8/21/2011 6:39:49 AM
SPIRITUAL DIARY
My Worship Time Focus: Enlisting leadership
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Neh. 7:1-3
Message of the verses: “1 ¶ Now when the wall was rebuilt and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed, 2 then I put Hanani my brother, and Hananiah the commander of the fortress, in charge of Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many. 3 Then I said to them, ‘Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot, and while they are standing guard, let them shut and bolt the doors. Also appoint guards from the inhabitants of Jerusalem, each at his post, and each in front of his own house.’”
Chapter seven of Nehemiah is very similar to chapter two of Ezra in that there is a long list of people who lived in or near Jerusalem and who had come to Jerusalem from being exiled in Babylon. Chapter seven is also a turning point in the book of Nehemiah in that in the first half of the book the emphasis was on the people building the walls and now it is on the walls that the people built protecting the people inside the city of Jerusalem. In some ways one can look at Ephesians 6:10-18 as similar to what we have seen in Nehemiah and will see in Nehemiah. In the Ephesians verses Paul exhorts his readers to put on the spiritual armor because they, as well as all believers, are in a spiritual war and are in need of the spiritual armor to protect them. In the first half of Nehemiah we could say it is like putting this spiritual armor as they built the walls and gates with the bars and locks, and now in the second half of Nehemiah it is like using this spiritual armor for protection and the walls and gates are used to protect the people in Jerusalem. Nehemiah goes on to assign different leaders to put into position to protect and to guard different places in Jerusalem and also watch the gates as gatekeepers and also those who would patrol the walls to watch out for the enemies. In verse thirteen of the sixth chapter of Ephesians Paul writes “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” Now that the walls and the gates and bars are in place this is what Nehemiah wants to accomplish for the people in Jerusalem.
Warren Wiersbe entitles the seventh chapter of his commentary on Nehemiah “V” Is For Vigilance,” and it is divided into three different main points. He writes at the end of his introduction to this seventh chapter “This chapter records three important steps that must be taken by any leader in order to protect the people and the work that has been done.”
I wish to make write about two things at the beginning of this commentary and that is that Nehemiah appoints his brother as one of the leaders to be involved in the protection of the city and also another man named Hananiah who will work with his brother Hanani to protect the “fortress.” The fortress was near the temple and at the North part of the city and this was the most vulnerable part of Jerusalem. The highlighted portion of Scripture gives a great reason to appoint any spiritual leader, “for he, (Hananiah), was a faithful man and feared God” and then he adds “more than many.” Dr. Wiersbe in commenting on this writes, “When leaders fear people instead of fearing God, they end up getting trapped and that leads to failure.” Proverbs 29:25 “The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted.”
I wish at this time to bring into this commentary a couple of quotes from Dr. Wiersbe writings that seem important when it comes to describing leaders. “The power of leadership appears to be declining everywhere. More and more of the men we see coming to the top seem to be merely drifting.” (Dr. Karl Jaspers) “We see the tragedy of weak men in important places—little men in big jobs” (This quoted from Dr. Ted Engstrom’s book The Making of A Christian Leader. “When little men cast long shadows, it is a sign that the sun is setting.” (Walter Savage Landor) “God is looking for faithful, God-fearing men and women, who will have the courage and conviction to serve Him, come what may.” (Warren Wiersbe) “A leader is a dealer in hope.” (Napoleon)
Here are some applications for life in the 21st century that can be taken from these verses. 2nd John 8 says the following “Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.” I would suggest that this verse should be memorized by all older believers in the Lord for obvious reasons. We have already looked at Ephesians 6:13 and this too applies here. Dr. Wiersbe writes “Every Christian ministry is one short generation away from destruction, and God’s people must be on guard.” I think of another quote but from who I do not remember and that is “The Christian life never stands still, it is either going forward or going backwards.” Let us endeavor to move forward for the glory of the Lord.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: When I think about the truth of this passage I need to remember the need for the Spiritual Armor, and also remember the need for good leadership, especially in our churches today, and in our country too. I must be shrew enough to recognize good leadership too. To two of the churches that Christ was speaking to in the book of Revelations he said, “Re 2:25 ’Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come.
Re 3:11 ’I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
My Steps of Faith for Today:
1. Hold fast to what I have been given from the Lord, and be diligent in protecting it.
2. Continue to learn to be shrewd when dealing with people.
3. Continue to learn contentment.
8/21/2011 7:52:50 AM
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