Nehemiah 11:1–2; 3-36

Recurrent Thought

• Restoration of Dreams demands clarification of their Purposes and determination to achieve them

The book of Nehemiah is a powerful picture of restoration. It describes not only the rebuilding of walls, but the restoration of a people. After the walls were rebuilt, chapter 11, reveals the need to restore the life inside the city.  A city had fewer buildings and a significant lower number of people to guarantee its restoration. The city was empty. The structure existed, but life was missing. Noting the status of Jerusalem as described in Chapter 1 and what Nehemiah found in terms of people, city, Temple worship, one can conclude that the nation of Judah clearly struggled to heal and restore itself. Ch. 11 is the Process of shaping the nature and development of a City by increasing its population.

It is the response to the problem reported in 7:4 which stated that “The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt.” But whether this was envisaged or not, there was a huge spiritual revival that preceded the re-populating of the City. First, the hearts of the People were touched by scripture reading, then they yielded to the power of conviction of their sins (Ch.8) Second, they confessed their past failures then wrapped it up with a covenant commitment to reset specific Priorities (Ch.9-10). Only then did Nehemiah and his team determine to re-populate the city to initiate restoration and its development.

Background

• A special City Called Jerusalem
• The Repopulation Strategy (Ch. 11:1-2)
• Details of Key Groups and Roles (Ch. 11:3-36)
• Economic and Regional Balance

We use this text to work on the Five Keys of Dream Restoration

1. Return to the Right Place
   • Restoration starts when people return to where God wants them to be.
   • In this case the City Needed People Again.  Jerusalem was rebuilt, but remain empty. Restoration required people to return.
   • The foundation of restoration is understanding the original place of stagnation, or death of a dream. Restoration begins when you return to the place of your purpose.
   • Restoration is more than feeling nice about your comeback. A repaired house is useless if no one lives in it.
   • Spiritually restoration is to return to God, to prayer, to His presence.
     • Jerusalem was called a Holy City, and despite the brokenness it was still Holy.
     • Even after destruction, God’s purpose for Jerusalem remained.  God has not changed His purpose for your life. Similarly, God’s purpose remains, even after our brokenness. We must believe on the relevance and importance of the place of our Purpose.
   • A broken altar can still be rebuilt (1 Kings 18:30). Believe that restoration is possible
     • No matter your past, God still calls you.
2. Leadership Drive
   • The Text shows that the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem”
     • Leaders took responsibility to lead in the restoration of the city. This is a special place of leadership in all influencing a people towards God given dreams.
     • To lead is stay in front and give direction and inspire hope and passion
     • Restoration starts when we take responsibility for our brokenness and desire to remedy them. True revival begins with leadership commitment.
     • Someone must go first for restoration to begin; and for it to happen, you must begin
     • Be the first in your home or church to return fully to God.
3. Sacrificial Commitment
   • Nehemiah and the leadership team desired to restore the city with an energized population
   • They requested for one tenth to come from outside town and settle in a broken City
   • This restoration demanded sacrifice; there was no convenience there. This shift required leaving comfort and relocating to a place that was not attractive. Many lived outside Jerusalem in safer, established areas; but restorers were willing to sacrifice.
   • Revival requires leaving comfort zones. You cannot revive what you refuse to inhabit.
   • Working in Your Dream will require you to make uncomfortable decisions. Restoration always costs something. Rebuilding always requires effort and sacrifice. What is God asking you to give up?
   • There are three approaches recognized in Ch. 11:2: Leaders stepped forward; others were chosen by necessity through casting of lots while the last group volunteered willingly (11:1-2). But they all stepped forward as a sacrificial commitment.
   • We must understand that Casting Lots may seem to be unspiritual today but it was but far from that. So those chosen through this method, they were genuinely chosen.
     • Casting lots in the Old Testament reflected dependence on God’s sovereignty (Prov. 16:33). This was not random—it was divine guidance.
     • The idea behind “lots” (goral) reflects God’s control over decisions.
     • Pro 16:33  The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. 
   • Restoration of Dreams is achieved through sacrifice.
     • We have to willingly answer the call like Isaiah who said in Isaiah 6:8 – “Here am I; send me.” The core to any restoration is a willing heart. Willing hearts move God’s work forward. Indeed, willingness unlocks restoration. I struggle with the concept of Volunteering that does not wasn’t to be questioned, that is not loyal. But this volunteerism sacrificed comfort. It built faster than forced labor. We must learn to serve God with a willing heart.
   • The People who stepped to restore the City, were honored for their sacrifice (11:3)
     • The text states that “And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem (Neh. 11:2). The community recognized their commitment. Of course, sometimes people will ignore your sacrifice. But know that God honors those who commit to His work. Sacrifice for God brings honor. It is a reality that Your sacrifice may inspire revival in others.
4. Consistent Presence
   • The people who sacrificed their comfort to restore the city, chose to live (dwell) there.
   • Restoration of dreams is not a volley into short lived hope, but a consistent and faithful availability in the place of one’s purpose. Restoration is never done by a splint, but marathon run. Restoration is sustained by people who remain faithful and are present in their cause.
   • Dwelling means permanence. Restoration requires consistency. The people restore situations, who restore home are those willing to stay.
   • The Presence of energized community brought Life. A city becomes alive when people inhabit it. Consistent faithfulness matters.
5. Bigger Dreams Demand Greater Unity
   • Recognize that the restoration of Jerusalem demanded more than one individual.
   • Rebuilding the City is easier than Restoring the Soul of a City. This needed more people
   • The people worked together. Nehemiah 11:3-36 gives us an list of those who united for a cause! Ecclesiastes 4:12 – a threefold cord is not easily broken.
   • To restore a bigger cause, you need to be stronger in unity.

Conclusion

• However broken or stagnated your dreams may be, there is potential for restoration.