Time for Some Historical Context

Pray for those who have trouble identifying their gifts, that they (that we, for this describes each of us at various points!) might understand the unique gifts God has created in them (in us).

Time for some historical context!

There were good reasons why a restored city wall was so important to the recovery of Jerusalem.  Administrative changes in the government of Persia, which had overtaken Babylon during the Exile, meant that Artaxerxes was willing to give Nehemiah some measure of independence in rebuilding Jerusalem.  The same administrative changes that helped our man Nehemiah, however, also afforded greater freedoms to the other provinces of western Persia.  As a result, Jerusalem faced real threats from a whole host of neighboring rulers.  We’ll hear more about Sanballat, governor of Samaria; Tobiah, governor of Ammon; and Geshem, leader of the Arab Kedarite confederacy in coming weeks.  For now, suffice to say a wall was Necessary with a capital N.

What’s most interesting, for our purposes, is the manner in which this wall was rebuilt.  Nehemiah didn’t hire a crew of builders and set them to work.  He enlisted all of Jerusalem’s residents!  Each family was responsible for pulling its weight.  The sons of Hassenaah… the inhabitants of Zanoah… the daughters of Shallum, son of Hallohesh… the specific names, you’ll be relieved to know, are far less important than the reality that Jerusalem in all its diversity was called to work.  And they did.  And the wall was constructed—in 52 days—using fifth century B.C. technology. 

Impressive.  More to come on Sunday!