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Nehemiah Goes to Work
THE POINT:
The story of Nehemiah shows us an example of wisdom, leadership, and victory over opposition.
WORKING THE PLAN
Nehemiah 2:5-8 (NLT)
With a prayer to the God of heaven, I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”
The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request.
I also said to the king, “If it please the king, let me have letters addressed to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, instructing them to let me travel safely through their territories on my way to Judah.
And please give me a letter addressed to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.” And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me.
NEHEMIAH, JESUS, AND YOU
- Nehemiah had compassion for people AND faith in the promises of God.
- Nehemiah, like Jesus, left the throne room to a place of disgrace to make life better for those whose lives had been destroyed.
- This choice could have cost him his life at the hands of the king, and later from the local warlords.
- It took him from a comfortable government job, to a place in history.
FRIENDS AND ENEMIES
Nehemiah 2:9-10 (NIV)
So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king's letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.
When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.
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ASSESSING THE SITUATION
Nehemiah 2:11-15 (NIV)
I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.
By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire.
Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate.
Then I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace."
I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let us start rebuilding." So they began this good work.
Nehemiah 2:19-20 (NIV)
But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. "What is this you are doing?" they asked. "Are you rebelling against the king?"
I answered them by saying, "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."
LESSONS FROM THIS SECTION
- Nehemiah shows wisdom in observing the situation first hand before making any announcements.
- Whenever you do anything important, there will be opposition. You can’t make everybody happy.
- Nehemiah’s concern was for his people and for the promises of God.
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