Articles
Fightings without and within
Fightings without and within
The building of the walls of Jerusalem was “a great work” and required the united will of the people. Such is was under constant attack. We have read of Sanballet outward attack of mocking, threatening, legal action, slander, intimidation, fear, and physical attack.
But what appears to me to be a more insidious hindrance to the work is the inner strife and division. In every society, there are those who ‘rise to the top’ of the economic structure, and consequently those who are at the bottom. Covetousness and greed for personal profit overcame any sense of unity, brotherhood, and dedication to finishing their work. While the people had a mind to work on the wall, yet they had to live. Many, trying to eek out a living, ended up having to borrow to survive. Such even involved indentured servitude. Nehemiah immediately dealt with this. 1) Reminded them they were ‘countrymen’ or brothers’ (vs. 8). 2) He told them what they were doing ‘is not good’ (vs. 9). 3) He appealed to the more noble moral obligation “ ought you not” (v. 9). 4) He laid before them the correct action that should be taken (vs. 11). 5) He puts them under oath before God to fulfill such reformation of practice and character (12-13).
Now in chapter 6, after yet more outward pressure, we again encounter the inner struggle with unity. We are introduced to Tobiah. Derek Kidner remarked: “This evil, like the other, found its foothold in the more prosperous levels of society, this time through the love of power and status rather than primarily through love of money. Tobiah was a more insidious influence in this respect than Sanballat, since he was probably a fellow-Jew, in addition to being (as his own and his son’s names indicate) a nominal adherent of Yahweh.” We will see Tobiah again in chapter 13 where we are informed that he was related to the high priest through marriage and that he exploited such for personal ease and gain.
Thus we see that the love of money and the love or position and power are seemingly ever present among people, even God’s people. As God’s people, we are to ever be aware of the danger of materialism, worldliness, and the love of money. [see Matt. 6:19-24; Col. 3:1; 1 Cor. 6:10. Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:3-5]. This is especially true of those who would arise to lead and guide God’s people. Elders are to be ‘free from the love of money’ (1Tim. 3:3).
The kindred spirit of seeking power and prestige is also warned against. Elders are to not be ‘self-willed’ (Titus 1:7) nor to ‘lord it over the people’ (1Pet. 5:3). People like Diotrephes, who loved the pre-eminence among the people, were to be excluded from the group (3John). Jesus set the example and instructed those who would follow that the greatest among us are to serve one another.
We are involved in a greater work than Nehemiah. Such work is greater than any one of us and requires a unity of our spirit and will. We are to LABOR to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:1-3). We are to consider each other of more importance than self (Phil. 2:3). “So, they built the wall” – and so, we build up the kingdom of God.
Hugh DeLong
