197. NEHEMIAH — MAN OF FAITH AND ACTION "Let us rise up and build"

After the first return under Joshua and Zerubbabel, there was a further restoration under Ezra the scribe. Twelve years later Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem as Governor of the Province. The inhabitants were disorganised and despondent. It required a man of prayer, faith and ac­tion to stabilise the little state and inspire his fellow countrymen with the fear of Yahweh. Nehemiah was just such a man. We will learn important lessons from him which can help us to overcome our own problems.

 

Nehemiah 1-6.

 

BAD NEWS FROM JUDEA. Nehemiah 1.

Nehemiah held the honoured position of cup-bearer to Artaxerxes, King of Persia. Hanani, his brother, and others, had just come back from Judah, and Nehemiah asked them concerning the newly established na­tion. Notice that this was the first question he put to his brother, for though he worked in Shushan the palace, his heart was in Jerusalem. He was greatly concerned for his people at Jerusalem and became more so when he received the report, "The remnant . . . are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire" (v.3). When he heard these words he sat down and wept, and mourned for several days, during which time he fasted and prayed to Yahweh.

 

NEHEMIAH'S PRAYER. Nehemiah 1:4-11.

After several days of mourning and fasting, Nehemiah was prepared to approach Yahweh and pray for the restoration of Jerusalem and her peo­ple. As a model prayer, Nehemiah spoke of Yahweh's covenant with the faithful, and an admission of the sins of himself and the nation. He ap­pealed to Yahweh to remember His covenant with His people and the promise that Zion was the chosen place for His Glory. In conclusion, Nehemiah pleaded for Yahweh to hear his prayer, and that of the other faithful servants "who desire to fear Thy Name". He sought the Father's blessing upon himself as he came before Artaxerxes as his cupbearer.

 

THE PRAYER IS ANSWERED. Nehemiah 2:1-8.

Four months had passed since Nehemiah had received the distressing news from Hanani, and once again it was his duty to act as cupbearer to the king. He was downcast and pre-occupied when at last he stood in the presence of the king. Noticing the unusual change of his countenance, the king asked "Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart" (v.2). Nehemiah now became fearful and replied that the cause of his sorrow was the desolation and destruc­tion of his beloved city, Jerusalem. Suddenly, a wonderful opportunity was opened to him when the king replied, "For what dost thou make re­quest?" And immediately Nehemiah, in acknowledging Yahweh in all His ways (Proverbs 3:6), uttered a short, silent prayer to his God that He might bless the petition he was about to make, and grant him favour in the sight of the king.

 

Nehemiah requested permission to go to Judah to rebuild Jerusalem. His prayer was wonderfully answered. The king granted his request and set a time for him to later return to Persia (v.6). Nehemiah requested let­ters securing his protection and authorising him to obtain timber from the king's forest (v.7, 8). As a man of prayer and action, Nehemiah acknowledged that "the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me" (v.8). With that reassurance Nehemiah determined to help his brethren in Jerusalem. The apostle Paul explains the cause for his enthusiastic service as being, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Rom. 8:31-39).

 

NEHEMIAH ARRIVES AT JERUSALEM. Nehemiah 2:9-18.

Protected and fortified by a Persian escort, Nehemiah soon was on his long journey to his beloved city. Following his arrival, he presented his credentials to the surrounding rulers, but was received with sullen resent­ment by the enemies of the Jews sensing their hatred and impending op­position (v.10). Although the Temple had been built, there were no walls around the city, and hence those living in the city were open to every hostile and dangerous influence.

 

He waited 3 days so that he might be able to fully assess the work of restoration that lay before him. Then, one night, with a few trusty com­panions, and riding upon his beast, he reviewed the state of the walls of his beloved city. He loved the city, even in its broken-down state where the history of the past had been enacted — but the wall was in ruins and its gates blackened with fire. Areas were cluttered up with huge masses of broken masonry, so that the beast on which he rode could no longer make its way. He then returned to the Jews, but said nothing about his tour of inspection until they were ready to receive it.

 

A few days later he gathered the rulers of the Jews together and carefully outlined to them the sorry state of the city in ruins and the disgrace this brought them in the sight of the Gentiles round about (v. 17). He identified himself with their problems, "Ye see the distress that WE are in". He enthused them with his outline of the good hand of God upon him and the blessings of the king of Persia, so that when he had finished his discourse, they all enthusiastically exclaimed "Let us rise up and build" (v.18). His own enthusiasm had become contagious.

 

NEHEMIAH ANSWERS THE CHALLENGE FROM THE ADVERSARIES. Nehemiah 2:19-20.

The enthusiasm of Nehemiah had inspired the people with a zeal to work, but had produced an unfavourable reaction from their enemies.

 

It was not long then before they came to the site and laughed the workers to scorn, suggesting also that the workers were planning to rebel against the King (2:19).

 

However, Nehemiah, a truly great leader, was able to meet this challenge with a forthright proclamation of Truth which silenced his enemies but encouraged his brethren, "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" (v.20).

 

REBUILDING COMMENCES FOLLOWED BY MORE OPPOSITION. Nehemiah 3 & 4.

Words became actions as Nehemiah organised all the people into the work of rebuilding the walls (see plan of Jerusalem next page). Family groups worked together as did all classes: Priests, Levites, labourers, tradesmen, perfume-mixers, rulers, women and merchants. Many laboured in sections where they had a particular interest.

 

The surrounding people viewed the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem with the greatest concern. Their leader was Sanballat who had with him "the army of Samaria" (4:2). He and Tobiah the Ammonite stirred them up by saying "Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall" (v.3).

 

Upon hearing of their sarcasm and ridicule, Nehemiah sought God's help through prayer, that He would curse them and not forgive their sin as they had brought dishonour upon Him before His people. So the peo­ple were encouraged and "had a mind to work" (v.13), and they com­pleted the wall around the city to half its original height. Now their enemies were furious "and conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it" (4:8). Again, Nehemiah turned to God in prayer and then set up watchmen upon the walls both day and night.

 

But now troubles arose from within their own midst. Some of the men of Judah became discouraged, wearied and afraid, and so were not able to build the wall. Complaining, like enthusiasm, is infectious! Rumours started to circulate of a threatened attack. When Nehemiah saw the forces of Sanballat around the city and about to attack, he exhorted the people to remember Yahweh and to fight for their families and homes. At this show of defiance, the enemy withdrew because "God had brought their counsel to nought" (v.15), and so the people returned to their work on the walls.

 

Nehemiah then made an arrangement that half of those who had come with him from Persia stand guard, while the other half continued with the work of rebuilding the walls. In addition, every Jewish worker should keep his weapon close handy, so that at the sound of the trumpet, he would put down his tools, pick up his weapons, and assemble at the point of attack. Nehemiah himself became the principal watchman upon the walls of the city, and with him was the trumpeter to raise the alarm. He also instructed the people that they were to lodge within Jerusalem of a night time, and not return to their individual villages as they had previously been doing.

 

Nehemiah provided a wonderful example of devotion to duty as he and those with him never relaxed, even to change their clothes — they even took their weapons with them when they went to obtain their daily water needs (v.23 marg). They were always found at their post, always labour­ing on the wall or standing guard in its defence.

 

THE LAST ATTEMPT BY THE ADVERSARIES FAILS. Nehemiah 6.

The adversaries had failed in all their attempts to stop the building of the wall so they turned to other more cunning and devious methods. They knew Nehemiah was a brilliant leader who could encourage and strengthen the workers and therefore they planned to destroy him. They asked him to meet them, but he quickly realised their objective and replied (with a classic answer to any who would interfere with the work of God), "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you" (6:3). They asked him four times, and on each occasion he gave them the same answer (6:4).

 

Sanballat's final plea came in the form of a letter saying that it was commonly reported that the wall was being built for the purposes of rebellion, and that Nehemiah was intending to appoint himself as king. Again Nehemiah realised that this was a scheme to destroy him and replied, "There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest (inventest) them out of thine own heart" (v.8).

 

Finally, they schemed to destroy his reputation by showing everyone that he was fearful and afraid. They told Shemaiah to meet Nehemiah in the Temple with the doors locked, saying that his enemies were going to kill him that night. But his fearlessness had always encouraged the peo­ple, and therefore it was necessary that on this occasion he did not yield to this request. So he replied "Should such a man as I flee? ... I will not go in" (v.ll).

 

THE WALL IS FINALLY COMPLETED. Nehemiah 6:15, 16.

Despite all hindrances, difficulties, attacks, threats, treachery and op­position, the wall was completed in the incredibly short time of 52 days. Sanballat and his allies had been defeated at every turn, and the enemies of Judah looked upon the completed walls of Jerusalem with a feeling of utter depression, and they became very much down-cast in their own eyes. They could only acknowledge that the work was wrought by the God of Nehemiah. Truly Nehemiah could reflect upon the words of Psalm 34:19 "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but Yahweh delivereth him out of them all".

 

LESSON FOR US:

Nehemiah had a deep love for Jerusalem and an earnest desire to return to Judah, and so Yahweh graciously answered his prayer in Shushan the Palace. As a great leader, he did not give up in the face of problems, but continually sought Yahweh's help in time of need, as well as working with the people. He was a man of Prayer AND ACTION — his Faith was manifested by his Works. We must do the same today in our lives, for by our works of faith we shall be judged.

 

Enthusiasm and pessimism are both very contagious. We can inspire others in the Master's service only if we are keen and dedicated ourselves. We, like Nehemiah, should be able to quickly perceive the deceit and op­position of those around us, and seek Yahweh's assistance and protection whilst continuing to work in harmony with His will.

 

REFERENCE LIBRARY:

"The Story of the Bible" (H.P. Mansfield)—Vol. 7, Nos. 6, 7. "Nehemiah" (R. Abel)—C.S.S.S. Notes.

 

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1. How was Nehemiah's prayer to return to Jerusalem answered?

2. What was Nehemiah 's plan to protect the workers from attack whilst they rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem?

 

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. Describe the events which led up to Nehemiah's journey to Jerusalem, emphasizing his attitude to that city.

2. Explain how Nehemiah solved the problems which confronted him in the rebuilding of the city.

3. What lessons can we learn from the example of Nehemiah as:

1. a man of prayer?

2. a man of action?