Nehemiah chapter 3 is one of
those Old Testament lists, this one recounting the rebuilding and repair of the
wall of Jerusalem. Verses 3 & 4 are a pretty good example of how most of
the chapter reads:
The sons of Hassenaah built the
Fish Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. And
next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to
them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel repaired. And next to
them Zadok the son of Baana repaired.
Then comes this gem in verse 5:
And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to
serve their Lord. Nehemiah 3:5 ESV
And there it is, in the annals of history. Men serving shoulder-to-shoulder
with their servants, old men serving alongside their sons, noblemen serving
elbow-to-elbow with their common brothers to restore the once-majestic City of
David. But then there’s this one group? They considered manual labor
beneath their dignity; considered leadership a matter of setting oneself above
rather than setting the example.
All this against the backdrop of
our King, Jesus:
A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be
greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and
those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are
not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the
youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater,
the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at
the table? But I am among you as one who serves.” Luke 22:24-27
It's been a few thousand years,
but the ancient record stands. Almost everybody--including Nehemiah
himself--literally got their hands dirty (and no doubt blistered) to rebuild
those ruined walls. Except one pretentious group of nobles. And
that is how the Tekoites are remembered.
