Nehemiah was a man with great passion for the Lord. Working under the Persian king Artaxerses, he hears of how Jerusalem’s wall has been crumbling or burned and it leaves the city defenseless to attack. The Jews have had no leadership, strayed from God’s commands, and were essentially wandering within the walls of their own sacred city. Troubled by what could happen to the exiles in Jerusalem, Nehemiah asks the king if may return to the city to help the Jews rebuild the wall. The king grants his request and despite fierce conflict from a few opposers, Nehemiah leads the Jews in a strong rebuild that is numbered to 52 days in total. His success would be considered an extreme makeover in those days.
I remember the joy in reading this account several years ago with a men’s bible study at work. We studied this via an inductive bible study approach – one which I would love to lead for my family one time while they are visiting – and it opened my eyes to vivid colors and brushstrokes by the Father’s hand in such ancient writings. He cares deeply for His people and despite this being the people’s third exile from an enemy, God faithfully provides someone to act for His bride. What is more beautiful is how the people respond with love and favor towards God when they plead to hear the Word spoken and instructed upon, then repent, turn, and praise the Father for His faithfulness and grandeur.
Israel has a habit of receiving great blessings and wealth from God and then He allows them to squander it, forget Him, and rebel against Him. Over and over and over you can see this pattern. God burns with anger at times but then His righteous fire is extinguished as the people turn just in time. But as I have written before, God’s faithfulness isn’t just limited to blessings. His faithfulness extends to all of His character. As often as He dispenses blessings, He has just as often dispensed judgment.
To some of us, this seems just like another old story. It is emotional, conflict arises, victory is achieved, a people find God again, but does it have application? As you read it, can you personalize any of it for your own walk? Is this “walk” just a spiritual one with God? I would hope that these questions are shattered beyond the answers that are being assumed. Did the Israelites just not read the Law of Moses enough? Did they not pray enough? Probably so, but is that what God wants from us, just to read about Him more and talk with Him more? Actually, I think so, but not in the same way we so religiously may think and practice it. We partition our lives into work and church life, but God wants our devotion to Him to permeate every choice we make and action we execute. He wants us to live out His precepts, to live humbly, to walk with mercy, to give him our first fruits – first our money (which we cling to the most) and then our lives – to spend less than we earn, lest we show we are not satisfied and content by Him.
My prayer is that I may continue to adopt this attitude and honor my Father God with my life, living humbly, walking steadfastly, and being more than satisfied with Him and less with things that want to distract me from Him. May others around me see I live like no else so that I will later live like no one else.
29 “You warned them to return to your law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, by which a man will live if he obeys them. Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen. 30 For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you admonished them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you handed them over to the neighboring peoples. 31 But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.
32 “Now therefore, O our God, the great, mighty and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love, do not let all this hardship seem trifling in your eyes—the hardship that has come upon us, upon our kings and leaders, upon our priests and prophets, upon our fathers and all your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until today. 33 In all that has happened to us, you have been just; you have acted faithfully, while we did wrong. 34 Our kings, our leaders, our priests and our fathers did not follow your law; they did not pay attention to your commands or the warnings you gave them. 35 Even while they were in their kingdom, enjoying your great goodness to them in the spacious and fertile land you gave them, they did not serve you or turn from their evil ways.
36 “But see, we are slaves today, slaves in the land you gave our forefathers so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it produces. 37 Because of our sins, its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have placed over us. They rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please. We are in great distress.
Nehemiah 9:29-37
34 days!
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