The Good Work

August 25, 2013

Nehemiah 2:1–18

Key Verse: Nehemiah 2:18

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Introduction

Nehemiah (Jehovah is Comfort), the son of Hachaliah, worked alongside of Ezra in the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Ezra and Nehemiah were at one time one book, divided at the time of the 1560 translation of the Geneva Bible. What is known of Nehemiah is found only in the book that bears his name. At an early age, by God’s providential work, Nehemiah was appointed by Artaxerxes, king of Persia, to be his cupbearer. This responsible position, a place of honor in the courts of the king, allowed Nehemiah to approach the king at the time of the need of rebuilding Jerusalem. Not only was he the king’s wine taster, but he was a valued member of the court. From this intimacy, Nehemiah obtained a commission as governor of Judea, of which Jerusalem was capitol, receiving letters and edicts which enabled him to lead in the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.

Nehemiah had true faith in the Lord. For he believed that the sovereign God would work through the Persian king, as well as guiding his hand, that His will would be accomplished in the building of Jerusalem. Neither pagan kings nor anyone else who denies God and sets up himself as the authority can hinder the working of God, for they are nothing less than tools in His hand.

Nehemiah was a servant who prayed. The city of Shushan was once a great city of the Babylonians, covering more than thirty thousand acres. It became for a time a summer retreat for Persian kings. It was here at the palace that Nehemiah met with a certain number of men of Judah. He asked them about those who “were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.” They told him that the remnant that was left of the captivity was “in great affliction and reproach”; and the wall of Jerusalem was broken down and its gates burned with fire. When Nehemiah heard this report, he mourned for some days, fastied, and “prayed before the God of heaven.” He brought the situation before God. Prayer is communication, revealing both the nature of the person who petitions and the Lord who hears. Also, Biblical prayer speaks of the revelation of truth from the Lord who answers us according to His will and purpose.

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Nehemiah Petitions—Nehemiah 2:1–5

The prayer of Nehemiah was answered according to the will and work of the Lord. It was in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes that Nehemiah took the wine and gave it to the king. His face had shown a sadness which the king had never seen in Nehemiah before; so the king asked him, “Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of the heart. Nehemiah was very sore afraid and said, “Let the king live forever; why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchers, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?” The king responded, saying, “For what dost thou make request? Nehemiah’s heart prayed to the God of heaven while his words spoke to the king, saying, “If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my father’s sepulchers, that I may build it.”

Our petitions ought to come before the authorities, not because they have the power to grant or not to grant our petitions, but that we are petitioning with the authority of our Father in heaven that His will be done on earth. Thus we must arm ourselves with His Word and the desire as His servants that His name be glorified.

Discussion: How did Nehemiah approach the king with his petition?

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Nehemiah Perseveres—Nehemiah 2:12–18

Nehemiah, armed with his faith in the Lord, and with letters given to him by the king, traveled to Jerusalem. His faith is revealed in these words, “And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me” (2:7). He told no one of what his God had put in his heart to do at Jerusalem, but went out by night to view the broken walls of Jerusalem. He viewed the general destruction of Jerusalem. Then Nehemiah, with the knowledge of what needed to be done, and that the Lord was with him, gathered the priests and nobles, and those who did the work, saying, “Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire; come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.”

Nehemiah impressed upon them that the hand of God was good upon him, “as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me.” Their response was, “Let us rise up and build.” Nehemiah then records their action, “So they strengthened their hands for this good work.” They strengthen themselves, binding themselves courageously to the task of rebuilding Jerusalem. We are God’s servants, being used for the building up of the Body of Christ. Thus, we must put ourselves to the task with courage. We must bind ourselves to the task that we might not let go, nor allow the ways of this world to hinder us. We attach ourselves to the Word of God that we may be “thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:17).

Discussion: What does it mean to have our hands strengthened for God’s good work?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2013 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.