Rev. George Miller
June 21, 2026
Nehemiah 6:15
Today we continue our pet-themed season of
worship, titled “God’s Pawsome Love.”
Last week Michele discussed her bulldogs, one named Guinevere. This gave me a smile- I was raised with dogs
named Melody and Guinevere.
A favorite childhood memory was the Fall
of 1975, raking the lawn with Dad, listening to the cast album of “Camelot”
while Melody and Guinevere, with her golden coat, were running free.
Robert Goulet came on, singing the song
“Guinevere” and to my young ears, it was magnificent.
It’s interesting how images and songs stay
embedded in our hearts, especially when attached to someone who loves us.
Riding in the car with Dad hearing “Bring
In The Clowns” by Judy Collins, “Maggie May” by Rod Stewart, and all things Bob
Dylan.
Not all memories are fuzzy and warm. The time we chopped wood and I made it as
miserable as possible. Being absolutely
bored as he tried to teach me how to change the oil.
How my Dad did all he could to let me know
he accepted me, but recently learning how much he struggled with my identity.
My father died in 1995 of brain cancer,
and though I carry him with me everywhere, my brother and I will never know
what it would be like if he was still here, what it would be like for the three
of us to go out and share a meal.
I think of how Dad would be proud; how he
would smile during the Memorial Day Service.
One of the things men learn as we age is
that no one really teaches us how to be men.
Our Dads often tried their best with what they knew and what they
witnessed, but no one really says things like-
“You can speak soft and still be
heard.” “You can refuse to act violently
and still be strong.” “Your height can
be used to bring comfort to some and scare others.”
No one really teaches boys how to be men,
and men how to be fathers. So it is with
gratefulness that I say “Thank you” to whoever submitted today’s reading.
Nehemiah is a rarely discussed book of the
Bible, and that’s too bad, because
Nehemiah is a role model for how to be a man and be a Dad.
Last week we stood with Joshua and the
people, in the year 1250 BCE, ready to enter the Promised Land with
wibbly-wobbly feet.
In 587, the nation falls, the city walls
destroyed; the citizens taken into captivity.
In 538 folk return to a nation that is utterly destroyed.
In 516 they rebuild the Temple but the
city’s walls remain down, making them vulnerable and feeling like a non-nation.
It is now 445 BCE, nearly a century since
Jerusalem had her walls torn asunder.
Nehemiah, Persian by birth but a Jew by
identity, is working for the king. He
hears about his kin in Judah. He is told
they’re living in shame, chaos, and brokenness.
This disparaging news hits him hard. He sits and weeps, for days. He prays to God. He comes to work looking sooo sad that the
King of Persia asks what’s wrong.
Nehemiah says “Oh King, how can I be happy
when the place my grandparents are buried is in ruins and its walls burned
down. Please, let me go back to my
ancestral land and assist in rebuilding it.”
The King agrees, using his connections to
ensure Nehemiah has safe travel, access to natural resources, and military
assistance.
Nehemiah gets to Judah, and with wisdom,
charisma, and clear focus, he gets everyone involved. Within 52 days the walls are rebuilt.
That which lingered in a depressed state
of nothingness for a century, the people are now ready to do.
In this story are 3 lessons that can apply
to anyone, including our men and our fathers.
One, it is OK to cry.
Nehemiah learns his people are suffering. Instead of becoming numb, he sits with the
pain. He weeps, and finds a way to
mourn. In doing so he turns to God with an
honest conversation.
With tears, he says “God, I know you’re
great. You keep covenants. Hear my voice, see my sadness. My people haven’t
always walked right or honored your boundaries.”
“But we are still yours and you are
ours. Please hear, please find a way to
shower us with your mercy and grant us success.”
Nehemiah learns distressing news, and within
his own masculinity he finds a way to grieve, confess, and seek out assistance,
from both God and King, unapologetic and true.
Second lesson we see in Nehemiah is
delegation. After he has his heart to
heart with God, Nehemiah doesn’t do anything alone. He reaches out to the king and keepers of the
forest; he communicates with commanders and cavalry.
Instead of saying “No One can do it the
way I can,” or feeling like this is his domain, and his only, Nehemiah invites
everyone to be a part of the rebuilding process.
A perfect example to boys wanting to be
men, and men wanting to be better fathers.
Nehemiah delegates tasks so everyone plays a part and can feel a sense
of pride.
Priests rebuild the Sheep Gate. Sons of Hassenaah rebuild the Fish Gate. Men of Gibeon repair the Old Gate while
goldsmiths and perfumers assist. Azbuk’s
son fixes the wall across from King David’s grave. Temple servants rebuild the
Water Gate and tower.
Though not mentioned, we know there were
daughters and wives present, assisting in all the ways they could.
Nehemiah shows us that it is OK for a man
to cry; to delegate. The third lesson is
to hear and to act.
In chapter 5 we discover unsettling news. While the citizens worry that there’s no gate
to keep the enemies out, it seems that the worst enemies are those within.
There are members of Judah who are taking
advantage of them. Landlords are raising
their rent. Families are having to take
out large loans just to survive.
The people, including the wives and women
cry out. There is not enough food for
their kids to eat.
Folk are hungry. Parents are having to choose between losing
their farm or feeding their family. Their
sons are being enslaved; their daughters abused.
They come to Nehemiah, the same way he
came to God, lifting up their voice, telling their truth.
And Nehemiah…listens. He listens and he believes. He does not play “blame the victim” or tell
them to work harder.
Nehemiah hears them, feeling righteous
anger. He takes time to think about it,
then he goes into action, calling together the big wigs and who’s who and those
who are the advantage takers.
He stands before them and says “What you’re
doing is wrong; in no way are you walking with God. You know our nation is suffering. Stop with all the impossibly high interest
rates. Give back to the people what you
know you stole.”
Nehemiah does not shame them for being
rich or being savvy businesspeople, he simply addresses their unfair
practices.
With this issue addressed, everyone goes
back to working together, rebuilding the wall, step by step, week by week.
52 days later, all the cracks and crevices
are filled in. They have a wall, tall
and strong, standing as a testimony to what can be done when fathers and sons,
mothers and daughters, business and civic leaders work together.
Nehemiah, in his faithfulness and focus is
such a great model for all people who seek insight into how one person can make
a difference.
For our men, he teaches that it is Ok to
cry. It is OK to delegate; sharing our
work with many. It is Ok to hear the
cries of others and address the cause of their hurt.
Today we continue to celebrate the Pawsome
Love of God who creates, frees, instructs, wants the best for everyone.
Let us meditate on the example of Nehemiah
as we continue to thrive in this sanctuary that God has trusted us with.
May these walls always be a holy space and
a holy time of safe harbor, where people can exhale, embody their faith, and
find ways to be the generous hands and feet of Christ to the world around us.
Amen and amen.
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