What good is a nice looking outside if the inside is run down? A nice looking facade on a building cannot hide for long that the interior is overdue for some TLC, and it does not have much to offer beyond cheap food and dollar stores.
Jerusalem was similar. Nehemiah’s spectacular wall rebuild was complete, and the surrounding peoples were in awe of God’s power and work. But the work was not done. Too many of Jerusalem’s high society still consorted with the devil. The proper worship of God was still placed to one side by too many. Nehemiah’s continued reforms remind us that it is the reformation of our hearts, not just our outward conduct, that demonstrates true devotion to God.
After months of difficult, although quick, labour, Jerusalem’s walls were rebuilt. “So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days (v.15). Undoubtedly, the work was rushed and not something for Grand Designs, but the effort was impressive.
For those attempting to stop the wall completion, this was a resounding defeat. “And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God” (v.16).
The completion, despite all the hostility and opposition, clearly demonstrated how only God was in control. The Jews had laboured, but God had laboured through their hands to build the wall.
But despite outsiders recognising the hand of God, all was not well inside. Attempts to intimidate Nehemiah continued. “Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them” (v.17). Tobiah was one of the key opponents of Nehemiah, and he and Judah’s nobles were exchanging frequent letters. The implication being a continued campaign against Nehemiah.
This exchange of information about conditions inside Jerusalem was enabled by the fact that “many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as his wife” (v.18). Worse still, since they were related by ties of marriage, there were business ties. Money talks.
Since Tobiah was such an upstanding businessman unlike Ea Nasir “they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid” (v.19). Sadly, while Nehemiah had succeeded in his campaign to rebuild the walls, it came at great personal cost to him.
The circumstances demonstrated to Nehemiah that what was needed was renovations on the inside of Jerusalem, which would hopefully lead to renovations inside the hearts of those swayed by Tobiah’s business dealings.
With the walls rebuilt and doors in place, Nehemiah appointed gatekeepers to guard the gates and even, it seems, appointed some from the Levites and temple singers (7:1). This would have drawn a clear link to the spiritual importance of the Temple and the wall which protected it.
Nehemiah shared the responsibility around, appointing “my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many” (v.2). Faithful fulfilling of guard duties was based on their spiritual condition. They, like Nehemiah, were examples to the people.
To secure Jerusalem against external opposition, Nehemiah instructed that the gates should not be opened until the day was warm, rather than at dawn (v.3). Appointing gatekeepers from near their homes also gave extra security, since it gave them something to fight for.
This was very important to try and secure Jerusalem against internal and external opposition. “The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt” (v.4). This meant it was easier for naughty types to try and make mischief. If Nehemiah wanted to rebuild the people, not just the walls, he needed to keep things safe.
Nehemiah’s appointment of Hanani and Hananiah reminds us of the importance of character in leaders. We like to appoint based on capability, but character, especially fearing God, is particularly important. Especially so in the Church. No wonder that many of the qualifications for eldership or the diaconate reflect on character, not career.
The right character was important because what was most needed was not walls (though they were needed and important) but right hearts which sought God. Nehemiah understood that God’s People played a unique role in proclaiming God to the world. They needed to stand out, not through military might but through holiness.
The same is true today. We are witnesses to Christ and the way this is revealed is through our character and holiness, not through power or real estate. It is the reformation of our hearts and lives, rebuilding outside and in, that demonstrates to the world God’s goodness and glory, and frustrates the devil and those that seek to lead us astray from devotion to God.