When I was a young boy, I remember a construction site that
was in progress next to a fast food restaurant that my family frequented for
lunch. Because the structure grew beside the interstate leading to our home, I was
able to measure the progress this site achieved with each passing day. After a
couple of months went by, it was clear by the shape of the substructure that
this building would eventually be a hotel. However, soon after the scaffolding
was attached to the wooden frame to finish the walls and windows, funding was
pulled for the project and the site was abandoned for years. The structure, which
was left exactly as it was, slowly decayed under the extreme weather conditions
of south Texas and stood as an effigy of failure and hopes crushed. Similar
sites are witnessed around Roanoke. Up until recently the site at Franklin Road
and Wonju has laid dormant after a venture was erected and then abandoned.
Nearly every day for the last couple of years I’ve passed this empty shell of a
building that once promised growth and business opportunities. An abandoned,
neglected, or unfinished construction site is anything but a pretty picture.
Nothing can grow, thrive, or begin to yield a profit if it is unfinished,
incomplete, or full of holes. Unfortunately a similar site existed in Israel and as we begin our study in Nehemiah, we are taken to survey the rubble. However, as is the case for the site on Franklin Road and
Wonju, new life will come to this forgotten structure. In this case, an opportunity to finish what was started will come as a faithful follower of Yahweh answers the need of His
people. Let us being our exciting study in this book by looking at four actions
taken in its opening chapter. Ultimately, from this passage we will learn how
we out to respond when God reveals to us the needs of those in our vicinity as
we are about His kingdom building work.
ACTION #1: A Question
is Posed-1:1-2
Nehemiah picks up exactly where Ezra leaves off. In fact, in
the Hebrew Bible, there is no division between these two books (they were not
separated until about the 15th century AD). Though these two books
once belonged to the same work, there is a good reason to treat them
separately. One of the significant marks of the division that does occur
between these two literary works involves the opening verse, “the words of
Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah,” which switches the principle character of the
narrative from the prophet Ezra to Nehemiah. In fact, this book is Nehemiah's first person account of the unfolding events.
But what of this man, Nehemiah? That he is the “son of
Hacaliah” does not reveal much; and yet, his name says a mouthful. Nehemiah
means “Yahweh has comforted” and in the unfolding narrative, Nehemiah will be
used of God to fulfill this title.
At the time this book
was written, Israel had suffered in the captivity of Babylon. However, as a new
empire emerged, more freedom was granted to conquered peoples. Cyrus, Emperor
of Persia was an enlightened ruler who made it his general policy to permit
people who had been dispersed to return to their homeland. He also allowed them
to practice their own religious beliefs. In keeping with his policy of
repatriation, Cyrus permitted a group of Jewish people to return to Judah in
538 and even funded the rebuilding of the Temple. These events are preserved
for us in the book of Ezra which documents the reestablishment of Israel’s
spirituality depicted in the newly refurbished temple.
After the temple was complete and the Jews were restored to
their land, Nehemiah reveals that “...it happened in the month of Chislev, in
the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capitol, that Hannai, one of my
brothers, and some men from Judah came and I asked them concerning the Jews who
had escaped and had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem,…” (1:1b-2).
Obviously, Nehemiah is concerned about his people who have made it back home to
the land God had promised them from the time of Abraham. Who better to let him
know how his countrymen were fairing than his own friends and brothers from
Judah. Little does Nehemiah know that soon (as a result of the answer to his
question) he will be made superintendent over a large and overdue construction
project.
ACTIVITY #2: A Need
is Shared-1:3
Unfortunately, the news from home is not good. Nehemiah
recalls, “They said to me, ‘the remnant there in the province who survived the
captivity are in great distress and reproach…” (1:3a). The Hebrew words here
describe a place of brokenness and disgrace that is a far cry from the times of
great exuberance and power experienced during the reign of king David.
Part of the reason for this unfortunate predicament involved
the state of Jerusalem’s wall. Nehemiah’s brothers and friends reveal “…the
wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire”
(1:3b). This porous perimeter surrounding
the crown jewel of Israel made it susceptible to enemy attacks and kept
economic growth and social development from taking place. This was no way for
God’s people to prosper! This was no way for them to be a blessing to the
nations!
What adds insult to injury is how long the mess had been
left sitting there. The walls of Jerusalem had been destroyed almost 150 years
prior by Nebuchadnezzar! Not only was this a real problem, but it was a near-ancient
need that had gone unmet because of the century long exile and the present apathy/fear
of a broken and disgraced people.
Things are rotten in the state of Israel. Though the people
had expected the dawn of the national resurrection predicted by Ezekiel
(Ezekiel 37:1-14- after introducing the idea of dry bones taking on flesh and
living again, the prophet says, “Then He said to me, “Son of
man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say, ‘Our bones
are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of
your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I
have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My
people. I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to
life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord.’”), they faced a crisis which threatened to still the
feeble heartbeat of nationhood (Lassor, Hubbard, Bush, 550). With the
superintendent identified (Nehemiah) and the need described (a wall is missing
where it should be and it has been absent for far too long) it follows next
that a plan be put together to fix it. Right?
ACTIVITY #3: A Prayer
is Offered-1:4-11d
Not so fast. Nehemiah’s kneejerk reaction is not to organize,
draw up plan, or make travel arrangements. He does not even take things up to
his employer to get time off to go help,…at first. Nehemiah’s initial response
to this troubling news is to fall on his knees in fervent prayer. Listen to what he does in his own words,
“When I heard these word, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was
fasting and praying before the God of heaven…” (1:4). This intimate description
tells the reader something about the nature of the prayers that Nehemiah
offered--they were immediate, they were
emotional, they were appropriate, they were accompanied with fasting, and they
were offered to the one true God. Oh that these same words could be said of our
prayer lives! What did Nehemiah say during these times of fervent prayer and
mourning? Thankfully, Nehemiah answers this for us by providing a sample summary
of what he may have said.
The first element in Nehemiah’s prayer is praise and
adoration for Yahweh, “I said, ‘I beseech You, O Lord God of heaven, the great
and awesome God, who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who
love Him and keep His commandments…” (1:5). Both the primary place God has in
Nehemiah’s prayer life and the attributes he uses to describe the Almighty
delineate Nehemiah’s reverent view of Yahweh. He is Master over all
(“Lord”); He is above everything, (“of heaven”); He is all powerful (“great and
awesome”); He is faithful (“preserves the covenant”); and He is merciful
(“lovingkindness”). For all of these reasons and millions more Nehemiah turns
to Him for direction and wisdom concerning this pressing issue his people now
face.
After grabbing the attention of Yahweh through praise and
adoration, Nehemiah makes his supplication saying, “Let your ear now be
attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am
praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your
servants, confessing the sins of the sons to Israel which we have sinned
against You;…” (1:6a). Ultimately this is Nehemiah’s way of asking God to
listen to him. In Nehemiah’s mind, God should pay attention to his earnest plea
for several reasons: he is God’s servant; he is praying constantly (“day and
night”); he is praying on behalf of God’s people; and he is willing to be
honest about his sin and the sin of his people.
In fact, Nehemiah is quick to be up front about his personal
and Israel’s corporate failings, “I and my father’s house have sinned. We have
acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the
statues, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses…” (1:6b-7).
Indeed, failure proliferates Israel’s history like mold growing on a damp
basement wall. The Jews required constant saving during the times of the judges because of
their sin, demanded to be like everyone else in asking for a king, and chose
wickedness over God at nearly every turn. As for the Law God had given them,
What law? To the Jews at this moment in history, Moses was a memory and the law
of God an afterthought. Things were desperately rotten in the state of Israel.
This is one reason why Nehemiah appeals to God’s lovingkindness (mercy) in the
opening of His prayer.
Though there is plenty of bad news and the initial survey of
the site is deplorable to say the least, Israel is not without hope. God has
made a promise to Israel that Nehemiah reminds Him of next, “…Remember the word
which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful I will
scatter you among the peoples; but if you return to Me and keep My commandments
and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most
remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them
to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell…” (1:9). Quoting
from Leviticus 26:33, Nehemiah appeals to God’s faithfulness to the covenant
promises He makes to His people (the same faithfulness Nehemiah celebrates in
verse 5). Nehemiah’s prayer is that God will make good on His promise to
restore His people when, not if, they turn back to Him—not for their names’ sake
but for sake of the name of Yahweh!
In addition to God’s promises, Nehemiah believes God should
answer his prayer because it involves His people. These were the same people
that God had in mind when He called upon Abraham, the same people he
anticipated in the boy Isaac, the same people he wrought in Jacob and
multiplied in His twelve sons including Judah. As Nehemiah recalls, “They are
Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed [time and time again] by Your
great power and by Your strong hand…” (1:10).
Just as God had looked out for His people and would continue to do so on
into eternity, Nehemiah asks that He do so here in this situation.
“…O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the
prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere
Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion
before this man…”(1:11a). Nehemiah’s
reiteration of His supplication in verse 11 only enhances the passion behind
His fervent prayer. Obviously, though the many had failed God, there were still
a few who revered the name of Yahweh. This gives Nehemiah the boldness to ask
God for success in the first step he now feels led to take—asking his employer
for a leave of absence to go and rebuild the wall of Jerusalem (allowing
Jerusalem the safety necessary to grow and thrive). Don’t be fooled by the
casual reference to Nehemiah’s boss (“this man”), for he is none other than
Artaxerxes, king of Persia!
Nehemiah’s response to the need he is confronted with provides
us with a glimpse into this man’s heart. Nehemiah is a devout follower of Yahweh
and incredibly concerned about Yahweh’s people who are struggling. Unlike his
countrymen, Nehemiah is not going to sit around and allow the wall to forever
hamper the development of God’s people. He is going to take action—the first of
which is calling upon the Lord for help, forgiveness, guidance, and blessing.
ACTIVITY #4: A Hand
is Traced-1:11b-“…Now I was cupbearer to the King…”
With the superintendent chosen, the need identified, and
contract drawn up, the only thing left to do is get the permits signed by the
proper authorities. In this case, the authority is king Artaxerxes (as he is
the one who can green light a construction project of this magnitude and allow
Nehemiah to head it up). It is a good thing Nehemiah was His cupbearer, “Now I
was cupbearer to the King” (1:11b).
Do not mistake this casual reference as an example of a
coincidence. On the contrary, this remark is Nehemiah’s way of subtly tracing
the hand of God’s sovereignty. Yahweh had planted this man in a close and
trusting relationship with the king for such a time as this. If anyone could
bend the ear of Artaxerxes, it was Nehemiah who taste-tested the king’s food,
entertained him in conversation, and acted as an informal advisor. The one who
had the ear of God also had the ear of the king—this was no accident.
So What?
All of these activities suggest that we are in for quite a
saga in the remaining chapters of Nehemiah. However, this opening chapter is not
without application for our own lives as we act as builders of God’s kingdom
today. Just as Nehemiah surveyed the situation and found it in shambles, if we
take a survey into the state of the kingdom of God in this neighborhood, city,
state, and country, we will find it porous, and therefore vulnerable to all
kinds of calamity. Don’t let the beautiful homes and landscaping fool you,
things are rotten in the state of South Roanoke and unfortunately, I’m
convinced that our hearts don’t break for her as Nehemiah’s did for Israel. How
bad does it bother us that there are many who claim to be Christians in our vicinity
that are far from God? How much does it hurt that people are attacked by
wickedness and sin every day and on their way to eternity without God? Does the
growing allure of atheism send a chill up your spine?
I don’t’ know about you, but I feel called to this place to
do something about it—to help make this place, Crystal Spring Baptist, suitable
for God’s kingdom to thrive here for His name’s sake. However, before we draw
up the plans, organize ministries, strategize, and get to work, we must be a
people who, like Nehemiah, fall on our knees before God in fervent prayer,
broken and desperate for Him to intervene and guide the way. We must infuse our
prayer with passion and accompany it with fasting when led. In so doing, we
will have eyes to see the hand of God’s sovereignty –the same hands that have brought
each of us to such a place as this, for such a time as this, in order to
fulfill His incredible mission.
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