DO YOUR APPOINTED PART

FEBRUARY 1, 2015

FIRST THOUGHTS 

Famous Quotes by Vince Lombardi 

Teamwork

“The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.”

 “Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” 

Success/Sacrifice

 “To achieve success, whatever the job we have, we must pay a price.”

 “There is no substitute for work.” 

Discipline

 “The good Lord gave you a body that can stand most anything. It’s your mind you have to convince.”

“Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit.”

“Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.”

 “Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off of the goal.”

“There is only one kind of discipline, and that is the perfect discipline. As a leader, you must enforce and maintain that discipline; otherwise, you will fail at your job.” 

Will to Win

 “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will.” 

Leadership

 “A leader must identify himself with the group, must back up the group, even at the risk of displeasing superiors. He must believe that the group wants from him a sense of approval. If this feeling prevails, production, discipline, morale will be high, and in return, you can demand the cooperation to promote the goals of the community.” 

Habit

 

“Watch your thoughts, they become your beliefs. Watch your beliefs, they become your words. Watch your words, they become your actions. Watch your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your character.” 

UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT 

·       Great tasks require people’s best efforts.

·        Nearly everyone joined in the endeavor to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

·        The priests, led by Eliashib the high priest, rebuilt the Sheep Gate and nearby sections.

·        The Sheep Gate provided access between the temple and the sheep market where pilgrims purchased animals for sacrifice.

·        The priests’ involvement in the rebuilding efforts may have encouraged other citizens as they labored side by side.

·        After completing a difficult, challenging task, most people enjoy a sense of accomplishment. However, the priests did not claim credit for themselves.

·        They dedicated the entire operation to the Lord.

·        Acknowledging God as the Source of and Reason for their labor, the people glorified Him.

·        Other examples of servant leadership included Rephaiah, son of Hur, who ruled half the district of Jerusalem.

·        Shallum, who governed the other half of the Jerusalem district, also worked on repairing the walls.

·        He apparently had no sons, but his daughters helped him in the work.

·        In accomplishing their God-given assignment, all the people were willing to get their hands dirty.

·        One of the best examples of humility was Malchijah, another of the district rulers who worked to repair the dung Gate.

·        Almost 60 years has passed since the completion of the temple and Ezra’s journey to Jerusalem.

·        With qualified priests and temple servants in place for nearly 60 years there were many spiritual problems in Jerusalem.

·        About 13 years have now passed since Ezra’s reforms (the putting away of foreign wives). 

“Character is much easier kept than recovered.”

Thomas Paine 

Excerpt From: Knute Larson, Max Anders & Kathy Dahlen. “Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther.” B&H Publishing Group, 2010-02-08. iBooks.

This material may be protected by copyright. 

·        Not only are we reminded that the enemy never stops its efforts to stop God’s work in our lives, but we are reminded that we have our responsibility to cooperate with God in safeguarding it. Perhaps that is why the wall is rebuilt to only half of its height. 

6 So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. NASB 

EXPLORE THE TEXT 

NEHEMIAH 7:1-8 NASB 

VERSE 1:

Now when the wall was rebuilt and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed,  

·        The watch of the entire city was now committed to men of the same three classes that before has had the watch over the temple. 

“The porters were the watchmen. They were the ones who took care of the wall. They were on guard duty all around the wall, letting those on the inside know what was going on outside. If an enemy or some danger approached, they would sound the alarm. They watched both day and night—it was a twenty-four-hour job.

J. Vernon McGee

 

VERSE 2:

then I put Hanani my brother, and Hananiah the commander of the fortress, in charge of Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many. 

“Faithfulness and fear of God were the key character traits that qualified these men to govern Jerusalem. Faithful people can be trusted to carry out their work; God-fearing people can be expected to do so in line with God's priorities. These men had both qualities. If you are in a position of selecting leaders, look for faithfulness and reverence as two of the most important qualifications. Although other qualities may seem more impressive, faithfulness and reverence pass the test of time.”

Life Application Notes 

VERSE 3:

Then I said to them, "Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot, and while they are standing guard, let them shut and bolt the doors. Also appoint guards from the inhabitants of Jerusalem, each at his post, and each in front of his own house." 

“City gates were usually opened at sunrise, enabling merchants to enter and set up their tent-stores. Nehemiah didn't want Jerusalem to be caught unprepared by an enemy attack, so he ordered the gates closed until well after sunrise when the people were sure to be awake and alert.

The wall was complete, but the work was not finished. Nehemiah assigned each family the task of protecting the section of wall next to their home. It is tempting to relax our guard and rest on past accomplishments after we have completed a large task. But we must continue to serve and to take care of all that God has entrusted to us. Following through after a project is completed is as vital as doing the project itself.”

Life Application Notes 

VERSE 4:

Now the city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few and the houses were not built.  

·        The number of those who returned with Zerubbabel was no more than 42,360.

·        Less than 2,000 people had come with Ezra. 

“…though there were 42,360 that came up at first with Zerubbabel, and many more with Ezra, yet a great number chose to settle in the towns and cities in the country, Jerusalem being in such a desolate condition:”

John Gill 

VERSE 5:

Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogies. Then I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up first in which I found the following record:  

“Whatever good motion is in our minds, either prudent or pious, we must acknowledge it to come from God. It was he that put it into our hearts; for every good gift and every good work are from above. He gives knowledge; he gives grace; all is of him, and therefore all must be to him. What is done by human prudence must be ascribed to the direction of divine Providence;”

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible 

VERSE 6:

These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his city,  

·        This list is almost exactly the same as the one found in Ezra chapter 2 with only slight variation; the variations due to editor errors over time. 

VERSES 7-8:

7 who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number of men of the people of Israel:

8 the sons of Parosh, 2,172;  

“The type of repopulation that Nehemiah had in mind was not particularly Jewish in origin. In fact, it seemed more akin to the imperial practices of pagan nations who used forced relocation to populate cities and regions. Consequently, Nehemiah made clear that this idea came from God.

Additionally, Nehemiah did not want just anybody to transfer residence to Jerusalem. He was looking for Jews of verifiable Hebrew heritage. This prompted the gathering of the people for registration so each family could prove their lineage. To aid him in the process, Nehemiah found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return. Rather than starting his census from scratch, Nehemiah was helped by this original listing that specified clan origins.” 

Excerpt From: Knute Larson, Max Anders & Kathy Dahlen. “Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther.” B&H Publishing Group, 2010-02-08. iBooks.

This material may be protected by copyright. 

“The establishment of fortifications does not, in itself, bring security. Opposition and dangers always threaten the community of faith; a people's godly character is its greatest defense.” 

Excerpt From: Knute Larson, Max Anders & Kathy Dahlen. “Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther.” B&H Publishing Group, 2010-02-08. iBooks.

This material may be protected by copyright. 

“PRINCIPLES

·        Success requires endurance.

·        Good work done in the name of Christ brings glory to God.

·        Success sometimes leads to vulnerability and the need for continued vigilance against opposition.

·        The people of God must carry out the work of God. 

APPLICATIONS

·        Be careful after a time of special spiritual growth or after a goal has been accomplished. Such times can bring a susceptibility to failure or sin.

·        Whatever your role in the effort to extend God's kingdom, do it with all your heart and to the best of your ability.

·        Remember that everyone is necessary to God's kingdom; and every act done for Christ is seen and rewarded by God.” 

Excerpt From: Knute Larson, Max Anders & Kathy Dahlen. “Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther.” B&H Publishing Group, 2010-02-08. iBooks.

This material may be protected by copyright.