The zeal of Nehemiah was used of the Lord to rouse almost all of the people of Jerusalem. There
were degrees of energy among them and, it may be, lukewarmness if not hostility in the hearts
of some; but outwardly, and by profession, nearly all came forth and offered their services as
builders. It was, in fact, a real revival, and such a one as could only be produced by the Spirit of
God. And the value God set upon it is seen in that He has caused the names of those who engaged
in this work to be written and preserved. This very circumstance shows that they had His mind
in building the wall. It could not be otherwise, for what was the meaning of their proposed work?
It was that they, led forth by Nehemiah, confessed their need of separation from the nations
around, and took measures to secure it. Long ages before, Moses had said to the Lord, "Wherein
shall it be known here that I and Thy people have found grace in Thy sight? Is it not in that Thou
goest with us? So shall we be separated, I and Thy people, from all the people that are upon the
face of the earth" (Exod. 33:16). They had forgotten this truth; but now, through grace, they were
about once again to take the place of a people set apart for God.

In several cases in this chapter it is specified that certain ones repaired over against (or opposite)
their houses (verses 10, 23, 28, 29, etc.). The Spirit of God would have us understand the spiritual
meaning of this. Bearing in mind that the wall is an emblem of separation, we see-that these
servants of the Lord began first with their own houses, that they sought first of all to bring their
own families into subjection to the word of God, and thereby to effect separation from evil within
the circle of their own responsibility. And this has ever been the divine order. Thus, when God
called Gideon to be the deliverer of His people, He commanded him to throw down the altar of
Baal in his father’s house before he could go forth to battle against the Midianites. As another has
remarked, "Faithfulness within precedes outward strength. Evil must be put away from Israel
before the enemy can be driven out. Obedience first and then strength. This is God’s order."

Another interesting point may be noticed. Some who built the gates and assisted with the wall did
not repair opposite their houses. Eliashib, the high priest, for example (compare verse 1 with
verses 20 and 21), and those who repaired opposite their houses, are not said to have assisted in
building the gates, etc. Two classes of saints are herein indicated. The first class is made up of
those who may be termed "ecclesiastical saints," that is, those who are strong on Church truth,
and in maintaining the truth of separation from evil for the Church, and at the same time are
careless as to their own houses. A more sorrowful spectacle cannot be presented in the Church
of God (and one not infrequently seen), when a public advocate of the claims of Christ over His
people, of the maintenance of His authority in the midst of those who are gathered to His name,
allows his own house, through its disorder, to become an occasion of reproach by the enemy.
Eliashib is an example, in this chapter, of this class. Whatever the indifference of his heart, he was
professedly engaged in the maintenance of separation and justice and judgment in Israel_through
building, together with his brethren, the gate and sanctifying it, while at the same time leaving
others to care for the wall opposite his own house (see verses 20, 21). Tending the vineyard of
others, his own vineyard he had not kept; this is proved by the fact that he was allied unto Tobiah
the Ammonite, while his grandson married a daughter of Sanballat the Horonite. Eli, Samuel, and
David of an earlier day are also examples of this numerous class.

Then there are others, as we learn from this chapter, who are most zealous in tending their own
houses and regulating them according to God, but are almost completely indifferent to the welfare
of the Church. Such have apprehended the truth that they themselves individually are to be
witnesses for Christ; but they have not learned that the Church is to be a light-bearer in the midst
of the world. In other words, they have not realized the oneness of God’s people, that believers
are "the body of Christ, and members in particular." As a consequence, while they fully admit the
Word of God is their guide as to their individual path, they do not recognize its authority over the
saints collectively or corporately. They are thus often linked with such departures from the truth,
such disregard of the supremacy of Christ as Head of the Church, through their public connection
with the people of God, as would fill them with fear if they did but own their responsibility in the
Church as well as in their own families. But if we understand the position in which through grace
we have been set, it will be our earnest desire to unite the repairing opposite our own houses with
building the wall and the gates.

Nothing in the service of the Lord’s people passes unnoticed; thus in verse 12 we read that "next
unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his
daughters." The zeal of these godly women has thus obtained for them a place in this memorial
of the work of the Lord. Such a record, as well as the more abundant records of the New
Testament, shows that there is never any difficulty as to women’s place in service when they are
filled with the energy of the Spirit of God. The account preserved of Joanna the wife of Chuza,
Susanna, and many others who ministered to the Lord of their substance, of Mary and Martha,
of Phoebe, a servant of the Church, of Priscilla, of Persis, and of many more, is surely sufficient
for guidance to any who are willing to sit at Jesus’ feet and learn His mind. This scripture gives
us not necessarily what man saw, but what God saw. The father and his daughters were all
engaged in repairing the wall, and the fact that it is mentioned is its commendation. Beyond this
nothing can be said; but the examples already cited are enough to teach that there is room enough
in the Church of God, and also in the world, for women’s utmost energy and devotedness to
Christ, provided it be exhibited in subjection to Him and to His Word.

Reviewing the whole chapter, two other points of great importance may be specified. The reader
will observe that some labored in companies and some alone. Some were happiest when serving
in fellowship with their brethren, and some preferred, while in full communion with the object
their brethren had in view, to labor in single-eyed dependence upon, and alone with, the Lord.
The same thing is observed in every age of the Church. There are vessels which are adapted for
lonely service, and there are others almost useless unless in association with others. There are
dangers besetting the path of both. The former are often tempted to be isolated and to forget that
the Lord has other servants working for the same ends, while the latter are sometimes betrayed
into forgetfulness of individual dependence, as well as into the sacrifice of their own convictions
as to the Lord’s will in order to secure peace and union. The important thing is to receive the
service from the Lord, to labor as He directs, to go where He sends, whether alone or in company
with others, and ever to maintain a single eye to His glory. Happy is that servant who has learned
the lesson that it is the Lord’s will, and not his own, which must govern the whole of his activities.

The second noteworthy thing is the variety of the services of these children of Israel. One did one
thing and one another, while all were working for the same end. It was no mean shadow of the

various functions of the members of the body. Paul, speaking of this, says, "Having then gifts
differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according
to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he that teacheth, on
teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation; he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that
ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness" (Rom. 12:6-8). The importance
of occupying the position given us to fill, and of exercising the special gift or function in the body
bestowed upon us cannot be too much pressed. Every Christian has his own place which no one
else can fill, and his own work which no other can do; the health and prosperity of the assembly
depend upon the recognition and the practice of this truth.

(From An Exposition of Nehemiah.)