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Weekly Message | September 28th, 2008
Passage: Nehemiah 6:1-7:73
Key Verse(s): 6:3
Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) once said, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions". This is about keen observation about fact of this life. Politicians give many promises and they do not keep most of them once they are elected for offices. It is not uncommon that many of us have such unfinished projects in this life and conclude this life with sadness. This is what describes about the road to unhappiness and eventual hell. On the contrary, what would you say about the road to heaven? “The road to heaven is paved with good completions”. Our God is Alpha and Omega. Our God starts and finishes his good works.
Today’s passage is about Nehemiah, an effective leader, who completed the rebuilding the broken wall. What made this project completed was his devotion to God and his people. In the two chapters (6 and 7) of the book of Nehemiah we learn about many distractions and temptations in the final moment of this project. It shows in details how he overcame all and completed the project. Besides, he engaged in the much larger project of repopulating the deserted city of Jerusalem. He carefully documented all the people who offered their share of sacrifices. Through today’s passage let us examine our ways of completing our life projects.
First, “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down.” (1-10). Look at verse 1: “ When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates-“The rebuilding work was almost done except the doors in the gates. This was possible because of great deal of dedication of all people under dedicated leadership.
Look at verse 2: “Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were scheming to harm me”. The enemies sent Nehemiah this message: ““Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” Ono sounds like a remote town somewhere in Japan. Even with GPS system Nehemiah might not have found where it was. Anyway, it was not near from Jerusalem. There was no particular reason for this meeting, either. It was their ploy to distract Nehemiah and disrupt this work. Besides, they had a plot to destroy Nehemiah. Instantly, Nehemiah knew that it was a scheme to ham him.
Look at verse 3 and 4. Nehemiah did not ignore their request. He responded with clear and plain response. He sent messengers to them with this reply, ““I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Nehemiah expressed his dedication to the project. Four times they sent me the same message, and each time he gave them the same answer. Here is Nehemiah’s focus for his mission. His fortitude as a leader was quite firm. As an effective leader Nehemiah did not allow anyone to divert his attention and spread his energy thin for unrelated activities.
Look at verses 5 and 6. Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to Nehemiah with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter in which was written: “It is reported among the nations—and Geshem says it is true—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king 7 and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us confer together.” This time the letter contained unsubstantiated allegations. This is based on the story that Sanballat and his people made up. The key is that Sanballat was inviting Nehemiah for a meeting that is designed to deal with issues that are all based on false charges.
Look at verse 8: “I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.” Here, Nehemiah again responded clearly with no involvement of his emotion. It is quite tempting for us to become enraged at others’ repeated accusations, although they may be groundless. It is emotionally very draining.
What else did Nehemiah do? His grasp of the situation was quite accurate. He knew that they were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.” At this time, Nehemiah prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.” He came to God for help. He asked God to strengthen his hands. He was more resolved for action.
Second, “So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.” (10-19). The schemes of these enemies did not stop here. Look at verse 10:“One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, “Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you.” This time it was through a false teacher who intended to plan fear in the heart of Nehemiah. The suggested meeting is in the house of God. Again, the purpose was to distract Nehemiah and divert his focus. It was to plant fear in the heart of Nehemiah.
Look at verses 11 and 12. But Nehemiah said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” Nehemiah realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against him because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. Nehemiah was certain that this man had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me. At this time, Nehemiah might have been disillusioned about the wickedness of people—even people that bears God’s honor. At this time, Nehemiah came to God and prayed.
Look at verse 14: “Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to intimidate me.” He did not try to accuse these people on his own. He entrusted them into God’s hands. Instead, he focused on the task ahead of him.
Look at verses 15 and 16: “So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. The wall was completed in fifty-two days. 16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.” This is wonderful to complete the project as intended. Many people who worked with Nehemiah probably experienced heavenly joy. Why? Something was not merely being said, but it was done! It was completed before their own eyes.
Here, let us consider some important principles for completing projects in this life. This is about the sound habits of completion. Think for a moment about many unfinished projects in our lives. Starting any worthy projects involve good intentions. Their completion demand resolution and execution. This requires disciplined dedication in the midst of many distractions. We may not complete all the intended projects in this life. Once I read an article about how to help people get out of poverty in America. Three practical suggestions are: (1) complete any terminal degree; (2) have full-time work experience in one place at least one year; (3) stay married and learn to work as as team. These are all about the habits of completion. Start college degree, then do not drop out but complete it. Start writing projects, then do not quit but work until completion. As a Bible teacher, we engage in one to one Bible studies, then pray and study to the point of seeing some good resolutions of issues in life.
During Beijing Olympics both US men and women in the 400-meter races had resulted in stunning disappointments. Gay and Lauryn Williams were both involved in bad exchanges that knocked the U.S. team out in the preliminary round. Distraction! This is common in our lives. We all have our own disappointments. Our lives may be marked with many unfinished projects and unsolved life issues. What can we do? We all need the grace of God. By God’s help we learn to complete even one simple project and change on single habit. Today, Laurie Lewis will share her stories. Once she had many unfinished projects in her life. Soon her family moves to Columbus, OH. The difference is this. Over the years she has experienced more resolutions and completions in her life. She graduated from University of Toledo—completed her two degrees—English and Nursing. She considered marriage and married. She planned having children—she did. She has lived as a woman of prayer that started many good projects with others. Has she finished all of them? Maybe not! Has she finished many of them? Yes. We wish her well along with her family and start something more wonderful in Columbus, OH.
A few years ago one man was working on a Ph.D. in his late 40s. For many days he wanted to give up because he had no adequate time to devote on this with many other projects in his life. At that time what made him to complete was the simple habit of completion—he did not give up but keep working on until completion. The reality of God’s grace is this. With our own strengths alone we may not be able to complete anything worthwhile in this life. Yet, by the grace of God we resolve, focus and complete important our life projects. In doing so, we experience God’s grace and mercy all the more. Most of all, it was to remember God who “began a good work in us will bring it to completion until the day of Jesus Christ”(Phil 1:6).
Third, “So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families.” (6:17-7:73). In 6:17-7:73 Nehemiah recorded additional issues and tasks that were essential in relation to the completed wall project. Nehemiah did not take it easy after the completion of the project. Look at verses 17-19. This is about the pervading influences of Tobiah, one of the primary instigators against the project. Through marriages and other business dealings he had so many connections even among people who participated in this wall project. Many in Judah were under oath to him. Moreover, they kept reporting to Nehemiah his good deeds and then telling him what he said. The danger was imminent. In case of Nehemiah’s departure, the city would again be under the influence of Tobiah and many of these enemies.
At this time Nehemiah had to think about some long-term solution for the problems. The entire chapter 7 is devoted to another larger project that Nehemiah was involved. The rebuilding the broken wall was only secure with the outside boundary of the city. Now, the more challenging task was to repopulate the city and the nation with the good people that will protect the city and the nation with the values and hopes for their descendants.
This was a much larger program which required collaboration of many many people. Look at verses 1-3: “ After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed. 2 I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do. 3 I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.” Nehemiah appointed people of integrity and faith. This means that the top leaders were competent and godly people.
Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt. So to repopulate the city and the nation he invited and encouraged people to build their houses and live in the once desolate city. Look at verse 5: “So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families. I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return. This is what I found written there…” Nehemiah gathered people and encouraged them to invest their times, money and lives to rebuild the nation.
According to 7:66-73, almost 50,000 people were involved in this larger project. Much money were invested—hundreds of millions of dollars in today’s value. For this project Nehemiah expanded the scope of participation beyond the people he knew about. Tremendous capital campaign project was initiated and completed.
Look at verses 70-73. Large investment by people made the city attractive to live with necessary infrastructures. This morning I read that Bailout compromise starts to take shape in Congress. It is unclear whether this is good news for this nation. Time will tell. A nation with a broken system can be rebuilt with sound investment and involvement of people in the land. If this bailout plan mostly covers the missive level of mistakes and management by tax dollars with little accountability, it will fail. If his plan is really about strengthening US financial system and the plans (with 700 billions dollars) have clear larger goals and implementation plans, it will succeed.
This year Toledo UBF also have some important projects: one is to raise up twenty four visible student leaders for Christ and his kingdom. The second project is to engage in expansion of our facilities for our present needs and future. This will cost about half-million dollars. Both of these projects are important. This requires dedication without distraction. Our key leaders will commit and pledge these projects. Then, this facility expansion plans will include people beyond us. The level of participation will be extended. This coming Friday there will be a presentation on these projects and we will discuss, pray and gather our wisdom how to complete them.
Jesus, the Lamb of God, was dying on the cross. At the final moment of his death on the cross, Satan tempted with these words of people. “Come down from the cross and save yourself”(Mk 15:30). Jesus was not distracted. He died on the cross to the end until he said, “It is finished” (Jn 19:30). In this way Jesus completed the foundation of our eternal salvation. Because of this finished work of Christ Jesus, we now can dare to trust God who will complete his good work that he began in us. Our life is not meant to wander endlessly with no sense of direction. Our journey must be paved with stories of good completions. Our God starts and finishes his grand schemes of world salvation. Each of us takes a small part in this. May God help us to complete our life projects with God’s help and therefore engage in the larger projects together with those who love God.
September 27, 2008, Toledo UBF
Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
