Nehemiah and Today
Nehemiah has quickly become one my most favorite books in the Bible. If you haven’t read it in a little while take a few minutes - it’s a quick read but a powerful one. If you aren’t too familiar with who Nehemiah was and why he’s a book of the Bible here’s a quick synopsis: 1) Israel has been conquered as God had promised through many prophets because of their unfaithfulness and most of the Israelites had been taken captive by Babylon, 2) Nehemiah was an Israelite slave in Babylon as one of the king’s cupbearers, 3) Nehemiah had recently heard that the city of Jerusalem and the surrounding wall had been destroyed and lay in shambles. What Nehemiah did with this news is, in my opinion, why we read about him today.
Nehemiah was broken hearted to hear about the condition of his home and in Nehemiah 1:4 we learn that his response to this news was to weep, pray, and fast. Man, what an example for each one of us to follow! I’ll admit that when I hear of bad news I quickly go into fix-it mode but, as I’m sure we all know, rarely can we fix a problem on our own. However, every problem, every issue, every impossible situation can be handled when we stop, turn to the Lord, hand over the issue to him, and partner with him in the redemption process.
The king eventually asked Nehemiah why he was so sad (an offense punishable by death being sad in the king’s presence) but instead, when Nehemiah told him the truth the king actually responded, not in a surprising way, but in a way proving that God was at work, calling Nehemiah into partnership with him. The king of Babylon doesn’t just spare Nehemiah’s life, he actually allows him to go and fix the wall. That’s not all. He sends money, supplies, and even an armed escort for the journey. Nehemiah’s mind must have been reeling with the favor he received from the king to go rebuild the wall of the city his troops had destroyed.
There’s one more element to this story that I want to highlight though. Nehemiah returns with people, supplies, and a purpose - to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. But not everyone is happy about this initiative and soon Nehemiah and his co-workers come under the opposition of nearby villages who have been happy to see Israel taken down. People who don’t want to see the wall rebuilt and Israel restored. The opposition initially just involves heckling of the workers but when verbal insults fail to slow the progress of the wall those opposed to it’s progress begin to rally troops and Nehemiah gets word that an attack may be imminent. Instead of halting progress to prepare for an assault, Nehemiah and his crew work with swords at their hips, ready to fight, but continuing with the calling that had brought them there in the first place.
Here’s what has been resonating with me after reading this book of the Bible that I hope strikes a chord with you as well:
1) Nehemiah had a calling on his life that he felt compelled to respond to, regardless of the consequences he might face. And the truth is, if you are a child of God you have a calling on your life that he is drawing you into, equipping you, supplying you, and even guarding you on that journey. What has God put on your heart to go do? If you’re not sure, a simple prayer of ‘break my heart with what breaks yours’ will get you on the right path. God wants us to partner with him in his work and when we ask him to include us he is more than happy to do so.
2) Work, even when it’s in partnership with Jesus, is still work. God’s not calling us into easy. Nehemiah faced challenges and opposition the entire length of his journey to rebuild the wall. And yet, God provided, God protected, and God blessed the work of Nehemiah’s hands. We see this same type of partnership in the life of Jesus, his disciples, and certainly in in our own lives today. God’s calling us to get into the fight, to roll up our sleeves, and get to work…with him and for him.
3) While we work, we must be ready to fight. The enemy is always looking for ways to thwart God’s work in us and through us. So, don’t let opposition get you down, let it be an indication that you’re on the right path. Continue to respond to God’s calling on your life and don’t stop working when opposition comes your way. And, just like Nehemiah, be ready to fight against the enemy’s attacks. In Ephesians 6 we are told to put on the full armor of God and the only weapon that is part of that complement is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Our weapon against the attacks of the enemy is the Bible, the word of God. His word is truth and light, and where his truth is, there can be no darkness. Keep working, keep leaning into the calling on your life, and be ready for the attacks that want to halt the progress by letting God’s truth fend off the lies and deceptions through the reading and application of his word.
Take some time this week to read the book of Nehemiah and then talk to God about where he’s calling you into partnership with him. Like Nehemiah, talk to God about what he’s put on your heart to do, and then go do it. Expect opposition to that partnership, and do the work with the sword at the ready, the word of the Lord that is sharper than any two edged sword.