Nehemiah ends the previous chapter with the words, ‘I was the king’s cupbearer.’ And we now have him standing before the king (v1,2). It was now the month Nisan in the same year, that he gave the king his wine but for the first time, with a sad face. I assume that his position required him to be happy before the king. His position was like a bodyguard, ensuring that the king didn’t get poisoned. Nehemiah was responsible for putting his own life on the line by tasting the wine and food to be given to the king, thus if he had a sad face, it could mean danger both for the king and for himself.
I believe that it was forbidden to be sad in the presence of the king. The king was supposed to make you forget all of your problems. When Nehemiah looked sad, it could have been taken as an insult to the king. He had never been sad in the king’s presence before and Nehemiah noted the date as it could have been important for future reference, maybe in his own defence.
The king recognised that there was something wrong and asked him if he was sick. He was very perceptive in that he recognised that this was not sickness but rather deep sorrow and sadness. In his position he would have been a trusted and loyal servant to the king and a frequent visitor in his presence and would know his moods and could even fear for his own safety. He would likely be a close adviser and confidant to the king. At that Nehemiah became dreadfully afraid.
It is interesting that dates were meticulously noted in his dealings with the king, but more so to show that he had prayed to God for four months and waited for the right time for God to open, or close, the door for him to make his request to the king. He wanted to be sure that it was God’s will.
Having been asked by the king why Nehemiah looked so sad, he made his response (v3) with the usual “May the king live forever”. I suppose it would be the equivalent of our, “long live the king/queen.” In his position as ‘guard’ over the king’s health, I suppose it was the usual thing to say. He went on to say why and that it was understandable that he was sad, when the city, where his fathers were buried, was laid waste and its gates burned with fire. He was in mourning.
When we are asked, we often say, ‘I’m fine’ when in fact we are not, Nehemiah was honest and told the king what was causing his sadness.
We should be careful as to how and who we share our problems and cares with. It can be helpful but let us remember, that God knows. A trouble shared is a trouble halved, is a popular motto, but we must be careful, truthful and selective who we share them with. It should be someone we trust and can rely on.
In verses 4-8 the king asked Nehemiah, “What is your request?”. What a position to be in – the king asking you what do you want? It was a privilege, and one could be tempted to ask, ‘for the earth’ and be careless. Nehemiah did the right thing; he prayed to Almighty God. A friend of mine refers to these as ‘arrow prayers.’ Prayers don’t always have to be long. What better way than to ask God what we should ask for. He had been praying for four months, so this seemed to have been a quick prayer of ‘Help’. Having prayed for guidance, he said, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.”
Nehemiah was going to do the work, not tell others how to do it. It was no mere flight of fancy but a desire to do God’s work in God’s way.
The king, sitting with the queen, asked, “How long will your journey be and when will you return?” Clearly the king wanted him to return so Nehemiah was grateful and set a time. He then asked for letters to be given to the governors that permission be given for him to pass through the region until he got to Judah. He also asked for a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest for timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel, the city wall and for his own house. The king granted all his request. He recognised that this was God’s doing in making the king enthusiastic about supporting Nehemiah in this venture.
Nehemiah had made a plan, what he had to do, what he needed, and he had committed it to God. “A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps”. (Proverbs 16:9) The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty. (Proverbs 21:5)
Some would say that we have to leave it all to God and never make plans and sometimes we may not be able to plan. In such cases God will direct us but these scriptures encourage us to plan and to rely on God.
Once again, God used a heathen king to aid His work.
Nehemiah travelled the 800 miles to Jerusalem. He led from the front to do the work. Having the king’s permission, he could have sent someone else, but God had laid it on his heart. He approached the governors in the region beyond the river (Euphrates which would be the boundary of Judah on the road to Jerusalem) and showed them the king’s letters (v9,10). Note that the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with him, no doubt for protection.
No sooner had he arrived that the opposition began – Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonites heard of it and were deeply disturbed. They obviously cared nothing for the good of Jerusalem and were deeply disturbed that someone should come to seek to care.
The Bible tells us that we can expect problems and difficulties, even persecution if we want to serve The Lord. Paul writing to the Philippians (1:29), tells us that persecution is a gift. I’m sure many would say that it is a gift we could do without, but hardships make us stronger and test and increase our faith.
Nehemiah had told no-one what he planned to do and after three days he went out to survey the state of the city and walls. He took a few men with him and his donkey. Starting at the Valley Gate, on the west side of the city, to the Serpent Well and the Refuse Gate. Next to the Fountain Gate and King’s Pool. The wall was such that he couldn’t get through on his animal, so after viewing the wall, he returned by the Valley Gate. The officials did not know where he had been as he had not told the Jews, priests, nobles, officials or the other workers. (v11-16)
Alan Redpath wrote, “It is good to have Christian friends, but it is dangerous to wear your heart on your sleeve. Have a secret place somewhere which nobody knows anything about but you and God.” “It is utter folly to refuse to believe that things are as bad as they really are. It is vital in any undertaking for God to know the worst, for whenever there is to be a wonderful movement of the Holy Spirit, it begins with someone like Nehemiah who was bold enough to look at facts, to diagnose them, and then to rise to the task.” He took time to count the cost before starting the work.
This was the first time he he’d seen the state of the city and walls for himself and no doubt it filled him with sadness but great determination to do what The LORD had laid on his heart.
God can rebuild the broken walls of our lives as we survey the state of them. We must come to God in true repentance and faith and receive Him into our lives. When we do The Holy Spirit comes in to dwell with us. He convicts us of sin and gives us the power to live for Christ. We need to build on the firm foundation of The Lord Jesus Christ, the solid rock, not on the sinking sand. The Christian life applies to all parts of our lives, not just the spiritual. It is 24/7 and we need to survey every part, old and young, school, work, home life, business, relationships, choices even church and Christian service, for without Him we will fall into ruin just as those walls had.
Nehemiah then met with the leaders of Jerusalem; he needed cooperation. He shared his vision, and said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” Not only did he give them the bad news about the city and encourage them to rebuild it, but he told them of his testimony of God’s hand on him and the way God had moved the heathen king to support the work. He identified himself with them and invited them to be part of the solution. He told them of God’s hand in it, not only to build the wall but to remove the shame that had come upon them. He told them of God’s power in moving a heathen king to support this work and if God could do that, what could He not do. The Bible says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) and whilst that hadn’t been written then, I’m certain that Nehemiah knew that fact.
They were enthused and said, “Let us rise up and build.” Not only was there ‘talk’ but there was action – they set their hands to work. (v17,18) God moved their hearts just as He had the king.
Then came the test! “But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?” (v19)
They started making mock of them and then accusing them of rebellion against the king. People making fun of us can be debilitating, often more than physical opposition. The Lord Jesus, Himself, suffered mockery on many occasions. Remember when he said that Jairus’ daughter was not dead but sleeping, the mourners laughed at him, and on the cross they mocked Him – telling Him to come down from the cross. He knows what it is to be scorned and treated badly, so He can sustain us when people do this to us. We must give it to Him and ask for His help to deal with it. Through Him we can have the victory over every situation.
Nehemiah, long ago, knew how to deal with this by trusting in God.
Sanballat and Tobiah appeared on the scene as soon as Nehemiah arrived and soon, they are trying to prevent the work form being done. These were both Jews, Tobiah, a man of influence with the priests and Sanballat connected to the priests by marriage (see 13:4 and 13:28)
Opposition is always difficult to deal with and none more so than one’s own family and friends. There are several passages of Scripture that refer to a man’s enemies being those of his own household e.g. Matthew 10:36.
There is a saying that ‘sticks and stones may break my bones but calling me names won’t hurt me.’ However, that is not strictly true. Being called names can be just as hurtful as a physical beating. Being laughed at can be cruel. One has to be ‘thick-skinned’ to withstand some forms of mockery.
They clearly had not bothered to get their facts right by saying they were rebelling against the king for the king had given Nehemiah authority to do what he was doing.
We must never be more concerned about what people may say about us than what God requires of us.
Nehemiah answered them (v20) “The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem.” Their mockery didn’t deter him, his confidence was in God. He didn’t even bother to show them the kings written authority.
We must not let our enemies stop us from doing The Lord’s work. He knew that God had gone before him and the work had to be done despite opposition. God is greater than all the opposition the devil may throw at us. His enemies had no place, heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem and likewise, the devil has no place in the work of The Lord, and we must resist him and commit our way to The Lord. Sanballat and Tobiah were Jews and may even have had property in Jerusalem, but they had no rights over the work of The LORD.
