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Nehemiah Chapter 2
Nehemiah Sent to Judah
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Nehemiah 2:1 And it came to
pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the
king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave
it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his
presence.
Nisan was also called Abib the first
month in the Jewish calendar. It is in our calendar as April. Bad
news from the land of Judah is making Nehemiah sad. He was a
faithful cupbearer to the king. Cupbearers were close to the kings
they served. Close enough to be able to talk and confide with kings.
They may also take a drink of the cup before the king does to make
sure it's not poisonous. Their job seems to be to protect rather
than just serve drinks.
- Nehemiah 2:2
Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad,
seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of
heart. Then I was very sore afraid,
- 3 And said unto the
king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance
be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres,
lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
- 4 Then the king said
unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God
of heaven.
We remember that in chapter one after
hearing the bad state of affairs in Judah that Nehemiah humbled
himself and prayed before the Lord so I believe God used this king
to answer.
Nehemiah's prayer.
- Nehemiah 2:5 And I
said unto the king, 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 fathers' sepulchres, that I may build
it.
- 6 And the king said
unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy
journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to
send me; and I set him a time.
- 7 Moreover I said
unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to
the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over
till I come into Judah;
- 8 And a letter unto
Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me
timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which
appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for
the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me,
according to the good hand of my God upon me.
The king and queen grants his request
and answers the desire of Nehemiah's heart. Actually I believe God
opens the door and moves on the king's heart to grant this request.
Cyrus started this when he was king so we see this is years later
than the first decree went out to rebuild the temple and restore
Jerusalem.
Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem's Walls
I love it when I read about the good
kings that help instead of hinder. This king was good to Nehemiah
and sends help with him. He doesn't just send him out alone.
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Nehemiah 2:10 When
Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite,
heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a
man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
Here comes the trouble. The devil
himself causes this when it comes to any good work for the Lord but
God is greater than all those that oppose His will. Sanballat was an
enemy of the Jews. It seems like down through history, the Jewish
people have had those that persecute, plot against and hate them.
God sees all this. It was prophsied that these things would happen
but woe to those that would harm them for unless they repent, God
will judge those that do evil to them.
- Nehemiah 2:11 So I
came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
- 12 And I arose in
the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man
what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was
there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.
- 13 And I went out by
night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well,
and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which
were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with
fire.
- 14 Then I went on to
the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was
no place for the beast that was under me to pass.
- 15 Then went I up in
the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back,
and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.
- 16 And the rulers
knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet
told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor
to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.
Sometimes it is better to keep quiet
about our plans until we know who is for and who is against the
plans we want to do for the Lord or from the Lord's directions.
Making annoucements at the wrong time opens the door to those who
will oppose and hinder. I know we like to be open and honest but
sometimes waiting is best.
- Nehemiah 2:17 Then
said I unto them, 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.
- 18 Then I told them
of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's
words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up
and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
When he felt it was safe to tell how
the king sent him and also had the authority given to him by God,
those that heard was ready to help rebuild and make repairs.
- Nehemiah 2:19 But
when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the
Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to
scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do?
will ye rebel against the king?
- 20 Then answered I
them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us;
therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no
portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
Things haven't changed much. Even though the
nation of Israel exists today, there are many that do not recognize
the right of them to exist. However, the land of Israel was ordained
by the creator of the universe and promised to Abraham many years
before. We can't fight against the will of God no matter how
powerful we think we are. Sanballat and those that heard this mocked
and laughed but one day the enemies of Israel will no more laugh
when they see the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords return to set
up His kingdom. We may be getting close to that time and nothing we
or anyone else can do anything to stop it. DC
Nehemiah
Chapter 3
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