Investing In People

A few years ago a friend of mine was involved in the engineering team which refurbished and rebuilt London Heathrow’s Terminal 2. Joel was an engineer in training. For his company, building Terminal 2 was very important. It was also very important to the them to develop Joel as an engineer. In the long run, it was not just about developing real estate. Developing engieneers was. Getting the tilt walls, beams, or rebar in the right place was not enough; Getting skills, character, and gifts to grow was a major aim of the construction project. Many companies have realised that it is not just about getting a job accomplished or task done. To this reason they have invested in a human resources department. To be truly successful they make investing in people a core value. For Nehemiah, building great walls and yet not having the people of Judah rebuilt would have been pointless.

Neh. 2:17   Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.

Building people

The goal of building the walls of Jerusalem was never about having a building project to boast about. The engineering feat was never principally about their reputation, (“That we way no longer suffer derision”v 17), it was about quality craftsmanship (“good work” v18). Long before they strengthened the walls of Jerusalem, God strengthened their character.

A church is not building. A very helpful definition of church is the: All believers in all times, in all places (Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem). This means the church was about people, is about people, and will always be about people. It means the worshipping community has already been founded, is built and will be built by someone who is timeless. His works will survive the test of time. God’s building project will survive the test of time. God is in the business of people building and soul-formation.

Building Character

The builder Nehemiah, was a builder of character. He recognised gifts that God’s people had, and encouraged them. He wanted them to fulfill the gifts and callings that God had set for his people. He was the model of a spiritual leader. Spiritual leadership is aimed not so much at directing people as it is at changing people. If we would be the kind of leaders we ought to be, we must make it our aim to develop persons rather than dictate plans.  “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,” (Heb. 10:24).

The only way to get the people of Judah to be successful was for Nehemiah to begin what they were unable to do. He did not dicatate plans, Nehemiah rolled up his sleaves and said, “Let us rebuild.” So it is with us, Christ Jesus is the author and perfector of our characters. He did not just dictate and thunder commands to build character from Mount Sinai, but dictated and thundered  his very love from Mount Calvary. He has set and appointed great tasks for us to do for his glory.  “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Eph. 2:10

Today Let us rebuild. Partner with God’s character forming grace and be the glorious, rebuilt ruin that he has purposed you to be.

Large Petitions

Outlandish Statements

“100 million dollars,” that is the outrageous sum that the villain Dr. Evil demands for ransom in the film Austin Powers. This demand is followed by laughs. The sum is outrageous for the 1960’s. There is no way that any world leader will answer this outrageous and large petition. At the end of chapter 1 and beginning of chapter 2 we see Nehemiah pray multiple times for success and favor. His petitions are not small ones. He is asking for the undoing of exile. He is asking for the restoration of Zion. Judah ceased to be a kingdom. The last time there was a Judahite commonwealth was 600 BC. Nehemiah’s petition is large, it is outlandish, it is brazen.

Read Nehemiah 2:1-20

After his prayer, Nehemiah declares, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.”(2:20)

There is an amazing confidence in this statement. Is Nehemiah being cheeky? Is he out of touch with reality? We probably remember moments when we have asked something of friends that was extremely cheeky. Somehow we make large petitions of friends, but sometimes forget that large petitions are something which God delights in hearing. Just as our friends, if it is within their power, love to help out whenever it is possible.

Part of the reason we don’t bring large petitions is that deep down inside we think that God is actually not able to answer. It may be something as small as, “God help me find my misplaced car keys.” But then a voice inside us says, “Don’t bother the maker of the universe with such a petty request. Surely he has better things to do.” When in fact the real reason we say this is that it is just as large a petition as asking God for a great miracle. In our heart of hearts we believe God is not able to grant this.

Brazen Petitions

There is a story of Alexander the Great being at a wedding feast of one of his generals. After the night had gone on, the general was now intoxicated from the wine and merry-making. He went up to Alexander and asked a for a very large monetary gift. It was such an outragous request that the wedding party came to a standstill. The musicians stopped playing. All the party guest stared expecting Alexander to be greatly insulted and mete out an appropriate punishment for such brazen ask.

Something unexpected happened. Alexander the Great, looking at his general, said, “This man honours me, for he has said that I am both wealthy and able to fulfill this request” By making this outrageous statement petition to God Nehemiah declares two things about God’s character: 1. God is actually powerful enough to grant it 2. God is gracious enough to grant it.

We are incapable of truly knowing what to pray or how to pray. That is why the disciples asked Jesus teach us how to pray. And Paul said we don’t know how to pray but the Spirit intercedes for us.

“Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and pow’r are such
None can ever ask too much. “
–John Newton (1725-1807)

Honesty is Freeing

One of the funnest things I love doing is planning weekend fun with my family. I love it when Sophia and Michelle are excited about the plans for the weekend. The joy of planning the family movie nights, the countryside walks, the outdoor sports, the bowling alley, the play dates, or even just the jammie day. I could keep plans and thoughts to myself, but truth be told, honesty is freeing.

Nehemiah 2:19b They jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 20 Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.”

Read Nehemiah 2:11-20

Surely that isn’t the case, you might think, when first reading this passage. Doesn’t Nehemiah hide his intentions? Doesn’t he go out in the still of the night, undetected, so that no one will know what he is up to? No! It is the exact opposite of subterfuge. Nehemiah gathers all the facts before rushing into judgement. His desire for the truth is such that he is inquisitively seeking answers. It is as though he is saying, “Are the walls truly in shambles? What do our surrounding neighbours think of us? Are they antagonistic? I must know for myself.”

He anticipates the obvious objection that a newcomer can have no idea of the task, so he briefs himself thoroughly(verse 12) and chooses his moment to show his hand (verse 16). He would have lost this if he had been exposing half-formed ideas piecemeal to every acquaintance. But never does he compromise his convictions. Never does he compromise truth. It was when Judah compromised their ideals and the truth of the Torah that they went into exile.

The Slavery of Dishonesty

When Nehemiah is confronted by three critics, there is one that painfully stands out. In the list of accusers is a man named Tobiah. The name Tobiah is Jewish in origin and is borne by a powerful family in Ammon for centuries to come. He is referred to as a servant of the emperor and as the Ammonite. This did not describe Tobiah’s ancestry, but rather, his chosen sphere in which he had gained high office(verse 19). Many commentators believe Tobiah to be Jew who assimilated and abandoned the God of Israel.

The Freedom of Honest Self-Awareness

Tobiah’s very name means God is Good. He unlike Nehemiah is not being honest. He is not honest about his relationship with God or with his people. This is the very reason why Nehemiah calls him the “servant”(verse 19) or it can sometimes be translated as “slave.” Tobiah’s refusal to be honest leads to slavery, Nehemiah’s truthfulness though painful and leading to pressures and opposition is freeing.

Today recognise that God is your Good. Be honest about that. Accept his Grace and freedom will flow from there. It is God that makes us prosper and not ourselves.

Too Much Baggage

On more than one occasion I remember doing obstacle courses when i was in the army. There were vaults. There were ropes. There were beams. Think up an obstacle and some how a cadre member had already dreamed up that creative problem for you to overcome. To get through some obstacles we had to ditch some of our gear. Nehemiah gets off his horse. He has too much baggage. All he needs for YHWH to intervene is nothing. Empty handed, he now has the ability to receive.

Nehemiah 2:12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. 13 I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass.

We are now in the second chapter of Nehemiah. He has left his job as the royal cupbearer. He has heard of the plight of his fellow jews and has entered into their situation. When he arrives in Jerusalem he discovers the derelict walls. But he is not satisfied with secondhand information about the state of affairs. In the stillness of night, he steals away to inspect the wall. There comes a point that he realizes he cannot know the actual state of the walls unless he strips down from his position of privilege. There is some information that can only be gained indexically, that is, by first hand experience.

All you need is nothing. 

In order to properly survey the ruins he must enter into the ruined condition of the walls. He must ditch all pretenses and airs of being sorted. The only way that the city’s wall can be repaired, is if he admits his inability to bring about this repair.

Quite literally, Nehemiah has to get off his high horse. All he needs for YHWH to intervene is exactly nothing. The moment he comes to God empty handed, he now has the ability to receive. He never had the ability to receive while he was clinging to his power, wisdom, money and talents.

So it is with us. Often we come to God and say, “I will take you plus a little of my goodness.” Or “I will take you and little bit of my talents.” It is only when we come and say, “I will take you and no one else,” that we enter into that amazing covenant of love with God.

Jesus is not just the nobleman who dismounts a horse to inspect a wall. He leaves Heaven to enter into his people’s plight not only to see their broken down ruins, but to become broken down and ruined on the cross that we might be whole.

Lay your baggage down.

Sadness of the Heart

Read Nehemiah 2:1-8

Have you ever stood in front of someone who you felt was really important to you? There is nothing more that you would give than to be acknowledged, to be understood. For Nehemiah, being in the presence of Artaxerxes was an honour. Few managed to be in the respected position of cupbearer or in the inner circle of advisers to the king of Persia.

What Artaxerxes thought about him was vitally important Nehemiah.  Vitally would be an understatement, what an Ancient Near Easter king thought of you was a matter of life and death. We would not be remiss to point out that the King’s favor promoted or demoted you. It granted you standing or left you with no place to stand.

Nehemiah 2:2 And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid.

Modern psychologist would call this codependency or an excessive emotional or psychological reliance on a relationship. The king needed to be needed; the servant needed his master’s approval.

The Bible clearly defines this unhealthy attitude in Nehemiah as “the fear of man.” A simple comment such as, “I see you are sad” triggers in Nehemiah such a visceral reaction that he describes himself as “very much afraid.” This approval seeking on Nehemiah had a debilitating effect on him.

Dealing with Fear and Codependency

The only solution to his paralyzing fear of man was a change of perspective. Nehemiah began to realise that the most important thing in his life was not what Artaxerxes thought of him. Neither was it the great exploits of rebuilding Jerusalem–which at this point he may or not do. Both of these options still placed either another person’s approval or his own approval at the centre of his universe.

He needed a paradigm shift. He needed something greater than himself. A powerful leader would not suffice; a noble and greater cause than himself simply would not do. The shift in perspective that Nehemiah has needed was the only subject worthy of reverence and fearful delight, “O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name.” (Neh 1:11).

Human affirmation will no longer receive the place of honour and worship that God alone deserves. Placing what God the Father thought of him above anything was simultaneously freeing and strengthening. He could now have the resolve to accomplish his task. “And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.”(v8)

There is another Hero who resolutely fixed his face to the task at hand. Jesus did not consider what others thought of Him as shameful, as long as His Father was pleased. “Therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.” (Isaiah 50:7; cf. Luke 9:53). This Hero would not just risk the disapproval of the king. He would suffer the very shame that we deserved that we would only experience grace.

Stand in the Gap

Nehemiah 1:10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”

Today I walked into a large hardware store. A friend of mine asked me to pick up a sink and construction materials up for him. As I waited for one of the clerks to retrieve all the pre-ordered goods, the floor manager asked me sign a document. “Are you happy for me to sign for him?” By signing for the sink, I now became legally responsible for it in the chain of custody. Whenever we do something for someone, we do it in their place. We are granted power of attorney.

Nehemiah is doing exactly this at the end of his prayer in chapter 1. He is pleading on behalf of the Jewish people. Not only does he intercede with God on behalf of Jerusalem, he vicariously places himself as their representative before the King of Persia, Artaxerxes. If his plea is listened to then all Judah will be listened to, if his plea fails then all of Judah fails.

He is empty-handed, but not uninvited. He knows the threats and promises of Scripture well enough to make a strong, not a tentative plea. He draws on several passages of Deuteronomy (cf. Deut. 28:64; Deut. 30:1–4;Deut. 12:5). At that point in Deuteronomy Israel had been threatened with extinction; now, it seems, Nehemiah sees the situation as hardly less perilous. Like Moses, he must stand in the breach with his intercession.

Nehemiah’s intercession wishes to accomplish two things. He hopes that the response will be immediate (v. 9 “today”). He also trusts the response will be specific (v. 9 “this man”). And Nehemiah has kept a surprise in store for us, who so far have had no inkling of his position or the identity of ‘this man’.

The most surprising thing of this unknown hero, is that we do not realize who he is until he has acted on their behalf. Nehemiah, the unknown hero, turns out to be one of the most influential courtiers in the Persian Kingdom. He will stand in the gap for his people. He does not consider his position something to be grasped, but humbles himself even to the point of losing his job as the royal cupbearer.

Herodotus speaks of the title “cupbearer.” He reports how the Persians held in high honour the holder this office. In other ancient near eastern literature one was not only the cupbearer, but the chief minister of the Assyrian king.

Nehemiah points to the Great Intercessor who not only hazards the loss of position as the Son of God, but also gives his life vicariously for us. Nehemiah loses status, Jesus loses all that we may be returned from exile. Know that today the Great Intercessor is praying for you.

Want to be Shameless?

Neh 1:3-4 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Ready Nehemiah 1:1-11

At one point or another of our lives we have felt shame. But how do we deal with shame?

Picture a room, Sartre tells us.(see his book “Being and Nothingness”) Now picture someone inside this room. On the outside there is someone else peering in—viewed or unviewed, real or imagined. This, he says, is the essence of shame. To be viewed by an unviewed viewer is dehumanizing Sartre argues. As Christians this is actually the beginning of true freedom.

One of the greatest problems we humans face is the issue of shame. When we do something wrong we feel a sense of shame. Nehemiah tells us the story of an exiled people feeling shame. The walls that covered them and made them feel secure were battered down by foreign powers. They face the national shame of feeling defenseless. Internally, they feel the personal shame that their individual actions have let God down. They have collective and individual shame.

In verses 3 and 4 we see two possible reactions to this same situation. One may feel an unhealthy shame or one can choose, much like Nehemiah, to have Godly guilt. Shame is self-centred and only sees the effects of one’s actions in relation to oneself. Guilt sees the effects one’s actions in respect to others.

This is the difference between remorse and repentance. If we are only remorseful, we only feel sorry for our actions and their effects on us. If we are repentant, we feel sorry for actions and their repercussions towards others.

Nehemiah’s prayer is one of repentance. He issues what many call the 7 A’s of Confession. He:

  1. Addresses everyone involved (All those whom he has affected)
  2. Avoids if, but, and maybe (He does not try to excuse his wrongs)
  3. Admits specifically (He admits both attitudes and actions)
  4. Acknowledges the hurt (He expresses sorrow for hurting God and others)
  5. Accepts the consequences (He will make restitution spiritually, verbally and then even physically)
  6. Alters his behavior (He will change his attitudes and actions.)
  7. Asks for forgiveness

Repentance similar to Nehemiah’s is seen in the Gospel of Matthew. We see guilt and shame masterfully contrasted. Peter and Judas both betray their master. Peter weeps seeing how his actions have harmed his best friend (Matt 26:75); Judas unrepentant, but remorseful wishes to return the silver pieces of betrayal. In Matt 27:3 the “remorse” of Judas does not have “the power to overcome the destructive operation of sin”(Yale Anchor Bible Dictionary).

We need an unviewed viewer who can do away with our shame.

Just as God covered over the shame of Israel by providing for rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, so God, in Christ, has provided the perfect sacrifice to cover our guilt and do away with our shame. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive. (1 John 1:5-10)

This week let us practice Godly repentance and turn our back on self-centred remorse.

Loyal Love and Bookends

Nehemiah 1: 5 And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,”

Bookends. We use bookends to keep our libraries tidy. Authors use bookends to give emphasis and meaning. The book of Nehemiah is one big bookend to the concept of steadfast love. We find it difficult to translate the word hesed(Neh 1:5; 9:32; 13:14,22), some translators such as the KJV have opted for “steadfast love”—a love that is constant in trial and change. Other such as The Message use the term “loyal love”—a love that is tenaciously determined to hold on and love regardless of the cost.

Nehemiah’s very name speaks to this tenacious love. Israel’s cities lie in desolation after decades of raids from Babylonians, Assyrians, and bandits. The book of Nehemiah takes place nearly a century after the destruction of Jerusalem. All the Jewish people want is some respite from their conquerors.

Nehemiah does not mean God is my comfort, or God will be my comfort. It is the qal verb meaning God has comforted. This is the story of God’s loyal love. God’s covenant love is not predicated upon Nehemiah’s performance or obedience. God’s love is a free and gracious overture to his darling people. Sending His people into exile broke His heart, but He did not leave them without remedy. Before He ever sent them into exile he promised he would send his comforter (Isaiah 40). This comforter would make them feel safe. This comforter will let them know their abandonment of God had been atoned. Their love may have been disloyal; His love is always loyal.

Before the walls of Jerusalem were ever torn down God promised his people a comforter: Isaiah 40:1-2 “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned.” 

It is to this scene that the Gospels open our eyes, “A voice crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the LORD;” Exile has ended. God has returned his people to himself. Jesus has come to them. He Himself is their comfort.

Holy Guacamole!

All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the LORD had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the LORD.

-Exodus 35:29

Read Exodus 35:4-29

My 5 year old daughter has a little interjection that is extremely hilarious. In the sweetest little mixture of British and American accent her over-excited voice will sometimes interject, “Holy Guacamole!” She often says this when she is thrilled about doing something new, something exciting or something noteworthy.

It sounds funny to our ears, but perhaps it is one of the most profound statements on the idea of “holiness” or sanctification. Normally, when you hear the word “holy” what pops into your mind? A moral action? Moral behaviour? Moral dress code? Religious worship service?

Exodus 35:29 states that men and women brought “anything for the work of the LORD.” The word anything in Hebrew actually means anything. Yes, astonishing isn’t it—anything.

All our lives have an unhealthy divide between the sacred and the secular. Holiness is not necessarily about morality. In Hebrew it simply means to be separate, distinct or set apart. Often we define holiness negatively. We see it as being set apart from the world.

The theologian and pastor Jack Groblewski puts it this way, “Holiness is being separate from all that is not God and separate unto all that is God.”

There is a positive element to holiness. This is why Exodus and Leviticus go through painstaking detail to talk about holy sandals, holy tables, holy lampstands, etc. These objects are neither moral nor immoral. The difference between a holy sandal and an unholy one is not about its nature or virtue. It is all about what it is expressly dedicated to.

To understand what holiness actually means the best way to understand this is to look at Jesus prayer for us and for himself. “And for their sake I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.” (John 17:19). Can Jesus actually make himself more holy? By no means! It actually is impossible for God to sanctify himself, for he is already holy. Most translators are stuck with conundrum what was Jesus actually trying to say. As translators they returned to root meaning of holiness. In His high priestly prayer, Jesus says, “Today I consecrate myself, I dedicate myself to the task of redeeming the world.” Jesus set himself apart, so that you could have the opportunity to set yourself towards all that is God and apart from all that is not.

Today, dedicate yourself to all that is God. “Set your heart above… for your life is hidden in Christ.” Colossians 3:2-3

The Long Nose of the Lord

Exodus 34:6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty.

Read Exodus 34:1-35

Have you ever seen someone get so upset that their very nose turned red? Their anger is quickly kindled, their temper quickly flairs. Hebrew is a vivid and descriptive language. There is a passage in Genesis describing one such event. Most translations simply say “Jacob’s anger was kindled.” (Gen 30:2) Interestingly the Hebrew simply says, “his nose became hot.”

This often quoted passage is actually a little bit less familiar when we read it in Hebrew. We literally read about the Lord, the Lord, merciful and gracious, having a long nose. God is not easily incensed. Our idea of wrath is an idea of a cranky man whose nostrils flair.

God indicates that it is actually very difficult to arouse his righteous indignation. He is slow to anger and rich in loyal love. God’s very nature in confirming his covenant with his people is a stunning blend of law and love. Despite their spiritual adultery at the foot of Mount Sinai, he can’t stop loving his bride. Moses comes down from the mountain and in a fit of rage destroys the two tablets containing the 10 commandments.

God, who is rich in love, demonstrates his forbearance. But like any jilted lover he a price has to be paid for the infidelity. This lover can either shame his bride, or suffer the outrageous shame of receiving back his unfaithful bride. God at the expense of everything gives up his very dignity to rescue the one he loves. He executes justice not against his bride, but for her and takes the shame she deserves.

On the cross we see this love in action. The God who by no means will clear the guilty, suffers the indignity of receiving back his unfaithful lover. The stunning beauty of law and love is that the God who by no means will clear the guilty will also show love for a thousand generations.

As you go about your business today, may the Long Nose of the Lord put a smile on your face as you realize how deeply loved you are.