This chapter is chocked-full of practical advice for everyday living. Whether it's overcoming a sin, praying "in the moment," or understanding the process of persistent obedience —you'll discover a nugget of Truth this week that will empower your everyday, ordinary life!
In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, 2 so the king asked me, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart."
Remember that Nehemiah was a cupbearer. His role in the king's palace was to serve the drinks at the royal table and ensure that no one poisoned the king. The king would not appoint this person lightly because he knew he would have to trust the cupbearer with his life. Just a smidgen of arsenic in the Kool-Aid, and you've got a funeral on your hands! Furthermore, because the cupbearer was in the king's presence a great deal, he often became a trusted advisor.
One thing which is easy to miss here is the reference to "the month of Nisan." Four months passed between chapter one and chapter two. We read in chapter 1 how Nehemiah wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed for many days, but it didn't end there. He carried this intense burden for four months. He didn't immediately go to work (which we can often do, and it winds up being of the flesh); instead, he waited on God's timing. And so God worked. The king recognized Nehemiah's distress and inquired of his sad heart.
I was very much afraid, 3 but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?"
This King Artaxerxes is the same familiar fellow who allowed Ezra to return to Jerusalem. He was aware of the Israelites who were taken captive and of their Jerusalem home. As we read this chapter, you will notice that God continues to use the king as a tool to achieve His will. It works the same way today, friends.
Why was Nehemiah afraid? During this time, it was forbidden to be sad in the court of the king. The belief was being in the king's presence should bring about joy; therefore, negative behavior could produce a Queen of Hearts consequence (off with his head!).
This section of scripture pulled at my heart. Despite Nehemiah's fear for his own life, he still spoke up and told the king his heartache. It made me think of the number of times I should've said something to someone about Jesus but didn't. Even though we are afraid, we must speak up! Those very words may be what turns the tide for that individual.
4 The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it."
We can take a practical lesson from this. Notice that Nehemiah is in the moment with the king, and "then I prayed to the God of heaven." I've been going through Bible study lately, and one of the fundamental principles I'm taking away from it is to stay in prayer. I can talk to God (verbally and silently) at any moment. I'm learning to engage Him in everything I say and do, just as Nehemiah does here.
Nehemiah knew that this task was more remarkable than him but not more magnificent than God. He needed to ask for help from the king and chose to allow God to work in Artaxerxes' heart to produce a solution.
6 Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, "How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?" It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.
The king asked the timeframe for Nehemiah's return, and so Nehemiah provided that time. In this verse, we aren't told how much time Nehemiah requested. Still, in chapter five, he mentions he was gone for 12 years (Nehemiah served as governor, so he may have asked for more time from the king later).
Let's also give thought to what Nehemiah was leaving. He was in a royal position – well-cared for, comfortable, and in tight with the king. Who wouldn't enjoy that type of security? But the Lord chose to share His burden of Jerusalem with Nehemiah, and Nehemiah chose the better part (see Luke 10 about the story of Mary and Martha and the "better part"). This verse made me ponder my life and the care, comfort, and favorable relationships I have. If God placed an intense burden on my heart and asked me to leave my career, home, and so forth for 12 years, would I be able to do it? Oh, I pray I would. I pray that the things of this world are not clenched so tightly in my hand that I refuse to let go. I pray that I would be humble and obedient in choosing the better part.
7 I also said to him, "If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? 8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?" And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests. 9 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.
Jehovah Jireh (Provider) is at work here. Nehemiah asked for a significant stint away, and now he's asking for resources to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. What an awesome God! As Ephesians 4:7 reminds us, the grace God provides is given according to the measure of the task — and these verses are a perfect example.
10 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.
We'll hear from these fellers later, especially Tobiah (he was a tool of Satan for opposing the work of the Lord). Remember the quote I put in the chapter 1 study from Alan Redpath:
"…you will discover that there is no winning without warfare; there is no opportunity without opposition; there is no victory without vigilance. For whenever the people of God say, "Let us arise and build," Satan says, "Let me arise and oppose."
11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days 12 I set out during the night with a few others. 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.
These two verses were perplexing to me. First, verse 11 states that Nehemiah stayed in Jerusalem three days before examining the walls. Ezra makes the same statement in Ezra 8:32. What's significant about these three days? I have no Biblical or scholarly information to reinforce my thoughts for what I'm about to say next, but think on this:
Even though both Ezra and Nehemiah were full of readiness to bring about restoration and to do the work of the Lord, they still took time to wait. I can get so busy – even doing God's work – that I forget it is okay to pause and rest. It's not only okay, but it is wise.
The second perplexing verse to me was verse 12, which talks of Nehemiah setting out during the night. Why not look at the walls during the day when it was easier to see (duh)? Most likely, no one knew what Nehemiah was even "in town." This burden hadn't been communicated with any of the nobles, priests, or leaders. To keep things on the down-low, Nehemiah surveyed the damage by night.
13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jacka Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. 14 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; 15 so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.
Nehemiah examined each of the gates (which are entrances into the city) and the wall itself. It was important for Nehemiah to inspect the situation and have a first-hand look at the damage. Until this time, he had just heard about the ruins of the city walls, but now he was experiencing it. It's the same way with God. We can hear about God at Bible study, on the radio or television, or in a book – but we must personally "taste and see" (Psalms 34:8) the Lord to understand and know Him. We can't allow others to tell us what God is like; we must be willing to set out and experience Him ourselves.
17 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." 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me.
It was time for Nehemiah to say what no one else was willing to say. The Israelites were living among broken down walls and being attacked from every side – yet no one was doing anything!
Here is another practical, godly tool for you to use in life: If you're being attacked in a particular area, children of God, it's time to take action! How? Take that sin or issue to the Lord in prayer. Find a quiet place and talk with Him about it out loud. Pour your heart out to Him. Then, ask Him what the next step needs to be. Let Him speak to your heart and stir up verses to remind you of Who He is. Go write those scriptures down on index cards and re-read them out loud each day. God spoke the world into existence; He didn't think it into existence. Spoken Word has power. As you learn persistent obedience, the Lord will grow you. As I mentioned in the intro, this study is fantastic for learning how to live whole.
I'm often reminded of the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel chapter 1. She was utterly tormented over being barren. Broken. Hurting. Crying continuously. So, she went to the temple to worship and spoke to God (remember Eli actually thought she was drunk because her lips moved!). Then, God used Eli to talk to her. Once Hannah had poured out her heart and expressed her sorrow a final time, Eli told her to get up and "go in peace." And that she did; she arose, and her face was no longer sad. For some of you, it's time to get up! You have been broken far too long, and it's time to lay it before the Lord a final time and then get up, knowing it's in His hands.
They replied, "Let us start rebuilding." So they began this good work.
What inspiring words! I like the ESV version of this, which reads, "Let us rise up and build." First, it says "us," meaning God had brought people alongside Nehemiah to help. Next, it says, "rise up and build." That just lights a fire under me when it comes to big tasks and impossible feats. All things are possible with God (Matthew 19).
Lord, help us rise up as your Church and build on the solid foundation of Christ Jesus!
19 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?"
20 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."
When people stand up against us and mock us, we must have the proper response! Here, Nehemiah recognizes that God is the reason for victory and is willing to proclaim that to his enemies. It reminds me of how David responded when Goliath was mocking him. Remember, friends, the God of heaven will prosper us as we do His work! Amen.