With their non-well wishers mocking them that “Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall”, that didn’t put them off one bit, as Nehemiah goes on to record (4:6) “So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.” I love that phrase, ‘so built we the wall … for the people had a mind to work’.
The task of rebuilding the wall could not have been done by Nehemiah alone, they had to do it together in a collective organized effort. Also, it was the mindset that had to be right, wanting to get busy with working and they were single minded in that. And so we see progress being made, as Nehemiah’s return had galvanised the people to come together to repair and rebuild the damaged walls and gates surrounding Jerusalem. There’s nothing better than sound leadership leading the charge.
Chapter 3 recalls how each group of Israelites busied themselves with their own section of the wall in the rebuilding process. A phrase that repeats itself over and over again is ” (3:2) And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur … (3:4) And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah … And next unto them repaired Meshullam…And next unto them repaired Zadok”. This was shoulder to shoulder, side by side, as they unitedly worked and persevered together. That ought to be how it’s done in the work of the Lord, as believers know what they have to do individually and just get down to it.
Unfortunately, in the midst of the narrative we read ” … (3:5) And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.” It is a disheartening read, that the Tekoite non-nobles were nobler than their nobles who stood by the side and did not take their place beside the rest. They were resting. Although it say they had the same Lord (it says “their Lord”) but their desire was not the same. Is it possible that the reason why they didn’t contribute was because they were too high to perform lowly tasks or was it because they thought it was a pointless task to even try to rebuild? Whatever it is, surely, this ought to be a reminder to us that service requires humility and drive. In this account, the groups who worked and repaired their sections had their names recorded, while they were ironically merely mentioned as ‘nobles’ (the Tekoite nobles). When we don’t give ourselves to the work, we certainly can miss out on some of the greater blessings and blessedness of being a part of those who accomplish God’s purposes here.
Now, we ought not to be discouraged even if we see ‘nobles’, or in our case perhaps … leaders, believers who are of higher standing in society, people who ought to be taking the lead, sitting idly. Because right in the next verse the work springs back into action as we read “(3:5) Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah… And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite … (3:8) Next unto him repaired Uzziel … and they fortified Jerusalem …” It was still all systems go as the rest continued to put their hands and backs to do the work of their Lord. The same should be for us today.
Brethren, we’ve got different sections and parts to play in the work of the Lord. Wherever you and I are placed in the body of Christ, seen or unseen, and despite and in spite of many things that may serve to deter or distract … may we be exhorted to have the mind to work as we take our place side by side next to each other. There’s work to be done. May God grant us the strength and the grace to go about doing it.
Are there walls in need of repair? Most assuredly. But first remember … we can’t rebuild it alone.
Antioch Agent 
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