Nehemiah Rebuilds the Walls

Nehemiah was cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia—a position of great trust and honor. When his brother Hanani came from Judah with other men, Nehemiah asked about the Jewish remnant and about Jerusalem. They told him, 'Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.' This was devastating news—nearly a century after the first exiles returned, the city remained defenseless and in ruins.

When Nehemiah heard this, he sat down and wept. For some days he mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. His prayer revealed deep theology and passionate concern: he acknowledged God's greatness, confessed Israel's sins including his own family's, claimed God's promises, and asked God to grant him success before the king. Nehemiah didn't immediately rush into action; he first spent significant time in prayer, aligning his heart with God's purposes and seeking divine help.

Four months later, while serving wine to the king, Nehemiah's sadness showed on his face. This was dangerous—displaying sadness before the king could be interpreted as dissatisfaction or disloyalty. The king asked, 'Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.' Nehemiah was very much afraid, but he explained his grief over Jerusalem's ruins. The king asked, 'What is it you want?' Before answering, Nehemiah prayed to the God of heaven—even in the moment of opportunity, he sought divine guidance.

Then Nehemiah made his request: permission to go to Judah to rebuild the city of his ancestors. The king asked how long he would be gone, and Nehemiah set a specific time. He also asked for letters to governors of Trans-Euphrates for safe conduct, and a letter to the keeper of the royal forest for timber. The text says the king granted these requests because the gracious hand of God was on Nehemiah. His careful planning combined with dependence on God's favor brought success.

When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, he spent three days assessing the situation. Then at night, taking just a few men with him, he secretly inspected the walls. He hadn't told anyone what his God had put in his heart to do for Jerusalem. After his reconnaissance, he revealed his plan to the Jewish leaders: 'You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.' He told them about God's gracious hand on him and what the king had said. They replied, 'Let us start rebuilding,' and they began this good work.

But opposition arose immediately. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem mocked them: 'What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?' Nehemiah's response combined faith and determination: 'The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding.' The work began with different families and groups assigned to different sections of the wall—chapter 3 details who built what, showing organized, coordinated effort.

As the work progressed, opposition intensified. When Sanballat heard they were rebuilding, he became angry and ridiculed the Jews before his associates and the army of Samaria: 'What are those feeble Jews doing? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?' Tobiah added, 'What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!' But Nehemiah responded not with counter-attacks but with prayer, asking God to hear their derision and to not forgive the enemy's guilt.

The builders rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. But when enemies heard that the gaps were being closed, they plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble. Nehemiah prayed to God and posted a guard day and night. Meanwhile, the people grew discouraged—the rubble was so much and their strength was giving out. They said, 'We cannot rebuild the wall.' When Nehemiah learned of plots against them, he stationed people by families with swords, spears, and bows.

Nehemiah told the people, 'Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.' His exhortation combined faith in God with practical responsibility. From that day on, half worked while half stood guard with weapons. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side. The trumpeter stayed beside Nehemiah to sound the alarm if enemies attacked. They worked from dawn till the stars came out, and no one changed clothes except to wash.

Internal problems also arose—wealthy Jews were exploiting poor Jews during the crisis. Nehemiah confronted this injustice boldly, calling an assembly and demanding restitution. The nobles and officials agreed, showing Nehemiah's moral authority and commitment to righteousness alongside practical building. Later, when enemies tried to lure him to a meeting to harm him, Nehemiah refused: 'I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?' Four times they sent the same message, and four times he gave the same answer. His focus remained unshakable.

They tried to intimidate him with false accusations and prophets hired to make him hide in the temple, but Nehemiah refused. He prayed, 'Now strengthen my hands,' and continued the work. The wall was completed in fifty-two days. When all their enemies heard about this and all the surrounding nations saw it, they lost their self-confidence, because they realized this work had been done with the help of God. What seemed impossible was accomplished through godly leadership combining prayer, planning, perseverance, and dependence on God. Nehemiah's example shows that great things are accomplished when vision, faith, and practical action work together under God's guidance.