Nehemiah, Day 1
IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER
RESTORING SECULAR DEFENSES
By Reverent Entreaties — Chapter 1
By Rational Expeditions — Chapter 2
By Resourceful Entrepreneurs — Chapter 3
Background
Nehemiah was a contemporary of Ezra. Ezra was a scribe and a priest. Nehemiah was a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes from 464 – 424 B.C. Nehemiah received a report from his brothers in Jerusalem that the city was in bad shape and the rebuilding of Jerusalem had stopped. The people were in distress and reproach, and the wall was broken down and its gates burnt with fire. Nehemiah prayed about this matter. God listened.
Ezra recorded events no later than 457 B.C. The setting of Nehemiah was from 445 – 430 B.C. Of the historical biblical books, this is the last record of God to man prior to the coming of Christ. Nehemiah establishes the date of the beginning of the prophecy of Daniel 9:24 – 27. The decree to rebuild the city was given as 444 B.C. (March 5, 444 B.C.).
Chapter 1
A man by the name of Hanani left Judah and gave Nehemiah an update on the status of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. He reported to Nehemiah that things were not going well. Nehemiah sat down and wept for days while fasting and praying to the God of Israel. He asked God to listen to his prayer. He confessed the sins of the nation of Israel, his own, and his father’s family. He reminds God of the instruction and promises the He gave to Moses years ago. Nehemiah asks God to be attentive to the prayer of His servant and to servants who delight in revering His name. He also asked God for success and to grant him favor as he approaches King Artaxerxes about this matter.
Chapter 2
Nehemiah was in the presence of King Artaxerxes and the queen serving them wine. He was a cupbearer to the king, and according to the text, always had a positive demeanor around the royal family. On this particular day, Nehemiah’s face was sad with the appearance of being ill. The king questioned why Nehemiah was so sad, and after a quick prayer to God, he answered. He was sad because of the destruction and the rebuilding work stoppage back in Jerusalem. The king asked Nehemiah what he wanted from the king. Nehemiah asked for permission to go to Jerusalem and help rebuild the city. After a few more questions, Artaxerxes granted permission to Nehemiah to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the city. He also gave him letters of permission to leaders of other countries that he would have to travel through in order to get to Jerusalem. The king also provided protection for Nehemiah by sending army officers and cavalry to go with him on his journey to Jerusalem. After a few days of rest in Jerusalem, Nehemiah secretly went out at night to inspect the status of the walls of Jerusalem. After his inspection, he reported to the city officials what God had done in his life and the permission that was granted him to come to Jerusalem and rebuild the city. The city officials replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” This did not come without mocking and ridicule. Nehemiah told the troublemakers that “The God of heaven will give us success. We His servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”
Chapter 3
In order to get the work of rebuilding the city and its walls completed as quickly as possible amidst the mocking and ridicule, the project was delegated into teams. Each team would work on a separate gate of the city of Jerusalem. It was a well-organized plan. The plan is well documented in the 3rd chapter of Nehemiah.
Application
God’s plan of redemption through the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to be the sacrifice for the sins of mankind is intact. God didn’t use a polished military or construction genius to do the assignment of finishing off the rebuilding of Jerusalem. He used a Jewish cupbearer of the king of Persia, who had a heart for God and a heart for God’s promises to Israel, and for those promises to be continued and fulfilled. God is always ready to listen to His children and will accomplish His plan through His faithful servants.
What a great lesson for all of us believers to learn from Nehemiah Chapters 1 – 3. God will use any believer that He chooses to accomplish His work. In this story, He softened the heart of a pagan king to accomplish His work. Nehemiah’s positive life walk and testimony before the king and queen over a period of time were honored by the support of the king, who granted permission to accomplish God’s work in rebuilding Jerusalem. This was without King Artaxerxes knowing that God was using him. To God be the glory and may His will be done.
Blessings from Carlton Ringer