Hope That Brings Bright Changes Nehemiah 3:1-32

2 Sense of Time and Despair 2 ✦ Three waves of exiles returned to Jerusalem. ✦ First wave: Zerubbabel in 536 BC (Ezra 1-6) ✦ Second wave: Ezra in 455 BC (Ezra 7- 10) ✦ Third wave: Nehemiah in 445 BC (Nehemiah 1-3) Temple rebuilt 516 BC Wall rebuilt 445 BC In 52 days! 70 years

Nehemi ah’s Prayers Ch.1 Nehemi ah’s obedien ce Ch. 2a Nehemi ah’s challeng e Ch. 2b Wall is rebuilt Ch. 3

“Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem that we may no longer be a reproach.” (Nehemiah 2:17). “And I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me, and also about the king’s words which he had spoken to me.” (Nehemiah 2:18). “Then they said, “Let us arise and build.” So they put their hands to the good work.” (Nehemiah 2:18). Vision Testimony Response

5 Vulnerable. Gates are a city’s most vulnerable places. This is where the enemy seeks entrance. They must be repaired. Exciting. Focus on the gates generates the greatest excitement. This is where people gathered. Strategic. The gates are strategic. Nehemiah 3 mentions 10 gates needing repair. 5 The Gates

66 The Map Added by Solomon? 1 Kings 3:1

The Sheep Gate (Neh. 3:1-3) ✦ Eliashib the high priest ✦ No mention of Nehemiah ✦ No room now for specialization ✦ E.g. Start of a church “Then Eliashib the high priest arose with his brothers the priests and built the Sheep Gate; they consecrated it and hung its doors. They consecrated the wall to the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel. And next to him the men of Jericho built, and next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built” (3:1-2). Difficult starts

“3 Now the sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate; they laid its beams and hung its doors with its bolts and bars. 4 And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz made repairs. And next to him Meshullam the son of Berechiah the son of Meshezabel made repairs. And next to him Zadok the son of Baana also made repairs. 5 Moreover, next to him the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not support the work of their masters” (Nehemiah 3:3- 5). The Fish Gate (3:3-5) ✦ Sons of Hashanah built Fish Gate ✦ Others made repairs on wall ✦ Motivated by others ✦ Be careful not to make your labor dependent on the rich God dependent

“6 And Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the Old Gate;... 7 Next to them Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, also made repairs for the official seat of the governor of the province beyond the River. 8 Next to him Uzziel the son of Harhaiah of the goldsmiths made repairs. And next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. 9 And next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, the official of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs.” The Old Gate (3:6-12) ✦ Joiada repaired the Old Gate ✦ “Made repairs for...” ✦ Goldsmiths ✦ Perfumers ✦ All the way to Broad wall Joint spirit

“Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They built it and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars, and a thousand cubits of the wall to the Refuse Gate” (Nehemiah 3:13). The Valley Gate (3:13) ✦ Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate ✦ 1500 feet (1000 cubits) ✦ All the way to Refuse Gate Extreme dedication

“And Malchijah the son of Rechab, the official of the district of Beth- haccherem repaired the Refuse Gate. He built it and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars” (Nehemiah 3:14). The Refuse Gate (Nehemiah 3:14) ✦ Malchijah the son of Rechab, the official of the district of Beth-haccherem repaired the Refuse Gate ✦ Aren’t you glad someone volunteered for the ‘dung’ gate? ✦ Would you participate where there is a need? Great commitment

“Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, the official of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate * After him Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz repaired another section, from the doorway of Eliashib’s house even as far as the end of his house. 22* And after him the priests, the men of the valley, carried out repairs. The Fountain Gate (3:15-25) ✦ Shallum repaired the Fountain Gate ✦ This was the worst part of the wall. (Neh. 2:14) ✦ What if your part is more difficult? Complain? ✦ Someone else does Eliashib’s part for him. (See 3:1) Wonderful example

“And the temple servants living in Ophel made repairs as far as the front of the Water Gate toward the east and the projecting tower. After him the Tekoites repaired another section in front of the great projecting tower and as far as the wall of Ophel” (Nehemiah 3:26-27). The Water Gate (3:26-27) ✦ Temple servants repaired the Water Gate ✦ The Tekotites repaired another section (3:3-5) ✦ “Is there anything else I can do?” Double effort

“Above the Horse Gate the priests carried out repairs, each in front of his house. After them Zadok the son of Immer carried out repairs in front of his house. And after him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, carried out repairs. After him Malchijah one of the goldsmiths, carried out repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and of the merchants, in front of the Inspection Gate.” The Horse, East, Inspection Gates (3:28-32) ✦ Last 3 out of 10 gates ✦ Each builds in front of his own ✦ God’s appointed work for us in life ✦ Completes the full wall surrounding Jerusalem Great appreciation

Points to Ponder ✤W✤What didn’t move God’s people for decades I suddenly done in 52 days. How? ✤T✤The qualities of a good leader: clarify purpose, bring prayer, bold obedience, challenge and hope. ✤T✤The wall is a picture of that which protects and sets us off as God’s people. What rebuilding do we need? ✤E✤Each of us is responsible for our work. No part of wall is unimportant. Sometimes this will require extra effort and sacrifice. Always focus.

What is your part in building God’s kingdom? ✤F✤Foolish: Think one does not have a part ✤S✤Simpleton. Does not care about one’s part ✤K✤Knowledgeable: Learns what one’s part is ✤W✤Wise: Shapes life to diligently carry out one’s part ✤C✤Committed: Gets it done no matter what it requires ✤H✤Humble: Recognizes that we need to work with others to get God’s work done His way

Hope That Brings Bright Changes Nehemiah 3:1-32