Have you ever been moved to pray fervently for God’s help and deliverance? Nehemiah hears of the ruined wall and gates of Jerusalem and his spirit becomes downcast. He prays that God would help His people, Israel. When you pray to God do you actually believe that He exists, He hears you and that He is faithful? Did Nehemiah think that God would use him to answer his prayer? Was Nehemiah surprised when Artaxerxes showed concern for his servant? In the moment when some would have been fearful to speak up to the king Nehemiah trusted that God was working in his midst.

When we are moved to pray what causes the desire to pray? Is it the Holy Spirit within us? Do we feel helpless and need to share our feelings with God? In Nehemiah we see that out of greif and sorrow a leader was raised from Persia to rebuild the walls and faith of the people. As the wall was rebuilt the people of Israel returned to following God and keeping His commandments. It took the exile in Babylon to soften the hearts of the people of Israel. When the people heart what was written in the book of the law of Moses they knew who they were because they knew who God was and what He desired from them. Was it a long process to turn back to God wholeheartedly? When we are removed from the many things that vie for our attention we will ultimately find ourselves seeking out God. How much did the leadership of Israel effect the people’s desire to follow God? Is your heart hardened? What will it take to soften your heart?

God’s faithfulness is woven throughout Nehemiah as He supplies abundantly from Persia all that was required to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. When persecution falls upon the workers and leaders in Jerusalem God gives them the courage and strength to continue. So often we get so overwhelmed by life that we forget that there is a faithful God we can run to for help or just to talk to. When was the last time you talked with God?

“Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of Your steadfast love.” Nehemiah 13:22b

“Remember me, O my God, for good.” Nehemiah 13:30b

Is leadership easy? Should anyone ever desire to lead people? Do people choose to be leaders because they desire power? Through the eyes of the world it is important to be a leader because it will add to what you have and it will help you to get more. What is Biblical leadership? In Nehemiah 13 we get a glimpse of a true leader. In this chapter the people of Israel have fallen back to the ways of their fathers while Nehemiah was absent from the city. Nehemiah had his eyes open to the evil that the people in Jerusalem were committing and he chose to take action.

The presence of Nehemiah was inspirational to the people of Israel. Why is that? Nehemiah was willing to follow God and tell the people of Israel how they were sinning in their actions. What was Nehemiah’s source of strength? He was totally dependent upon God for His strength to lead the people of Israel. Nehemiah could have a firm hand and make the necessary changes within Israel because of his total dependance upon God. Leadership today has not changed since the time of Nehemiah. Leaders today need to ground themselves in God because as time spent clinging to God with all of their heart, mind, soul, and strength will produce great fruit among the sheep that they lead.

Emphasizing the lineage of the priests and Levites was critical upon returning to Israel with the intent to worship God again because the Levites and descendants of Aaron were set apart to minister before God. Anyone who could not prove their lineage would not be allowed to minister before God so that the anger of the Lord would not be kindled. The people in Jerusalem were seeking to adhere to the commandments of God. This returning to God would be a great source of joy.

In 2 Chronicles 11:13-17 the departure of the Levites and priest from the cities within Israel was detailed. Here in Nehemiah we see that the Levites and priest are returning to their cities. The idolatry of the forefathers of Israel prior to the exile in Babylon is cast aside as the people in unison seeking to follow God. It took seventy years of exile to turn the peoples hearts back to God. The leadership of Israel was rebuilt in during this time in Nehemiah where the people wholly desired to follow God and keep all of His commandments.

This a great moment for the people of Israel as they have returned to Jerusalem. How long will their faithfulness endure? Throughout the Old Testament the story presented shows how unfaithful and distracted the people of Israel are as time progresses and life become routine. The people go from a passionate desire to follow God to a lukewarm relationship that leads to a total disregard of God. This cycle is prevalent today where people make great professions to follow God but the routine of life is not surrendered to God and the people are drawn slowly away from God. How do we guard our lives from this slow decline? We need to cling to God with all of our being and that starts with growing to know God through regular devotional time in the Word of God.

In Nehemiah chapter 9 the history of the people of Israel is concisely presented from creation through the exile in Babylon in thirty-three verses. Through their history it is remarkable how often the people of Israel hardened their hearts towards God when the times of life were easy. We are faced with the same problem today as we get distracted by all the things of the world. Throughout all the history of Israel, God was faithful to them. How has God proved His faithfulness to you? Does God’s unfailing faithfulness and compassion leave you in awe? Take time to read Nehemiah chapter 9 and reflect upon the faithfulness and compassion of God.

Why are my thoughts driven towards the importance of dwelling within a community of believers by reading ] Nehemiah? The rebuilding of the wall had been completed but the people of Israel were still in ruin and in desperate need of having their shattered hearts mended. What was the condition of their hearts toward God? Were they open to God before their Babylonian exile? Were their hearts thirsting for God upon their return to Jerusalem? The hearts of the people were hardened towards God and it required their removal from all of their idols and comforts to shatter the hardness. Once a heart is broken can anything other than God mend it? In Nehemiah 8 Ezra reads to the people of Israel from the book of the law and they weep upon hearing the word of God proclaimed to them.

When we join in community to follow God what happens? Why do people fear being a part of a community of believers? Do people fear that the leaders are not upright? Is there a fear that when many people join together that the truth will be obscured or tainted? Is there a sense that people think that they can manage their faith in God in solitude? Have many people today fallen into a consumer based faith within the church looking only to what they can consume? People are all too ready to enter church that will allow them to get their needs met but they in turn do not give their time to help others. What hope is there?

How can we know God? The root of the problem for Israel in Nehemiah and for the church today is that we do not know God or what He desires. When the people in Nehemiah 8 gathered to hear the truth of God proclaimed they found out who they were by knowing who God was. In the church locally and globally, within each community there are people who God has blessed to be able to teach the truths of Scripture just as Ezra and Nehemiah were used of God. Is there a disconnect that happens between the teaches and those who listen? If the people of Israel were not individually seeking to grow closer to God would they be helping the Israelites community? If people within the church only look to consume and never to digest and transform from within, what will the health of the church be? A leader will always be a catalyst to point people back to God but if people take ownership of their faith and desired to cling to God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength, how would the church be impacted. If each member of the church body were to desire to enrich their relationship with God what would happen? We need to rise up and seek help from God to shatter our hardened hearts and seek Him daily so that we can find healing and renewal. In unity when we seek God in solitude before we gather what would happen?

When Nehemiah heard that fellow Jews were being taken advantage of by their brothers his anger was kindled. When the ways of the world promoted self entitlement and gain at all times it was necessary for Nehemiah to remind the people what was important. What was of utmost importance? Has culture today become too focused on what we perceive our entitlements to be? The people of Israel needed to truly love the Lord their God with all of their heart, mind, soul, and strength. Were the people wholly devoted to God? If they fully clung to God the hold that their worldly possessions had upon their lives would be broken and they would start to love their neighbors because of the inward love they have for God.

Nehemiah was a catalyst that God used to turn the hearts of the people back to Himself. As Nehemiah lived out the truths that he challenged the people of Israel to follow, he was giving the greatest example he could give the people of what it was to live life fully devoted to following God. What do the actions of the leaders you know say about them? The actions portrayed in our day to day life will be a clearer expression of our relationship with God. What is true leadership? When a leader remains a shepherd to the people and seeks their welfare over his that is the seed of true leadership. Jesus Christ was the progenitor of leadership as He brought mankind back into fellowship with God by dying upon the cross of Calvary. Jesus didn’t come to gain anything but He gave everything to us.

To start the picture of these people who were rebuilding the wall you need to know that this remnant of Israel was facing persecution from the inhabitants surrounding Jerusalem. In Nehemiah chapter 4 we find that Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites were all angry because the Israelites were seeking to rebuild the wall. Insults and ridicule were hurled at the people working to rebuild the wall. How would you feel if you, having escaped captivity, returned home to a razed city and persecution looming for anyone who sought to improve the welfare of the Israelites? This would have left a prevailing sense of fear within the workers as they were exposed working on rebuilding the wall.

Nehemiah chapter 3 gives the account of the people who worked on the rebuilding the wall and the actual spots they rebuilt. There are many people listed who took up the responsibility of rebuilding the wall. Many people looked at the wall across from their home as the point where they started to rebuild. A group of men that I found inspiring were Mermoth, Hananiah, Hanun, Meshullam, Malchijah, the Tekoites and the priests because these people all repaired multiple sections of the wall. What motivated these people to take up greater responsibility? The fact these men took up more work after they finished a segment presents the picture that the rebuilding of the wall was ongoing in some areas while others waited for work to be accomplished. Did the people within Jerusalem feel any security inside the city?

As work progressed on the wall of Jerusalem the persecution from Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites did not cease. In fact these people who sought the ruin of the Israelites were plotting to attack and kill them. Did this fear of attack cause the workers along the wall to become befuddled? Nehemiah acknowledge the fear of the people and reminded them that it was God who truly fought the battles. “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and houses.” Nehemiah 4:14 This call by Nehemiah was for leaders to rise up and defend the people of Jerusalem while it was weak and in danger as they clung to God for their deliverance. There would be no hope for Jerusalem if leaders would not rise up and defend the city from attack.

Work rebuilding the wall continued despite the threat of attack but everyone was not waiting for an attack to take up arms. There was an urgency for the people to come together as one and defend themselves. “At whatever place you heart the sound of the trumpet, rally to use there. Our God will fight for us.” Nehemiah 4:20 The people were holding fast to God as they took up the defense of Jerusalem.

How does this story of a wall being rebuilt thousands of years ago apply to us today? Why should I care about these men who toiled to defend a ruined city? Is there a lesson found in the story of the wall being rebuilt for leaders today? We need leaders to rise up within the church today who are willing to acknowledge the threats that face the church and stand ready to defend her. These shepherds need to strengthen what is already within the church and continually seek to challenge everyone to remain steadfast in their faith. People need to be ready to enter battle armed with the truth. We may not need to take up a physical sword to defend our homes but there is a spiritual battle that requires us to take up the Word of God to be prepared. What would happen if men today neglected their role of defender and leader of the church? Do men truly take up the burden of leadership today? What if men rose up to defend the church and home?

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?

God turned the hearts of the persian kings favorably towards the people of Israel allowing a remnant to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. God worked through the rulers over Israel to remind them of His faithfulness. As the people of Israel rebuilt the temple they had a freedom from the persian kings to complete the work but the greater freedom was found in the reaffirmation of their devotion to God. God remained faithful to the people of Israel never forgetting them in the midst of their exile. Did God feel as a parent would when they have to allow their child go through a difficult moment in life to learn how to live?

The book of Ezra was written almost like the memoir of Ezra chronicling the first refugees who returned to Jerusalem. His leadership steamed from his devotion to God and his desire to know God more than anything else. Was the passion and devotion to God displayed by Ezra an important factor in the peoples desire to follow God again? Is your faith in God strong enough to make a stand for God and against the ways of the people around you? You will be forever changed and transformed as you cling to God with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength.

Ezra falls to his knees as he clings to the grace that God extended in Ezra 9:5-15. The people were wrong and had sinned before God. They needed to change their ways and turn wholeheartedly to God. Ezra and the leaders of Israel expressed the urgency to the people that they were sinning before God by intermarrying with the people of the land. By the grace of God the people of Israel acknowledged their sin openly before God and set their hearts towards following His commands. When we are faced with sin in our lives what are we called to do? Will we acknowledge our sinfulness to God? Will we set our hearts towards God? We need to cling to the grace of God extended to us through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and holdfast to God as we set our hearts towards Him and not the ways of the surrounding world.