THE FIRST PART: A BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
From the Captivity to the Return
Message Nine—Nehemiah
Scripture Reading: Neh. 2:4, 10, 17-20; Rev. 21:18-20; Num. 6:1-9, 22-27; 1 John 2:15-17, Neh. 2:4, 10, 17-20; 4:17; Zech. 2:5, 8; Titus 1:9; Acts 20:26-35
I. Nehemiah took the lead to build up the wall, which is to build up the church as the kingdom of God; the wall separates God’s people unto God from all things other than God—Neh. 2:4, 10, 17-20; 4:11-23; Rev. 21:18-20.
II. God desires that all His people be Nazarites, those who separate themselves unto God to be absolutely, utterly, and ultimately for God, that is, to be for nothing other than God—loving God, seeking God, living God, and being constituted with God to bless others with God for the expression of God—Num. 6:1-8, 22-27; Psa. 73:25-26; Jer. 32:39; 2 Cor. 13:14:
A. According to typology, among the human race the unique Nazarite is the Lord Jesus Christ; a Nazarite is a type of Christ in His living absolutely for God in His humanity—John 4:34; 5:19, 30; 7:18; 14:24.
B. All overcomers live in the principle of the Nazarite with a voluntary fourfold consecration to God—1 Cor. 6:15-20; Rom. 12:1-2; 9:23; cf. Dan. 5:23:
1. A Nazarite must overcome worldly enjoyment and pleasure, signified by abstaining from wine and anything related to its source—Num. 6:3-4; cf. Psa. 104:15; Eccl. 10:19; Dan. 1:8; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15.
2. A Nazarite must overcome rebellion, signified by not shaving his head; not shaving the head signifies not rejecting but being absolutely subject to the headship of the Lord—Num. 6:5; cf. 1 Cor. 11:3, 6, 10, 15.
3. A Nazarite must overcome death, signified by not being allowed to be defiled by the death of the relative closest to him or by the sudden death of one beside him—Num. 6:6-7, 9.
4. A Nazarite must overcome natural affection, signified by not making himself unclean for his father, mother, brother, or sister when they die—Num. 6:7; Matt. 12:46-50; 2 Cor. 5:16.
C. Our separation unto God is for our being blessed by God to bless others with God in the divine dispensing of the Divine Trinity—vv. 22-27.
III. We need to intrinsically follow Nehemiah’s pattern to “build up the wall,” to build up the church as the kingdom of God, for the protection of the church as the house of God—Neh. 2:4, 10, 17-20:
A. We must build up the wall to protect the church from the idolatry and division of Babylon (1 John 5:21; Jude 19), the worldly pleasures and ways of Egypt (2 Tim. 3:1-5), and the sin and wickedness of Sodom (1 Cor. 6:9-11, 18-20).
B. We must build up the wall to protect the church from the destruction of the destroyers of God’s building—Eph. 4:14; 1 Tim. 1:4; 2 Pet. 2:1; 2 John 7-11; Titus 3:10; Rom. 16:17; 3 John 9; Acts 20:29-30.
IV. We must build up the wall to protect the church by holding to the healthy teaching of God’s economy—Titus 1:9; Acts 2:42; 1 Tim. 1:3-4; Prov. 29:18:
A. We must shepherd the flock of God by declaring to them all the counsel of God, all of God’s economy; under the Lord’s shepherding, all the evil persons who disturb God’s people are kept away from them so that they can dwell in peace and safety to be mingled with God and bound together in oneness—Acts 20:26-35; Ezek. 33:1-11; 34:25; cf. Zech. 2:8; 11:7.
B. By putting out the pure truth from the Word, we can protect the interests of the riches of God’s divinity on the earth and the attainments of Christ’s consummation—cf. John 17:17; 1 Tim. 3:15.
V. We must build up the wall to protect the church by helping all the saints realize the headship of Christ—Neh. 4:11-23; cf. Ezek. 22:30; Eph. 1:22-23:
A. We must have our will subdued by Christ and transformed with Christ through sufferings so that it is submitted to the headship of Christ to be rich in the defending power of Christ in resurrection—S. S. 4:1, 4; 7:4a; 2 Cor. 2:14.
B. The building up of the wall is a matter of spiritual warfare, which involves our will; everyone must keep his position for the building up of the wall and must learn how to build with one hand and fight with the other—Neh. 4:17; cf. Rom. 12:3.
C. We must be today’s Nazarites, who are separated unto God from all rebellion and live under the headship of Christ—Num. 6:2, 5; Col. 1:18.
VI. We must build up the wall to protect the church by fighting the battle in the Body—Rom. 16:20:
A. The Body puts on the whole armor of God and renders protection to every member; we must seek the counsel and covering of the Body to receive the Body’s protection and safeguard—Eph. 6:10-20; Matt. 16:18; Acts 21:4.
B. Spiritual warfare is in this principle—one will chase a thousand and two will put ten thousand to flight—Deut. 32:30; Eccl. 4:9-12; Exo. 17:11-13.
VII. We must build up the wall to protect the church by persevering in prayer to be kept from the evil one and to slay the adversary—Matt. 6:13; 26:41; Col. 4:2; John 17:15; 2 Thes. 3:3; Eph. 6:17-18.
Ministry Excerpts:
The book of Ezra is a history of the return of Israel’s captivity and the rebuilding of the house of God as the initiation of God’s recovery among His elect for His testimony on the earth according to His economy. The book of Nehemiah is a history of the rebuilding of the wall of the city of Jerusalem and the further recovery of Israel’s services and worship to God, as a continued recovery among God’s elect for His testimony for the accomplishing of His economy. (Holy Bible Recovery Version, Nehemiah 1:1, footnote 2)
Being an aggressive person, Nehemiah took advantage of this opportunity to speak to the king. Although he was a common man, a servant of the king, he was aggressive to volunteer himself to God for his burden concerning the building up of Jerusalem. He was also aggressive in making his requests known to the king (vv. 4-8). His aggressiveness was very much used by God. In type, Nehemiah’s aggressiveness, as a virtue in his human conduct, shows that our natural capacity, natural ability, and natural virtues must pass through the cross of Christ and be brought into resurrection, i.e., into the Spirit as the consummated Triune God (John 11:25; 1 Cor. 15:45), to be useful to God in the accomplishing of His economy.
Nehemiah was one who lived not in his natural man but in resurrection. He was aggressive, but his aggressiveness was accompanied by other characteristics. In His relationship with God, He was one who loved God and also loved God’s interests on the earth, including the Holy Land (signifying Christ), the holy temple (signifying the church), and the holy city (signifying the kingdom of God). As a person who loved God, Nehemiah prayed to God to contact Him in fellowship (1:4; 2:4b; 4:4-5, 9). Furthermore, Nehemiah trusted in God and even became one with God. As a result, he became the representative of God. In his relationship with the people, Nehemiah was altogether unselfish; with him, there was no self-seeking or self-interest. He was always willing to sacrifice what he had for the people and for the nation (5:10, 14-19). (Holy Bible Recovery Version, Nehemiah 2:3, footnote 1)
Nehemiah, as the governor, in the position of a king, was a man with a pure heart for the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall in the carrying out of God’s economy. Unlike many of the kings of Israel and Judah, he was not selfish, he did not seek his own interests, and he was not indulgent in sexual lust. Therefore, he was qualified to enjoy the top portion, the kingship of the good land promised by God to His elect. Instead of being self-seeking, he lent money and grain without interest (v. 10), and he fed others for the purpose of building up the wall. As a result, he was used by God and received help from Him to carry out the work of rebuilding the wall of the city of Jerusalem (6:15—7:4). Nehemiah was a pattern of what a leader among God’s people should be (cf. 1 Tim. 3:2-7). (Holy Bible Recovery Version, Nehemiah 5:14, footnote 1)
In recognizing his need of Ezra, Nehemiah, the governor, the ruler, of the nation of Israel, indicated that he was altogether not ambitious. In reconstituting the nation, Nehemiah realized that he did not know God’s Word. But Ezra, who was renowned for his knowledge of the Word of God, was still alive, and Nehemiah was willing to turn to Ezra for help. Nehemiah knew that without Ezra he could not reconstitute the people of God. (Holy Bible Recovery Version, Nehemiah 8:2, footnote 1)
Nehemiah, with the help of Ezra, fully reconstituted the returned captives of the nation of Israel (8:1—13:31). Consequently, Israel became a particular nation, a nation that was sanctified and separated unto God and that expressed God. They were transfused with the thought of God, with the considerations of God, and with all that God is, making them God’s reproduction. As a result, they became a divine nation on earth expressing the divine character. They were reconstituted personally and corporately to be God’s testimony.
The central and crucial point of the books of Ezra and Nehemiah is the matter of proper, adequate leadership. Whereas the record of the leadership in Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, and 1 and 2 Chronicles is, for the most part, dark, the record in Ezra and Nehemiah is altogether bright. In the books of Ezra and Nehemiah three leaders are mentioned: Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah. They were all excellent leaders, but the best and the highest was Nehemiah. Only under the leadership of persons like Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah could Israel be reconstituted to be the testimony, the expression, of God on earth, a people absolutely different from the Gentile nations. Such a testimony of God is a type of what God wants the church to be today. (Holy Bible Recovery Version, Nehemiah 13:30a, footnote 1)
The leaders of the returned captivity were Zerubbabel of the royal family, Ezra of the priestly family, and Nehemiah of a common family. Among all the leaders in the history of Israel, these three were the top ones. Nehemiah was very common with no rank. There is no indication that his family had a high standing in society, and he did not have a high profession. Even though he served in the palace of the king of Persia, he was just a household servant.
Although Nehemiah was a common person without any position, he was placed in a very high position, a position which involved close contact with the king. Nehemiah was a cupbearer to the king (Neh. 1:11b). While wine was being set before the king, Nehemiah would take up the wine and give it to him (2:1a). Eventually, the king appointed this cupbearer to be the governor of Judah.
NEHEMIAH’S PARTICULAR CHARACTERISTICS
As one of the leaders of the returned captivity, Nehemiah had some particular and special characteristics.
Being a Pleasant Person with a Proper Attitude and Behavior
As a cupbearer to the king, Nehemiah must have been a person who was pleasant and sweet and who was always proper in his attitude and behavior. He was never sad in the king’s presence (v. 1b). If Nehemiah had not been a pleasant person who fulfilled the king’s requests, the king would not have allowed him to continue serving as a cupbearer.
A Person Who Loved God and God’s Interest on Earth
Nehemiah loved God, and he loved God’s interest on earth concerning His economy. This interest included the good land, the temple, and the city of Jerusalem, all of which Nehemiah loved. Even though he was a common person without a rank such as that of a king or of a captain in the army, he took care of God’s interest on earth.
One Who Prayed to Contact God in Fellowship
Nehemiah was also one who always prayed to God to contact God in fellowship. When he heard that the people in Jerusalem were suffering and that the wall of Jerusalem had been broken down and that its gates had been burned with fire, he wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed (1:2-4). In verse 11 he prayed, saying, “I beseech You, O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and to the prayer of Your servants, who take delight in fearing Your name; and cause Your servant to prosper today, and grant him to find compassion before this man.” Here Nehemiah was praying that he would find favor with the king. When the king asked him regarding his request, Nehemiah “prayed to the God of heaven” (2:4).
A Person Who Trusted in God and Who Was One with God
Furthermore, Nehemiah was a person who trusted in God and who was one with God. Burdens were placed upon his shoulder by God, but in bearing these burdens he trusted in God. Nehemiah knew that the good hand of God was upon him (vv. 8, 18), and he asked God to remember him (5:19; 13:14, 31). This indicates that he trusted in God and was one with God. It was not easy for God to gain such a person as Nehemiah. In rank and profession he was very low, but he loved God and God’s interest, he prayed for God’s interest, contacting Him in fellowship, and he trusted in God and became one with Him. These are Nehemiah’s particular characteristics in his relationship with God.
Altogether Unselfish
In his relationship with the people, Nehemiah was altogether unselfish. With him, there was no self-seeking. Even though he gained a high position as the governor of Judah—he was actually the acting king of Judah, representing the king of Persia—he never sought anything for himself. With Nehemiah there was no self-interest. He was always willing to sacrifice what he had for the people and for the nation. He was the governor, but he did not take any compensation for twelve years, because he realized that the building of the wall was a heavy burden on the people (5:14-18). He did not want to increase the burden on them. Instead of receiving compensation, he provided for the daily necessities of more than one hundred fifty men. Nehemiah also was among those who were ready to fight against the enemy and he took part in the night watch (4:17-23). He did not leave these matters to others but participated in them himself.
Not Indulging in Lust
It is quite striking that there is no word concerning Nehemiah’s marriage. I believe that, in contrast to the judges and the kings, Nehemiah had only one wife. He did not indulge in sexual lust. David and Solomon were both indulgent in this way. The indulgence in sexual lust was the main factor of the rottenness of David’s family and the main factor behind the loss of the kingdom for David and his descendants. Nehemiah, however, was altogether different. I believe that in the whole six thousand years of human history, there has never been such a one as Nehemiah. There were no complaints about Nehemiah from the people. Everyone appreciated him and was grateful for him. We may say that Nehemiah was an outstanding elder, the best example of what an elder should be. I hope that all the elders in the churches today will be like Nehemiah.
NEHEMIAH GOING TO EZRA FOR HELP IN RECONSTITUTING THE NATION OF GOD’S ELECT
Nehemiah was a head, a ruler, of a nation, but he was altogether not ambitious. This is indicated by the fact that he recognized his need of Ezra. In reconstituting the nation, Nehemiah realized that he did not know God’s Word. But Ezra, who was famous for his knowledge of the Word of God, was still alive, and Nehemiah was willing to go to Ezra for help. Many of today’s leaders would not seek help in such a way. Instead, being ambitious, they would hold on to their position and not bring in an Ezra to help them. But because Nehemiah was not ambitious, he brought in Ezra. Nehemiah knew that without Ezra he could not reconstitute the people of God.
RE-EDUCATION FOR RECONSTITUTION
In order to reconstitute the people of God, there is the need to educate them with the word that comes out of the mouth of God, which expresses God. This means that to reconstitute the people of God is to educate them by putting them into the Word of God that they may be saturated with the Word. The Israelites had been in Egypt for at least four hundred years. During those years they must have been constituted with Egyptian learning. Then they were brought to Babylon for seventy years. Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah were all born and raised among the Babylonians. After the people of Israel returned from Babylon, they mixed themselves with the Canaanites. Thus, the Israelites were constituted with the Egyptian, Babylonian, and Canaanite culture. Nevertheless, they returned to be the testimony of God. But how could a people with a constitution of Egyptian, Babylonian, and Canaanite culture be God’s testimony, the expression of the God-man? Such a people were not the God-men. How could they express God? In order to be the testimony of God, His expression, they needed to be re-educated in the Word of God.
THE RETURNED ISRAELITES BECOMING GOD’S TESTIMONY
In addition to being re-educated, the people of Israel needed to be raised up in much the same way as parents raise their children. Parents not only educate their children but spontaneously and unconsciously impart themselves, nearly their whole being, into their children. Parents transfuse what they are and what they think into their children. Eventually, this constitutes their children to be the same as they are. This is what the children of Israel needed. Before Nehemiah came back, the nation of Israel was a mess. The duties of the priests were not certain, and no one was taking care of the Levites and the serving ones. The singers were there, but no one had opened the way for them to sing and to be formed into companies. Nehemiah, with the help of Ezra, totally reconstituted the nation. Then Israel became a particular nation, a nation sanctified and separated unto God, expressing God. They were transfused with the thought of God, with the considerations of God, and with all that God is, making them God’s reproduction. Everyone became God in life and in nature by this kind of divine constitution. As a result, they became a divine nation on earth expressing the divine character. They were reconstituted personally and corporately to be God’s testimony. The returned captives became God’s testimony through the reconstitution which took place under the leadership of Nehemiah.
The central and crucial point of the recovery books, which end with Nehemiah, is the matter of proper, adequate leadership. Whereas the record of the leadership in Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, and 1 and 2 Chronicles is dark, the record in Ezra and Nehemiah is bright. In Ezra and Nehemiah three leaders are mentioned: Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah. They were all excellent leaders, but the best and the highest was Nehemiah. Nehemiah was the perfect leader, the best leader in human history. Only under the leadership of such persons as Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah could Israel be reconstituted to be the testimony of God, the expression of God on earth, a people absolutely different from the Gentile nations. This is a type of what God wants the church to be today. (Life-Study of Nehemiah, msg. 5)