“Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land.”
Nehemiah 5:16 NIV
“I had work to do; I worked on this wall. All my men were on the job to do the work. We didn’t have time to line our own pockets.”
Nehemiah 5:16 The Message
Last time we saw Nehemiah working through his personal leadership integrity in writing. He compared how the previous governors laid heavy taxation burdens on the people, but out of reverence for God, he refused to act that way. Today we see one more way Nehemiah sought integrity and one more reason.
Nehemiah and all his men helping him had work to do. They didn’t have time to “line their own pockets,” obtaining land they didn’t need. There’s something about being on mission with God. A sense of purpose that, along with holy reverence of Him, helps keep us on track, avoiding pitfalls and distractions.
The Hebrew word for work here is melakah and we’ve seen it on here before. It can mean anything from craftsmanship to cattle; from business to property to service. It is dignified and varied and worth our focus.
The other Hebrew words surrounding this are fantastic as well. All (kol – the whole, totally) my men assembled (qabats – to rally) and continued (chazaq – to strengthen, take stand) to (al – hovering over) work. Or: the whole of my fellow workers rallied together and a spirit of purpose hovered over us to strengthen the work.
How about you? Do you have a beloved community in which a God-given spirit of purpose unites you all? It doesn’t have to be fancy, you know. It could be your close-knit family loving each other and opening your hearts to those outside of your unit. Or a group of friends who have become a close-knit family. Or fellow prisoners seeking to encourage each other. Or a neighborhood united to better each other’s existence. Or a Bible Study seeking to know God’s Word better and falling into purpose as you begin to love and live life together.
Unlike Nehemiah, we don’t seek to build walls, do we? During our time on earth, our charge is to build bridges. To seek reconciliation with God and each other. It’s such beautiful craftsmanship, a worthy charge. Not to mention a sense of purpose that can help us keep our integrity in tact. He is worthy of our reverence and His call on our lives worthy of pursuit.
I love that I’m typing this on Resurrection Sunday. No more sacred act of reconciliation purpose ever existed than the God-Man becoming sin so we could become righteousness.
“Tell me did the enemy panic as You took up that cross?
Tell me did the darkness cry mercy as You rolled back that rock?
I know Your life is the life in mine
And I know Your love is the reason why…”
His love and hovering purpose built the ultimate, unattainable bridge between God and people. It is finished. And now? Enduring power to lean into the Spirit’s working in each of our walks.
I’m so glad He’s Alive.