Bible Men: Nehemiah - Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem

According to the book of Ezra 2:2, Nehemiah, whose name means "consolation", was one who came out of captivity in Babylon to return to Jerusalem.. but how he did that is told in the wonderful book that bears his name.

The book of Nehemiah is written in the first person.  We learn that Nehemiah was the cup-bearer to the king Artaxerxes,  (Chp 2:1 "And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it to the king....." where he was placed by the Lord in order to accomplish His purposes for Jerusalem, and Nehemiah was in the palace of Shushan, the same palace we read about in the books of  Esther and Daniel.

And one day Nehemiah was able to inquire of certain men of Judah about Jerusalem.  He was told that the wall of that great city was broken down, and the gates burned with fire.  Upon hearing this news, Nehemiah wept and mourned, fasted and prayed before the God of heaven (chp1:4-11) confessing his sins and the sins of the children of Israel, and beseeching the LORD to remember his words to Moses and to hear the prayer of Nehemiah and those who desired to fear the name of the LORD.  He also prayed for mercy in the sight of the king.  Because Nehemiah, as stated before, was the king's cup-bearer, and as such was able to approach the king directly.

Nehemiah's actions are very convicting.  when he heard of the devastation of Jerusalem, he was overcome with grief, and immediately went before the Lord in prayer.  So my question is, what do we do when we hear of problems within our church?  do we go before the Lord in prayer?  do we get involved?  or do we go on with our lives with no heart for reviving that which has fallen.   In this case, the LORD gave Nehemiah a heart for Jerusalem.  Has He given you a heart for a place that has fallen into hard times? 



So Nehemiah, in his duty as cup-bearer, went before the King, and for the first time, Nehemiah's face was very sad. (2:1 ".....I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.")  Now this could be a dangerous thing, to appear before the king with a sad expression, and Nehemiah was very frightened (2:2) but the king asked Nehemiah why he was sad because the king could see that "...thou art not sick..this is nothing else but sorrow of heart.".. and so Nehemiah told him  that it was because of the destruction of Jerusalem, the city of his fathers' sepulchres (2:3) And now we see the intervention of the Lord because the king asked Nehemiah what his request was. And it is here that Nehemiah "prayed to the God of heaven" (2:4)  This must have been a quick, silent, but fervent prayer.   Truly prayers offered to the Lord spontaneously in a time of need are heard by Him just as much as those in quiet times of contemplation and meditation, because they are sincere.

 I am reminded of Esther when she went before the King.  Truly the king's heart here was prepared by the Lord to hear Nehemiah's request, and to grant his petition.   "A man's heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps" Proverbs 16:9..

And so Nehemiah, a captive, soon finds himself, at his request, on his way to Jerusalem.  He carries with him letters so that he may have passage through the lands he will pass to get there, and another letter giving provisions to Nehemiah to build the gates and the wall.  And we learn in Chapter 2:8 that these things were granted to Nehemiah "according to the good hand of my God upon me."   My God upon me is a personal relationship.

And Nehemiah did not travel alone, the king sent captains of the army and horsemen with him.  But there were those that were not happy at Nehemiah's returning to Jerusalem, just as there are always those who will try and intervene when an intercession on behalf of a revival is underway.

So Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, and was there three days, then in the night he took a few men to look at the fallen walls of Jerusalem, at this point "neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem." (V12)  And now we know that as well as putting in the king's heart to help Nehemiah, God also put into Nehemiah's heart the desire to rebuild the walls.   And after viewing the walls and returning, he told them "let us build up the wall of Jerusalem...then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken to me." (V18)  What a wonderful proclamation of the Lord's leading and direction for good.

The hearts of those Nehemiah spoke to were prepared also, because "they said, let us rise up and build.  So they strengthened their hands for this good work." (V18)  But some laughed at them, and despised them, and accused them of rebelling. (V19)  and, as said earlier, isn't that still the same today?

But Nehemiah's answer is well worth remembering - "The God of heaven, he will prosper us: therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial in Jerusalem."V20    And so the same today, some will have a heart, and rise up and build, and those that mock will have no place in that which the Lord allows his people to do according to his purpose.

And after this all the men, those who thought themselves to be "we his servants" joined together to rebuild the gates and the walls, but they were mocked by one named Sanballat of Samaria, and yet prayers to God continued, and half the wall was built, because "the people had a mind to work" (4:6)  oh what great things can be accomplished for the Lord when his servants have a desire to accomplish His work.

Soon their enemies made a plan to come and fight against the work being done, but "we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night" (4:9) our God, a personal relationship again.  They prayed and did what they could.  Then Nehemiah spoke to the people saying "Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses." (4:14)  And the work continued, because the enemies knew that God had brought their plans to nothing.  After that half of the workers carried spears, shields, and bows while the other half worked.  Each builder had his sword by his side while he worked, and there was a trumpet carried, so that if the men heard the trumpet they were to go to the sound because "our God shall fight for us." (4:21)
As the wall neared  completion, Nehemiah's enemies sought to entice him into a trap,  but Nehemiah remained where he was.  Then a letter was written accusing Nehemiah and the Jews of desiring to rebel, and accusing Nehemiah of wanting to be king. (6:1-6) but Nehemiah responded the truth, that those things were made up, and he again prayed to his God "O God, strengthen my hands." (6:9)  This was truly a man who trusted the LORD in all his ways.

And after completion of the wall, the people were gathered, the book of the law of Moses was brought, and in the sight of all the people the book was opened, and Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God." (8:6)  The people wept when they heard the words of the law, but it was at this time that Nehemiah said those great words of encouragement "...neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength."(8:10)

After that time Nehemiah saw Jews marrying women who were not Jewish, and whose children were being raised in the custom of the pagans, and Nehemiah contended with them, standing for the truth.

And the final verse of Nehemiah is certainly one that we all desire for ourselves "Remember me, O my God, for good"  (13:31)

vcg/September 2015