All right, let's jump in, verse one. Then Iliashib, the high priest, rose up with his brethren,

the priests, and built the sheep gate. They consecrated it and hung its doors. They built as far as the

tower of the hundred and consecrated it than as far as the tower of the hundred and consecrated it,

then as far as the tower of Hananel.

Next to Iliashib, verse two, the men of Jericho built.

And next to them, Zakur, the son of Imri, built.

Also the sons of Hassana'a built the fish gate. They laid its beams and hung its doors

with its bolts and bars. And by the way, if this seems like a lot of nuts and bolts, that's

because it's a lot of nuts and bolts. A lot of work is taking place here. And I'm hoping to

kind of make some sense out of everything that's happening here.

Verse four. And next to them, Metamath, the son of Urija, the son of Quz, made repairs.

Next to them, Meschulam, the son of Berakaya, the son of Mesha Zabel, made repairs. Next to them, Zadok,

the son of Baana made repairs. Next to them, the Ticoites made repairs. But, very interesting,

their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord. How would you

like for all of the generations over, you know, a few thousand years to read what we just read

about you refusing to do the work of God and have it be recorded in the

pages of Holy writ. It seems very interesting to me that God would deem it fit to have this recorded. Not only do we have very specifically by name those who did the work,

but we're told also very specifically that the Ticoites some refused to do the work.

Now the question becomes, why do we have that mention here in God's word?

It's here for a reason, and I believe one of the reasons is that it speaks to the importance

of God's people rolling up their arm sleeves, as it were, and putting their hands to the plow when it comes

to the work of furthering the kingdom of God. I love what Ecclesiastes chapter 9 verse 10 says,

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