In Nehemiah 7 the walls of Jerusalem have been rebuilt after years and years of neglect during the exile.
Now Nehemiah has decided to return to King Artaxerxes (probably to report on progress) and needs to appoint leaders in his stead to remain and continue to lead the effort to restore the city.
Two men are selected Nehemiah’s brother and the governor of the castle. For some reason the scripture records why Nehemiah selected the governor of the castle over other men. There is no indication that Nehemiah needed to justify his decision, but he does and it works to encourage all of us on two central expectations God has always had for His servants for all of time.
First, Nehemiah says the man was faithful. Who can find a faithful man? Who can find a faithful woman? Where are the dependable people of God? Where are those who you can count on day in and day out?
Merriam-Webster defines faithful like this: “firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty.”[1]
Are you faithful to your duties and responsibilities in the House of the Lord, in the city God has placed you to live? Would Nehemiah see you and describe you as a faithful person?
Second, Nehemiah says the man feared God more than many. Do you fear God? Is there any indication that you are concerned with standing before God some day to account for your life? Or have you bought into the lie that Christians have nothing to fear about the Judgment Seat of Christ?
Do you order your life in a particular way and made decisions based on the reality that there is a Sovereign God for whom you will give an account one day? Or have you decided you don’t have to sell out to God?
King Solomon declared that the whole duty of all human beings could be summed up with this one verse.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man (Eccles 12:3).
We all struggle from day to day but Nehemiah encourages me to keep a healthy fear of who God is and be faithful till God calls me home.
How about you?
[1] Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary., 10th ed. (Springfield, Mass., U.S.A.: Merriam-Webster, 1996).
