NEHEMIAH 3 (FROM CAC'S NOTES)
NEHEMIAH 3 (FROM CAC’S NOTES)
Fifteen times we get “next to him”, sixteen times “after him” or “them”, all indicating that there were no gaps left.
The unbroken continuity of the wall was maintained. The true character of the fellowship has to be maintained by each partner.
The nobles of Tekoa “put not their necks to the work of their Lord”. They did not put their backs into it, as we say.
The Tekoites repaired a second piece to make up for their laziness.
We find “goldsmiths”, and “perfumers”, and “daughters”, and “dealers”, showing that persons not very fit, as we should judge, took a hand in the work. Perhaps God values most what is done by persons who feel very unfit for the work. Some feel they have no ability, no gift, but if their hearts move them they can do something. The Lord takes on eleventh-hour men. Can any of us say we have no part in the work?
Two men are mentioned as being rulers of the half part of Jerusalem; one repaired even over against his house (verse 10); Hasshub repaired a second piece (verse 11); Ezer also repaired a second piece (verse 19); two repaired over against their houses (verse 23); another “by his house” (verse 23); the priests “every one over against his house” (verse 28); another “over against his house” (verse 29); two others “a second piece” (verse 30); Meshullam “over against his chamber” (verse 30); four did a second piece.
The building of the wall would obviously suggest what is external — an aspect of things which can be taken account of publicly, but which becomes the security of what is within. The gates set forth the principles which are necessary for entrance and the privileges of those who enter. But the wall is the work of the Lord as it is carried on by His people to secure what stands distinctively for God in the presence of all that is contrary to it. So that it answers to the setting up of the principles of the fellowship. “Now if Timotheus come, see ... for he works the work of the Lord even as I” (1 Corinthians 16: 10). “Abounding always in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15: 58). The assembly of God in Corinth, “With all that in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (chapter 1: 2). That is the great mark of what is for God in any place. That is a personal, conscious link with the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, God has called us “into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord”. God has called us to be inside that enclosure, the fellowship of the blood of the Christ and of His body. We are all one body as partaking. There is only one will now. Satan has been working to break down that distinctive fellowship, but the work of the Lord is to build it up. There is to be no breach in the wall. It depends upon each individual being true to the fellowship. It is not in Nehemiah 3 that the Lord appoints, but that each one comes forward to do his bit, and it is all co-ordinated under the Lord so that there is no overlapping and no gaps; like the house of Stephanas.
In Nehemiah 3 it is the fellowship seen in relation to the work of the Lord. Not gospel work here, but such a sense of the value of God’s city that we want every element of the world shut out and kept out, for there is really nothing in common between the two.
The wall of the city was jasper, like the One who sat on the throne. The wall suggests the thought of the one universal [p. 258] fellowship, but views it as exclusive of all human associations. You come to fixed boundaries. There are no divinely fixed boundaries except the fellowship, so it is a great thing to have these set up by saints, for here it is what saints do.
Each one had to build in line with many others. The fellowship is universal: we have to build in line with brethren all over the world. So that we do not want local customs. Paul appeals to the customs of the assemblies of God. It is possible for saints all over the world to walk together in the same fellowship with the same customs. So that what is of God comes into view — God amongst His people. Something brought in to shut out the human mind by bringing in what is of God. Our houses are to be in the fellowship. “The assembly which is in thine house”. We do not expect to find worldly people in the houses of the saints; or worldly books; or wireless. Every sect would hinder the work of God for He has the thought of the one fellowship before Him. Do not get narrowed up to a small number of the saints. If I were able to do much entertaining, I should like to have them all.
The Lord would have each one to feel, ‘I am engaged in a world-wide work’ — the greatest thing on earth, as Jerusalem was to those who loved God. True saints meet together with a sense that they belong to the greatest thing on earth!
“Build the walls of Jerusalem” (Psalm 51).