(REFLECTIONS ON Nehemiah 3:1-32)

As we read the list of names of the people that worked on rebuilding the wall, and what sections they contributed to, what stood out to me was the repeated use of the words “next to.” This wasn’t an individual effort, but a group effort, and although each individual or group worked on the section in front of them, next to them was another individual or group that worked on a different section.

Nehemiah couldn’t carry this burden on his own and complete the work by himself. Yes, he had this vision and burden from the Lord, but he wasn’t the only one. The only way this worked was that they all had a vision and burden from the Lord.

12 Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters.

Yes, this was indeed a family affair and it was the family of God that came together to complete this important work. We are also the family of God, and we are gathered together as a church to make repairs together, next to each other, and heal the brokenness in our own lives, in our family, and in our world.

This work can’t be done by an individual alone, but working together, next to each other, both in one on one settings, and group settings, this is all our responsibility and our privilege. May we be united together as a church, as a fellowship of believers, and work together, hand in hand, next to each other, to be the blessing that the Lord desires for us to be.

Yes, this takes time, commitment, and work, but this is the good work that the Lord prepared in advance for us to do. If we are just fine with the status quo, just concerned about our own healing and not the repair of this broken world, then it is my prayer that the Lord would place this burden on our hearts.

This can’t just be my burden, or your burden, but it needs to be our burden. A family affair means this needs to be our shared responsibility and our shared response in faith to Jesus Christ that saved us and called us for His good work.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Nehemiah 3