9/16/25

Nehemiah 7:4 NASB95 Now the city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few and the houses were not built.

Nehemiah and Ezra had both led back a large group of Jews from exile. The city wall was finished and the city was the same size as before. Yet although it was a large city with a large population before, now it is a large city with a small population. The text says the people in it were few. This large group of Jews came back. They wanted the safety of the city walls and the fellowship of the city, so they worked to build the walls, but then they chose to live in other parts of the nation. Why would this be? Maybe they didn't want the responsibility of keeping watch over the city. Maybe they didn't want to have to clean up the rubble from the old houses to build new ones. Maybe they didn't want to have to follow the rules of being a part of the city. Maybe they wanted the good the city had to offer and didn't mind doing the work to keep it ready but they didn't want to be governed by the rules of the city. For example, the city gates were not opened until mid-morning. This was for protection but it meant they couldn't start their day according to their plans. They instead, had to plan around the rules of the city. As I said, this was for their good, but maybe they felt they knew better than God's chosen leader. There was also the rule that there was no business on the Sabbath. This followed God's law, but there was another rule in the city that they would have to follow. So, many chose the safety of Jerusalem nearby but also chose the sin of selfishness by choosing not to be a part of the Jews in the city walls. They wanted the blessings but not the accountability.

People today often do the same thing with the church. They want the fellowship. They want the blessings of the church. They want the growth of their spiritual life from the church but they don't want to commit to the church. They do not want to give up their freedom for the accountability of being completely inside the community walls of the church.

This did not please God in Jerusalem and it doesn't please Him now.

Hebrews 10:22-25 NASB95 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Commit to the church completely move inside the accountability of God's people.

Love Bro. Scott