We Will Remember Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 11:1-4a

Introduction
The book of Nehemiah is a book of remembrance:
 Chapter 3: Remembered those that built the wall
 Chapter 7: They remembered the names of those that returned from exile
 Chapter 8: They remembered – reminded themselves - of God’s words
 Chapter 9: Having reminded themselves of God’s words, they remember:
o That they have fallen short of God’s requirements
o That despite the weaknesses of their forefathers, God had chosen them as a holy nation
o That God had descended from heaven to Mount Sinai to speak to them directly
o That God had been their only hope and their only salvation
 Chapter 10: They committed to remembrance those amongst them that were willing to commit
themselves completely to honouring a new covenant with God.

Remembrance does two things:

 It reminds us of the legacy behind us Remembrance

 It focuses our attention on honouring that legacy in the future Commitment

But in chapter 11, we see the place where the tyre hits the road. The big issue at this stage was that
Jerusalem was under-populated.
Jerusalem is described as the “Holy City” (Neh. 11:1).
 This description of the city is used surprisingly few times on the Old Testament (it only occurs 5 times in
total [Isa. 48:2; 52:1; Neh. 11:1, 18; Dan. 9:24]).
 The city was regarded as a sanctuary of God, whose dwelling place was the Temple.
 Spiritual security for the nation of Israel could only be assured if the Temple was secure and well
maintained, and for this to happen the city had to thrive.
Jerusalem was not a city renowned for commerce or trade. It’s true significance lay in the Temple, which
was recognised as the dwelling place of God. But the city could not thrive without people:
When the exiles had returned to Israel, they mainly settled in rural areas where they could farm to produce
food and wealth to support the family needs. Living in Jerusalem would mean turning their back on this
source of income. Life would be more of a challenge.
Nehemiah 11:1 tells us that only the leaders had settled in Jerusalem. This was a problem. Jerusalem need
people to commit to making it a stable, prosperous spiritual centre for the nation, but to live in Jerusalem
meant giving up life on the farm back home; it meant financial sacrifice.
And so they cast lots to decide who would join them, with about 10% of the people giving up their rural
homes, farms and livelihoods to support the city of Jerusalem and the Temple.
Casting of lots (basically the roll of dice) seems like a bazar way to decide things of such gravity. However,
this was an established way for the Jews to determine God’s will:
“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.”
Proverbs 16:33

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Our Freedom
Remembrance
Today we remember those that served our country. We particularly remember those that gave everything
for our freedom; but we also honour those that survived.
We think of the two Word Wars:
 WWI: 20 deaths; 10 million Military deaths; 10 Million Civilian deaths; 21 Million wounded
 WWII: 60 Million deaths; 15 Millian military deaths & 45 Million Civilian deaths; 25 Million wounded
Personal Memories
 Syd – clearing mines at Sword beach just before the D-Day landings
 Charles – feeding Ursula and Jews she had been hiding
Winston Churchill
“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few,”
1940 after the Battle of Britain.
“This is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never — in
nothing, great or small, large or petty — never give in except to convictions of
honour and good sense.”
1941 at Harrow School

Victor Opalinski

The War Memorial in Tewkesbury contains:

 World War I (152 names)
 World War II (30 names)
 Northern Ireland (1 name)
Northern Ireland – troops did a great job of making the province more secure
Commitment
Cdr Philip Harper RN Commanding Officer, HMS Severn Royal Navy
“VE day marked not just the end of years of struggle and of loss for Great Britain but
also of the beginning of peace, prosperity and security for the next 75 years. Those
that lost their lives made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. It is vital, therefore,
that we …. not only remember this sacrifice, but embody the same sense of loyalty,
courage and duty as those that went before us.”

We must never forget that our freedom was bought at costly price.
Blessed are the peace makers (Matt. 5:9)

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Our Church
Remembrance
 On this site in, I believe, 1957, Sycamore Hall was opened – a Nissen hut on this site. According to the
Newspaper clip that I have:
o 130 people attended the opening
o The project started 2 years earlier when Rev C. J. Mundell applied in faith for the land, having
no funds or support
o The news clip records thanks to the Savery’s for their financial support; the service was led by
Eric Brown.
 This church building opened in 1967. The news articles records:
o The building was built on a shoestring – at a cost of the new building was £12,000 – the
equivalent of £290,000 today.
o The money was raised by the congregation.
o Six years before the opening, the building fund stood at £2 17s.
We may think that they lived in a different era, when church attendance was very high, and building
churches was very easy. But we would be wrong.
At the opening service, guest speaker John Blanchard said:
 The church (nationally) was losing its grip, and pews were emptier now than they had ever been.
 There was scarcely a denomination that could say the tide was coming in. In almost every case the
reverse was true.
 “But”, he said, “I believe that we are making a positive step forward with the opening of this chapel.
It is an act of faith, and I am sure that God is going to bless the work that is carried on here”.
 During the work, the foreman of the building contractor encouraged the local children to watch the
church being built, and he attributed the fact that no vandalism was done to the site during the
construction to this fact.
Commitment
We thank God for those that went before us; we thank God because they saw something of the heart of
God for this area, and committed themselves to the cause.
But to truly honour them is fall in behind them; to pick up where they left off; and to continue. This place
may have been built on a shoestring – but it didn’t come cheap.

Our Salvation
Remembrance
The effects of the work of Christ are, even to the unbeliever, indisputable and
historical. It expelled cruelty; it curbed passion; it branded suicide; it punished
infanticide; it drove the shameless impurities of the heathen into a congenial
darkness. There was hardly a class whose wrongs it did not remedy. It rescued the
gladiator; it freed the slave; it protected the captive; it nursed the sick; it sheltered
the orphan; it elevated the woman; it shrouded...the innocence of the child....And in
all lands where it has moulded the characters of true believers, it has created hearts
so pure, and lives so peaceful, and homes which are so sweet.
Frederic Farrar (Life of Christ)
More than two thousand years ago there was a Man born contrary to the laws of life.
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This Man lived in poverty and was reared in obscurity.
He received no formal education and never possessed wealth or widespread
influence.
He never travelled extensively. He only once crossed the boundary of the country in
which He lived.
But this Man’s life has changed the course of history.
In infancy He startled a king; in childhood He puzzled Doctors; in manhood He
ruled the course of nature, walked upon the billows as pavement and hushed the sea
to sleep.
He healed the multitudes without medicine and made no charge for His services.
He never wrote a book. Yet His life has inspired more books than any other man.
He never wrote a song. Yet He has furnished the theme for more songs than all
songwriters combined.
He never founded a college. But all the schools put together cannot boast of having
as many students.
He never marshalled an army, nor drafted a soldier, nor fired a gun. Yet no leader
ever had more rebels surrender to Him without a shot fired.
He never practiced psychiatry. Yet He has healed more broken hearts than all the
doctors from far and near.
Once a week the wheels of commerce cease their grinding, and multitudes gather to
pay homage and respect unto Him.
Though time has spread two thousand years between the people of this generation
and His birth, He still lives!
His enemies could not destroy him, and the grave could not hold Him.
This man stands forth as the highest pinnacle of heavenly glory, proclaimed of God,
acknowledged by angels, adored by His people and feared by devils, as the risen
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Commitment

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