SHAME ON THE NOBLES OF TEKOA
A careful study of the third chapter of the book of Nehemiah
motivated me to write this piece, my emphasis though is on the fifth verse.
This story is not new to many of us, Nehemiah returned to
Jerusalem to rebuild the city wall. The rebuilding wall project was divided
into portions and each portion was assigned to different families and groups.
“Next to them the Tekoites made
repairs; but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work of their
Lord.” Neh 5:3
Here we have the nobles of Tekoa, and when we talk about nobles,
we talk about the people who belong to the rich class in their days, the billionaires,
the very important personalities (V.I.P), men who can single-handedly rebuild
the city wall but they refuse to use their resources for God.
The attitude of these nobles is a lesson to everyone not to rely
or put our trust in man but rather trust the Lord for help. The Bible speaking
in Jeremiah 17:5-8 about putting one’s trust in a mortal man.
“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that
trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.For
he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh;
but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a
salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth
in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by
the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and
shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be
careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” Jer 17:5-8
Shame on the nobles of Tekoa because God built the walls without
the co-operation of these awkward squad. The walls were built and sadly for
them they missed out on the joy of being a part of it.
There will always be a dissenting minority, perhaps even vocal who
will not join with what everyone else is doing. These nobles were mentioned and
singled out here not for good reason but for their refusal to support God's own
project.
If you are like the nobles of Tekoa, God expect you to repent and
change so that you could be remembered for your good deeds and lay up for
yourself treasures in heaven where moth, rust and thieves cannot reach.
“Lay not up for yourselves
treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break
through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither
moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:19-21