:16).

Planning with prayer. The records of Nehemiah's prayers account for over a tenth of the book named after him and reveal a man who was serious about prayer. For about four months he knelt before God in persistent prayer before approaching the king with his request for leave to go to Jerusalem. Even as he was before the king, he spoke to God (Neh. 2:4).

Believing the impossible. God's people were small, but Nehemiah knew that the God, who had once blessed that people above all the peoples of the earth, was still great! He asked great things of God and attempted great things in reliance on Him (Neh. 2:20). Having counted the cost, he knew that His God had sufficient resource to finish the work (Luke 14:28).

Not deterred by opposition. An earlier attempt to rebuild the walls in about 458 BC had failed due to opposition (Ezra 4:12,23). Nehemiah certainly had his enemies, but he would not engage them in argument and was not discouraged by them. Nehemiah's response was always to re-focus the people on their God (Neh. 4:14), considering the opponents to be enemies, not of him, but of God.

Correcting wrongs between brethren. The issues that threatened to derail the building came from within as well as from without. Nehemiah did not compromise himself, but dealt justly, setting an example by his own unselfish provision for the people of God (Neh. 5:10,14).

Prepared to lead by example. Finally, Nehemiah was not aloof, but identified himself with the other builders; having surveyed the job for them, he courageously engaged in the work even when his personal safety was under threat.

Bible quotations from NASU unless otherwise stated.

For further study:

1. What evidence is there to suggest that the New Testament churches of God had a clearly defined boundary?

2. Nehemiah used his exceptional 'building' skills to lead the people in a way that enabled them to worship God as He required. What examples do you see in the New Testament of ways in which we can lead others to a point where God is able to receive the worship that is due to Him?

HICKLING, S. | Mar 2008
Builders For God