Nehemiah 9, 9/7/2002
- Nehemiah was key to the re-building and restoration of temple worship in Jerusalem. As we read the books, we can realize that Nehemiah was not perfect. Just like us, He had his flaws. (Sometimes we have a vain imagination concerning men of God, imagining that they are perfect and capable of doing everything. Because of this vain imagination, we try to become like that or try to portray that to those we consider spiritual – and we know that the end result is always disappointment and disillusion. Instead, the Bible shows us that men of God are always ordinary men – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, … that God used to manifest His glory. They are not “great” men by themselves, pardon me to say this, but, that the God whom they trust is so “great” that ordinary, weak vessels have become “great” in His hand!)
- Nehemiah said that he was engaged in a “great” work. Now, how does one define this? To the Tobiah’s, Sanballat’s and Geshem’s of the world, what they did was totally insignificant. “It was just a heap of rubble,” they ridiculed. “If even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!” they insulted. Hence, to appreciate “greatness” requires the right perspective. Just consider. If Nehemiah and the remnant did not return to Jerusalem, the Messianic prophesy of Jesus being born in Bethlehem would not be fulfilled and we would not be here today. Therefore, their work was great because what they did contributed positively to what God was after. What they did, set in motion a massive chain reaction that will go on down the history for the glory of God and salvation of many.
- Hence, we should never be deceived by outward splendor. What is despised by men may be great in God’s eyes, and what is highly esteemed by men may not carry any weight before God.
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