A "Sore Thumb" in Nehemiah 3

In reading through Nehemiah 3 this morning, one verse in the chapter stood out, as we say in the States, "like a sore thumb" (noticeably and painfully):  verse 5.  I will comment on this verse at the close of this, but first, I'd like to provide some background and general thoughts on the chapter as a whole.

The chapter begins with Elashib the high priest and his brethren (v. 1) rising up to begin the work of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, under Nehemiah's oversight.  The clear subject of the chapter is the zeal of the Jews (cf. 3:20--"earnestly repaired"), from all stations of life, to complete this great work.  Noblemen work (e.g. vv. 14-19), along with goldsmiths (vv. 8, 31-32), apothecaries (v. 8), and merchants (vv. 31-32).  Even the two rulers of the city itself get involved (vv. 9, 12), one joined by his daughters!  Humility is shown, as well as zeal, where one ruler, Malchiah, willingly chooses to repair the dung gate (v. 14), perhaps the least honourable of the gates. 

To make a spiritual application to the church age: just as it took people from all stations of life to build that structure, it takes both leaders and followers to build the structure known as the body of Christ (Eph. 4:8-16)!  And just as building that structure took both zeal and humility, building up the body of Christ will require both of those graces as well.  A saint may be zealous, but if he's proud, it will hinder him from edifying the body; also, if he is humble and lazy, rather than zealous, the lack of zeal will hinder the building up of the body as well.   

What stood out to me in v. 5 is that which concerned the Tekoite nobles--"...but their nobles put not their necks to the work of the Lord."  Tekoa was a town in Judah, the home of Amos the prophet (Amos 1:1) and the "wise woman" employed by Joab to influence David (2 Sam. 14:2, 4).  For some reason, the nobles from this town refused to support the work of rebuilding the wall, in contrast to everyone around them, and God takes note of it...forever!  And I don't think that it's coincidental that this citation occurs in the fifth verse of the chapter, five being strongly associated with death from the beginning to end of scripture (cf. Gen. 5:5, the first recorded death in scripture). 

Were the nobles too "high and mighty" to bow their necks to this work?  Their subordinates willingly collaborate, repairing not just one, but two sections of the wall (vv. 5, 27), which God also takes note of...forever!  What a shame that the nobles would not humble themselves, so that they could be exalted like their subordinates were (Luke 14:11; 18:14)!  And finally, what a lesson for us in this day (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11; 2 Tim. 3:16-17), to willingly join in the great work of building up the body of Christ, no matter our station in life.  Don't let it be said of you, beloved, at the judgment seat of Christ, that you put not your neck unto the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58).