Week Two: October 10-16
Nehemiah 3:1-12
Then the high priest Eliashib set to work with his fellow-priests and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set up its doors; they consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred and as far as the Tower of Hananel. And the men of Jericho built next to him. And next to them Zaccur son of Imri built.
Nehemiah 3:1-12
Then the high priest Eliashib set to work with his fellow-priests and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set up its doors; they consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred and as far as the Tower of Hananel. And the men of Jericho built next to him. And next to them Zaccur son of Imri built.
The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate; they laid its beams and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars. Next to them Meremoth son of Uriah son of Hakkoz made repairs. Next to them Meshullam son of Berechiah son of Meshezabel made repairs. Next to them Zadok son of Baana made repairs. Next to them the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord.
Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah repaired the Old Gate; they laid its beams and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars. Next to them repairs were made by Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite—the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah—who were under the jurisdiction of the governor of the province Beyond the River. Next to them Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs; and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. Next to them Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs. Next to them Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house; and next to him Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs. Malchijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. Next to him Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs, he and his daughters.
Commentary
There are many wonderful things about the story of Nehemiah. It is in many respects a classic underdog story. You have an oppressed and conquered nation that rallies its will, marshals its resources, commits to doing what seems impossible, and then rebuilds even with the threat of attack from neighboring tribes and cities/provinces. But perhaps the greatest miracle of Nehemiah occurs in the power witnessed to in the single-mindedness of this community. Together, every household does its part to bring the wall of Jerusalem out of the ground, out of its rubble, and into formidable order. The miracle is that each household committed together, shoulder to shoulder, to get this daunting project done. It was the community, working together that did this profound thing. The rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem was not the singular victory of a particular family that bankrolled the effort. Everyone threw down and threw in. That saints, is miraculous! And in the end, each household was able to look at the wall and say together with full ownership, “We did this!”
There are many wonderful things about the story of Nehemiah. It is in many respects a classic underdog story. You have an oppressed and conquered nation that rallies its will, marshals its resources, commits to doing what seems impossible, and then rebuilds even with the threat of attack from neighboring tribes and cities/provinces. But perhaps the greatest miracle of Nehemiah occurs in the power witnessed to in the single-mindedness of this community. Together, every household does its part to bring the wall of Jerusalem out of the ground, out of its rubble, and into formidable order. The miracle is that each household committed together, shoulder to shoulder, to get this daunting project done. It was the community, working together that did this profound thing. The rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem was not the singular victory of a particular family that bankrolled the effort. Everyone threw down and threw in. That saints, is miraculous! And in the end, each household was able to look at the wall and say together with full ownership, “We did this!”
Questions for Discussion
1. Think of a time that you experienced the very real power of a community pulling together to do an extraordinary thing. How did people commit together to do the thing? What was the outcome? What would have happened if people had opted out and decided not to participate?
2. When you are in community, especially God’s community, how does it strengthen you and help you walk taller as a person of faith? How does this faith community challenge you to be bolder and more faithful as a child of God?
3. How do you see God at work, for the sake of the world, through the community of St. Stephen? How do you think we could be even stronger as a community?
1. Think of a time that you experienced the very real power of a community pulling together to do an extraordinary thing. How did people commit together to do the thing? What was the outcome? What would have happened if people had opted out and decided not to participate?
2. When you are in community, especially God’s community, how does it strengthen you and help you walk taller as a person of faith? How does this faith community challenge you to be bolder and more faithful as a child of God?
3. How do you see God at work, for the sake of the world, through the community of St. Stephen? How do you think we could be even stronger as a community?
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