Nehemiah Rebuilds Jerusalem

GOLDEN TEXT: “So built we the wall; … for the people had a mind to work.”—Nehemiah 4:6

NEHEMIAH 4:1-6, 13, 14, 21-23—It was in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes that Nehemiah, learning that the walls of Jerusalem still remained broken down, appeared before the king and obtained the needed authority to proceed with the gigantic undertaking of rebuilding them. The king had also issued authority for needed timber to be provided from his own forests. Armed with this authority Nehemiah journeyed to Palestine and to Jerusalem.

In presenting his letters of authority to “the governors beyond the river,” he encountered the displeasure of two individuals named Sanballat and Tobiah. (Nehemiah 2:9,10) These were men who apparently had some influence in the territory, and Nehemiah sensed that they were liable to do all they could to hinder the work of rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls, and his suspicions later proved to be well grounded.

Although Nehemiah had the necessary authority from the king, and was assured also that the Lord was with him in the undertaking, he took wise precautions in organizing the project in order to avoid unnecessary incidents that might seriously interfere with the progress of the work. The work was efficiently organized, as is indicated in the 3rd chapter of Nehemiah’s book.

Guards were provided to give warning of approaching enemies, and many of the builders carried a sword in one hand while they worked with the other. Seemingly, however, there was no actual attempt made to interfere with the work except to discourage the workers and to divert Nehemiah’s attention from the task at hand.

The enemies of Israel made light of the quality of the work, saying, “If a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.” But under Nehemiah’s leadership this and other charges did not discourage the builders. God’s blessing was sought in prayer, and they were confident that he was with them. “So built we the wall,” Nehemiah reports in our Golden Text, “for the people had a mind to work.”

NEHEMIAH 6:15, 16—Through efficiency of organization, zeal for the work, and the blessing of the Lord, the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt in the remarkably short time of fifty-two days. Israel’s enemies “were much cast down in their own eyes” because of the successful conclusion of the, undertaking, “for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God,” Nehemiah reports. Doubtless they had heard on previous occasions of what the God of Israel could accomplish, and this confirmed their growing fears that it would be useless to try to hinder what the Israelites undertook to do in the name of their God.

Through the entire period of the Jewish age there were many occasions when God visibly manifested his favor toward his chosen people, and thereby convinced their enemies that he was a God of power, and the true and living God. Even while they were in captivity in Babylon lessons of this kind were given to their captors; as, for example, in the case of Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar. On account of these repeated demonstrations, beginning with their deliverance from Egypt, the Israelites should have had more faith in God, and been more obedient to him.

God’s dealings with spiritual Israel during this Gospel age have not been accompanied with such visible and material manifestations of his favor, except for the brief period of the establishment of the church. This has been an age of faith, an age during which only the consecrated followers of the Master have been able to identify and appreciate the wonderful manner in which God has been “for them,” has cared for all their needs, and fought their battles in their “good fight of faith.”

Our work for the Lord today, as it has been true of the Lord’s people throughout the Gospel age, is of a spiritual nature. We are workers together with God in the construction of a spiritual city, even the New Jerusalem, which is being “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Rev. 21:2) We, too, have our enemies. They are the world, the flesh, and the devil. Satan and the world are ever seeking to discourage us and hinder our work by appealing to us through the weaknesses of our fallen flesh. But our answer should be, even as was that of Nehemiah, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down.”—Neh. 6:3

God has provided an armor in order that we might be protected while we work. It is the armor of truth—the whole armor of God. (Eph. 6:13) We are to put this on, and keep it on as protection against all “the wiles of the devil.” (Eph. 6:11) With this armor for our protection we can continue safely in the work of building, doing with our might what our hands find to do, knowing that God is on our side and that he will help us in time of need.

QUESTIONS:

What two factors gave Nehemiah such great confidence that success would accompany the project of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem?

What is one of the differences between the manner in which God is dealing with spiritual Israel and his dealings with the natural house of Israel?

Will a time come when God will again demonstrate his power in the deliverance of his ancient people?

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