See now, the Lord, the LORD Almighty, is about to take from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: all supplies of food and all supplies of water, the hero and warrior, the judge and prophet, the soothsayer and elder, the captain of fifty and man of rank, the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter. I will make boys their officials; mere children will govern them. People will oppress each other— man against man, neighbor against neighbor. The young will rise up against the old, the base against the honorable. A man will seize one of his brothers at his father’s home, and say, “You have a cloak, you be our leader; take charge of this heap of ruins!” But in that day he will cry out, “I have no remedy. I have no food or clothing in my house; do not make me the leader of the people.”
Isaiah 3:1-7

In this text, God is about to judge the nation of Israel for their unfaithfulness to him, and one of the ways he judges this nation is by removing its leaders. It says, “The Lord Almighty is about to take from Jerusalem… the hero and warrior, the judge and prophet, the soothsayer and elder, the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter.” One of the implications we can take from this passage is that leadership is a gift from the Lord. When Israel needed a godly leader, God gave them prophets, judges, and kings. He gave them Samuel, David, Elijah, Isaiah, etc., to bless the people and lead them into righteousness. However, when a community or a nation is in rebellion towards God, God often removes their leadership or gives them unsuitable leadership (v. 4).

It is no surprise that when we look at many of our national and local elections, we often find ourselves not voting for a person we want but voting for the lesser of evils. The world is in a leadership crisis, and the answer is not more training or more education. The answer is God. God is the ultimate leader and the reproducer of leaders. In fact, Scripture declares that there is no authority but that which comes from God (Romans 13:1). Leadership comes from the Lord and godly leadership is a gift from him.

Therefore, if we are going to fix the leadership crisis in our churches, our schools, our homes, and our nations, we must start with God. He is the giver of authority and leadership, and he is the one who takes them away. Therefore, the primary way that we can learn about leadership and, specifically, how to become a godly leader is by studying God’s Word. Second Timothy 3:17 says that the Word of God is useful for equipping the man of God for all righteousness. Leadership is a righteous act that Scripture is more than suitable to equip us for.

And, possibly the greatest book in the Bible that we can learn about leadership from is the book of Nehemiah. When somebody wants to learn about worship, they go to the Psalms. When somebody wants to learn about wisdom, they go to Proverbs. But where should a person go to learn about leadership? Most would say that we should go to the book of Nehemiah.

Nehemiah, the cupbearer to the king of Persia, persuaded the king to support the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem (Neh 2:5) and motivated Israel to rebuild ruins that had been abandoned for more than 140 years (586 BC-445 BC). He led the rebuilding project while under the constant threat of attack by Israel’s antagonistic neighbors. He completed the rebuilding of the walls around Jerusalem within only fifty-two days. If this were not enough, Nehemiah demonstrated great humility and wisdom as he enabled Ezra and the Levites to help bring spiritual revival to the nation of Israel. The book of Nehemiah is a tremendous narrative on godly leadership. Let us drink deeply from it, and may God use us to be the answer to this leadership crisis in our communities and ultimately in our world today.

May God richly bless your study.

So far in our developing a method for studying the Bible we have noted that while the narratives themselves give us the basic reports of the events, what we call the story lines, the quotations in the story reveal to us what is actually going on and why. So we focus on the quotations a good deal. Now in the account of the temptation of Jesus that is going to be true as well. With the quotations we know what kinds of temptations the devil brought to Jesus, and how Jesus overcame them.

We have also seen that the narratives are filled with citations from and allusions to the Old Testament. This should come as no surprise, for our Old Testament was their Bible. And they knew it well--they were people of the book. It would be hard to interpret these events without the understanding of Scripture. So we learn that even though we are in the New Testament, we have to spend a good deal of time searching the Old Testament to get the full understanding and background.

It is also true that there are frequently parallel experiences to be compared (such as the killing of the children by Herod and the killing of children in the Babylonian invasion according to the record of Jeremiah). Sometimes the parallel events do not at the outset seem that unique (a birth in Bethlehem--there had been lots of births in Bethlehem). But on closer study there are some significant comparisons (it was the birth of the king).

And so now in Matthew 4 we will find that the subject matter is temptation. Well, there are zillions of temptations--everyone is tempted to sin, almost daily, if not hourly. But, there is something different going on here. Here Jesus, at the outset of His ministry, is confronted by the devil with all his power, and He does not sin. Biblical writers from the outset have seen the parallel between this temptation and the very first, the temptation of Adam and Eve. The Bible, in fact, will refer to Jesus as the second Adam, the head of a new “race” of people born into the family of God. As we shall see later in Matthew, with the agony in the Garden, the crown of thorns, the sweat, the nailing to a tree or cross, all the motifs in the record of Genesis 2 and 3 find a corresponding solution at Calvary. Likewise, the temptation.

And so we can think for a few moments about parallels and contrasts between the two great temptations, the first which plunged the human race into sin, and the second which began the way back with victory over Satan. Perhaps the most celebrated “study” of these two events are the works of John Milton, “Paradise Lost” and “Paradise Regained.” It is at the temptation of Jesus that Satan realized that he could not ruin Jesus as he had the parents of the race, and therefore that he could not stop God’s plan of redemption.

You might want to make a list of comparisons and contrasts to think this through further. In Genesis Adam and Eve were in a lush garden with all the food that they could eat; in Matthew Jesus is in a wilderness where he has been fasting for forty days. In Genesis the temptation was to eat; and in the wilderness the temptations of Jesus began with eating. In Genesis the temptation was to be like God by disobeying God; in Matthew the appeal to Jesus was to be the king, but without obeying God. In Genesis Adam and Eve sinned because they did not know precisely what God had said, not as well as Satan did; in Matthew, Jesus was victorious because He knew Scripture better than Satan. In Genesis, after the pair sinned, angels barred them from the tree of life; in Matthew, after Jesus drove the devil away, angels came and ministered to Him.

So with this history in mind, we can look now into this little passage in some detail. Mark 1:12,13 mentions the temptation, but does not include the details. Luke 4:1-13 provides a parallel account to what Matthew has. This raises an incidental question: how did these writers know about the event? The simplest answer is that Jesus told His disciples, and that report found its way to Paul and therefore Luke. The only significant difference is that in Luke the second temptation is concerning the kingdoms of the world, and the third is the temptation to jump from the pinnacle of the temple. Putting things in a slightly different order is a frequent characteristic of the different gospels, whether parts of an event or a teaching, or major events. The different gospel writers are writing for different audiences and are arranging the materials for their individual purposes. It does not make a major difference in the interpretation of the passage if one of them comes before another. Matthew’s is probably the original, and Luke seems to have reordered it with the Gentile world in mind (although you will find a lot of scholarship that spends a lot of time deciding who was first). We can appreciate why Luke would have the emphasis on the kingdoms of the world being Satan’s to give coming before the temptation in the temple of Jerusalem.

Reading the Text

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. ²After fasting for forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.

³The tempter came to Him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” ⁴Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

⁵Then the devil took Him to the holy city and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. ⁶”If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

‘He will commend His angels concerning you
and they shall lift you up in their hands,
So that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

⁷Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

⁸Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹”All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” ¹⁰Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”

¹¹Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Observations on the Text

The structure of this narrative is relatively easy to trace: there is in introductory section providing some details, then three temptations with three answers, and then an aftermath. The main focus of the study will, of course, be on each of the three temptations, to determine what the temptation actually was and how Jesus dealt with it.

The introduction, the first couple of verses, tells us a couple of very significant things. First, that He was led by the Spirit of God into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. This is the same Spirit that just descended on Jesus at His baptism. Almost immediately this Spirit forces the temptation. This has to be given some careful thought. What it indicates is that it was the plan of God for Jesus to begin His ministry with this challenge--and that it was not the devil’s doing. The devil was willing to tempt Jesus, to be sure; but it was the Spirit of God leading Jesus to it. The devil could tempt Jesus with every power he had, but he would not succeed. The temptation episode was God’s way of showing that Jesus was the perfect man, that He could resist sin, that he could defeat Satan.

The second thing for us to consider here is the devil, Satan. This is the first introduction to him in the Gospel. Somewhere along the way you should read up on Satan in a good Bible dictionary. This is that old Serpent (Rev. 12:9) who had been in the Garden; this is the prince of demons, the god of this world, the fallen angel (or archangel) who seeks to destroy God’s work. The Gospels do not shy away from affirming that there is a whole spiritual world around the physical world, filled with angelic beings, some of whom rebelled against God with their leader Satan and are therefore evil. These that are the fallen angels, devils, demons as they are called, do the work of their prince, attacking and inflicting all kinds of disorders on those who want nothing to do with God. But that prince, the devil himself, undertakes the more significant efforts. He was successful in getting Adam and Eve to sin and plunge the world into darkness; but he was not able here to defeat the Son of God.

Third, we are told that Jesus had been fasting for forty days and forty nights, and was hungry. There is no reason to doubt that it was forty days and forty nights as the text says; but “forty” is a common number in the Bible for a period of difficulty, hardship, or suffering. One thinks immediately of the Israelites’ wandering for forty years in the wilderness--one whole generation. Forty days was a good long time to be fasting; and that duration is here underscored with the symbolic meaning that it was forty days, the number of duration and testing. You could look in some of the resources for the symbolical meaning of numbers to find other passages where this occurs.

In the aftermath of the contest we read how the devil left Jesus and angels came and ministered to Him. The enemy left as a defeated challenger; and the angels of God came to Jesus and served Him in ways that we cannot quite imagine. But they must have affirmed to Jesus with comfort and encouragement that He had done everything well and had won the victory over Satan.

But the center of this study will be the three temptations themselves, so we should look at them now to determine what they meant, and how they were met.

Analysis of the Temptations

1. Turn stones into bread. The first temptation picks up immediately on the fact that Jesus was hungry, that he had not eaten for forty days. The tempter said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

There is a fine point of grammar here that you would probably learn from a good commentary (unless along the way you studied Greek). You can still understand the temptation without knowing it, but knowing it helps just that much more. Sentences that begin with “if” (called conditional sentences) have different meanings. Some are contrary to fact, and some are not contrary to fact. The way it is written in the original indicates the type. For example, Martha said to Jesus, “If you had been here [but you were not], Lazarus would not have died.” That is a condition contrary to fact. That is not what we have in the words of Satan here. When he said, “If you are the Son of God,” he did not mean “If you are the Son of God [but you are not],” but rather he meant “since you are the Son of God.” He knew who this was, and would build his temptation on it. He was saying, “Look, you are divine! Why should you be hungry? Just change some stones to bread.”

Now then, we have to ask what was wrong with that. Was there anything wrong with making something to eat? He had the power to do it. He multiplied food later for people who were hungry. So why was this a temptation?

The answer, I think, is that Jesus had come out into the wilderness to fast for forty days. That was a spiritual exercise that had a very important place in His life at the moment. But the devil wanted to ruin the mission of Jesus, and so if he could convince Jesus on this seemingly trivial thing to abandon a spiritual work, then he would have had him. The temptation was to turn His spiritual nature into a means of satisfying His material need without reference to finding the will of God. In fact, he would be doing the will of the devil. The devil simply chose a little thing for the test; but it would have destroyed the work of Christ.

The perfection of Jesus is displayed in His refusal. Hunger was not wrong, especially in a spiritual time of fasting (fasting was designed to focus attention on the spiritual and away from the comforts of life). And Jesus was announcing to Satan, and to all of us who will hear it, that it is better to be hungry than to be fed without any reference or recourse to the will of God. Satan had hit the nail right on the head--Jesus is the Son of God. But the essence of Sonship is obedience to the will of the Father. He would not, therefore, act independently of the will of the Father. Jesus knew that the Spirit had led Him into a place that necessitated hunger, and so He would fulfill that task.

In response Jesus quoted from the Book of Deuteronomy: “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” If you go back and read Deuteronomy 8 you will see that the topic there is about the Israelites hungering in the wilderness for forty years. God tested them in the wilderness so that they would learn that they must obey what comes from the mouth of God. He gave them Manna; but to acquire it and enjoy it required that they follow God’s instructions carefully. The main point was that if they obeyed the LORD He would provide their food. And so it was more important to obey God than to have all the food they could eat (recall that Adam and Eve chose to eat rather than obey God’s word).

So Jesus saw through the clever little ploy of Satan. He defeated the temptation by appealing to a clear principle of Scripture. But He was not just quoting a favorite verse; He was drawing in the whole context of the passage to show that if God puts you in a place of deprivation for some spiritual purpose you do not try to change it solely for the purpose of satisfying your physical needs. The first thing that the person must do is try to discover what God is doing through the deprivation, what spiritual growth is desired and how it should be achieved. This would show that one does not live by bread alone, but by everything that God says and does.

2. Throw yourself down from the temple. If the first test was in the realm of the physical, the second is a test of the spiritual. In fact, the test strikes at the heart of the previous victory. Jesus had escaped that temptation by showing that He was not just physical but spiritual, that He could accept the hunger and the weakness if it meant obeying God. And so Satan wants Him to do something spectacular to demonstrate that He is spiritually perfect. Satan was saying to Jesus, “Very well, you have shown your trust in God in response to my first appeal; so now show your trust in God by flinging yourself from the pinnacle of the temple.” This, no doubt, was to be in full view of all the assembled people; they would witness that God was with Jesus in a very special way.

What is interesting now is that Satan himself quotes Scripture in making the appeal. He quotes from a psalm that says that God will give the angels charge over him so that he will not dash his foot against a stone (Ps. 91:11,12). The psalm is a psalm of trust, telling how God protects his people. It was never intended to be claimed apart from practical wisdom. God promises to protect His people; but He has also given them common sense.

The response to this temptation is a little more involved. At the outset one should consider the source: if the devil, or, more obviously for us, someone who has no inclination to obey Scripture, if such a person prompts you to do something that it looks like the Bible says you can do, you would be wise to think it through very carefully. A lot of Scripture is quoted out of context, or partially, and needs to be investigated.

Jesus’ response is also from Scripture: “It is also written, ‘You shall not put the LORD your God to the test.” This also comes from Deuteronomy, 6:16. This is the chapter in the Law that is foundational to Israel’s faith. It had the creedal statement in it, “Hear O Israel, Yahweh is our God, Yahweh alone.” The chapter then exhorts the people to obey His commands, and to do what is good and right before Him--but warns them not to test God.

The moment an individual puts God to the test, that person gives evidence that he or she does not really trust God. The context of Deuteronomy 6:16 refers to Massa and Meribah in the wilderness where the people murmured against God and tested Him--because they did not believe He could or would give them water (“Massa” is one name; it is derived from the verb in Hebrew nasa,. “to test”; the other name is “Meribah”; it is from the verb rib, “to strive”). A trust that is weak or wavering seeks a sign or a dramatic intervention to make it steady.

So Jesus said, “No, my trust is perfect; I do not need to do anything heroic to prove it. And I will not test God’s word by doing something foolish--at your prompting.” And so the spiritual nature of Christ retained its dignity and lived out its quiet, confident trust in the Father. He refused to do something dangerous to see if the angels would protect Him.

3. Fall down and worship me. The last temptation is amazing in its boldness. It is almost as if the devil realized he was not winning, and so with nothing to lose calls for Jesus to worship him. Its purpose was to prevent the work of the king, the work for which He had come into the world.

He took Jesus to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the earth. This verse seems to suggest something mystical, something supernatural. There is no mountain in Israel high enough to see much of anything. But the idea is probably that the devil provided some vision of these kingdoms. And the promise was that he would give them to Jesus if only Jesus would fall down and worship him. Luke adds that Satan claimed he had been given these kingdoms and it was his right to give them to whomever he wished. Satan was saying to Jesus, “Look, you came as the king to inherit the nations. Here they are. Why go through the trouble of being the suffering servant to get to the crown. Give me one moment’s homage and I will abdicate.”

Well, even in the words of Satan there were some clues that this was a malicious temptation. First, the offer was coming from the one who is the prince of liars. Who would knowingly do a deal with the devil? Jesus will later explain (John 8:44) that he was a liar from the beginning and the truth was not in him. What a lie this was. Did Satan actually imagine for one moment that the Son of God would believe him? Never would Satan have given him the kingdoms; that was simply the bait for him to bow before the evil one. Unfortunately, far too many people have believed the evil tempter. Adam and Eve surely did.

Second, all Satan could offer were the “kingdoms,” plural kingdoms--these warring, divided, conflicting powers and races in the world. Who wants them? The Father had promised the Son a Kingdom, united in peace and righteousness and harmony. Of course, there is no way to inherit such a kingdom apart from redemption, apart from changing human nature to make it fit for the kingdom, for without it there would never be peace and harmony in the world. Satan’s offer is a cheap substitute.

So Jesus’ response was, “Away from me Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the LORD your God, and serve Him only.’” This too comes from Deuteronomy (6:13). It is the cardinal truth of Scripture: worship God only. For the righteous there would not even be a thought of bowing down and worshiping the prince of darkness. Jesus would hold to that principle; He would never worship Satan. And so He would receive the kingdom in God’s time, and in God’s way--by defeating Satan, first here in the temptation, and later at the cross.. And His will be a far better kingdom than this world could ever offer.

Old Testament Background

As mentioned above, the obvious parallel and necessary background is the temptation in the Garden. The tempter there came in disguise, in the form of a serpent, a creature that the humans were to rule over; here Satan did not come in disguise, but in a bold and direct attack on Jesus.

In the Garden the tempter took the ploy of questioning what God had said. If you make a detailed study of that passage, Genesis 3:1-7, against the background of chapter 2, you will see that Eve made three changes in the wording (or was it Adam who told her incorrectly?): first she diminished the privileges (God had said “you may eat to your heart’s content of all the trees,” but she simply said, “we may eat”); second, she added to the prohibition (God had said, of this one tree “you must not eat,” but she added, “neither may you touch it”); and third, and most importantly, she was not convinced of the punishment of death (God had said, “You shall surely die,” and she said, “lest you die,” leaving it as a contingency). When the tempter saw this, he immediately denied the penalty for sin in exactly the words of the Creator: “You shall not surely die.” And this is the lie from the beginning, that you can sin and get away with it, or that God will not punish people whom He has made over sins like this.

The two observations to be made here are: Satan knew more precisely what God had said and was able to draw them into a discussion about the word of God with that advantage, and Satan boldly denied that there was a penalty for sin. This is why Jesus said that he was a liar from the beginning (John 8:44).

With that in mind we can see in Matthew 4 that Jesus could defeat Satan because He knew the word of God better than the tempter. He could come back with the wider picture: It is also written. Often temptation requires “getting rid of” one verse, or a prohibition that stands in the way (“if only that passage could be explained differently”). But the victorious believer will know how all of Scripture works, and that behind a prohibition or an instruction there is a general theological revelation that will govern the interpretation and application of details.

But we can also see that there is no trivial temptation. Eating from the tree in the Garden?--such a little thing. Turning stones into bread?--harmless. But each was a prompting from the devil to go against the will of God. And when anyone chooses to act contrary to what the living God wills, that person has chosen death. Satan knew that. We often do not; we often think something small can be winked at, easily rationalized, even though we know at the time it is not what God wants. The Bible is filled with examples of this, and the more you study the Bible the more you will see them. One classic example is the case of Moses. Commanded to “speak” to the rock and bring water from it, he lost his temper and hit it (Num. 20). For that he was not allowed to go into the promised land. Who could blame Moses after putting up with the people for forty years in the wilderness? But, in the eyes of all the people he disobeyed God and gave them the impression that God (and he) was (were) getting fed up with the people. God wanted them to see His power--not Moses’ anger.

Well, in the Garden the aftermath of the temptation is also instructive. The text of Genesis 3 tells us that when the woman realized that the fruit of the tree was good for food, pleasing to the eye, and desirable for gaining wisdom, then she took and ate.

This is probably what John is referring to when he talks of the cravings in the world as the lust/desire of the flesh, the lust/desire of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). Temptation worked on all three levels--desire of the flesh to eat, desire of the eyes for beauty, and the desire to be like God, spiritual pride. But when they ate, all that they discovered were guilty fears and their vulnerability to evil.

New Testament Correlations

Hebrews. The Book of Hebrews tells us that we have a High Priest, Jesus Christ, who was tempted in every way as we are, yet remained without sin (Heb. 4:14-16). This means that He fully understands all that we face in this world--He was tempted in every way, not just in these three temptations at the outset, but throughout His life on earth. Therefore, Hebrews says, we may approach the throne of grace in prayer with confidence so that we may obtain mercy and grace to help in the time of need. Prayer to Christ in the times of temptation and trial is therefore critical for victory over temptation. And this makes sense--seek help from the one who did it.

James. If you look in a Bible study book, or a dictionary, or a theology book, or a concordance, you should find New Testament teachings on temptation or on Satan rather easily. James tells us “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (4:7). That indicates that the devil will go where there is the least resistance. It also indicates that the human heart is capable of producing a good bit of evil without the devil’s prompting, a point that James makes in his epistle.

2 Corinthians. Paul also tells us that Satan masquerades as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14--but read the whole section of verses 1-15). Paul tells us that thanks to Scripture we are not ignorant of Satan’s devices, and therefore should be able to resist the tempter. But it will require more knowledge of Scripture, and better spiritual perception (see Hebrews 5:11-14). By knowing Scripture well, we will both know what the whole plan of God is for our lives, and we will be better able to perceive what would undermine it.

Conclusions and Applications

So we have here a great drama between Satan and Christ. It ends with Christ’s victory over the tempter because of His knowledge and use of the word of God. The attack of Satan was made against every vulnerable point--hunger, trust, and responsibility--and when these were held firmly, there was no other area the devil could attack. He struck at the material or physical need of food, but he found one who knew the spiritual was more important than the physical; he struck at the spirit’s confidence in God, but found one whose trust in the Father did not need testing; and he struck at the carrying out of the divine commission, but found one who was determined to carry out that plan in a divine way. Thus was Satan defeated.

What did this mean for Christ’s mission? It was a foretaste of the victory at the cross. Here Jesus defeated the tempter who tried to ruin His mission. But here Christ demonstrated that He would not be deterred from His mission. It was a very significant spiritual victory over the devil. And it would have given Jesus a tremendous boost (if we can say that reverently); He would know that the anointing of the Spirit gave Him the power to resist the evil one and to fulfill His mission.

On the theological level you might want to get off on an aside and think about what was going on here theologically. It makes a good little discussion. People often wonder whether or not Christ could have sinned, and if not, was it a real temptation? We would probably say that as Jesus He could be tempted, but as the divine Son He could not sin (and so it is bound up in the mystery of the two natures). But we would also say that at the moment of the temptation Jesus may not have known this--it was a real temptation and He worked through it. But Heaven knew He would not sin. In His time in this world there were times when Jesus had that greater knowledge and insight, and there were other times that He did not seem to have it or use it. And when and how this works is hard for us to know. But this was a true temptation. Satan thought he could win. Jesus fought back with His knowledge and obedience of Scripture. And Heaven was not surprised that He defeated Satan. And I do not think Satan was all that surprised either.

The applications or lessons that can be drawn from this passage are many--and you may think up others as well.

One very clear one would be the necessity of knowing Scripture, knowing what God’s will is (not for a career for your life, but the day in and day out spiritual life of devotion and obedience to God). This involves both understanding and being able to use the word of God in making choices between what is good and what is evil.

Another application would be the inspiration that can be drawn from the fact that Jesus as perfect man defeated Satan. Therefore, because he was tempted and because he was victorious, he understands us and stands ready to help. So prayer to him for victory would be a good lesson.

Other lessons can then be drawn from the individual temptations (and these have been discussed above so I will not go into detail here). The first had to do with knowing what is most important in life--obeying the word of God--and not living only to satisfy the flesh, or making a living, or using spiritual resources just to meet physical needs. Living by obedience to God has fallen on hard times today when so many are only interested in security of life through investments and entitlements, or indulging themselves in the good things of life. Seeking the good life can truly crowd out the spiritual things.

The second temptation had to do with trusting God. Those who truly know God and experience the reality of their faith daily do not need to find something spectacular to convince themselves and others. Today there is a growing pre-occupation with miraculous signs. Now God will do miraculous things--when He chooses to do them. But if people seek the spectacular in order to believe, or to convince themselves of the faith, it betrays a weak faith. Remember how in the vision of the rich man and the poor man Lazarus in their rewards, and the rich man asked Abraham for Lazarus to be sent to his family to warn them, thinking that they would believe if one came back from the dead? The answer was, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets [Scripture], they will not be convinced even if one rises from the dead” (Luke 16:31).

The third temptation had to do with fulfilling the commission or plan of God with a shortcut, not doing God’s way. This is the common temptation to avoid the means to get to the ends, or as is said, the end justifies the means. But with God there is a way to accomplish His plan for your life, and it calls for absolute devotion and obedience to Him. But Satan always offers shortcuts, that if looked at carefully, will ruin your life.

So there are a number of very useful lessons that can be drawn from this account. These should start your thinking. You can probably meditate on these for a while and find other examples of how the temptations would work in life, and how knowing what God wants would prevent them. The bottom line is that Jesus demonstrated for us how to achieve victory over temptation. In other words, we do not have to sin. There are ways to spiritual success, if we are willing to take them.

One thing that the rabbis taught on temptation is helpful. You work the issues and temptations and choices out like a business person, with a profit-loss ledger. If you make this choice and do this, what are the benefits, and what will the cost be? In many cases the cost, including fallout afterward, is just too high. A wise decision will count the cost.

If Christ had followed any one of these temptations, the immediate result might not have seemed so great, but the overall results would have been disastrous--He would have been a sinner, another fallen human like us, unable to redeem anyone, and the mission would have been ruined by the devil. But that was not going to happen, for the Father sent the Son into the world to redeem us, and by doing that He had to conquer Satan.

In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before; so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.” I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.” Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time. I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests…
Nehemiah 2

What are characteristics of godly leaders? As we look at Nehemiah, we see a man who had a burden for the people of God. He was over 800 miles away in the Kingdom of Persia serving as the king’s cupbearer. It would have been very easy for him to feel like he couldn’t do anything to help or that he could only pray; however, he not only prayed, he also volunteered to help.

The city of Jerusalem’s walls were broken down and Israel wasn’t practically a nation anymore, as they were scattered throughout the world. Years earlier, there were two migrations back to the land of Israel led by Zerubbabel and then Ezra. They had rebuilt the temple and begun a renewal of worship. However, a great deal of work still needed to be done, as the walls of the capital city lay in ruins, leaving it an easy target for looters. Therefore, God calls Nehemiah to continue the work of restoration in Israel.

God is still looking to raise up leaders to rebuild walls around the world: to restore Christians, churches, and nations to himself. What are characteristics of godly leaders—leaders with character, who tackle God-sized tasks for the Lord? How can we become a leader that God uses? Commentator Donald Campbell found twenty-one principles of effective leadership.¹ However, in this study we will only consider ten.

Big Question: What characteristics of godly leadership do we see in Nehemiah throughout chapter 2?

Godly Leaders Are Patient and Respectful towards Authority

In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before; so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill?” but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?
Nehemiah 2:1-3

In chapter one, Nehemiah, the cupbearer of King Artaxerxes, heard about the problem in Israel and began to pray that God would give him favor with the king (v.11). However, it is clear from the text that God did not answer his prayer for four months. Nehemiah initially heard about the problem in November-December (Kislev, Neh 1:1) and nothing happened till March-April (Nisan, Neh 2:1). He waits on God for at least four months before God opened the door to talk to the king.

As we consider how Nehemiah responded to the king, we can learn a great deal about how to respond to leadership that may be difficult or hard to deal with.

Persian kings had a reputation of being extremely harsh and oppressive. Even though Nehemiah had been praying for four months, it is clear he was not only waiting on God but also the king. Up to this point, he had mentioned nothing to him. While Nehemiah was serving, the king just happened to notice the sorrow on Nehemiah’s face. For a cupbearer to even appear sad in the presence of a monarch could have meant death. This is probably why verse 2 says Nehemiah became “very much afraid.”

To add to the difficulty of working for a harsh and oppressive king, many scholars believe this is the same King Artaxerxes who previously had ordered Israel to stop building the walls of Jerusalem in the book of Ezra (cf. 4:11-23). Listen to what commentator James Boice wrote about this scenario:

Nehemiah’s difficulties did not stop there. To be sad in King Artaxerxes’ presence was dangerous enough. In addition to that, Nehemiah wanted to go to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls, and it was this king who earlier had been petitioned and had stopped work on the rebuilding of the walls as a result of that petition. Nehemiah’s plan meant asking him to reverse his own policy.²

In fact, to show how difficult this would have been, “the law of the Medes and the Persians” was a proverbial saying referring to a law that was unalterable (cf. Dan 6:8).³

Nehemiah’s waiting for four months showed his patience in dealing with a difficult superior. Have you ever had a difficult superior—a boss, a pastor, a father, a husband, etc.? This is not the first time we see this in Scripture. David worked for King Saul, an employer who was jealous of his popularity and wanted to kill him (1 Sam 18). This happens in business, in ministry, and also in the home.

How should we deal with superiors with whom we do not see eye to eye?

Application Question: What can we learn about working with a difficult authority from Nehemiah’s interaction with the king? What does Scripture teach about this?

1. Patience can be effective in changing the heart of an authority.

Consider what Solomon said: “Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone” (Prov 25:15).

Nehemiah waits four months; he does not rush in, and he doesn’t simply give up. He patiently prays to God, serves the king, and waits for God to open a door.

This is a great principle when working in a less than ideal situation; “through patience a ruler can be persuaded.” Godly leaders must learn how to wait not only on God but also on the leaders that God has given them.

2. God can change the hearts of those in authority.

Proverbs 21:1 says this: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.”

Like water in a person’s hand, God changes the heart of the king in whatever direction he chooses. This is a good reminder to pray for even wicked authorities since God is ultimately in control. Look at what Paul told Timothy:

And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to knowledge of the truth.
2 Timothy 2:24-25

God is the one who grants repentance and changes hearts, not us. I have seen many Christians who actually made their situations worse by not waiting on God to change the heart of their leader. Instead they became a thorn in their leader’s side and destroyed their opportunity to minister to their superior and others.

3. We should show honor to those in authority.

Not only was Nehemiah patient with this king, but he continued to honor him as he served. Look at his response to the king’s inquiry: “but I said to the king, ‘May the king live forever!’” (Neh 2:3).

This is how we should respond to superiors who are difficult or hard to work with. We should respect them and honor them. David even did this with King Saul, a man who was trying to kill him. He constantly said, “I will not touch God’s anointed.” David realized that even a bad king is a representation of God’s authority, and there is no authority other than God’s.

Romans 13:1-2 says this:

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

Scripture teaches that Christians are called to honor their superiors, including presidents, employers, parents, teachers, and even pastors. We should do this even when they are ungodly. This doesn’t mean that we don’t challenge them, admonish them, or pray for them, but we do these things in such a way that shows respect for their authority.

Paul said this to Timothy who was a young pastor serving in a church with people older than him: “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father” (1Timothy 5:1).

Paul said that we should even express this honor in daily relationships with older people in the church. We should treat them with honor, even in correction.

Application Question: What makes it so difficult to honor and be patient with a bad authority figure? How can we practice patience and honor in those situations?

Godly Leaders Practice a Lifestyle of Prayer

The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king.
Nehemiah 2:4-5

Interpretation Question: What can we learn from Nehemiah’s prayer while talking to the king?

In chapter 1, we saw Nehemiah praying night and day for four months. However, in this text, we see him pray a quick prayer in the midst of talking to the king. This showed that he not only had times of deep prolonged prayer, but he also tried to live a lifestyle of prayer.

Paul says this in 1 Thessalonians 5:17: “Pray without ceasing.” What does it mean to pray without ceasing? Does it mean to pray every moment of the day? Steven Cole, author of the Riches from the Word devotional series, said this about the phrase “without ceasing”:

The Greek word translated “without ceasing” does not mean without any break, which would be impossible. It is used of a hacking cough and of repeated military assaults. It means that prayer should be something we return to again and again until we obtain an answer.⁴

We pray without ceasing by continually bringing our thoughts before God and talking to him throughout the day. Some have called what Nehemiah did an arrow prayer. It is similar to Peter sinking into the water and crying out, “Lord save me.” It was not an extended prayer but a quick request.

This is what godly leaders do. They practice prayer without ceasing. They have long periods of prayer as seen in Nehemiah’s praying for four months or Christ’s fasting in the wilderness, but they also pray throughout the day, as they are living in God’s presence.

I often practice this in the midst of counseling. As soon as somebody approaches me with a theological question, a request for help, or for my opinion on a situation, I often automatically shoot up an arrow prayer to the Lord for wisdom. We have a God who is all-wise and all-powerful, and therefore, we should petition for wisdom, strength, and grace throughout the day.

Application Question: How are you developing the character trait of praying without ceasing? What are some tips in order to help us pray more like Nehemiah?

Godly Leaders Are Valuable Followers

Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.
Nehemiah 2:6

Interpretation Question: What can we learn about Nehemiah from the fact that the king asked him, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” What does this say about Nehemiah’s service?

After Nehemiah asked to be sent to his home country, the king responded by saying, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” The implication of the king’s response was that he valued Nehemiah’s service and wanted to have him back in the palace soon.

This should be normal for Christians serving in companies, businesses, schools, or churches. We should be a blessing to those we serve. We also see this reality with other men of God in the Scripture.

Interpretation Question: What other men or women of God in Scripture are portrayed as being a blessing to their employers?

• We saw this with Jacob as he was serving Laban. God prospered Laban because of Jacob’s faithfulness.
• We saw this with Joseph when he was serving under Potiphar as his chief slave; he worked so hard that he was exalted to the head servant. The same thing happened while Joseph was in prison; he was exalted to the head prisoner. Finally, Joseph was exalted to second in command over Egypt, as he faithfully served Pharaoh.
• We also saw this with Daniel as he was working in Babylon. Though Babylon was a wicked and ungodly kingdom, King Darius sought to put Daniel over the majority of his kingdom because of his diligence (Dan 6:3).

Christians should be the most hardworking employees and have the most integrity. Many times this will bring disdain from others as it did with Daniel. His co-workers, the Chaldeans, plotted behind his back and got him thrown into the lion’s den (Dan 6). They were jealous of his favor with Darius, the King of Persia.

Colossians 3:23-24 says this:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

The reason godly leaders should be diligent in their service is because we are working for the Lord and not for men. He is the one who will reward us, even if we are mistreated by our employers or others.

In fact, one of the things we know from ancient history is that when Christian slaves were sold in the market they went for a higher price. When they were bargaining, the slave trader would say, “But this man is a Christian. He will work hard for you.” It was for this reason that they typically were more costly.

No doubt, Nehemiah’s diligent labor and righteous conduct played a part in his request being granted by the king and, later, God using him to be a future leader of Israel.

It has often been said a great leader is also a great follower. In the military, there is a lot of writing about followership; one cannot be a great leader unless he has been a great follower. One cannot be a great employer unless he has been a great employee. We see this with Nehemiah. He was faithful with little, and God made him faithful over much (Matt 25:23).

Are you a great follower? Do you serve your superiors as though you are serving the Lord? Remember what Paul said to the slaves in Colosse: “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord” (Col 3:22).

We live in a culture where people, often times, only work hard when the boss is watching or is nearby. Paul essentially said, “Do not serve diligently for their favor or for a promotion, but do it for the Lord.”

Are you being a good follower and a diligent worker? That is one of the characteristics of a great leader.

Application Question: Why are great followers often great leaders? In what ways is God calling you to grow in your followership?

Godly Leaders Are Planners

It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time. I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?
Nehemiah 2:6-8

Interpretation Question: What can we learn from the fact that Nehemiah gave the king a set time and asked for letters for the trip? What does this say about godly leaders?

What is another characteristic of a godly leader? A godly leader is a planner. The king asked Nehemiah how long he would be gone, and he was able to quickly “set a time.” It seems from the narrative that he stayed at least twelve years in Jerusalem (cf. Nehemiah 5:14).

He also asked for letters to give the governors of the Trans-Euphrates to ensure safe travel to Judah (v.7). While traveling, he would have to go through other lands, and, if he did not have letters, they might have sent him back. Having a letter from the king would be the equivalent to having a passport today. He also received a letter for timber to build the gates, the city wall, and his residence while in Jerusalem (v.8).

While Nehemiah was waiting for four months, he was not just praying, he also was planning, and God used that planning to meet Nehemiah’s needs.

Application Question: Have you ever met Christians who claimed to be walking by faith, which meant that they had no real plan? Are faith and planning at odds with one another? In what ways do we see God as a planner?

Often you will find Christians who neglect planning or preparing and claim that they are living by faith. However, when you look at Scripture, this seems to contradict the character of God. God is a God of order—he is a planner.

It is wonderful to look at the story of creation because you can see God’s plan and order there. In the first three days, God created the spheres of the earth: water, land, and sky (Gen1:1-10), and then, in the next days, he filled them (Gen 1:11-27). There is a clear order—create and then fill.

We also see the order of creation in science. When you look at human bodies, nature, and even the solar system, we see a God who meticulously planned and then created.

We also see God’s order for church worship. In 1 Corinthians 14, people were speaking in tongues without an interpreter, giving prophesies with no one to judge, and the women were abusing their role in the church. God essentially said, “Hold up! I am not a God of disorder” and gave them instructions on how to have order in the church (1 Cor 14:28-32). First Corinthians 14:33 says, “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.”

Some in the church think being led by the Spirit means to not plan and to just be free. That’s what was happening in Corinth and, hence, why God gave them a very meticulous plan for how worship should be done including the use of tongues, prophecy, and even the teaching ministry of women in the church. He says, “I am not a God of disorder. I have a plan for worship.”

I remember one time I was invited to give a prayer at a wedding, and I had written down my prayer. Another pastor there had also been asked to perform a ministry at the wedding. While I was reading over my prayer and praying over it, the pastor said, “Oh don’t use that; just be led by the Holy Spirit.” I wanted to say, “Have you ever read the Psalms. Many of them are written down prayers given by the Holy Spirit. In fact, the whole written Word is inspired by God.” The fact that my prayer was written down did not mean it was not led by the Holy Spirit. God is a God of order.

We, also, see God’s order in his instructions on how families should be run. He teaches wives to submit to their husbands, husbands to love their wives, and children to submit to their parents (Eph 5:22- 6:1). God is a God of order; he made plans for creation, worship, and the home. As godly leaders, we should make plans as well.

Now certainly, when all our planning fails, we can trust that our God will lead and provide by faith. But faith does not neglect planning. Planning is a proof of our faith; we plan because we trust that God is leading us (cf. Romans 8:14). Proverbs 21:5 says this: “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”

The plans of the diligent lead to profit, and haste leads to poverty. Godly leaders are planners, and we see that in Nehemiah’s response to the king. What is God calling you to plan for?

Application Question: What are some good principles to use in our planning?

1. In planning, it is good to have prolonged prayer and waiting. Nehemiah prayed and fasted for four months, and in that time, God gave him a plan.

2. In planning, it is good to seek wise counselors. Proverbs says, “In the multitude of our counselors there is victory” (Prov 11:14). No doubt, Nehemiah probably had to talk to various people about the different regions that he would go through, what was needed, and where the best trees would be found. He probably figured out some of his needs by talking to his brother who had just come from Israel (Neh 1:2).

3. In planning, it is good to make long term and short term plans. Nehemiah was planning for at least four months into the future and, probably, years into the future. He had to tell the king how long he would be away. Again, he was probably away for at least twelve years. He had made a long term plan.

We should make short term and long term plans about how to cultivate our professional lives, our spiritual lives, and our health. We should make long term and short term plans about how to cultivate our marriage and family relationships. Plans lead to profit.

4. In planning, it is good to write out our plans. We can assume that Nehemiah wrote down his plans since he kept the memoirs that we are reading here in his book. Sometimes writing down our plans will help us solidify them.

This is true for long term planning but also daily planning. Some people waste lots of time on the Internet, the TV, or other endeavors. Writing down an hourly schedule and a weekly schedule can help us maximize our time and become more efficient. Godly leaders are planners.

Application Question: What are some other principles that one can use in order to become more effective in planning both long term and short term?

Godly Leaders Are Humble, and Therefore, Experience God’s Abundant Grace

And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests. So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.
Nehemiah 2:8-9

Interpretation Question: What can we learn from Nehemiah’s interpretation in verse 8 of how all his requests were answered because of the gracious hand of God on his life?

In verses 8 and 9, we see that the king granted all of Nehemiah’s requests and even blessed him with more than he asked. In addition, the king sent Nehemiah on his journey with officers and a cavalry for protection (v. 9). What should stand out to us in this text is Nehemiah’s interpretation of the king’s favor. He said, “because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests” (v. 8).

One cannot help but notice Nehemiah’s humility. In the world today, leaders often boast about their degrees, their performance, their charitable work, their salary, their houses, their cars, and anything else they can find to boast about. They boast because they see their success as coming from themselves (that’s essentially what a resume is). But, not Nehemiah! Nehemiah saw his success as something that came directly from God.

Nehemiah was humble, which is a scarce commodity in today’s world; however, it is crucial for having favor with God. James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

In order to receive the blessing and favor of God, humility is necessary. When Nehemiah received not only his requests but also an army and a cavalry from the king, we cannot but attribute this to God’s gracious favor poured out on Nehemiah’s humble life.

This is common for a godly leader. We also saw this with Moses. God said this about Moses: that with all other prophets he spoke through visions and dreams but with Moses he spoke face to face (Numbers 12:6-8). Scripture declared that Moses was the humblest man on the earth (Numbers 12:3). The great favor on Moses’ life certainly was grace, but this grace was multiplied because of his humility.

In contrast with a world that is prideful and boastful (1 John 2:16), godly leaders are humble, and therefore, God graciously favors and blesses them.

Application Question: In what areas can we identify pride in our own lives that may be hindering God’s blessing? How can we grow in humility?

Godly Leaders Practice Intentional Solitude

I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.
Nehemiah 2:11-12

Interpretation Question: After Nehemiah’s travel to Jerusalem, why do you think Nehemiah chose not to work for the first three days? What do you think he was doing?

Many times people think of leadership as being equal to busyness. However, this is not necessarily true. It is not primarily what one does in the open that makes them a successful leader, but what they do in solitude. When Nehemiah got to Jerusalem after a two month journey,⁵ he did not immediately go to work; he just stayed there for three days.

What does he do for three days? The text says, “I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart” (v. 12). It can also be translated, “I had not told anyone what God was putting in my heart” (NASB). No doubt, while Nehemiah was waiting, he was abiding in God’s presence and allowing God to put things in his heart so that he could lead the people effectively.

Application Question: Why is this intentional time before the Lord important for us as godly leaders?

It is not what the Sunday school teacher or pastor does on Sunday that is most significant. It is what they do in their closet before God, as they study and meditate on the Word. A leader is made by what he does in solitude, and a leader is broken down by what he does in solitude.

We see this happen all the time as leaders stumble with pornography, adultery, shady business practices, etc. Everything that has been built is destroyed by what a person does when nobody is watching.

Nehemiah spent time alone with God so the Lord could continue to put things into his heart and prepare him for this new ministry to Israel. Isaiah 40:30-31 says:

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

It can also be translated “those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.” We often have to wait and be still in order to hear God and let him strengthen us for the work he has called us to do. It is while waiting on God and being near him that he gives strength and direction.

Certainly, we see a good example of the need for solitude for a godly leader in the story of Joshua. When God called Joshua to lead Israel, he told him his success would be dependent upon his faithfulness to the Word of God. Joshua 1:8 says this:

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Obviously, much of his meditation would have been done alone in the quiet place and that would affect whether he was successful or not.

Similarly, Jesus said this:

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:4-5

Because intentional solitude is so important to the leader’s success, leaders must learn time management skills to maximize their personal time with God. They also need to learn how to say, “No.” Leaders are always in demand, and, if we don’t learn how to say, “No,” we will eventually burn out. Even Jesus went to the mountain to pray, though he knew the crowds were needy and looking for him (Mk 1:35-37). He needed to be alone with God, and so do we. It is what the leader does in the quiet place that brings the blessing of God and ultimately success.

Application Question: How do you practice and guard your solitude with God? How important is it to develop time management skills and the ability to say, “No,” in order to make solitude a priority?

Godly Leaders Practice Critical Examination in Order to Build

By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate.
Nehemiah 2:12-15

Interpretation Question: What can we learn from Nehemiah’s inspection of the walls late at night?

At night, Nehemiah examined the walls. The Hebrew word for “examine” means “to inspect something carefully.” “It’s a medical word for probing a wound to see the extent of the damage.”⁶ Nehemiah was like a loving doctor inspecting the walls of Jerusalem. No doubt, this inspection included planning to see how it could be fixed, what types of skills and equipment would be needed. Nehemiah examined the wall for the purpose of rebuilding it.

In the same way, godly leaders practice critical examination for the purpose of building. Certainly, we see this critical examination in the life of Christ and other godly leaders in the Scripture. Christ critically examined Israel and corrected her in order to draw her back to God. When Christ came to Israel, he essentially inspected the walls in the same way Nehemiah did. Much of his ministry was pointing out the misuse of the law, the faulty character of the Pharisees, and the hard hearts of Israel (Matt 5:20, 13:10-16). He called the nation to repent.

In some way, this is still Christ’s present ministry as seen in Revelation 2-3. John sees Christ walking among the seven lampstands—the churches—and for each church he gives a critique. He told them what they were doing right and what they were doing wrong so they could fix it. He inspects them for the purpose of edification.

Similarly, most of Paul’s letters do the same. They were written to encourage churches and to correct them. He corrects both their teaching and their actions. He critically examined the churches so they could be built up.

Application Question: In what ways should godly leaders practice critical examination in order to better build God’s kingdom?

1. Godly leaders should practice critical examination of the teachings they hear.

We see this with the Bereans who were called “noble” by God because they critically inspected Paul’s teachings against the Word of God. Acts 17:11 says this:

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

One of the problems with our churches these days is that there is a lack of critical examination of teaching. They don’t critically examine the sermons and teachings they receive against the Word of God. We are not talking about criticizing the sermons and the pastors. There is plenty of that. There is a lack of critically examining the worship, the preaching, or even people’s “experiences” in the church to see if they align with Scripture. For that reason, much of what is happening in our churches is not true worship (cf. John 4:23-24) and is not pleasing to God. Godly leaders critically examine, not in pride, but in accordance with the Word of God.

This is even more important because Scripture teaches that in the last days people will no longer be able to stand sound doctrine; instead, they will gather to themselves teachers that will teach what their itching ears want to hear (2 Tim 4:3-4). We are now in this period where much of the teaching happening in our churches does not align with Scripture, or it only teaches parts of Scripture that people want to hear and disregards the rest. How much more do we need Christians who critically examine the Word taught?

John taught us this very principle in his epistle. He said to test the spirits for they are not all of God. “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

2. Godly leaders should practice critical examination of the world culture.

Paul said this:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2

In order for us to not be conformed or pressed into the mold of this world, Christians must critically examine the world culture which includes the books, the music, the TV shows, the teachings, and the customs we encounter. If we do not examine these things, we will inevitably accept them and be conformed to them.

This is important as a protection for us but also as a protection for those we lead. We must point out the folly of the world culture: its sexual immorality, its values, its worldview, and its godlessness. We must examine and openly reveal these things, especially in our teachings, so that those we minister to can be alerted and protected.

3. Godly leaders should practice critical examination of their own lives.

Paul said this: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Paul commands the individuals in the church of Corinth to essentially test if they are really saved. Were fruits evident in their lives that proved the genuineness of their faith? This is one of the most important things we can do in our lives. We must ask ourselves, “Are we truly saved and is there fruit to prove it?”

We must remember that Christ said that many Christian leaders in the last days will say to him, “Lord, Lord.” They prophesied, cast out demons, and did many mighty works in his name; however, Christ will respond to them, “Depart from me you workers of iniquity, I never knew you” (Matt 7:21-23). Maybe, he says this about leaders (those who were serving) because they are more prone to be self-deceived than others. As leaders, we must critically examine our lives. Is Christ living in us?

Another way that we examine our own lives is not necessarily in discerning our salvation but in discerning our sanctification. We need to constantly evaluate our spiritual lives before God. David, a godly leader, prayed this: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). David knew that we have a tendency to be blind to our sins, especially sins of our hearts. Therefore, he prayed for God to reveal any offensive way in him. We should do the same.

Certainly, we must practice this in order to be pleasing to the Lord, but also to minister more effectively. Christ said that in order to properly remove the speck from someone’s eye, we must first remove the plank from ours (Matt 7:1-5). An uninspected life cannot minister to others. We won’t be able to see properly.

4. Godly leaders should practice critical examination of how they minister to others.

Paul said this:

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:10-11

Paul was an expert builder, building the foundations of the church and people’s lives on Christ. He didn’t build on psychology, business principles, or worldly philosophy but on Jesus and his words alone. He said a person should “be careful how he builds.” We must critically examine how we teach, how we counsel, how we lead, etc., for one day God will judge us for how we built (cf. 1 Cor 3:10-14). Many churches and Christian ministries are being built on principles of the world and not the Word of God. Worldly principles can only produce natural results, but godly principles, which come from God’s Word, produce supernatural results. Are we building in such a way that reflects our full dependence upon God?

5. Godly leaders should practice critical examination of the people they minister to.

In the same way that Nehemiah examined the wall so he could build it, we must examine those we minister to, so that we can discern how to better serve them. We do this by asking them questions, watching their behavior, and testing their lives against the Word of God. Then, we can speak the Word of God to them in order to build them up (2 Tim 3:16-17). Paul said that we must speak the truth in love so others may be built up (Eph 4:15). Godly leaders critically examine in order to bring edification.

Application Question: In what ways is God challenging you to practice critical examination so that you can be a more effective leader?

Godly Leaders Work Hard

By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate.
Nehemiah 2:12-15

Another characteristic we discern about Nehemiah, and therefore a godly leader, is his strong work ethic. Godly leaders work hard. We can discern this about Nehemiah by the fact that he worked late into the night examining the walls and making a plan. He mentions the phrase “by night” twice in this passage in verses 12 and 15. Obviously, he did this for emphasis as he worked late into the night inspecting the various parts of the wall. Nehemiah, obviously, had a tireless work ethic.

We see this with many other leaders in Scripture as well. Paul said this in Colossians 1:29 in describing his apostolic work ethic: “To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”

The word “labor” in the Greek means “to work to exhaustion.” Paul worked till exhaustion in serving churches and seeking to help them conform to the image of Christ. Consider what he said to the Thessalonians: “Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you” (1 Thessalonians 2:9).

Paul said they worked night and day so they would not be a burden to the Thessalonians. No doubt, this referred to his common practice of tent making so people would not have to support him financially. Paul did this not only for himself but to set an example for the Thessalonians of how to work hard for God (cf. Acts 20:35).

In fact, Paul declared that he worked harder than all the apostles in his service for the Lord.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
1 Corinthians 15:10

Paul declared that the grace of God in his life enabled him to work hard, and this must be true of us as well if we are going to be godly leaders. Godly leaders set the example for others by working hard. It is very common for leadership to be a veil for laziness (cf. 1 Peter 5:2, 3). Leaders often have very little accountability because everybody works under them, making it easier to be lazy. However, this privilege should instead encourage them to work harder than everybody else in order to set an example. Godly leaders work hard.

Application Question: In what ways have you seen leadership as a veil for laziness? In what ways has God been challenging you to work hard in order to honor him and set an example for others?

Godly Leaders Motivate Others

Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work… I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success...
Nehemiah 2:17-18, 20

The next thing Nehemiah did was motivate the Jews. He did this in several ways.

Observation Question: How does Nehemiah motivate the people in this passage and what can we learn from this?

1. Nehemiah motivates them by identifying with them.

Look at the “us” and “we” pronouns throughout this passage. He says, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” Poor leaders often separate themselves from those they are leading, especially when it comes to failure or disappointment. They separate from the group and blame them for shortcomings. However, they typically associate with the group when it comes to successes. This further alienates the leader from the group. In sports or business, it often creates a team vs. coach situation or employees vs. the employer situation.

Nehemiah does not do that; he becomes one of them. Their problem was his problem. This is probably even more important when one works with “volunteers,” as they are not serving for money or external motivation. Godly leaders lead by identifying with their people instead of isolating them.

2. Nehemiah motivates them through sharing his own personal experience with God.

Godly leaders are often transparent with those they serve which creates intimacy. They are strategically open with both their successes and their failures. Look again at what Nehemiah said: “I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, ‘Let us start rebuilding.’ So they began this good work” (Nehemiah 2:18).

Do we not see this throughout Scripture?

Paul was tremendously open and vulnerable with those he served. In Romans 7, he said, “The things I do, I would not do, and the things I would not do, I do. Who can save me from this body of death?” In 2 Corinthians 1:8, he talks about how he “despaired of life.” He was depressed and down, and he shared that with those who he ministered to. In 1 Timothy 1:15, he called himself “the chief of sinners.” In 2 Corinthians 12, he shares with the congregation the thorn in the flesh that was given him, and he also shares God’s magnificent grace in his weakness (v. 7-10). He was a transparent leader, which made it easy to follow him.

Some leaders are taught to show no vulnerability. The pastor acts as if he does not struggle with pride, lust, or anger, which keeps the congregation from seeing his vulnerability and building intimacy with him. Churches need to hear something about both their leader’s struggles and successes. Knowing he is human helps them to pray for him, to practice both humility and transparency, and to follow him. Godly leaders are transparent.

3. Nehemiah motivated others by pointing to God.

Finally, he encouraged the Jews by pointing to God’s faithfulness. In verse 18, he shared with them all that God’s gracious hand had provided for completing the great work. Then again in verse 20, he says this to those who mocked and doubted: “The God of heaven will give us success” (Nehemiah 2:20).

Nehemiah did not point to his leadership, their natural resources, or the strength of the people. He pointed to God as the source of their power and their future success. This is something that separates a godly leader from a secular leader. While the worldly trust in their strength, wisdom, money, etc., the godly trust in God. Psalm 20:7 says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”

Remember what David said to Israel before defeating Goliath, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26). He also declared his reliance on God before Goliath and the Philistines. He said, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty” (1 Samuel 17:45). David’s confidence was fully in God and this was evident to everyone he spoke with.

What are you putting your confidence in? Is it in the economy? Is it your job? Is it in your degree or your grades? The only place worthy of putting our faith and pointing the faith of others is in God.

Application Question: What are some other effective principles for motivating people, especially volunteers? Have you experienced the difference between leadership that identifies with people and leadership that does not? Which is more effective and why? In what ways can we practice being vulnerable with those we lead?

Godly Leaders Should Expect Opposition

When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites... But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?” I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.
Nehemiah 2:10, 19-20

Interpretation Question: What can we learn about godly leadership from the appearance of the characters Sanballat, Geshem, and Tobiah in chapter 2?

After Nehemiah spoke to Israel, he found that three people were very upset about his plan and ministry to the Israelites. Their names were Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem. “A document of 407 bc (38 years after the events of this chapter) refers to Sanballat as ‘governor of Samaria.’”⁷ Horonaim was a town in Moab, meaning that he was probably from Moabite descent (v. 10).⁸ Tobiah was an Ammonite official with a Jewish name that meant “God is good.” Like other Samaritans, he was part Jewish. Finally, the text tells us that Geshem was Arab. These three became major antagonists to the work of God throughout Nehemiah’s memoirs.

Application Question: What can we learn from this opposition?

1. Godly leaders will experience opposition. This opposition sometimes comes through people, but even more so, it comes from our enemy the devil (Eph 6:10-19).

Look at what Paul said: “For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan stopped us” (1 Thess 2:18).

Paul said how much he missed the Thessalonians and desired to minister to them; however, it was clear that a force hindered them from coming and that force was Satan. Satan “stopped” or hindered them again and again.

We should expect opposition as we serve the Lord. In fact, the greater the work or ministry we are planning, the more we should expect a great attack. It is not uncommon that when going out on the mission field, new missionaries start having demonic dreams, sickness, discouragement, etc. The wise leader should discern this as the necessary attacks that always come with doing the will of God, as Paul did (1 Thess 2:18, 2 Cor 2:11).

2. Godly leaders must respond to attacks with faith in God.

Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem mocked the work of building the wall. But Nehemiah responded with rebuking them and putting his trust in God. He declared, “The God of Heaven will give us success” (v.20). We must trust God in the face of attacks as well. God is sovereign and in control; we must believe that he is guiding his work and that he is ultimately in control of all things, including Satan (Eph 1:11, Job 1, 1 Cor. 10:13). Let us trust God with our work and also with the attacks of the enemy trying to stop it.

Application Question: In what ways have you experienced opposition in doing the Lord’s will? How did you handle it?

Conclusion

What characteristics of a godly leader do we see in this narrative?

1. Godly leaders are patient and respectful towards authorities.
2. Godly leaders practice a lifestyle of prayer.
3. Godly leaders are valuable followers.
4. Godly leaders are planners.
5. Godly leaders are humble, and therefore, experience God’s abundant grace.
6. Godly leaders practice intentional solitude.
7. Godly leaders practice critical examination in order to build.
8. Godly leaders work hard.
9. Godly leaders must motivate others.
10. Godly leaders should expect opposition.

Application Question: Which characteristics of a godly leader do you feel God is calling you specifically to work on and why? How do you plan to pursue these characteristics?

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¹ Constable, T. (n.d.). Notes on Nehemiah. Retrieved January 11, 2015, from http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/nehemiah.pdf

² Boice, J. M. (2005). Nehemiah: An expositional commentary (24). Grand Rapids, MI: BakerBooks.

³ Cole, Steven. “Lesson 2: The Realities of Serving God (Nehemiah 2:1-20)”. Retrieved 1/15/15 from  https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-2-realities-serving-god-nehemiah-21-20

⁴ Cole, Steven. “Lesson 2: The Realities of Serving God (Nehemiah 2:1-20)”. Retrieved 1/15/15 from  https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-2-realities-serving-god-nehemiah-21-20

⁵ Getz, Gene (1995-06-22). Men of Character: Nehemiah (Kindle Locations 739-740). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

⁶ Swindoll, Charles (1998-12-03). Hand Me Another Brick (p. 48). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

⁷ Kidner, D. (1979). Ezra and Nehemiah: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 12, p. 88). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

⁸ MacArthur, J., Jr. (Ed.). (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed., p. 661). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.

Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their Jewish brothers. Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.” Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.” Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our countrymen and though our sons are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others…
Nehemiah 5:1-13

How do godly leaders resolve conflict?

Conflict is a result of the fall. After Adam sinned, he blamed God and his wife. He said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it” (Gen 3:12). The woman then blamed the serpent. The blame game began when sin entered into the world. But also God prophesied that sin would have a terrible effect on the relationship of the man and the woman. The woman would desire her husband and the husband would rule over her (Gen 3:16). In the Hebrew the word “desire” has to do with control or seeking to master something (cf. Gen 4:7). She would seek to control the husband, and the husband would rule her by force. From this relationship, we have conflict in our homes, in our friendships, and in our work relationships. We have conflict between nations. The world has known no years without war. In fact, Paul taught that the acts of the flesh are hatred, discord, fits of rage, and factions (Gal 5:20). To be in discord is to be human.

However, in the midst of this world of discord, Christ said this: “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). In describing those who are part of the kingdom of heaven, he said that they would be known for working for peace and resolving discord.

How do godly leaders resolve conflict? How do we become the peacemakers that we have been called to be? Many people think being a peacemaker means never “ruffling feathers” or causing conflict; however, this is not true. Because there can be no true peace where there is sin, often the peacemaker will need to confront people in sin, so that there can be true peace. We see this with Nehemiah and how he responded to the conflict in Israel.

How can we best respond to conflict in order to bring true peace?

We can learn a lot from Nehemiah, as we consider how he resolved the conflict in Israel. In chapter 4, Nehemiah had conflict from without as the Samaritans persecuted him, but in chapter 5, he had conflict from within which threatened the completion of the wall. The nobles were mistreating the poor and instead of brushing it aside to focus on the wall, he addressed the issues and brought peace and righteousness. In this study, we will consider ten leadership principles on how to resolve conflict.

Big Question: What can we learn about conflict resolution from Nehemiah’s response to the conflict in Israel and how can we apply these principles?

To Resolve Conflict, Godly Leaders Must Not Ignore Problems

Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their Jewish brothers. Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.” Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.” Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our countrymen and though our sons are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.
Nehemiah 5:1-5

Observation Question: What were the internal problems threatening the completion of the wall?

First, they were running out of food because of a famine (v. 2). Secondly, because of this famine, people were selling their fields and vineyards (v.3). Third, people were borrowing money from Jewish nobles and going into tremendous debt as they sought to pay taxes to King Artaxerxes (v.4). As we will see later in the text, the Jewish lenders were charging exorbitant interest rates. Finally, the debt was becoming so high that many of Israel’s children had to be sold into slavery to pay the debt (v.5). This is where the conflict was; it was between the poor and the nobles.

What can we learn from Nehemiah’s response about resolving conflict?

In order to resolve conflicts, we must choose to not ignore problems. Now this principle seems simple enough but the reality is that it’s very easy to know about problems and, yet, give no attention to them. Nehemiah had many reasons for not getting involved. He had a great project going on. Why should he focus on the conflict when they hadn’t built the wall yet? The conflict arose because of the nobles and officials. To challenge them would have brought tremendous pressure on him because they were the leaders of Israel. Many reasons can be found to not get involved. However, Nehemiah chose to not ignore the conflict but instead to address it.

It’s the same for us. We are often tempted to ignore or to overlook conflict. However, good leadership understands the importance of not only getting involved but also resolving the conflict. Conflict has a tendency to spread. First, it is only two people fighting and then others begin taking sides. We can’t ignore the conflict because it will spread like leaven and can eventually lead to destruction (cf. 1 Cor 5:6). Nehemiah doesn’t ignore it, he immediately addresses it.

Similarly, we see a good example of not neglecting conflict in the early church. In Acts 6:1-6, the Greek widows were being neglected in the distribution of food, and when the apostles heard about it, even though they were busy, they responded by selecting the first seven deacons to care for the widows.

Sadly, many leaders simply choose to ignore conflict and focus on the bottom line. However, conflict always negatively affects the corporate climate and productivity. And from a spiritual standpoint, it removes the blessing of God (cf. Psalm 133). God is not a God of disorder but of peace (cf. 1 Cor 14:33)—he can’t bless a community that’s in discord. For that reason, godly leaders must not ignore or neglect conflict. They must get involved and seek to resolve it.

What problems or conflicts does God want you to pay attention to and get involved in?

Application Question: Why do people in leadership tend to ignore problems and conflict? What problems or conflicts is God calling you to get involved with in order to restore peace and righteousness?

To Resolve Conflict, Godly Leaders Must Develop a Righteous Anger

When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry.
Nehemiah 5:6

Many leaders just bypass problems and never address them. They may do this, in part, because they are apathetic towards the situation. Therefore, they never develop a righteous anger which leads to fixing the problem.

Again, Nehemiah is not apathetic and does not brush the problems aside. He actually becomes passionate about the situation. It says that he became “very angry” (v. 6). Often, we, as the church, lack this righteous anger which keeps us from ever becoming part of God’s solution.

Do you realize that anger is an aspect of being made in the “image of God”? Psalm 7:11 says, “God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day.”

Some people think it is always wrong to be angry; but this is not true. Sometimes, it is sinful to not be angry. The righteous anger of God should be within every believer.

Jesus was angry when he went into the temple. He made a whip and turned over the tables of the money changers (John 2:14-16). To some this might seem strange of Christ, even unChrist-like, but this was actually an example of righteous anger. He was angry at sin and therefore sought to bring righteousness.

We need a righteous anger in order to correct sin in our lives, our churches, and our nations. We need it to fight injustices like abortion, trafficking, and racism in society. We should have a righteous anger about sin, not to cause problems, but in order to help bring righteousness.

Interpretation Question: How do we discern if our anger is righteous like Nehemiah’s?

1. Righteous anger should be motivated and confirmed by Scripture.

In this case, the charging of interest and treating their Israelite brothers as slaves was clearly against Scripture. We see this in Exodus and Leviticus.

If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest.
Exodus 22:25

“‘If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you. Do not take interest of any kind from him, but fear your God, so that your countryman may continue to live among you… “‘If one of your countrymen becomes poor among you and sells himself to you, do not make him work as a slave. He is to be treated as a hired worker or a temporary resident among you; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee.
Leviticus 25:35-36, 39-40

In this case, no doubt, Nehemiah’s anger was spurred on by the knowledge of God’s Word and the nobles disregard for it. Our anger should be something that is motivated and confirmed through Scripture as well.

2. Righteous anger should be motivated by injustice towards God or others.

This is clearly seen in Jesus’ example. When it caused offense towards God or others, he became like a lion (John 2:14-16). In the temple, he made a whip and turned over tables. He demonstrated a righteous anger. We should do the same. However, when considering personal offense, righteous anger should respond differently.

3. Righteous anger should be gentle in response to personal offense.

Consider what Jesus taught in regards to personal offense:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
Matthew 5:38-40

Most anger that men struggle with is selfish anger instead of righteous anger. It is not anger about offense towards God or others; it is anger because our pride has been hurt or we have been treated unjustly. It says, “I deserve better than this.” Listen to what Peter said about Christ in describing his example for us as we go through suffering:

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”
1 Peter 2:22-23

Application Question: How do we develop a righteous anger towards sin against God and others? How do we start to practice gentleness when personally offended?

To Resolve Conflict, Godly Leaders Must Be Patient and Self-controlled

When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials.
Nehemiah 5:6-7

One of the reasons that conflicts often do not get resolved in an amicable way is because people react too quickly. We see in this passage that Nehemiah took time to think about the situation. He pondered it in his mind. I have no doubt that he was testing whether his anger was right before God and what would be the best course of action.

Most people’s anger and response is not this calculated. Instead of being patient and self-controlled, we tend to automatically respond with a harsh word or a witty comment. There is wisdom in being patient; there is wisdom in waiting. Sometimes, it may even be wise to wait because the situation might work itself out.

Listen to what Scripture says: “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control” (Proverbs 29:11).

A wise person controls his anger and waits, and certainly, we see this with Nehemiah. What else do we see in Scripture?

Proverbs 17:27 says, “A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.”

A wise person controls his tongue; he is always restraining it. Also, consider Proverbs 25:15 says, “Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.”

As mentioned previously in our study of chapter 2, sometimes we need patience in changing the hearts of others, especially leaders. Nehemiah demonstrates all these things. He is patient, self-controlled, and calculated in his response to injustice.

How do you respond when there is conflict? Are you quick to speak and quick to vent your anger? Are you impatient with God and others? Scripture says this is not wise. We must be patient and self-controlled

Application Question: Why is waiting and being patient before responding to a conflict important? Share a time when you practiced this while in a conflict or helping somebody in one.

To Resolve Conflict, Godly Leaders Must Get Counsel

When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials.
Nehemiah 5:6-7

I believe there is another principle we can take from this passage. The NIV says he “pondered them” in his mind, but it can also be translated another way. The KJV says, “Then I consulted with myself,” and the ESV translates it, “I took counsel with myself.”

Not only was Nehemiah patient and self-controlled, but he also got counsel. He talked to himself and got counsel. Do you ever talk to yourself?

I think there is biblical wisdom in this practice. Nehemiah talked to himself and discerned how to respond. He probably thought about the Mosaic laws that the nobles were breaking and some of the Proverbs that Solomon wrote about on how to handle anger so that he could respond wisely. He considered the wisest course of action.

Certainly, we should do the same. We should not only be patient, but also we should get counsel. Now obviously, Nehemiah felt confirmation about how to respond to this situation because he didn’t seek anybody else’s opinion. However, I think that many times it will be wise to get counsel from others.

Listen to what Solomon says:

Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
Proverbs 11:14 KJV

For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.
Proverbs 11:14 NIV

Where there is no counsel people fall, people have more problems, more difficulties and this is certainly true with conflict resolution. People who don’t get counsel often make their situation worse.

There is safety and victory in the multitude of counselors. This is a general principle; people make a lot of wrong decisions in life for a lack of good counsel.

Who do you have in your life to get wise counsel from? Do you have a mentor or mentors? Scripture says there is safety in the multitude of them.

Application Question: Who are your wise counselors that you communicate with, especially in a potential conflict? How have they helped guide you in the past?

To Resolve Conflict, Godly Leaders Must Practice a Biblical Method of Confrontation

I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, “You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!” So I called together a large meeting to deal with them and said: “As far as possible, we have bought back our Jewish brothers who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your brothers, only for them to be sold back to us!” They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say. So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies?
Nehemiah 5:7-9

Observation Question: What was Nehemiah’s process of confronting the nobles, as seen in Nehemiah 5:7-9?

Another way, we resolve conflict is by using a biblical method of confrontation. We see this clearly taught in Matthew 18:15-17. Even though this revelation had not yet been clearly spelled out in Scripture, Nehemiah followed these directives. Let’s see what Christ taught about confrontation:

“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Matthew 18:15-17

Here, Jesus said that we should approach people one on one. This is very important because this is where conflict often gets worse. Instead of speaking to the person in sin, people commonly tell everybody else about the sin without bringing it first before him or her. Then, we should take one or two others. If they still will not respond, we should bring it to the church. If they still won’t respond, they should be disciplined by the church.

Observation Question: How does Nehemiah demonstrate these steps of biblical confrontation?

1. First, Nehemiah challenged the leaders privately.

Application Question: Why is first approaching the person(s) privately important?

• It is important because there could be a misunderstanding.
• It is important because sometimes the people are struggling with sin and really want help.
• It is important because if they hear about the rumors or the fact that you were talking behind their back, you could possibly lose a friend and an opportunity for ministry. Scripture says a “whisperer separates friends” (Prov 16:28).

2. Second, Nehemiah challenged the leaders publicly.

It is clear that the leaders did not respond to Nehemiah when he challenged them privately so he challenged them publicly. This is where one might say Nehemiah departed from the pattern given by Christ. Instead of bringing one or two people, he immediately calls an assembly. Christ taught that it should be taken to the assembly after bringing one or two people for a second confrontation. Matthew 18:16 says this: “But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’”

However, the principles applied by Nehemiah are still practically the same. Jesus taught that the second confrontation was to confirm the sin—essentially to gain more evidence that the sin was happening. Two or three witnesses was the minimum amount of witnesses needed to convict anyone of a crime according to Deuteronomy 19:15. It said, “One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”

But, in Nehemiah’s situation the leaders’ sin was public; everybody knew about it, and therefore, it did not need to be established by the testimony of two or three. Thus, Nehemiah was still following the heart of Christ’s teaching. After confronting them one on one, he publicly challenged them to repent.

This is something that we rarely see happen in our churches. Someone is living in sin, getting drunk on the weekends and then leading worship on Sunday. However, nobody wants to rock the boat so they say nothing. But Paul said, “a little leaven leavens the whole lump” (1 Cor 5:6). Sin spreads rapidly, and that’s why it must be confronted.

We must confront in love with wisdom and discernment, and if they don’t respond, then it should be done again with one or two more witnesses to confirm. And if they still don’t respond, then it becomes a matter for the church. If they still don’t respond after it has been confronted publicly, they should be shunned and removed from the congregation until they repent. This public confrontation will help others to fear God and turn from their sin. Paul said something similar to Timothy about rebuking an elder in sin, “Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning” (1 Tim 5:19-20).

Again, it is implied that this elder had not repented, and therefore, it would need to become public. The public rebuke is so that they will feel ashamed and be led to repentance, but it’s also meant to warn the church. This is something that needs to be restored to the church so we can be holy and have the power and effectiveness God desires for us.

When we choose to not confront and rebuke, then not only are we hurting the person in sin, but we are hurting the church as well. Sin will start to spread in the church and slowly destroy it (cf. Gal 5:9).

Now, this particularly applies to the church and its members; however, the principles can be applied at a school, a work place, or simply with friends and family. Meet with the person privately, then with one or two others for further accountability, and then it may be wise to bring the parties in conflict together or to bring it before the community. If they still don’t respond, there will be a need for separation or some type of discipline if possible (cf. 1 Cor 5:11-13). The purpose of this is to help the erring person become convicted of their sin, to protect them from further consequences of sin (cf. James 1:14-15, Heb 12:5-12), to turn them back to God, and it is also to protect the community.

Conflict in churches and communities often escalate because people don’t follow a biblical method of confrontation. Instead of meeting privately, rumors develop, creating anger and separating friends. Instead of confronting publicly those who are unrepentant, it is swept under the carpet and because of that, sin spreads.

Another example of church discipline is seen in Acts 5. In this chapter, God disciplined Ananias and Sapphira for their public sin. In the story, God killed them for lying in front of the whole church about selling their land and how they used the profit. What’s interesting is that after this account, we have two seemingly conflicting statements. Look at what the text says:

No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
Acts 5:13-14

No one wanted to join the church because of fear (v. 13). However, God kept saving and adding to their number (v. 14). This was church growth through church discipline. God adds people to a healthy church. Why add people to a church that is unhealthy? Why send people to a church where there is a cancer that is affecting everybody, and nobody is willing to cut it out?

God wants to send people to a healthy church. This is a wonderful truth that godly leaders must practice in order to protect and to restore their communities.

Application Question: In what ways have you seen disorder in a church, a community, or other relationships for lack of using a biblical method of confrontation? In what ways have you seen or experienced church discipline? If you have, what was the process and result?

To Resolve Conflict, Godly Leaders Must Encourage the Fear of the Lord

So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies?
Nehemiah 5:9

One of the ways that Nehemiah challenged the nobles to repent was by the fear of the Lord. The nation of Israel had previously been punished and kicked out of the land of Israel. They had already become a laughing stock to the nations surrounding them in their humble return. These were all part of God’s discipline on the nation for their sin (cf. Deut 28:32, 37). Therefore, he warned them, “Don’t you fear God? Do you want God’s judgment to fall on us again?”

This also is a very effective tool for us to use in conflict resolution. In Matthew 18:23-35, Peter approached Jesus and asked how many times he should forgive someone. “Seven times?” he asked. Jesus replied, “No, seventy times seven” (KJV). Jesus then gives a story of a master who punished a servant for not forgiving another servant.

In the story, a master forgave his servant a great deal of money, but the servant imprisoned his own servant for a far less debt. When the master heard about this, he became angry and put this servant in prison and had him tortured. Look at what Christ says in Matthew 18:33-35:

Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you? In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Christ told his own disciples that they would be turned over to the torturers if they didn’t forgive from the heart. Now, because we know these disciples were saved, we do not believe this discipline had anything to do with hell. Christ’s sacrifice paid the eternal penalty for our times of unrighteous conflict, just as it did our other sins. But, if we don’t forgive others, God will not forgive us (Matt 6:14). In fact, like Christ taught, he will often hand us over to torturers, in order to bring us to repentance.

These torturers seem to be the devil and his demons, sent to discipline a believer. We see Paul command the Corinthian church to hand an unrepentant man over to Satan (1 Cor 5:5). We also see God discipline King Saul through a tormenting demon (1 Sam 16:14). Christ motivated the disciples to forgive by the discipline of God, the fear of God. He promised to send them to the torturers if they would not repent.

Often in counseling others in conflict, I commonly challenge them, as Nehemiah and Christ did, with the “fear of God,” and specifically the promise of discipline in Matthew 18 for lack of forgiving from the heart. He disciplines everyone he loves (Heb 12:6), and therefore, we should have a healthy fear of God’s discipline, especially in the area of conflict. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

Application Question: How do we develop a healthy fear of the Lord? Have you ever tried to motivate someone through fear of God’s discipline? If so, how did you do it, and how did the person respond?

To Resolve Conflict, Godly Leaders Must Consider Evangelism

So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies?
Nehemiah 5:9

Interpretation Question: Why does Nehemiah mention avoiding “the reproach of our Gentile enemies”? In what way was this meant to motivate them towards repentance and reconciliation?

Now when Nehemiah motivated the nobles by fearing God, he also mentioned “the reproach of the Gentiles.” This could mean that God would use the Gentiles to discipline Israel as he did through Babylon, Assyria and many other nations. I’m sure it did mean that, but it was probably so much more. God had called Israel to be a light to the Gentiles. They were to be conduits of God’s grace, leading many to faith. However, when they were walking in sin and under God’s discipline, they forfeited their witness to the world.

It has often been said the “greatest cause of atheism is Christians.” A lifestyle that does not match up to Jesus will often push people away from God. In the same way, Nehemiah is probably motivating the nobles to reconcile and do right because of their witness to the nations around them.

Remember Christ’s prayer in John 17:20-23:

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

He said that the church needed to be unified to let the world know that God sent the Son. Unity affects evangelism! Therefore, when churches are splitting, when Christians are divorcing, fighting over doctrine, and separating, the world says, “No, I really have no reason to believe in Jesus or to want what you claim to have.”

Therefore, we should also encourage people to reconcile not only out of the fear of God, but also because of our witness to the world around us. It is sobering to consider that many times the greatest hindrance to world evangelism is probably church unity. And also, from a personal basis, somebody’s eternal salvation or condemnation could depend on my reconciliation of a relationship in conflict.

Have you ever considered that Christian unity is an important aspect of evangelism? The world is always watching believers and what they see may affect their lives eternally. Evangelism is a serious motivation for conflict resolution.

Application Question: In what ways have you seen Christian discord and division push people away from Christ?

To Resolve Conflict, Godly Leaders Must Set the Example

I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let the exacting of usury stop!
Nehemiah 5:10

Interpretation Question: Why does Nehemiah share that he and his brothers are also lending the people grain (Neh 5:10)?

While challenging the leaders of Israel about their taxation and slavery of the poor, he told them about how he and his men were also lending money and grain. Why did he share this?

I think he shared this in order to show them how bad their sin was. Nehemiah and his brothers were also lending money, but they were not trying to get rich by taxing and enslaving the disadvantaged Jews.

Another practical principle can be seen in this section about resolving conflict. If we are going to resolve conflict we must practice what we preach. It is hard for a person to challenge someone in sin while, at the same time, walking in blatant rebellion in his own life.

In fact, when we have sin in our life, we will be less prone to challenge people at all. As a result, “prophetic preaching” is largely absent in the house of God today. It is hard to speak the oracles of God (cf. 1 Peter 4:11) when our own conscience condemns us. Not only will it dull a preacher’s sword, but it will also remove the trust and respect of the people.

If we are going to be ones who “work hard to preserve the unity of the Spirit” (Eph 4:3), we cannot do it without a holy life. Listen to what Paul told Timothy: “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Tim 4:16).

Paul said that it is not just what you say (orthodoxy), but it’s also how you live (orthopraxy) that will save the hearers. If Nehemiah preached a good sermon but did not live it, he would have been ineffective.

Similarly, we must practice what we preach if we are going to resolve conflict. We cannot talk about others behind their backs and, yet, try to help them restore their relationships or get out of sin. In fact, we cannot have any willful sin in our lives, if we hope to be truly heard by others. We must have both a righteous life and right doctrine if we are going to save our hearers. Reconcilers must practice holiness.

Application Question: In what ways have you seen a compromised life take away from the effectiveness of a person’s words or doctrine?

To Resolve Conflict, Godly Leaders Must Encourage Proper Restitution

Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the usury you are charging them—the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine and oil.
Nehemiah 5:11

Next, it is clear that when Nehemiah was helping bring reconciliation, he also established proper restitution. It would have been unjust for the nobles to only give back the land or let go of the slaves. They had to give everything back that was illegal including the “usury” (interest) that was against the Jewish law. They had to make full restitution.

In the Old Testament, God wrote many laws on restitution. Exodus 22:1 says, “If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he must pay back five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.”

If a person had stolen an ox, he was to give a restitution of five oxen; if he had stolen one sheep, he was to give a restitution of four sheep. In the OT law, restitution was anywhere from 100% up to 500%.

Why would a person sometimes have to give back more than 100% restitution?

It seems to be based on equity or what was fair. If a person’s ox was stolen, days of work and profit would be lost. If a person was cheated, not only would there be a loss of money but also pain and suffering. Often, we see this type of restitution in our penal system.

Sometimes when we are reconciling or helping others reconcile, restitution may be needed as well. We see this in the story of Zacchaeus in the New Testament. When he started following Christ, he decided to make restitution for every time he had cheated someone. Look at what he says:

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.
Luke 19:8-9

We see that Zacchaeus promised to restore up to four times what he had cheated people. Therefore, Jesus responded by saying that salvation had come to Zacchaeus’s house. His repentance was proof that he was born again.

In the same way, sometimes when we hurt somebody, simply saying “I’m sorry” will not be enough. It may be wise to make some sort of restitution, as the nobles in Israel were required to do. They restored everything that was unfair. This restitution would be proof that they were truly repentant and that they were sorry. When there is true repentance, there will always be the corresponding action which proves the repentance is genuine (cf. Matt 3:8).

We should keep this in mind as we minister to others in conflict. Sometimes in order to resolve conflict, we have to discern the proper restitution. In 1 Corinthians 6:1-5, the believers in the church were suing one another in courts before unbelievers. Paul said instead of suing one another, they should have set up wise men in the church to arbitrate between them. Listen to what he said:

Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?
1 Corinthians 6:4-5

In cases like this, leaders may have to make wise decisions about restitution. Certainly, one would have to use principles from the Scripture, and they also may need to get wise counsel in order to make an equitable decision.

With that said, sometimes the loss is too great and cannot be fully restored, and when it is this way, surely God knows the hearts and gives his grace. Even in the event of this unfortunate situation, the wronged party must still practice forgiveness as Christ taught. They should remember that the Lord also forgave them a great debt that they could never provide a proper restitution for (cf. Matt 18:23-35).

Application Question: Have you ever seen, given, or received restitution from some injustice or conflict? Please share. What would be some good principles to use in discerning proper restitution?

To Resolve Conflicts, Godly Leaders Must Use Accountability

“We will give it back,” they said. “And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.” Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised.
Nehemiah 5:12

Interpretation Question: Why does Nehemiah summon the priests and make the nobles and officials take an oath?

After Nehemiah’s public challenge and call for restitution, the nobles agreed to make their wrongs right. However, in response, Nehemiah called the priest and made the nobles take an oath. Why did he do that?

It is clear that Nehemiah understood a very practical management principle, “People will do a hundred percent of what you check.” If a teacher never checks the students’ homework after telling them to do it, the chances are that most times it won’t get done.

Similarly, Nehemiah established an accountability system amongst the priests and ultimately before God as they took an oath. Setting up an accountability system when doing conflict resolution is one of the best ways to make sure things get truly resolved. This is especially important because conflict often has a strong emotional component. A person forgives, but later on, all the negative thoughts and emotions come back. As these thoughts and emotions come back, they need to forgive again in faith as an act of obedience to God. Often, accountability can help people work through this process.

How can we practice this?

We should seek godly accountability partners and invite them to speak into our lives or in the lives of those we are helping. Nehemiah didn’t invite just anybody for accountability; he invited the priests, the most holy people in the nation. In the same way, we must find people who have integrity and wisdom to counsel and help hold others accountable. We can invite these people to ask intimate questions, for example: “How has your relationship with your wife been?,” “How is your problem with your roommate going?,” and “Are you responding in a Christ-like manner to this conflict?”

In fact, this is a wise principle for battling all sins: lust, idolatry, anger, etc. We should invite trustworthy, wise people to check on us periodically, giving them freedom to ask us hard questions, and also to challenge us. This is a tremendous way to grow spiritually as well as to resolve conflict.

James 5:16 says this: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

James says that confession of sins and prayer is a powerful remedy in the life of a believer. God can bring healing to sickness, depression, or even strongholds. We must make great use of this in our battle against sin and also in the process of reconciliation.

Application Question: Have you ever seen accountability used in a conflict resolution situation? How did the accountability work? Who are your accountability partners, and how do they help you faithfully live for God and stay in right relationship with others?

Conclusion

How can godly leaders be more effective in resolving conflict in their own lives and with others?

1. To resolve conflict, godly leaders must not ignore problems.
2. To resolve conflict, godly leaders must develop a righteous anger.
3. To resolve conflict, godly leaders must be patient and self-controlled.
4. To resolve conflict, godly leaders must get counsel.
5. To resolve conflict, godly leaders must practice a biblical method of confrontation.
6. To resolve conflict, godly leaders must encourage the fear of the lord.
7. To resolve conflict, godly leaders must consider evangelism.
8. To resolve conflict, godly leaders must set the example.
9. To resolve conflict, godly leaders must seek proper restitution.
10. To resolve conflict, godly leaders must use accountability.