Nehemiah 6:15-7:4 (New International Version)
The Completion of the Wall
15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.
17 Also, in those days the nobles of Judah were sending many letters to Tobiah, and replies from Tobiah kept coming to them. 18 For many in Judah were under oath to him, since he was son-in-law to Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah. 19 Moreover, they kept reporting to me his good deeds and then telling him what I said. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.
Nehemiah 7
1 After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed. 2 I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with [a] Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do. 3 I said to them, "The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses."
The List of the Exiles Who Returned
4 Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.
6:15 經過五十二天的工作，整個城牆在以祿月二十五日完工了。6:16 我們周圍鄰國那些敵人聽到了，覺得很丟臉；因為每個人都知道，
7:1 現在城牆已經修建好，城門也安置好了；聖殿守衛、詩班隊員，
一、中心內容：
內容：
1>城牆修建工程終於完成。（v15）
2>看到城牆修建工程完工，鄰國敵對者感到丟臉，
3>有好些猶太人的領袖，由於姻親關係，跟敵對的多比雅交好、
4>尼希米安排看守耶路撒冷城的人員與交代相關事務。（
主題：
1>榮耀的勝利。Glorious Triumph
2>最後的安置。Final settlement
二、上帝、耶穌基督、聖靈是誰？
1>施恩幫助人的上帝。（v16）God shows mercy and helps people. (V16)
三、給我的教訓（命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告）是什麼？
1>但以理預言實現 the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophesy
經過五十二天的工作，整個城牆在以祿月二十五日完工了。（
15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. (v15)
但以理是第一批從耶路撒冷被擄到巴比倫的俘虜之一，
但以理曾經預言，耶路撒冷的城牆將會重新被建立。你要知道，
Daniel 5:29- 6:3, 29 Then at Belshazzar's command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom. 30 That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, [i] was slain, 31 and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.
1 It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2 with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. 3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
Daniel was among the first wave of captives to Babylon. He was in the same situation as Nehemiah, which was being a captive appointed to an important official position. He prophesied the reconstruction of the city wall. We should have in mind that the time for the edict to be issued to the time of God’s chosen man to appear on the stage, it took 70 X 7 years for this event to take place.
24 "Seventy 'sevens' [c] are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish [d] transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy. [e] 25 "Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree [f] to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, [g] the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. (Daniel 9:25)
如今，但以理的預言終於實現了。顯示：上帝是背後真正的掌權者！
Finally, Daniel’s prophecy was fulfilled. It showed that God is the real ruler behind the scenes!
反省：我是否相信凡事都有定期？也就是說：
Reflection: Do I believe that there is time for everything? It is to say that in everything there is God’s perfect plan. How do I seek after, perceive and follow God’s will and plan?
2>敵對勢力的潰敗 The defeat of the enemy’s power
我們周圍鄰國那些敵人聽到了，覺得很丟臉；因為每個人都知道，
16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.
尼希米與敵對勢力之間，經過這麼長期、費心的周旋，
After dealing with such an oppositional power, the work was finally finished in fifty-two days, on the twenty-fifth of Elul. That was the day of the enemy’s defeat.
反省：面對這一場長期的屬靈爭戰，我是否擁有必勝的信心？
Reflection: When I face spiritual battles, do I have the confidence to win? Do I truly believe that God will help? How will I seek for and lean on His help?
3>彰顯上帝的權能 God’s power was manifested
我 們周圍鄰國那些敵人聽到了，覺得很丟臉；因為每個人都知道，
As stated in verse 16, the enemies were ashamed when they heard the news that the reconstruction work was done. They knew quite well that it was done through God’s help. In this spiritual battle, even the gentiles would know about God’s power and His holy name.
反省：我是否曾倚靠上帝得勝，以致於在外邦人面前，
Reflection: Have I ever depended on God to win the battle so that His power, might and glory are manifested before the non-believers?
4>慎選服事的同工 Be prudent in selecting co-workers
現在城牆已經修建好，城門也安置好了；聖殿守衛、詩班隊員，
1 After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed. 2 I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with [a] Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do. (7:1-2)
當城牆修建工程完成，城門也安置妥當之後；
尼希米特別強調：哈拿尼雅是個可靠、敬畏上帝的人，
同樣的道理，在事奉的過程中，同工的產生，其他諸如：學歷、
Nehemiah assigned people to their duties according to their faithfulness before God.
The same thing applies to the appointing of co-workers. Education, experience and talent of speech may seem good and attractive, yet, it is more important to choose people who are reliable and faithful to serve God.
反省：針對服事上帝的同工，我是否看重？我是否慎選？
Reflection: Do I take choosing co-workers seriously? Or do I choose anyone without discretion?
5>謹慎的處事態度 Prudent attitude in handling issues
我吩咐他們，清晨天沒大亮以前，不可開耶路撒冷的城門；
3 I said to them, "The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses."(v3)
當服事人員安排妥當之後，尼希米還特別作了一些指示，
通常城門都是在黎明時分就開啟，以方便商旅進城預備擺攤做生意。
以上，尼希米的提醒與指示，顯示：尼希米設想周全、處事細膩。
After finishing the selection of people to be in charge, Nehemiah decreed the opening and closing time of the gate. He also assigned personnel to stand guard at certain posts and to run the shifts around the adjacent residential areas.
The custom was to open the city gate at dawn to let merchants in to run their business. Yet, Nehemiah commissioned the people in charge not to open the gate until the sun was hot and to close the gate at sunset. The guards were to lock the gate and bar it before they got off duty. His purpose was to prevent the enemies from attacking the city while it was less alerted. It showed that he was prudent in everything he did.
反省：根據以上所述，尼希米「設想周全、處事細膩」的態度，
Reflection: What do I learn from Nehemiah’s attitude in handling issues?
四、我的禱告 / 實際應用
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