Celebrating Success (Nehemiah 6:15-7:4)

Bible Passage: Nehemiah 6:1-14

Success can sometimes make some people uncomfortable. When a new project is embarked upon, so much attention can be given to the challenges ahead and the battles that must take place that when the venture has succeeded it can leave people disorientated. The journey can be so highly esteemed that the destination can seem anti-climactic.

God doesn’t give people visions for great works just so they have something to do. God-given burden results in God-given results through God-empowered hard work. Nehemiah and the people had put in the long hours grafting to see the walls built, and after 52 days of work those walls were completed. God had given them a job to do and they had done it. As a result things were different. The people living in God’s city were no longer shamed and vulnerable.

We should expect that as we embark upon God-given visions that we will experience success. There will be a day when the work is done, when we have accomplished what we set out to do and can enjoy the difference that it makes. This section of Nehemiah helps us to see some of the features of success:

Continued Opposition: Though Nehemiah and the people had won and their opponents had lost in as far as the wall had been built, this did not result in an end to the opposition. Tobiah, the old ruler, was still on the scene and a number of the rulers still had loyalty to him. Correspondence was exchanged, and the end result of this was that Nehemiah was left afraid and intimidated. A victory doesn’t mean all the battles are over. Even as Christ defeated Satan on the cross, Satan will still try to cause mischief for God’s people until the day of his final defeat when Christ returns.

New Leadership: With the walls built, there was a need for new leadership in the city. It was going to thrive once more and there was a vacancy for the position of governor of Jerusalem. Nehemiah chose for the role his brother Hanani and as commander of the castle, Hananiah. They were not chosen because of their proximity to Nehemiah, but it is noted that Hananiah’s character was faithful and God-fearing. It is often the way that success creates space for new leadership to emerge.

New Opportunities: Verse 4 gives a stark appraisal of the situation. With the walls built, the few inhabitants of the city were like ants rattling around. The city was large but most of it was still in ruins. It was a space with plenty of opportunity for those who wanted to move back in and who were willing to put in the work to create a new life for themselves. Victory can give opportunity for others to craft out a place for themselves, just as when Joshua conquered the land, there was the opportunity for the tribes to take the land as they rooted enemies out of hills and valleys.

Potential Applications:

• Take some time giving thanks to God for things that he has done. It can be easy to quickly move on to the next task, but it is good to recognise the blessings that we see he has already given.
• You could take the opportunity to cast vision for the new opportunities that are before you and inspire people to step into whatever is next.