Nailing Down the Contract -Nehemiah 2:1-10

The act of writing a contract is an art as well as a science. Not only do you have make sure that elements are clearly spelled out, but it has to remain fluid enough to allow for unforeseen circumstances. The devil is always in the details and the language used is paramount. This is why when important contracts are drawn up, teams of lawyers are involved to parse every word and analyze each implication therein so that their party is pleased. Contracts are no small feat. Some are one-sided—those in which one party seems to be shouldering much of the risk or resources; while others are more equal. The contract drawn between Artaxerxes and Nehemiah is an example of the former. In fact, what is agreed upon for the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem is so one-sided that it begs one question—who is really drawing this up and making this happen? We will soon find out the answer to this question as we examine four elements involved in the contract itself from Nehemiah 2:1-10.  

 

ELEMENT #1: The Occasion of the Contract-2:1-3

At the outset of chapter 2, Nehemiah reminds the reader that is the twentieth year of the new king, Artaxerxes. At this point, the Jews had enjoyed plenty of time back in their Promised Land and yet they do not seem too terribly motivated to do anything about their fledgling wall. This, as was discussed in the notes on chapter one, left the city of Jerusalem vulnerable to attack and paralyzed to any social, economic, or cultural development. It also kept them from fulfilling their mission to be a blessing to the nations (Gen. 12).

In spite of the failure of the Jews, things are looking up. Artaxerxes, a relatively gracious king (albeit toward the Jews) is now in power and has for one of his cupbearers Nehemiah who, as we learned in chapter 1, is concerned about His people. Only God could put these conditions in such perfect order. Therefore, in taking advantage of what God has orchestrated, Nehemiah uses a common occurrence to make his request for a contract to be agreed upon that involves the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem. Nehemiah 2:1 says, “And it came about in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, that wine was before him, and I took up the wine and gave it to the king.”

Though this was not the first time Nehemiah brought wine before the king, it was unusual for him to do so with a disheartened countenance. In fact, it was forbidden for servants to show negative emotion before royalty lest the monarch believe it was directed toward him or her. This is one reason why servants would cover their mouths with their hand when they approached the king (especially in Persia). However, instead of saving face, Nehemiah boldly wears his emotions on his sleeve.

After noticing Nehemiah’s peculiar expression, Artaxerxes asks, “Why is your face sad though you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart...” (2:2a). That Artaxerxes is even considerate enough to ask Nehemiah this question might suggest that He was fond of this servant of his and had grown to learn his mannerisms. Something was off on this day (purposefully) and in response Artaxerxes asks the question that Nehemiah hoped he would.

Though Nehemiah had no doubt planned for this and had run this situation over and over again in his mind, the text says he was “very much afraid” (2:2b). In a formal setting such as this, it was queer for royalty to speak to servants like this. What was he to do now? How could he set up the occasion he longed for that would lead to the contract he desired? Fortunately, Nehemiah knows how to frame an issue. Though fearful, Nehemiah responds by saying, “Let the king live forever. Why should my face not be sad when the city, the place of my father’s tombs, lies desolate and its gates have been consumed by fire?’…” (2:3).  After buttering him up with a prayer of longetivity for the king’s reign, Nehemiah shares with Artaxerxes his concern in a way that would have appealed to this king. Kings knew, more than most, how important cities were. Kings were concerned, more than most, about their heritage and parentage. Kings understood, more than most, the significance of a wall and its gates. No doubt, Artaxerxes could understand, more than most, how dire the situation was in Jerusalem from the explanation Nehemiah provided. In fact, Nehemiah’s explanation is so appropriate and so compelling that it sets things up for a formal request, the second element of this passage.

ELEMENT #2: The Request for Contract-3:4-5

In response to Nehemiah’s explanation of his dreariness, the king does something unprecedented—he actually asks Nehemiah, “‘what would you request?’…” (3:4a)! As we see earlier in the Scriptures and later in the New Testament, empires were largely indifferent to the people they had conquered. Aside from keeping the peace as in the Roman Empire of the New Testament, most rulers actually persecuted the Jews (see Babylon and later in Rome). Here, King Artaxerxes is so touched by what Nehemiah has to say that he actually gives him an opportunity to say exactly what he wants and even seems interested!  

However, before Nehemiah answers the king, he prays to the King of Kings, “So I prayed to the God of heaven” (3:4b). Some argue that this is perhaps the most beautiful example of spontaneous prayer in the Scriptures! However, this is not the first time Nehemiah immediately fell on his face before the Lord in prayer (see Neh. 1:4). Though Nehemiah was fearful to approach king Artaxerxes, he demonstrates here who he fears most! (Special note: We will continue to see Nehemiah’s immediate recourse to pray in 4:4, 9; 5:19; 6:9, 14; 13:14). For Nehemiah, prayer was of primary concern—even if it meant putting his employer (who just so happened to be one of the most powerful men in the world) on hold.

You have heard it said, “crawl before you walk,” “walk before you run,” “look before you cross,”  etc. These describe the natural and instinctual steps/habits to take if we are going to be safe in crossing the street or able to move about freely/efficiently. No one questions these. In fact, in most cases, we cannot (or should not) mess with the order of these maxims. However, too often in our lives we are guilty of saying or doing before praying. Therefore, may I suggest another maxim to live by, “pray before you say.” Reversing the order of this can lead to all kinds of trouble.

Prayer’s primary place in the believer’s life is a theme that continues on into the New Testament. Verses like “Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33) and “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17), seem to support Nehemiah’s behavior here.

Nehemiah’s prayer to the King of Kings pays off as he was blessed with boldness before King Artaxerxes. In answer to Artaxerxes question, Nehemiah replies, “’If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor before you, send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it’…”(2:5). Nehemiah voices a request for a contract to be drawn that would allow him time off to go and do what he believes God is leading him to do. However, the provisions of the contract (the third element of this passage) will not end there.

ELEMENT #3:  The Contract Provisions-2:6-8

It is obvious by the king’s response that he is actually considering Nehemiah’s appeal, “then the king said to me, the queen sitting beside him, ‘How long will your journey be, and when will you return?’ So it pleased the king to send me, and I gave him a definite time…” (2:6). Not only was the king going to let Nehemiah go, he was pleased to do so! Nehemiah would be allowed a specific amount of time off to act as a superintendent over a huge project. Much like a timeline for a construction project today, both parties decide on an appropriate schedule for its completion.

However, Nehemiah does not stop there. If the king was going to be generous in the time he would give Nehemiah, perhaps he would also provide other necessities. Therefore, in the spirit of striking while the iron is hot, Nehemiah continues, “’if it please the king, let letters be given me for the governors of the provinces beyond the River, that they may allow me to pass through until I come to Judah’…”(2:7). This was no small favor. Fixing a wall in some small province was one thing, but granting safe travel through multiple provinces was a much bigger deal. Though this was a big favor, Nehemiah knew he would face opposition from his enemies and the former enemies of the Jewish people. This makes this provision especially significant. 

The fact that Nehemiah has not been stopped or thrown out of the court by this point means that the iron is not just hot, but red hot! Therefore, Nehemiah asks for even more, “…’and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress which is by the temple, for the wall of the city and for the house to which I will go’…” (2:8). This contract is becoming exceedingly lengthy and more expensive for Artaxerxes. Not only was Artaxerxes giving time off and granting safe passage, but now there is an amendment which asks for the king’s own lumber to be used in the construction!

In spite of the lengthy and expensive nature of this contract, Artaxerxes gives it his seal of approval, “and the king granted them to me…” (2:9). But why? What was Artaxerxes to gain? According to the way this contract is drawn, he only suffers loss! What ruler would give up so much for so little? None! However, anything is possible, even the highly improbable when the hand of God is involved, “And the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God was on me” (2:9). Only God could draw up and notarize a contract like this! Nehemiah gives all glory for this incredible achievement to Him.

ELEMENT #4: The Response to the Contract-2:9-10

Now that the occasion and the request has paid off with a killer contract, everything should be well underway and smooth sailing! In fact, as verse 9 reveals, the response to the contract initially seems positive. Nehemiah writes, “Then I came to the governors of the provinces beyond the River and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen…” (2:9). The safe passage Artaxerxes promised is working great as Nehemiah’s crew cross the “river” (the Euphrates) and head into more remote provinces of the empire. However, as expected, Nehemiah confronted the governors of these more remote lands and their response to the new contract is anything but positive.

 “When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about it, it was very displeasing to them that someone had come to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel…”(2:10). These two men filled the two chairmen positions of the busy-body-up-to-no-good homeowner’s association of rural Persia. They even have names to fit their unique and yet equally appalling personalities. Sanballat, “sin has given life,” is the free spirit crazy of the two and Tobiah, “Yahweh is good” (don’t let the name fool you), is the holier than thou aristocrat from the well-to-do family who looks down on everyone else. Change, especially big change that they don’t benefit from, was bad news for these two and the groups they represented.

Opposition lurks behind the corner for Nehemiah and his building project. These two and others will show up and continue to act as pesky nuisances who distract, discourage, and destroy the progress God is bringing about. How will Nehemiah respond? We will have to see as the construction begins in the coming passages.

So What?

However, I’m sure we can wager an educated guess as to how at this faithful man will respond. In chapter 1, Nehemiah responded to bad news with prayer and in chapter 2, Nehemiah responds to a golden opportunity with, you guessed it,…prayer. No doubt, he will continue this theme as he faces the opposition around him. When Nehemiah sought the Lord in front of Artaxerxes, an incredible contract was crafted. Surely God will show up in even bigger ways to bring Himself glory in the face of opposition. As has been demonstrated in these short ten verses, when God is sought first, blessings quickly follow.

So what opportunities has God given to you? What opportunities has God given this church? Perhaps God has given you or this church a golden opportunity that seems too hard to achieve and that would require a whole lot in order to work out. As we have witnessed in this passage, God is pleased to go above and beyond to do the impossible when He is given primary placement in the process. He not only gave Nehemiah time off, He provided safe passage and plenty of supplies in order to set Nehemiah up for success. Seek Him first church and stand amazed at His provision to do the impossible!