The Cup-Bearer Turned Contractor

August 18, 2009
 
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
 
            For the next four weeks, we will be studying the life of one of the Bible’s most underrated and least known figures. While most of us were raised on a steady staple of David, Moses, and Abraham, it was not until later in life that I read about the great rebuilder of the Jerusalem wall, the cup-bearer turned contractor.  
            Meet Nehemiah, the Bible’s version of Ty Pennington.
            We don’t know much about him, except that he was an Israelite living in a foreign land, working for a foreign king.  Through shrewd negotiating, he gained approval to take a band of countrymen back to the homeland, some 140 years after their people had been exiled and their cities destroyed.  What ensues is an ancient story replete with modern parallels.  In fact, these moments from Nehemiah seem to leap off today’s headlines:

·     He had to deal with harsh critics who threatened to undermine his national initiatives.
·     He conducted a rancorous town hall meeting, in which people complained about a down economy, unfair taxes, and unjust lending practices.
·     He needed to cast a vision for a new community ethic, based both on personal responsibility and mutual concern.

           On the surface, the story of Nehemiah is about a massive public works project.  And what a project it was:  the wall, when completed, stretched 27 miles long, was half a football field deep, and was built against all odds, including a shortage of labor and the constant threat of attack.  Yet they completed it all in 52 days  (take that, Iowa D.O.T.!)
            But on a much deeper level, the lasting influence of Nehemiah was not found in bricks and mortar, but in the rebuilding of human hearts and a God-fearing community.  In fact, when putting together this upcoming sermon series on having a refreshed faith, I found numerous connections to this incredible story, one for each week in the series:

·     Nehemiah was spiritually centered, grounded in a life of earnest prayer.    
·     He was certain that people were stronger when they banded together in small groups, and were better able to withstand tough times.
·     He and Ezra reminded the people of the importance of the Scriptures, reading them aloud and fostering a renewed sense of identity and responsibility.  
·     He called for an unwavering commitment for the people to be followers of God.

           Forget about stone and cement.  Nehemiah’s greatest achievement was the rebuilding of the Israelite faith.
            For the next four weeks, we will follow his story, and experience together how our faith can similarly be renewed. We’re calling the series “reFresh: Giving Your Faith a Fresh Start.” And we’ll learn new ways to jump start our faith with fresh looks at prayer, small groups, and scripture reading.  You’ll also be hearing about the five new small groups we will be starting this fall, and will be encouraged to sign up for one, especially if you have never been part of one before.
            When it comes to having a rebuilt and refreshed faith, let us be guided by these words of Nehemiah: “The God of heaven is the one who will give us success, and we his servants are going to start building.”
 
Grace and Peace,
 
Magrey