God's Construction Site

“Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate.”  Nehemiah 3:1   

Sometimes it’s just time to get to work, and the flurry of activity at Jerusalem’s wall finds several things worth noting.  To start with, the spiritual leaders stepped up first.  “Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate”(Neh 3:1).   I vividly remember when the staff at my college church pledged a double tithe toward the new sanctuary, when the man I didn’t recognize scraping sodden ceiling tiles off school desks after a storm turned out to be the new Methodist preacher, when the guy I saw down aisle three at the grocery wearing jeans and a sweaty t-shirt was my senior pastor grabbing lunch during a home ministry remodel, and when the wizard with the chainsaw during the hurricane relief was an out-of state pastor and friend who had come down quickly and brought a crew.  When God’s leaders are willing to get a little dirty—emotionally, physically, and financially—God’s people are much more willing to follow.  Thank you, guys.

But the spiritual leaders weren’t the only ones stepping up and stacking stones, the social leaders worked as well. Three men who ruled different local districts and five who ruled half-districts rebuilt and repaired parts of the wall. Those in positions of authority didn’t just stand around giving instructions; they got involved heartily and heavily.  The rotten apples in the bunch were the leaders from Tekoa.  “The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work”(Neh 3:5).  In short, they thought they were too good for God’s work, and though those haughty nobles would not appreciate such phrasing about their lack of participation, the picture of Jesus folding a filthy towel after washing His disciples’ feet leaves no other option.

It’s important to point out that none of the laborers working on Jerusalem’s wall were trained construction workers or professional contractors.  On the contrary, their occupations were anything but.  They were priests, Levites, perfume makers, merchants, goldsmiths, guards, and mayors—all led by a wine taster.  And since a project of such magnitude demanded all hands on deck, even those normally not allowed got involved.  “Shallum, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters”(Neh 3:12).  You go, girls!! 

The great thing about God’s work is that though it’s often dirty, it’s usually not too difficult.  We must simply be willing to bend down, reach into the rubble, pick up a rock—or a life, knock off the dirt, and set it back in place.  Yes, knuckles will get scraped, nails will break, and grime will be ground into your skin and your soul, but little is more lovely on heaven or earth than God’s people of various sizes, shapes, talents, treasures, and training coming together around God’s work for God’s glory.  “In Christ the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.  And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit”(Eph 2:21-22).

God’s work awaits. 

Get busy building!