What grieves your heart so much that you weep, fast and pray for God’s intercession? Zerubbabel and Ezra led the first two groups of exiles back to Jerusalem. Thirteen years after Ezra returned to Jerusalem, leading a remnant to offer sacrifices to God, Nehemiah, a cup bearer to king Artaxerxes of Persia, hears word from Jerusalem that grieves his heart. The news from Jerusalem that the walls and gates are in ruin after over ninety years of exiles having returned to Jerusalem breaks the heart of Nehemiah. Why is Nehemiah so concerned about the state of the walls of Jerusalem? He is living in comfort as the cupbearer of the king of Persia. Wouldn’t life be easier if he just pushed aside the feelings and remorse? Have you ever quenched the Holy Spirit’s prompting in your life because you were afraid to step out in faith?
What did the wall of a city mean for its inhabitants? When I think of a cities walls I am immediately reminded of the great city of Jericho. The pride of Jericho was in their walls because they withstood attacks and offered security. The pride of Jericho was brought down by God when the walls were utterly razed. So what did the ruined wall of Jerusalem represent? The people in Jerusalem could not take pride in their city for its protection. Did the ruined wall also represent the unwillingness of the men to defend the city? Does the ruined wall of Jerusalem reflect the spiritual state of the people?
Nehemiah fasted and prayed to God, “I beseech You, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who preserves the covenant and loving kindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins off the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; I and my father’s house have sinned.” Nehemiah 1:7,8 Nehemiah knew that help would come from God alone and that he and his fathers had acted in disobedience against God in their sin. Nehemiah is purely falling upon the grace of God in his sinfulness beseeching Him for help. Do you run to the gracious God of heaven for help? What did Nehemiah expect to happen when he asked God for help?
God raised up Nehemiah in answer to the prayer he prayed by giving him favor before Artaxerxes just as Ezra had thirteen years earlier. Often God will raise up the people who pray about a situation to be the catalyst for deliverance. God blessed the people of Israel again through the Persians with the resources to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem by order of the king. God is proving Himself faithful to bring more of the remnant back to Jerusalem.
What did the enemies of Israel think when the temple of God was rebuilt? Ninety years after the first refugees returned to Jerusalem you have another group of people heading back to strengthen Jerusalem. It makes sense that the surrounding princes and rulers were concerned of the return of Israel because they would lose the supremacy they had gained during the Babylonian exile of Israel. Nehemiah upon arriving in Jerusalem inspects the ruined wall by the veil of night so that the enemies of Jerusalem would not know what God had purposed for him to accomplished.
In the face of mocking opposition Nehemiah rallied the people within Jerusalem to rebuild the wall. In the face of danger Nehemiah clung to the God who had provided for him. “The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have not portion, right or memorial in Jerusalem.” Nehemiah 2:20 When you face opposition and persecution will you make a stand? Will you choose to rally the people to follow God? Will you cling to God in the midst of troubled times?
