I’ve been struck by the correlation of the Old Testament events surrounding the life of Nehemiah and our situation in New Orleans. The fact that Southern Baptists chose this volume as the Winter Bible Study Book for this season–and made that decision three or four years ago–makes it even more meaningful. Why, it’s almost like–dare we say it?–that…God knew? Oh, yeah. He knows. Does He ever.
Both stories have so much in common.
A dispersed people. A deserted, devastated city. Opponents who did not want to see the city rebuilt. The city’s devastation seen as the judgment of God. Earnest prayer going up for the city. First, the walls to be restored. (Our levees. Make the city secure first, then rebuild.) Government provision for all supplies. Continual prayer from beginning to end. Tough decisions, requiring courage.
I’m typing this on Friday night and leaving first thing Saturday morning for north Alabama. I’ve been invited to teach “Nehemiah” at four sessions on Sunday and one Monday night at the New Prospect Baptist Church in Jasper, Alabama. This is one of our family’s numerous “family churches,” as my relatives have been vital members of this church for several generations. Pastor Fred Karthaus, all around nice guy and possessor of a doctorate from our local N.O. seminary, was so gracious to invite me. I find myself looking forward to it more than anything similar in a long time.
The story of Nehemiah is a great story. It’s only 13 chapters long, and several can be skipped without doing damage to the narrative since they are lists of workers or citizens. So, what makes it a great story? What makes any story effective?
1. Plot. A story must start somewhere and go somewhere purposeful and move along. At its simplest, Nehemiah is the account of the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem. But more than that, it’s the rebuilding of spiritual worship and a recommitment of God’s people.
2. Purpose. There should be a goal for the story, a point that it’s aiming for, which when you reach it, you know you’re home. In Nehemiah, that purpose is achieved when the wall is finished and the people have gotten their act together and started behaving like winners.
3. Protagonist. A story needs a hero, a main character, the star. Nehemiah introduces himself in the last verse of the first chapter: “Now I was the cupbearer to the king.” Which is an understatement until we realize that archaeologists have discovered this to be a powerful position of trust in a kingdom like Persia. Not all protagonists are worthy of honor, but this one is. Not a preacher or prophet or priest, eventually the governor of Judah, Nehemiah was “only” a layman. Friend, don’t ever let anyone convince you that you have to be ordained to accomplish anything for God. The 19th century earth-shaker, Dwight L. Moody, refused to be ordained just for that reason. He wanted people to know he was no professional hired gun, but a sinner saved by grace now telling the story.
4. Conflict. The most boring stories you will ever read are biographies of successful people who had no obstacles to overcome, no mountains to climb. Everything came easily for them; they went from success to success. You read it and wonder, “Why is this not interesting?” The answer is we want to read about conflict, how people overcame difficulties, how they struggled to become champions. A famous novelist has a three-word message taped above her computer, to guide her in plotting the story: “Things get worse.” That’s the idea.
Throughout Nehemiah, we read of the conflicts he faced, first with the outsiders, then with his own people. Spiritual leaders usually expect the first, but get blind-sided by the second. What really inspires us is the way the man of God faced these conflicts. Never hesitating, he declared, “We’re doing a great work and cannot come down!” and on another occasion, “Why should such a man as I flee?”
5. Bad guys. The two scoundrels in Nehemiah are named “Sanballat the Horonite” and “Tobiah the Ammonite.” They were foreigners who hated the idea of the walls being rebuilt and Jerusalem restored to her former prominence. Sanballat was the governor of Samaria, that nation of half-breeds next door to Judah, who was unabashed in his hostility toward the Jews, while Tobiah was more subtle and sneakier. They played the good guy/bad guy routine to the hilt. People actually testified to Nehemiah what a great guy Tobiah was. The man of God bought none of this, however. His powers of discernment were a spiritual gift and he had no trouble spotting a crook and treating him like what he was.
6. Courage. We love gunfights and duels and showdowns, situations where the good guy goes head to head against evil, particularly in David-and-Goliath odds. It’s scary, it’s nerve-wracking, but when it’s over, the elation is heavenly.
I read Nehemiah and think of an old Steve Brown book called “No More Mister Nice Guy,” subtitled “Saying goodbye to doormat Christianity.” God said to Joshua when Moses was going off the scene, “Be strong and full of courage.” Strength for the difficult tasks and courage for the scary ones. We’ll be needing both.
7. Satisfaction. Before the story ends, justice must prevail, our questions get answered, and the bad guys get theirs. In Nehemiah, all this occurs. We cheer when Nehemiah throws Tobiah the Sneaky out of the Temple where, to our utter amazement, he had been given one of the choice rooms. The place is scrubbed down and fumigated before they return it to the use of the Lord’s people. (Paul admonished us to give no place or opportunity to the enemy. Ephesians 4:27.)
By the end of the story, we learn that the reason Tobiah had such influence with many Jews, to the exasperation of Nehemiah, was that his family had intermarried with the high priest’s family, accounting for the weakness in the priest in resisting his influence. Earlier, Nehemiah warned the people that intermarriage had sabotaged the greatness of Solomon. Here it was, exhibit A, an intermarriage in the home of the nation’s highest priest, compromising the people of God and silencing its priests.
This story–or one just like it–is repeated in the lives and ministries of God’s men and women all over the world every day. What especially encourages us is that God did not require a large majority to accomplish His purposes. He needed just one person. One man who was burdened enough to pray, who prayed enough to believe, and believed enough to watch for God to answer.
“I’m just one,” people say, as though that excuses them from praying or attending or giving or acting. I say to them, “Do you know anyone who is two?” We’re all “one.” Anything that was ever done well started with a one.
What does the Father want you to do?
(Postscript. Yes, we’ve had numerous meetings and conferences in the city this week. In fact, I’m about conferenced out. I’ll be reporting on some of these in the future. Back in the city Tuesday night, so nothing else here before then. Thanks for your faithfulness and prayers.)
Brother Joe: I sure do hope and pray that the church has the capability of recording your messages on the book of Nehemiah this weekend. I sure would pay good coins to have those messages. If so, please let me know and I will order and pay for my own copies to be shipped ASAP. I have also written a bible study on that book…it is called, “Kneewalking with Knee-High-Miah.” I used the eleven prayers found through the book to teach through the story. My emphasis was a study of prayer. After your Katrina experiences, the Lord has certainly given you a timely insight into this wonderful bible book. I know the listeners will be greatly blessed through your teachings. I will be praying for you! +B+B+
I was inspired to encourage a loved one with words below, and I felt it proper to also share them with BAGNO
Thank you for sharing your (prayer) concern about the comeback of New Orleans. I know there are a lot of anxious residents there as well as ones wanting to return, and the need is definitely way beyond the comprehension of many Americans. The obvious forefront is that communications from N.O. as well as from hundreds of adjacent communities is not heard by some of the rest of America. For hurricane victims this obviously appears unfair, and maybe even disrespectful. At the same time it might also be a little harsh to expect that all Americans disregard their own local responsibilities there, turning their backs to their own families in need while helping ones that are remote that they’re unable to help.
However, the same goes in the other direction. There are many Americans reaching out to help not just New Orleans, but all hurricane victims, including those in the rest of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and even farther north. I hear of it most often. Where I work, employees have poured out their hearts, hands, and wallets for that purpose. Other places of employment are doing the same. Some, including where I work, have sent crews there to help restore what could be done. All this good work seems to go unnoticed, or at least I hear no one from New Orleans expressing any gratitude for what has been given them. Even our own Church has sent two crews to a Mississippi area where in 6 days they built 10 houses for some residents who were totally wiped out. Why did we do this? Only 4 of the ones who went there were carpenters. The rest had absolutely no idea what they could do. They just went to do whatever they could. There were no government funds! Most federal, state, county, and municipal governments refuse to allow churches to be recognized financially nor in almost any other way. However, they expect the churches to pour out care to persons in need. It makes it a challenge for Christians to help. But that’s God’s way.
The Lord provided wisdom and direction. He does not want people who are already able to do things; He wants them to be available and willing to be used by Him. That way, the givers receive His blessing of a miracle; and the receivers receive His blessing of a miracle — everyone receives a blessing. God doesn’t want complainers. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 5:19-20)
For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation. (Ps 149:4) The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. (Ps 147:6) The LORD Almighty planned it, to bring low the pride of all glory and to humble all who are renowned on the earth. (Isa 23:9) Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:10)
Christian missionaries always return from the field saying, “The greatest blessing they ever heard while there was from poor, underprivileged persons who had no food to feed their family, but when asked, ‘What are you going to do for tomorrow?’, they responded, ‘We trust the Lord to provide for us.'” But trust in the Lord carries a great responsibility in itself. It requires humbleness of ourselves. God inspired Paul to record I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Phil 4:11-13)
The Bible tells believers to praise God for what He has done. But Dr. Joe McKeever of BAGNO (I visited the website) seems to make little mention of others who are reaching out to help victims. I read what he said, but I can’t imagine the NAMB nor the SBC instructing McKeever to do those things. I saw absolutely no remark in that context regarding prayer for direction. That must come first. And I’m not thinking one or two times; I’m thinking congregations and communities and pastors, and especially BAGNO.
There are right now 1,800 American Baptist churches of the Southern Baptist Convention in America who have already “Adopted” a hurricane victim “Church”! Some churches have been adopted by more than one church. Some victim churches have even refused help, citing other churches more in need than themselves. That’s giving!
But a church is not a building! Buildings are secondary! A Christian church starts with its Christian members! To have a building is a human thing. Early churches had no building at all. They didn’t need one. They were surrounded by the Head of the Church: Jesus Christ. THIS IS WHAT CHURCHES NEED TODAY. Some of your own worship has been there in neighbors’ homes. Churches need to turn to Christ in submission — not a commitment — but in full submission! Commitment is a human dependency, but submission is a dependency on God Himself, and allows Him to work through us His way. We are not to depend on man, but to depend on God — not by just saying so, but to yield totally to Him in prayer.
Now, how can God help? Only He knows. But He wants us to give Him everything for His use. I am amazed at the comeback already demonstrated by the NOBTS Seminary. Even though 400-500 people contributed to where it is now, it was not humans that did it. It was God! To Him only be the glory for that. But is there anything else left to do? Of course there is. God will always do for Christians what they cannot do, but leaves up to humans to do what they can. That means God expects us (and the seminary persons) to do what we can. So, we can’t expect God to do it all for us when we ourselves can do our part. He expects it of us. And, Christians can let God be seen through themselves when they to the rest, because, He will help others through His own.
I have a reason for these last remarks. Doing this without first going to God about it is wrong. Unless it is His will, it will become a failure. Perhaps Christian worship can be done as the first Christians did it. Check it out in the book of Acts. They met in homes! Maybe a building is still in some disrepair. But we shouldn’t hold off ministering to others because our surroundings aren’t perfect. A building doesn’t have to be perfect to tell others about Jesus. HE is the only PERFECT ONE!
I have been long winded here, but I hope these insights do some good. I pray they may bring some inspirations that only He can bring. Thanks for the opportunity to share in His love.
May God
Bro. Joe,
I know that your website has been a wonderful ministry, and encouragement to alot of people, and you being just one man, can only write each entry with like you have said before “the high points, and sometimes the low.” Thank you.
The NAMB’s suggestion about having a church in each area for everyone to go to, and later rebuilding and restarting the other churches, that is a great idea, and I hope they implement it. Keep up the Lord’s work, and don’t worry about those out there who would be negative or discouraging, its not what they think of you, but what God knows about you.