Challenged to Act

KEY VERSE: “Come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.” —Nehemiah 2:17

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 1:5, 6; 2:2-5, 15-18

NEHEMIAH WAS A cupbearer in the court of King Artaxerxes. He was residing in the winter palace of the kings of Persia in Shushan when the Bible narrative begins.

Hanani, one of his brethren, together with other men of Judah, returned from Jerusalem and visited Nehemiah. From them he learned of the deplorable state of his people in Judah, the great affliction through which they were passing, and that the walls of Jerusalem were still broken down, not having been rebuilt since their destruction when the nation had been taken into captivity to Babylon. When Nehemiah learned this he “wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven.” (Neh. 1:1-4) Nehemiah’s prayer was one in which he confessed the sins of Israel, and pleaded for the prosperity of his people, based not upon merit, but upon divine mercy.—vss. 4-11

Nehemiah decided that he would, if possible, secure the king’s cooperation in a proposed visit to Judah on behalf of God’s people. But he had to wait several weeks before his prayers were answered and an opportunity was provided by the Lord for him to speak to the king. He had no way of predetermining how the great Persian emperor would react to such a request, and even considered that his life might be imperiled by taking on this new interest. Since he had risen to a position of high responsibility in the courts of the Persian government, Artaxerxes might interpret his request as disloyal, and perhaps, at the very least, not in the best interest of Persia, which was at that time in the position of overlord of Jerusalem.

But the great Jehovah is able to prepare the way against all odds and through seemingly natural circumstances, for those who desire to act in harmony with his will. In this case, Nehemiah’s sadness of countenance was noticed by the king, who inquired as to his wellbeing. This was the opening he had waited for, and he, no doubt, with a feeling of trepidation, spoke of what troubled him. By what followed it is apparent that regardless of how Artaxerxes felt about the plight of the Jews at Jerusalem, he had great regard for Nehemiah, and offered immediate assistance to his cause.

In making preparations to visit Jerusalem, Nehemiah said to the king, “Let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah; and a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into.” Nehemiah testifies that “the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.”—Neh. 2:1-8

When he arrived at Jerusalem, Nehemiah made his own inspection of the wall to assess the situation. And then he called others to join him in the task of getting the wall rebuilt.

It is obvious that his interests went beyond that of merely safeguarding his people. He desired that through his efforts, God might be glorified.

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