Background To Nehemiah Chapter 3

The book of Nehemiah is a book of restoration, a record of the rebuilding of the walls and gates of natural Jerusalem. But it is also a picture of the work God is doing in the restoration of His Church - the spiritual City of God (Hebrews 11:10; 12:22). The edict for the rebuilding of Jerusalem was issued by Artaxerxes in 445 BC (Nehemiah 1:1-4; 2:5). The Temple had been rebuilt, but the walls of the city itself lay in ruin (Nehemiah 2:17).

The city of Jerusalem had ten gates, each with a significance in the daily life and historical experience of natural Jerusalem. Each gate has a spiritual counterpart, for they are a "shadow" of the reality that was to come (Hebrews 8:5; 10:1; read also Revelation 21:10-13). Each gate in the New Jerusalem is a single pearl (Revelation 21:21). Jesus is the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:45-46) and the only entrance into the City (John 10:9; 14:6). Each gate therefore depicts aspects of the finished work of the Cross of Christ, outworked in our experience.

Nehemiah led the third group of exiles back to Jerusalem after the 70 years of captivity in Babylon.

- First group led by Zerubbabel restored the TEMPLE. This speaks spiritually of renewed congregational worship.

- Second group led by Ezra restored the LAW. This speaks of renewed preaching and teaching of God's Word.

- Third group led by Nehemiah restored the WALLS & GATES. This speaks spiritually of renewed Christian lives. 

We may be active in attending a Church congregation and hearing the anointed Word of God in teaching and preaching, but we also need a personal restoration.

There are a few more important points that can come out of a chapter like this, which should be stated. We will particularly look at the gates and their spiritual meaning, but there are other points from the lives of the workers that we can learn from. 

Team Effort

Reading through Nehemiah one of the first things that we see is that the whole process was a team effort. If the walls and gates were going to be rebuilt then everyone would have to play their part. Now this is but a picture of how the church is meant to operate. No, the pastor is not meant to be a one man band that does everything while the others rest and sit in their padded pews. We all have different giftings but it is for the edification of all.

'And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.'

Ephesians  4:11-13 

You will notice that the giftings that people have are for the equipping of the saints in their works of service. This is what we learn from Nehemiah. Some may have been gifted in particular areas and they were to work in those areas, but all helped in whatever way they could. 

Everyone had something to offer

'And next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.'

Maybe you are unsure of your gifting and what God is calling you to do with your life. Maybe you don't think you have anything to offer. If that is you then remember Hananiah! You see, he was a perfumer by trade and yet he was still willing to get in there, get his hands dirty and help do his part by repairing part of the wall. Now if a perfumer can build a wall then you also can help in someway in the building of the church!

Rebuilding often began at home

'Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house… After them Benjamin and Hasshub carried out repairs in front of their house… After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah carried out repairs in front of his own quarters.'

Nehemiah 3:10,23,30

One of the things which that the chapter reveals is that often the workers began rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem outside their own home first. They did think of others and knew that collectively they would contribute to the wall as a whole; yet individually they still wanted to make sure their own home had a solid wall of protection surrounding it. 

The principle for us is to make sure we have taken care of our lives at home first before we are used to help others. We have to make sure that we are not different people in and outside of church, nor are we any different when we are at home alone when no-one can see us. 

One of the things that Jesus hated the most was the play-acting of the Pharisees. They liked to be seen as 'spiritual' among the people while in reality they were actually white washed tombs Jesus said. Let us all mimic Nehemiah's men and make sure that our home life is taken care of first before any ministering or service to others is under taken. 

The work was voluntary

Yep! No one got paid or were even coerced into rebuilding the walls. They all volunteered knowing that the glory of God's name was at stake. And what's more they didn't expect to be rewarded for their work! I heard Charles Swindol speak on the radio recently and he mentioned that 'one of the biggest areas of discouragement comes when Christians think that they get their rewards in this life.' I would have to agree with that. We should check our motives in the work that we do to ensure we are not doing it to receive temporal rewards here and now. We should all live with eternity in view. This brings me to the last but very encouraging point.

God is a recorder of names

What else can we get when we read a chapter such as this? Well, we can be encouraged that God takes the time to record names. He's a recorder! The Bible doesn't just say 'and lots of people made repairs to the wall.' No, it specifically names each person that made repairs and that has been recorded for all of eternity! I love the verse in Malachi that says

'Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name. "And they will be Mine," says the Lord of hosts, "on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him." Mal 3:16,17

Our lives and actions are recorded by the Lord for our rewards in the life to come. Nothing is done for the Lord in vain on this earth, even if no one else sees it. So don't lose heart in your work for the Lord knowing that 'God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.'

Now you can find out more about the significance of Nehemiah.