Wise Master Builder #11 | And Build Her Broken Frame

Introduction 

We now come to the third wave of restoration which God brought about following the Babylonian exile. This is the last bit of historical narrative that we have in the OT. It is quite striking then to consider what the OT history concludes with: the rebuilding of a city.

https://youtu.be/2KA-ZAO88Dg

The Text

The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. 
Nehemiah 1:1ff

Summary of the Text

Between the tribunal which ended the book of Ezra, and the introduction of Nehemiah, the great events of Esther took place (~509BC). Haman had schemed to destroy the Jews, and in light of the sin which the book of Ezra closed with, it would sure seem like the Jews deserved it. Nevertheless, God showed abundant mercy to His people through the remarkable courage of Esther, and providentially bringing the evil which Haman had plotted for the Jews upon his own head (Pro. 26:27). God graciously preserved His people, and now we come to a new trouble. Zerubbabel rebuilt the temple, Ezra reformed the people, and now Nehemiah is raised up to rebuild the city (503BC).

Nehemiah, dwelling in the palace of Shushan as the king’s cupbearer (v11b), heard from his brother Hanani of the situation which the Jews in Jerusalem were in (vv1-2). The people of God are face with clear and present danger; particularly because Jerusalem has no walls, and the city gates are cinders (vv2-3). Before anything, Nehemiah prays (vv4-11). And what a prayer it is.

Nehemiah’s Prayer

The foundation of this prayer, and all true prayer, is in the character and covenant of God (v5). In light of God’s holiness, man is compelled to confess his sinfulness (v6). The God who knows all, invites His people to remind Him of His covenant vow to reward the righteous and avenge the wicked, to scatter the proud and gather the humble into His heavenly city (vv6-9, Cf. Deu. 30:1-7). 

It is only then that Nehemiah makes his great request of the Lord. He sets himself and the people before God as servants. They are willing and ready to serve Him (v10). He asks God to hear and answer his request. His request was prosperity in his mission. The mission Nehemiah had in mind was to come before the King (הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה), and make request for that which would be necessary to rebuild the ruined walls of the city of peace (v11).

A few practical things regarding prayer are worth pointing out here. Notice that the efficacy of the prayer is not in its length. This prayer only took a few moments to prayer. In fact, we would do well to remember the Preacher’s admonition in Ecclesiastes 5:2, “Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.” Keep your prayers simple, sincere, and scheduled. In other words, they don’t need to be elaborate or impressive as feats of endurance or rhetorical prowess. Keep them sincere, which is just another way of saying pray in faith. And then, make sure you have set aside time for prayer throughout your day, while remembering to pray continually.

Help and Comfort

To rebuild Christendom will require a deep and profound work of the Spirit. It is not policy, although that has its place; it is not in wealth acquisition, although that also has its place; nor is it in a return to traditional family values, although that will be a fruit of the Spirit’s work. Every time there is a construction project in the Bible, we find the Spirit at work. Creation, tabernacle, temple, here in Ezra/Nehemiah, and eventually at Pentecost. When things are formless and void, when a host is wandering in the wilderness, when the city lies in rubble, the Spirit doesn’t say, “You got yourself into this mess, get yourself out.” Rather, these great construction projects are inspired by and aided by the mighty working of God’s Spirit within His people. 

Ezra’s name meant help, and Nehemiah’s name means Jehovah comforts. This is shorthand for the Spirit’s ministry to men. Parakletos means the Helper and the Comforter (Jn. 14:16, 15:26). He helps us and He comforts us. He helps us in our temptations and trials. He helps us in the work’s of piety which He’s commanded us to do. He comforts us in the knowledge that in confessing our sins we are assured of the Father’s forgiveness. He comforts us in our afflictions for we know that He is working all things together for our good and His glory. Principally, the Spirit brings us low to see our utter inadequacy. This is why all great works of cultural reformation are preceded by the Spirit moving upon the godly to humble themselves in diligent prayer of confession, covenant certainty, and courageous request.

When the Spirit is at work, He sets His people to work. That work is begun in prayer, and it is to be carried through by this sort of prayer that we see in Nehemiah. First of all, the Spirit convicts us of our sin. Secondly, He assures us of the covenant promises, and thus builds up our faith. Third, He inspires us to pray big prayers.

How to Do Great Things

Upon hearing the sad condition of the saints and city of Jerusalem, Nehemiah determined to do something. But God is not pleased by great efforts devoid of faith. God is pleased by faith. In Nehemiah we see this properly ordered: faith then works. Trust in God’s character and covenant, the follow it up with diligent courage. Would you undertake great things for God? Then it must be undertaken by faith working through love. Faith in God’s covenant promises, which results in loving service to that end. We are to pray big prayers, in accordance with God’s will. While prayer is the beginning of the work, it isn’t like a student receiving an “excused absence” slip from his teacher in order to avoid the work. CS Lewis pointed this feature of prayer out this way, “‘Thy will be done.’ But a great deal of it is to be done by God’s creatures; including me. The petition, then, is not merely that I may patiently suffer God’s will but also that I may vigorously do it. I must be an agent as well as a patient. I am asking that I may be enabled to do it. In the long run I am asking to be given ‘the same mind which was also in Christ.’” Notice that Nehemiah doesn’t simply pray for the problem, he looks at his situation, and his position as the king’s cupbearer, and recognizes that the answer to his prayer will require sacrificial and faith-filled obedience on his part: for I was the king’s cupbearer.

Look at the ruined walls of our nation and culture. Survey the charred gates of the modern church. Consider the rubble of your own heart or home. Don’t hide it. Don’t excuse it. But then, look at it all in faith. What is God doing here? God is taking a people and turning them not just into a house, but into a city. A city of peace. That city, whose builder and maker was God, is what Abraham saw. That city, though with ruined walls and charred gates, is what Nehemiah also saw. By faith, God’s people look at these earthly circumstances and we see Jerusalem, the city of peace. That peace is found because God first set His name of Love upon you, as His elect people (Neh. 1:9). These are the walls of salvation. By this electing love, His people are humbled to confess their sin and seek His face. But this faith––born of the Spirit and because of the Spirit–– makes ready to undertake a construction project. Look at the rubble and discern what God is up to: He is building a city.

As that wonderful hymn puts it:
Deep on the palms of both My hands
I have engraved her name.
My hands shall raise her ruined walls.
And build her broken frame.

Charge and Benediction

Think of a stained-glass window. There are pieces of glass stained quite dark. If your focus is on the dark pieces, you will give way to despair. But God doesn’t want you to look at your circumstances in despair and disappointment. He wants you to look at them, and see through them the big picture: God is building a city. This means look at all your circumstances in faith, pray over them, and then by the Spirit, get to work.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
Jude 1:24-25.