Nehemiah 2
Because the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and the gates burned by fire, Nehemiah is sad before King Artaxerxes. He prays a quick prayer to God, then asked the King if he can go rebuild the city of his fathers. It pleased the king to send him. Verse 8 says, "...And because the GRACIOUS HAND OF MY GOD WAS UPON ME, the king granted my requests." Once again, Nehemiah senses the hand of God on him. After arriving in Jerusalem and staying there 3 days, He set out to do what "GOD HAD PUT IN MY HEART TO DO for Jerusalem" v.12. Once again, God is the one who moves hearts! Without telling anyone, he quietly went out at night to inspect the walls. Then he told the people who would be doing the work, "The GRACIOUS HAND OF MY GOD WAS UPON ME and what the king said to me" (v.18). But Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem mocked and ridiculed them. The reason for the opposition was political.
Whenever God puts something in your heart to do something for him, you can expect mocking, ridicule and opposition from the enemy. When I read this part, a memory came back to me that I'd like to share with you. A few years ago, co-host Ally Domercant from Moody Radio's “Karl and Crew Morning Show” asked me if I'd be willing to give a "Snapshot Testimony" to be recorded and aired later in the week. It was to be about 5-6 minutes of testimony/interview with questions she had about my story. I said "Yes, I'll be happy to do it." Not long after I had responded to her email, the devil started in on me. I heard him say this to me..."Who are YOU to be on the radio!??? Nobody wants to hear your story! You're wasting your time! You're wasting THEIR TIME! Look at all these sins you've committed! And you STILL struggle with some of them! You are not worthy!" Man, my head dropped hearing all of that and I was depressed for days. The day for the interview was coming up and I almost didn't do it. I was this close to emailing her back saying, "Sorry, I changed my mind. I'm not going to do it." I wasn't going to offer any explanation, but just leave it at that. A day before the testimony/interview was to take place, I went outside to sit by my air-conditioning condenser. It's where I like to go in the summer to relax, think and pray about things. As I was pondering whether to go through with it or not, truth welled up inside of me and I said these words out loud. "Satan, you're right! I'm not worthy to be on the radio! And I did commit all those sins! And I do still struggle with some of them! But!...my story is not about ME and MY SINS! It's about HIM and his AMAZING GRACE and SALVATION! And that is worth talking about!” I was at peace after that and heard no more about it. Oh, the enemy will try to stop you! But if it's from God, it cannot be stopped! God PUTS IT IN MY HEART to share his story! And I feel his GRACIOUS HAND UPON ME WHENEVER I DO IT!
Nehemiah 3
Nehemiah gives an exhausting account of all the different gates, sections of wall and who repaired them. It's very dry reading...a lot like reading a long genealogy of people! LOL
Nehemiah 4
Sanballat became angry, incensed, and ridiculed the Jews that the wall was being built. Tobiah mocked them saying if a fox climbed on top of it, it would collapse. Nehemiah prays that their insults would turn back on them and that calamity would fall upon them. When I read Nehemiah's response to it, I think of Jesus' words..."Love your enemies and show kindness to those that persecute you." I'm not sure how you do that in situations like this? Not easy to do! Whenever I would want revenge or wish harm on my enemies, this verse would come to mind..."Vengeance is mine" says the Lord. D'oh! Sometimes I want to respond back to God, "Yeah, I know, but this time you're just going to have to share it with me!" (Joking...insert winking face). The entire wall was built to half its height. Sanballat and all his allies plotted to fight against them and stir up trouble, but they prayed to God and posted guards day and night to meet the threat. Nehemiah tells the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes." v.14. He encouraged them and made it personal. The people worked with one hand, while holding a weapon in the other. They took the necessary precautions to ensure their labor wasn't in vain.
Nehemiah 5
A famine was going on in the land at this time and the people complained to Nehemiah that they are mortgaging their fields, vineyards and homes to feed their families. The nobles, the rich were getting richer, and the poor were getting poorer because they were exacting interest from their own people...something that went against the Mosaic Law. Nehemiah confronts them to give back the interest. The nobles agreed, but Nehemiah made them take an oath to keep their promise. The people did as they promised. Nehemiah was governor for 12 years over Judah and set an example for the people to follow. He gave up his right to the allotted food for being governor from the people so as to not burden them anymore. He also never acquired land. Nehemiah was guided by service, not opportunism. This reminds me of Paul in 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9
Nehemiah 6
The wall was rebuilt in 52 days. The nations around them were afraid and lost their self-confidence because they realized that this work was done with the help of God. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem were scheming to harm Nehemiah and wanted to meet with him. Four times he sent him messages and four times Nehemiah replied "No," that he was too busy doing a great work. The 5th times an aide was sent with a letter claiming the Jews were plotting a revolt, Nehemiah was about to become king and had prophets ready to proclaim it in Jerusalem and threatened to send this letter to the king. Nehemiah responded to him saying it was a lie. He knew they were trying to frighten them to give up the work. They even hired a guy to lie to Nehemiah and say he should hide in the Temple for his life. He didn't fall for it. Nehemiah wasn't permitted to go inside the sanctuary (Numbers 18:7) Had he done it, he would have sinned and been discredited in his work. Many other "prophets" were trying to intimidate him, including Tobiah, who also wrote letters of intimidation. The opposition just won't quit and continues to pressure Nehemiah to stop his work on the wall...but he continues to press on.
Nehemiah 7
Nehemiah appoints his brother, Hanani along with Hananiah because he was a MAN OF INTEGRITY and FEARED GOD MORE than most men do. Honesty, uprightness, and respect for God are good leadership qualities. The city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt. Once again, GOD PUT IT INTO HIS HEART to assemble the nobles, officials, and common people for registration by families (v.5). Some descendants of the priests didn't have their family records and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. The priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers and temple servants settled in their own towns.
God has his hand on Nehemiah and moves his heart to do his will. Our prayer should be that he does the same with us.
