Nehemiah’s first step after having completed the rebuilding of the wall was to make a few key appointments. The first verses of chapter 7 tell us about three general categories of appointments (gatekeepers, singers and Levites) and two specific ones: his brother Hanani as the civil leader of Jerusalem (Nehemiah was governor of the province) and Hananiah as the military commander in charge of Jerusalem’s new defenses.
Nehemiah’s first step after having completed the rebuilding of the wall was to make a few key appointments. The first verses of chapter 7 tell us about three general categories of appointments (gatekeepers, singers and Levites) and two specific ones: his brother Hanani as the civil leader of Jerusalem (Nehemiah was governor of the province) and Hananiah as the military commander in charge of Jerusalem’s new defenses.
Yesterday, we said that the first thing Nehemiah did after the wall was completed was give glory to God. Second, as Nehemiah reports his achievement, he does not allow success to blind him to his continuing problems. Or, to put it another way, he does not pretend that his success was greater than it was. Many people do this. They are so pleased with their success that they will not admit any failures or imperfections. Nehemiah does admit them. In fact, chapter 6 ends with a record of letters Tobiah sent to intimidate Nehemiah (vv. 17-19).
What a thrill, to tackle something extremely difficult and to keep at it until you reach a triumphant conclusion. This is what Nehemiah did. Therefore, it remains thrilling to read his story even today.
In these first chapters we learn something important about the secret of Nehemiah’s success as a leader and man of God. This is a place to review these leadership characteristics. There are five of them.
The final form of opposition was outright intimidation. Like the others it too was subtle. Shemaiah, a man who was regarded as a prophet, sent for Nehemiah. Nehemiah tells us that Shemaiah was shut up in his house, though we do not know why. Whatever the immediate cause, the underlying reason was a carefully designed ruse to discredit Nehemiah. When Nehemiah accepted the invitation and went to see him, Shemaiah said, “Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you….”
Who is not afraid or disturbed or hurt at times? We all are. Yet it is precisely when we yield those fears to God and press on that we show leadership.
Isn’t dialogue good? Isn’t it always better to talk than to fight, to keep the lines of communication open? Isn’t refusal to talk to our opponents always unnecessarily and unreasonably belligerent? Isn’t there a time to let bygones be bygones, to bury the hatchet? What possible reason can there be for refusing to talk once the election is over or the job is done?
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