From Passion to Pursuit in the face of Persecution

This week we will complete Nehemiah 2 as we see the result of Nehemiah's prayer coming to pass in his pursuit of God. 

(Nehemiah 2:9-20)

9 I went to the governors of the region west of the Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent officers of the infantry and cavalry with me. 10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites, they were greatly displeased.

11 After I arrived in Jerusalem and had been there three days, 12 I got up at night and took a few men with me. I didn’t tell anyone what my God had laid on my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal I took was the one I was riding. 13 I went out at night through the Valley Gate toward the Serpent’s Well and the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. 14 I went on to the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but farther down it became too narrow for my animal to go through. 15 So I went up at night by way of the valley and inspected the wall. Then heading back, I entered through the Valley Gate and returned. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, for I had not yet told the Jews, priests, nobles, officials, or the rest of those who would be doing the work. 17 So I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned down. Come, let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.” 18 I told them how the gracious hand of my God had been on me, and what the king had said to me.

They said, “Let’s start rebuilding,” and they were encouraged to do this good work.

19 When Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they mocked and despised us, and said, “What is this you’re doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”

20 I gave them this reply, “The God of heaven is the One who will grant us success. We, His servants, will start building, but you have no share, right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.”

Nehemiah's actions were key in this... As Nehemiah prayed, he made preparations to be used by the Lord in answer to his own prayers, and because the prayers which Nehemiah were praying were based on the promised of God his requests were granted. 

Now it is important to note here that not everyone was on God's side here - we see in vs 9-10 that there was enmity between the follower of God and the follower of this world... 

However Nehemiah knew that this was a possibility and unlike Ezra who was ashamed to ask for an escort (Ezra 8:22) Nehemiah made use of one. Both men are trusting God but their trust is expressed indifferent ways. The point is whether we take Ezra's path or Nehemiah's we shouldn't condemn those who choose to take the other route - It is not our place to judge the servant of another (Romans 14:4).

Nehemiah's recognition of those who sought to oppose the work of God probably also informs his caution in (2:11-16). We see in these verses Nehemiah again preparing himself for the task at hand, going on his night ride, keeping to himself the vision that God has laid on his heart until the time was right... The end of (2:16) is a key passage as well (those who would be doing the work) because it shows Nehemiah wasn't expecting to do this job alone...

So having prayed, studied God's promises, and acting on God's direction we see in (2:17-18) as Nehemiah reveals the Lord's vision to the leaders... He pleads with them “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned down. Come, let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.” 

Today, God's name is no longer at stake in a city with walls and gates. His name is now at stake in the lives and hearts of his people...

What walls and gates need work in your life? In your marriage? In your children?