Nehemiah: Rebuilding the WallsSample

Despite all the trouble along the way, the walls of Jerusalem were eventually rebuilt, with just the gates left to put in place. The enemies of the city continued their schemes, now targeting Nehemiah personally. When he refused to come and meet them, knowing they would harm him, they made false claims to try and turn the King of Persia against him and hired a false prophet inside Jerusalem to intimidate him. All these plans against Nehemiah failed because, at each step, Nehemiah continued faithfully with the task that God had given him, refusing to engage with his attackers, to listen to their lies, or to run away and hide. Despite all the opposition, the success of his work became a testimony of God’s help and protection, and even the enemies of Jerusalem recognized that God was with them.

The building of the walls was just the first step in God’s plan to restore Jerusalem. God brought other people alongside Nehemiah to share different responsibilities, such as Ezra, the priest who led the people through a process of repentance and recommitment to God and who eventually oversaw the rebuilding of the temple. Nehemiah continued to have great influence in Jerusalem, challenging sin and injustice and bringing about continued reform in obedience to God’s law.

Throughout the rebuilding of the walls, we see in Nehemiah, a man who was unwaveringly faithful in the task that God had called him to do. We see a man who prioritized prayer, who acted wisely and cautiously, who lived a holy life, and called people around him to do the same. We see a man who trusted God completely, remembering the faithfulness of God in the story of his people and in his own life. And through Nehemiah’s work, we see God restoring the city of Jerusalem, bringing his people back to himself, and showing his glory among the nations. Let us live and work faithfully, prayerfully, and wisely so that God may bring his restoration and show his glory among the nations through the tasks to which he calls us.