Love’s Labour: not Lost, but Lengthy, Lambasted and Luminous
September 5, 2021
Ezra, Nehemiah & Malachi
Ephesians 2:8-10;19-22

As I began to prepare for this morning; and in spite of tomorrow’s designation, I chose to be lazy not to labour. That is, I decided not to spend serious time researching the origins and details of what is sometimes called Narrative Theology. Thus my non-scholarly summary states that this approach, emphasizes the story style of large parts of the Bible and more or less affirms, that in spite of the great diversity on display, the scriptures are essentially one story, outlining the relationship of God and humanity.
That perspective, at least in part, lies behind the study that many here have been following for the last several months. Today we arrive at the end of Book One, usually known as the Old Testament. As in all good narratives, the story is multi-layered, inter-connected and spell-binding.
The Old Testament ends roughly 400 years before the birth of Jesus and offers us a glimpse of Judah resettled, the temple rebuilt and Jerusalem re-established as a place of government for the immediate area. Today’s readings present an account of the last piece – a wall reconstructed around Jerusalem that makes it once more a city of some significance. For the people of Israel, this last part is important to their understanding of being God’s chosen ones. It forms the heart of the covenant God made with their ancestors - Abraham, Moses and David.
I won’t dwell on it this morning, but the literary types among us, might note that in Malachi, Ezra and Nehemiah, the conclusion of Book 1 in essence features a prophet, a priest and a king [or at least the King’s representative]. Book 2 is all about someone who bears the titles Prophet, Priest and King – Jesus the Christ.
Fitting for this week-end, there is much labour front and center in today’s part of the story. In a remarkable way, all this labour offers several insights into life as God’s covenant people. One of the clear lessons we can learn is that this labour is a lengthy process. Temples are not constructed quickly, even under ideal circumstances. The one completed in the book of Ezra, took 10 years of actual building effort, spread over 25 years. Its forerunner, took even longer. David began gathering the materials and Solomon oversaw the its completion.
This lengthy labour proceeded in the face of many threats and challenges. A large number of those difficulties are caused by forces hostile to the people of God. There are several examples as Book 1 draws to a close. Esther had to deal with Haman. The early returnees had to deal with Rehum and Tattenai. And Nehemiah had to deal with Sanballat and Tobiah.
These enemies lambasted the labour of rebuilding God’s covenant people in a variety of ways. Here are a few that we find in today’s section of the story. “When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, … in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? … Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!” Belittling, minimizing, ridiculing are weapons, those opposed to the work of God, commonly use to assail those who are labourers in God’s activities.
Throughout most of 20th and the late 19th centuries, people of faith were likened to unenlightened primitives who still embraced belief in a flat earth and geocentric universe. Now some of those former faith critics, are debunked as colonial racists and misogynists and their statues thrown down. Sadly, their detractors perpetuate the same kind of misguided attacks!
Have you ever remained silent in a social or academic setting to avoid being ‘put down’ because you believe in God or Jesus’ physical resurrection or maybe that society should seek to affirm the value of every human life? Diminishing the worth of God’s people is an attack tactic that has a lengthy history.
Ridicule assails the spirit. Threat goes after the will. It seeks to destroy the commitment to obedience. When Sanballat can’t convince Nehemiah of his insignificance, he asserts his own capacity to inflict harm. “Sanballat, … plotted … to come and fight against Jerusalem”. Intimidation is a two-edged sword – one edge belittles, tries to make you feel small; the other edge inflates, attempts to make your opponent appear big. Either way the goal is to paralyse and prevent the building up of God’s covenant promise and purpose.
Those tactics are overt. Two others are more devious. “Then, … Sanballat sent … an unsealed letter in which was written: ‘It is reported … that you … are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king … .’” It is a blatant lie, but has the aura of truth. Everything Nehemiah appears to be doing would be what someone seeking to rebel would do! Ever take a moral stand and find yourself slandered as a judgemental, hateful, narrow-minded bigot? It has no credence to anyone who knows you, but the outward appearance could support the smear. In Nehemiah’s case, the lie gets repeated and repeated. As Goebbels understood, tell the lie often enough and people assume it must be true!
“they were scheming to harm me”. Slander was but one deceitful method. Betrayal, bribery, propaganda, rumours, misinformation – the whole range of treacherous behaviours were brought to bear in the enemies’ attempts to halt the completion of God’s restoration of his people. The work was delayed, but not lost. And Book 1 ends with God’s people re-established in Jerusalem and Judah.
This is largely due to luminous leadership. Let me quickly highlight several facets that led to the successful labour outlined in today’s part of the story. I will focus primarily on Nehemiah. He exhibits many great attributes for one who would lead God’s people. Each is in the story, but I won’t cite the text.
Empathy. When Nehemiah learned of the desperate situation in Judah, his heart broke. Humble dependence. In his distress he prayed to God. He put himself wholeheartedly in God’s hands. He risked. He had status before the King, but he was there to serve, not be served. Yet he made the King aware of his inner turmoil. He sacrificed. He had a cushy job in the capital. He was willing to leave it all, for the sake of others and the furtherance of God’s purpose. He is a man of courage. From beginning to end, Nehemiah exhibited great fortitude in the face of danger. Those are five stellar qualities of character evident in the story.
He also has great practical skills. As soon as he arrives, he surveys the situation with stealth. He has heard reports. He has a mandate and mission. But first, at night, he scouts out the wall. Now he knows firsthand the challenge. With confident passion he rallies the people. He is no Pollyanna. He lays it out honestly, but also with vision. ‘We can do this!’, he asserts. ‘We can do this!’, the people enthusiastically reply. He strategized. The task was great, the enemies lethal. He devised plans. People were assigned work suitable to their situation. Guards were appointed. Provisions distributed. When the demand changed, methods were altered. He confronted. Slackers and profiteers were called out and injustice was quickly remedied.
In 52 days, 95 years after the first exiles returned, the labour of re-establishing Jerusalem as a place for God’s covenant people was completed. In Nehemiah we observe a host of leadership skills shining with brilliance. But he wasn’t alone. Ezra was there. Together they offer further aspects of luminous leadership.
Again, without direct reference here are some on display in the story. The importance of worship is evident throughout. Before the walls, came the temple. Now they hold a great spiritual event celebrating the completion of this part of the labour. Observe the various facets highlighted. It’s an all hands on deck service. The worship leaders are all present. Scriptures are read and explained. There is repentance and affirmation of restoration. There is public recommitment to faithfulness. And all ends with hope and joy and community. In this gathering together, the core essence of what being a covenant people entails is exemplified. It is not buildings nor lands nor political power, it the saving, restoring relationship between God and God’s chosen. That is the labour at the heart of this celebration.
Malachi highlights one more thread of leadership essential to this labour. Neglect a building and it falls into disrepair. Neglect the essence of being God’s covenant people and sin will wreak havoc. Ezra, Nehemiah and Malachi all confront the failures of God’s people to maintain their commitment to being faithful. Some are sins of commission – for example breaking their marriages. Some are sins of omission – the neglect of tithes and offerings. Constant vigilance and courage to confront are part of the luminosity needed so the labour of building a people of God is not lost.
Let me conclude with a sneak peek into Book 2. I already alluded to the theme of prophet, priest and king bridging the two sections. The centrality of the temple as core to the identity and well-being of God’s people also binds the two parts of the story together. There is one major difference. Now the place dedicated to God’s worship and filled with God’s presence isn’t constructed with bricks and mortar or wood, plaster and steel; rather God’s dwelling place is flesh and blood, you and me. We are God’s temple. We are the labour of God’s covenant. Together we are being formed at this very moment into a temple that can both receive and reflect God’s glory. You and I are Book 3 in the story.
The same themes from the end of Book 1 apply. This labour will be lengthy. It goes on day after day, throughout our whole lives. But we also have been given a peek of the end – what God has begun, God will complete. It may be lengthy, but the labour will not be lost! And there will be difficulties. Throughout the whole development of a ‘holy temple’, attempts to deconstruct will multiply. Open efforts to undo or destroy the faith and commitment of God’s people, subtle plots to undermine them.
Let us therefore learn from our predecessors and lean on those who lead us into the light. Listen. Learn. Laud. Let us never lose sight of who we are and whose we are. Let’s with our whole heart rejoice that – “ In (Christ Jesus) the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.” That is the labour we do together with God. Amen