Encouraged by God

[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. Nehemiah 2:19-20

What do we have here? The same two names appear that were recorded in verse 10, but they have another conspirator with them, Geshem the Arabian. I call them the discouragers, you know the type; no matter what is said the next words out of their mouth is discouragement or something negative. They laughed, threaten and yelled, what do you think you’re doing?

Nehemiah was ready with an answer, “God will prosper us, so we are going to get up and start working. You on the other hand have nothing to do with this work or city so don’t trouble yourselves with our affairs.”

Nehemiah was not fearful of the three instigators but knew the Lord was with him.

So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Hebrews 13:6

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Making plans

[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. [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. Nehemiah 2:16-18

Nehemiah gives a “pep talk”. I can picture Nehemiah getting everyone together and laying out the plan. Okay guys this is the way it is, “we’re in a bit of distress here, the city is ruined and the gates are burnt down. Let’s get up and build it back up.”

His excitement was bursting forth and everyone was getting energized with him. They all wanted to build up their city. Maybe they put their hands in a circle on top of each other; maybe they got on their knees in the middle of the room. We are not told but we know that God gave them the strength “for this good work.”

Are you discouraged with something in your life? God gives us the strength to do the right thing.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Traveling and surveying

[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. Nehemiah 2:11-15

Have you ever traveled a long way? What did you do when you got to your destination? Did you get up in the middle of the night to check out the area? Nehemiah did.

Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem and stayed for three days. He was so intent on what he had to do, he probably could not sleep. He got up in the night and had a few other men with him as he inspected the damage. He checked on everything the gates, the dragon well (may have looked like a dragon (John Gill), the dung port (where excrements were put out of the city). The walls were broken down and the gates were destroyed by fire.

The surveying continued as he checked out the fountain and the king’s pool noticing there was no way for his horse to pass through. After checking out the devastation he returned. Nehemiah knew what needed to be done. He needed manpower and knew where to get it.

Nehemiah had a plan and now he would implement it.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Discouragement?

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. Nehemiah 2:10

Right in the middle of Nehemiah’s trip we are introduced to new individuals. According to Adam Clark, Sanballat the Horonite was “Probably a native of Horonaim, a Moabite by birth, and at this time governor of the Samaritans under the king of Persia. Tobiah the servant was an Ammonite; and here, under the Persian king, joint governor with Sanballat.”

The revival of Jerusalem as a great and strong city, which was Nehemiah’s aim, was likely to interfere with the prosperity, or at any rate the eminence, of Samaria. – Albert Barnes

Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite were not happy when they heard that someone was coming to help the children of Israel.

Nehemiah is on his journey, but people know he is coming. Even in Old Testament times word traveled quickly, especially when you have letters announcing the travel plans. Some were not happy with his coming and probably were plotting against Nehemiah.

As in our day, there is always someone who tries to discourage us, when we move forward to do work for the Lord. It grieves the world when God sends someone to help His children.

Nehemiah continued his travels and kept his eyes on the job before him. We need to keep our eyes on the job before us, remembering God knows what we are going through.

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Letters

[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. [9] Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. Nehemiah 2:7-9

Nehemiah is not done speaking to the king. He asks the king to write letters for him, so he could travel through the other countries without incidents.

He also asked for a letter to be sent to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest so he could get lumber to make beams and gates for the palace and for the wall of the city. The king granted him everything he asked for – WHY? Nehemiah writes the “good hand of my God upon me”, God’s ultimate protection and provision. Here we see the wisdom of Nehemiah, when the king asked what he needed he wasn’t shy (remember he prayed to God and God gave him wisdom).

Nehemiah starts his travels with letters and an army that the king sent with him. Nehemiah was a trustworthy and loyal employee of the king. The king was sending protection, probably so his loyal employee would return unharmed.

What a testimony Nehemiah must have been to his employer. Remember Nehemiah was a Jew and the king was not, but the king respected Nehemiah and what he stood for.

Am I a testimony to my employer? Only I can answer, how about you?

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Sadness before the boss

[4]Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. [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. Nehemiah 2:4-6

Nehemiah is standing before the king, and Artaxerxes says, “What is your request?” One of my favorite portions of scripture is: “So I prayed to the God of heaven.”

Nehemiah immediately prayed to God before he answered the king. Nehemiah did not throw himself down on his knees and pray, it doesn’t appear that he prayed an eloquent prayer, but before he opened his mouth he prayed. I believed he prayed for wisdom to say the right thing. He didn’t have a lot of time but petitioned God quickly.

He asked the king if he could go back to Judah to help with the rebuilding of the city. Without skipping a beat, King Artaxerxes asked him how long he would be gone. The king had already approved his leaving. They did not have the FMLA (Family medical leave act) during Nehemiah’s time. He was asking for a leave of absence from the king. The king was the boss.

Nehemiah gives him a time. We are not privy to the time but historians believe it was between 6 months to a year with extensions following. (Nehemiah was in Judah for twelve years.)

We need to be in close communication with God so we can immediately go to Him. We can’t always go in the prayer closet when a problem arises, but we can always go directly to God.

Keep the pray lines opened before you and God.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

A day on the job

[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. [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? Nehemiah 2:1-3

Our narrative continues in the month Nisan (end of March, beginning of April) four months after Chisleu. We observe a day in the life of Nehemiah as the king’s cupbearer. He brings the wine to the king.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary states, Xenophon has particularly remarked about the polished and graceful manner in which the cupbearers of the Median, and consequently the Persian, monarchs performed their duty of presenting the wine to their royal master. Having washed the cup in the king’s presence and poured into their left hand a little of the wine, which they drank in his presence, they then handed the cup to him, not grasped, but lightly held with the tips of their thumb and fingers…

The king notices that his disposition is not what it usually is, he appears sad and disheartened. King Artaxerxes is concerned for his loyal employee and asks “Why are you sad, you’re not sick, this can be nothing but sorrow of heart.”

In that very moment Nehemiah is afraid. He did not want the king to think that he was plotting against him or was unhappy with his job. Remember, palace life during 445 BC was very different than the time we live in today.

Nehemiah immediately reassured the king that he wished him no ill by saying “O king live forever.” He then continued with, “Why shouldn’t I be sad? Everything my fore-fathers worked for is destroyed and vandalized. Even the gates of the city are burnt down.”

Nehemiah is heartbroken for his native land. He probably remembers stories told to him as a boy of his ancestors and what they endured to make Jerusalem their home. He has something in mind, but first he needs to clear it with the king.

To be continued..

Have a blessed day,
Donna