MAY 9 NEHEMIAH 8-10

Nehemiah 8-10

The wall is completed; Nehemiah’s job is over, right? 

Wrong!

After the completion of a big project, there is bound to be a let-down. The work itself might have stirred up resentment and animosity. The completed project might become too important to the people. These and other issues face godly leaders. This simply means that the completion of the new church building or the burning of the mortgage is no time for a leader to sit back and do nothing. QUESTION: What did Nehemiah do? ANSWER:  He did what any godly leader would do:

• He shifted the people’s attention from the Wall to the Word! I love the scene in Nehemiah 8:1-8. All who could understand were gathered together for a reading of the Law. From early morning to midday, the people stood—in honor of God’s Word—and listened to a public reading of God’s word! Then they explained it!
• He led the people in a celebration. When the people were saddened (convicted) at the reading of God’s word, Nehemiah and the other leaders encouraged them to wipe away their tears and feast with joy. The Joy of the Lord is your strength, they told them, and “great rejoicing” followed at the feast!
• He led them in the celebration of the Feasts of Booths. We get the feeling that this was the first time this feast had been celebrated in a long time.
• He reminded the people of their story. Too often, we forget the well from which we sprung. Nehemiah 9 is really a prayer of confession. But, in the prayer, the leaders rehearse the history of God’s people.
• He led them in a time of confession. This reminded the people of their need, and brought them to the place where they were ready to make a fresh commitment to God.
• He led them in a time of Covenant renewal. This included a fresh commitment to the Covenant found in Deuteronomy: blessing for obedience, curses for disobedience, a re-commitment to the temple’s sacrificial system and worship.

A good leader doesn’t quit when the big project is completed!

Your brother,

Pastor Gary