"CONCERN FOR THE PEOPLE!"

Written and preached by David P. Nolte

NEHEMIAH 1:1-11

Centuries ago, it was known far and wide that a certain tribal leader was the greatest in all the tribes. When power was measured by proving superior physical strength, the most powerful tribe of all was the one that had the strongest leader. But this tribal leader was also known for his wisdom. In order to help his people live safely and peacefully, he carefully put laws into place guiding every aspect of tribal life. The leader enforced those laws strictly and had long ago acquired a reputation for uncompromising justice. He showed great concern for the people, but in spite of the laws, and in spite of his good leadership, there were problems. So it was with Israel. God had chosen them from all peoples, had cared for them, had given them laws for their own good, guidance and protection. But there were problems. The people rebelled, disobeyed, followed idols and ended up in captivity to Babylon. During the reign of Artaxerxes in Susa, news came to Nehemiah about the distress of the people who were in Jerusalem. During the reign of Cyrus, at the end of the 70 year captivity, many had gone back to the homeland. The Temple had been rebuilt, but the walls remained broken down. When he got the sad news, Nehemiah wept, fasted and prayed about this. Like the chief, and like God, he shows great concern for the people.

CONCERN FOR THEIR DISTRESS: VV3, 4:

The distress was manifold:

They had been conquered by a foreign, pagan nation.
Many had been carted off to Babylon where they'd send 70 years in captivity. Some would never see their loved ones in Jerusalem again.
They witnessed the destruction of their city and the Temple built by Solomon.
The Jews who had returned to Jerusalem were held in contempt and reproach by the surrounding pagans who lived in the vicinity.

The people were in distress and Nehemiah was concerned. He is like Abraham Lincoln who shed tears over the oppressed and vulnerable people of the world. He is like Jesus who lamented over obstinate Jerusalem.
Though in captivity himself, Nehemiah was living in the palace as the king's cup-bearer. That meant he got to sip out of the cup first and if he lived, the king could safely drink. Yet, he was in a privileged position. Frequently when that happens, when we are in a pretty cush spot, we lose our sensitivity to the harder lot of others. But Nehemiah's heart remained tender to his fellows in Jerusalem. It was not

"Out of sight, out of mind!"
"Better them than me!"
"I'm not my brother's keeper!"
"It's not my problem! I have enough to worry about of my own!"
"Oh, well, I'm so far away, I can't do anything about it."

What do we care about the distresses of others? How moved are we when others face difficult situations of not their own, or maybe even of their own, making? Do we pray and fast and weep over it?

The single mother who's at her wit's and money's end?
The child who has no father to provide a masculine role model?
The shut-in who's brightest moment of the day is when the nurse breaks the monotony by coming in to draw blood?
The one who hears the ominous prognosis, "It's terminal!"?

When Nehemiah learned about the condition of the walls of Jerusalem and the people, he became concerned. Nehemiah cared greatly about the distress of Jerusalem. God cared about it, too. One day it came to the attention of the chief that someone in the village was a thief. The chief was concerned about the distress the thievery brought to his people. He called the people together. "You know that the laws are for your protection, to help you live safely and in peace," he reminded them, his eyes heavy with sadness because of his love for them. "This stealing must stop. We all have what we need. The penalty has been increased from ten to twenty lashes from the whip for the person caught stealing."but the thief continued to take things that didn't belong to him, so the leader called all the people together again."please hear me," he pled with them. "This must stop. It hurts us all and makes us feel bad about each other. The penalty has been increased to thirty lashes."still, the stealing continued. The leader gathered the people together once more. "Please, I'm begging you. For your sake, this has to stop. The pain it is causing among us is too great. The penalty has been increased to forty lashes from the whip." The people knew of their leader's great love for them, but only those closest to him saw the single tear make its way slowly down his face as he dismissed the gathering. He had concern for the disobedience of the people. Nehemiah was also burdened about the sins of his people.

CONCERN FOR THEIR DISLOYALTY: VV6, 7:

Note how he includes himself in the group of sinful. It is not "Mr. Clean" appalled at the dirt of "those bad guys!"
God spoke prophetically of the disloyalty of the people saying, "But if you or your sons shall indeed turn away from following Me, and shall not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you and shall go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Isreal from the land which I have given them, and the house which I have consecrated for My name, I will cast out of My sight. So Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples. And this house will become a heap of ruins;" 1 Kings 9:6-8a. Due to idolatry, that all actually happened and now Nehemiah recognized that the people, himself included, had been guilty of disloyalty to God:

By acting corruptly. The NIV says, "wickedly" but the Hebrew means to pervert, or offend, or bring travail. They had perverted their worship to go after strange gods, they had offended God and brought Him grief. They had disregard for Him and His will.
By disobeying God's commandments, statutes and ordinances. They were disloyal to their oath and covenant to keep His Word.

There is a constant influence, a constant potential, for disloyalty to God:

When we fall in love with the temporal world and its material things as did Demas, James calls that spiritual adultery. 2 Timothy 4:10; James 4:4. That's disloyalty.
When we love anyone, even those we ought to honor like or father or mother or wife or children, more than we love Jesus, that's disloyalty. Matthew 10:37.
When we grow cold and indifferent in our love for Christ and His Church, that's disloyalty. REVELATION 2:4.
When we choose to follow our own inclinations and desires more than to obey His commands, that's disloyalty. Romans 1:28-32.

Jesus disallows any fence straddling here; it is for Him or against Him; obedient or disobedient, loyal or disloyal. Luke 11:23.

Nehemiah was concerned about the disloyalty of his people. So was the chief. Whoever the thief, or thieves, might prove to be, there was a great disloyalty to his authority and the good of the tribe. Finally, a man came to say the thief had been caught. The word had spread. Everyone had gathered to see who it was. A single gasp raced through the crowd as the thief emerged between two guards. The tribal leader's face fell in shock and grief. The thief was his very own mother, old and frail. What will he do? The people wondered aloud, a hushed murmur fanning out. Would he uphold the law or would his love for his mother win over it? The people waited, talking quietly collectively holding their breath. So Nehemiah waited, as it were, with bated breath to see what would happen to his people.

CONCERN FOR THEIR DELIVERANCE: VV8-11:

He reminds God of two things. Not that God forgets, but it is not a bad way to pray because it puts things right on the table. He said

You promised to restore the repentant. It is his hope that the tribulations would have softened the hearts of the people to make them amenable to God's authority.
These are Your servants, Your people whom You redeemed. Don't let your work be for naught and your people be extinguished.

God is a God of deliverance!

Deuteronomy 33:26 "There is none like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to your help, And through the skies in His majesty."
Psalms 37:39, 40 "But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in time of trouble. And the Lord helps them, and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked, and saves them, Because they take refuge in Him."
Isaiah 25:4 "For Thou hast been a defense for the helpless, A defense for the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; For the breath of the ruthless Is like a rain storm against a wall."

God may not deliver us out of our difficulties

Immediately. Sometimes we share the Psalmist's experience: "How long, O Lord? Wilt Thou forget me forever? How long wilt Thou hide Thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? ... But I have trusted in Thy lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation. I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me." Psalms 13:1, 2, 5, 6. David knew that soon or late, he would ultimately rejoice in God's deliverance.
Ever, in this life.

We may suffer the problem as long as we live, but He will be with us to sustain us. Paul wanted the difficulty removed from his life and God gave him grace to endure it. 2 Corinthians 12:9.
1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it."
Deliverance doesn't necessarily mean having all the problems solved, the difficult people removed, the pain assauged, the disease healed, the crisis eliminated. It means to be carried safely through it or being given the ability to face it or being preserved in it by the grace of God.

But God will always deliver us from guilt, anxiety, fear, futility, restlessness, and wrath!

Nehemiah desperately wanted the deliverance of his people. God wanted their deliverance as well. But what would the chief do in light of his own mother's malfeasance? Would he keep the law, or would he deliver the culprit since she was his own mother? Finally their leader spoke. "My beloved people." His voice broke. In little more than a whisper he continued, "it is for our safety and our peace. There must be forty lashes; the pain this crime has caused is too great." With his nod, the guards led his mother forward. One gently removed her robe to expose a bony and crooked back. The appointed man stepped forward and began to unwind the whip. At the same moment, the leader stepped forward and removed his robe as well, exposing his broad shoulders, seasoned and solid. Tenderly, he wrapped his arms around his dear mother, shielding her with his own body. He whispered gently against her cheek as his tears blended with hers. He nodded once more, and the whip came down again and again. A single moment, yet in it love and justice found an eternal harmony. How that reminds us of Jesus who "Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed." 1 Peter 2:24. He is the suffering servant of Whom Isaiah spoke, saying, "All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him." Isaiah 53:6. The greatest distress you will ever face is a life ruined by sin; the greatest disloyalty you will ever commit is to turn your back on the One who loves you most; the greatest deliverance you will ever realize is forgiveness of sin and reconciliation to God. Jesus has already endured the cross out of concern for the people -- by trusting Him and obeying Him in faith, you will benefit by the covering He provides to spare you the punishment of the wrath of God. He is ready to deliver you, He is willing to deliver you, He is able to deliver you and will do so if you come to Him confessing your guilt and receiving His grace.

"ETERNAL HARMONY" BY JOHN MACARTHUR, MORE STORIES FOR THE HEART, COMPILED BY ALICE GRAY, MULTNOMAH PUBLISHERS, INC. SISTERS, OREGON.

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