When I read through the book of Nehemiah, I feel as though I am reading through a news story from the 21st century. Why? The story of Nehemiah has always seemed like an ancient retelling of our current world in the 21st century where people are loosing their boldness and falling away from their faith. However, in the midst of the brokenness of the world we rarely see someone of the faith stand up amidst the rubble and carry out a calling set forth by God when we were all created to be modern day Nehemiah's.
The story of Nehemiah is about one man being so moved by God that he went beyond himself, leaving behind the comfortable and stable to rebuild the brokenness of the world. The story of Nehemiah doesn't just have a physical wall that is being rebuilt, but it also has a metaphorical wall that is rebuild too. In order to gain the full extent of this powerful and true to life story, take a moment to read Nehemiah ch. 1-9. (pay attention to Nehemiah as well as the two characters Sanballat & Tobiah)
Does this story sound anything like our world of the 21st century? Let's dive into the story of Nehemiah to see how we can become BOLDER amidst a world that is threatening to stop us from carrying out or calling and destiny.
The story starts out with Nehemiah working as the cupbearer to Kind Artexerxes. When two travelers visit the palace Nehemiah inquires about the Jews. He learns that while those who had survived the exile where now living in the desolate and destroyed city of Jerusalem where the walls were broken down. When Nehemiah heard this news it is interesting to note that he was so greatly moved by hearing of the broken down wall that he began to weep and mourn and entered into fasting and praying on behalf of the Jews! Howe many of us are so moved by the destruction in the world that we begin to weep about it and emplor God to forgive the sins of the people? Nehemiah's actions in being moved by something so little as a broken wall, yet so big as a delapidated city should stir in our hearts a willingness to learn from Nehemiah's heart!
We can assume that Nehemiah, as cupbearer to the king, lived without a care in the world. He resided in the palace, had a upstanding job, was valuable to the kings life, and probably got paid a good sum. However, upon hearing that the city of Jerusalem lay in ruin with the wall broken down, he was willing to leave behind all of his comforts and move BEYOND HIMSELF to carry out the burden that God had laid on his heart.
Now comes to the part that always makes me see the story as being a direct resemblance to the 21st century! As Nehemiah travels to Jerusalem he came across two men.......Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite...........these two men represent the WORLD in this story. How? "When Sanballat the Horinite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel."(Nehemiah 2:10) Sanballat and Tobiah represent the world as they do not want Nehemiah helping the people of Israel and rebuilding the walls. The same can be said for the world in our lives.....the world never wants us to carry out our calling from God, nor does it want us to make the world better as we carry out our destiny and share Christs love with others. We run into opposition wherever we turn, just as Nehemiah did. Sanballat and Tobiah didn't want Nehemiah doing good, nor did they want the brokenness to be rebuilt. Ch. 2:19 says "they jeered at us and despised us and said 'what is this thing that you are doing?'"
As the story continues on and the rebuilding of the wall starts to take shape, Nehemiah ran into more opposition:
The story of Nehemiah is about one man being so moved by God that he went beyond himself, leaving behind the comfortable and stable to rebuild the brokenness of the world. The story of Nehemiah doesn't just have a physical wall that is being rebuilt, but it also has a metaphorical wall that is rebuild too. In order to gain the full extent of this powerful and true to life story, take a moment to read Nehemiah ch. 1-9. (pay attention to Nehemiah as well as the two characters Sanballat & Tobiah)
Does this story sound anything like our world of the 21st century? Let's dive into the story of Nehemiah to see how we can become BOLDER amidst a world that is threatening to stop us from carrying out or calling and destiny.
The story starts out with Nehemiah working as the cupbearer to Kind Artexerxes. When two travelers visit the palace Nehemiah inquires about the Jews. He learns that while those who had survived the exile where now living in the desolate and destroyed city of Jerusalem where the walls were broken down. When Nehemiah heard this news it is interesting to note that he was so greatly moved by hearing of the broken down wall that he began to weep and mourn and entered into fasting and praying on behalf of the Jews! Howe many of us are so moved by the destruction in the world that we begin to weep about it and emplor God to forgive the sins of the people? Nehemiah's actions in being moved by something so little as a broken wall, yet so big as a delapidated city should stir in our hearts a willingness to learn from Nehemiah's heart!
We can assume that Nehemiah, as cupbearer to the king, lived without a care in the world. He resided in the palace, had a upstanding job, was valuable to the kings life, and probably got paid a good sum. However, upon hearing that the city of Jerusalem lay in ruin with the wall broken down, he was willing to leave behind all of his comforts and move BEYOND HIMSELF to carry out the burden that God had laid on his heart.
Now comes to the part that always makes me see the story as being a direct resemblance to the 21st century! As Nehemiah travels to Jerusalem he came across two men.......Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite...........these two men represent the WORLD in this story. How? "When Sanballat the Horinite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel."(Nehemiah 2:10) Sanballat and Tobiah represent the world as they do not want Nehemiah helping the people of Israel and rebuilding the walls. The same can be said for the world in our lives.....the world never wants us to carry out our calling from God, nor does it want us to make the world better as we carry out our destiny and share Christs love with others. We run into opposition wherever we turn, just as Nehemiah did. Sanballat and Tobiah didn't want Nehemiah doing good, nor did they want the brokenness to be rebuilt. Ch. 2:19 says "they jeered at us and despised us and said 'what is this thing that you are doing?'"
As the story continues on and the rebuilding of the wall starts to take shape, Nehemiah ran into more opposition:
"When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?” Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!” Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders." - Nehemiah 4:1-5
One of the great lessons we learn from Nehemiah is that even in the midst of opposition and persecution we have the greatest force on our side.......God! With God all things are possible and Nehemiah knew this to be true. Similarly, as Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:10-15 "You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse,deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." As the work continued on the wall successfully, Sanballat and Tobiah grew angry (Ch. 4: 7-9) and threatened to attach the people working on the wall. However, Nehemiah and the people stood their ground knowing that this was all part of living apart from the world.
Matthew 10: 15-22 " Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."
Nehemiah knew that he simply had to stand his ground against the world, and he did just that. He realized that when he chose to listen to God and carry out God's work he would face opposition. Just like Nehemiah, we will be hated by many simply because we are Christians and doing something apart from the world. Thus, even when people question our actions and methodologies, it is not for us to subside their anger and bow to their happiness for we will always offend people because we are not of the world! We should never spew hate and condemnation on others, but we must speak the truth in love even if people get offended because they do not believe.
Therefore, Nehemiah's charge to the people in their uncertainty was this: "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your songs, your daughters, your wives, and your homes." Nehemiah and the people didn't shirk back in fear as cowards, but stood up taller and stronger knowing God was on their side and that they would not be shaken. Just as Ephesians 3:20-21 tells us "now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever, Amen." We often loose site of the fact that we have God on our side every day. God has the power to do more than we can imagine, and if we simply put our faith in him he will do great things for his glory!
Nehemiah told the people "OUR GOD WILL FIGHT FOR US" (Nehemiah 4:20) and with that the people continued working with their right hand and held a weapon in the other. Just like the people rebuilding the wall, our work will not always be easy and sometimes we must arm ourselves in order to continue the work. However, arming ourselves with God and with the word is the greatest defense against the world evil schemes! Our calling in life is not always easy peasy........Nehemiah knew that better than most. However, even when we feel tired, beat down, and completely at the end of our rope God's promise is that in our weakness we will be stronger and that we will never be defeated. 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 encourages us with the words that say "'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ my rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
As the work on the wall continued, Sanballat and Tobiah did not give up on doing everything in their power to stop Nehemiah. In chapter 6 Sanballat and Tobiah sent messages to Nehemiah asking him to come and meet with them. However, Nehemiah was not easily swayed by the distractions of the world and he also knew that they were probably planning to harm him. Therefore, instead of simply saying that he was not going to come, he responded with a statement that proclaimed the essence that God's work is more important. He told Sanballat and Tobiah "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" (Ch. 6: 3) Nehemiah was not about to bow to what the world wanted, he would only listen to God and never be swayed!
Thus, in just 52 days Nehemiah and the people finished building the wall! Not only was the wall now finished and rebuilt, but their success made an impact on all of their enemies. Nehemiah 6:16 says "And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God." I can't get over that verse! It just makes me smile and laugh because God is so good and always starts a story with a plan. God knew that Nehemiah and the people would face opposition from those around them (the world) however, God knew that if the people had faith and believed in His plan that all would turn out for the best and that their enemies would get a slap in the fact (per say). The awesome part about the wall building process, was not that the people raised complaints and were swayed by Sanballat and Tobiah, but rather that all of the efforts to stop the work failed. Thus, the completion of the wall was such a POWERFUL act in the lives of the people because all of their enemies knew that God was on their side and that any attempt at attacking them would fail!
In the hard times of our lives when all the odds seem like they are against us, as the world's lies and threats fill our head, all we have to do is continue working, keep our head up, stay faithful to God, arm ourselves, and keep working until all is finished! Our work is what is most powerful in our lives. When the world sees the fruit of our actions/work it is that fruit that makes them recoil in their threats for they know we have a powerful force on our side.
Matthew 10: 15-22 " Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."
Nehemiah knew that he simply had to stand his ground against the world, and he did just that. He realized that when he chose to listen to God and carry out God's work he would face opposition. Just like Nehemiah, we will be hated by many simply because we are Christians and doing something apart from the world. Thus, even when people question our actions and methodologies, it is not for us to subside their anger and bow to their happiness for we will always offend people because we are not of the world! We should never spew hate and condemnation on others, but we must speak the truth in love even if people get offended because they do not believe.
Therefore, Nehemiah's charge to the people in their uncertainty was this: "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your songs, your daughters, your wives, and your homes." Nehemiah and the people didn't shirk back in fear as cowards, but stood up taller and stronger knowing God was on their side and that they would not be shaken. Just as Ephesians 3:20-21 tells us "now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever, Amen." We often loose site of the fact that we have God on our side every day. God has the power to do more than we can imagine, and if we simply put our faith in him he will do great things for his glory!
Nehemiah told the people "OUR GOD WILL FIGHT FOR US" (Nehemiah 4:20) and with that the people continued working with their right hand and held a weapon in the other. Just like the people rebuilding the wall, our work will not always be easy and sometimes we must arm ourselves in order to continue the work. However, arming ourselves with God and with the word is the greatest defense against the world evil schemes! Our calling in life is not always easy peasy........Nehemiah knew that better than most. However, even when we feel tired, beat down, and completely at the end of our rope God's promise is that in our weakness we will be stronger and that we will never be defeated. 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 encourages us with the words that say "'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ my rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
As the work on the wall continued, Sanballat and Tobiah did not give up on doing everything in their power to stop Nehemiah. In chapter 6 Sanballat and Tobiah sent messages to Nehemiah asking him to come and meet with them. However, Nehemiah was not easily swayed by the distractions of the world and he also knew that they were probably planning to harm him. Therefore, instead of simply saying that he was not going to come, he responded with a statement that proclaimed the essence that God's work is more important. He told Sanballat and Tobiah "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" (Ch. 6: 3) Nehemiah was not about to bow to what the world wanted, he would only listen to God and never be swayed!
Thus, in just 52 days Nehemiah and the people finished building the wall! Not only was the wall now finished and rebuilt, but their success made an impact on all of their enemies. Nehemiah 6:16 says "And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God." I can't get over that verse! It just makes me smile and laugh because God is so good and always starts a story with a plan. God knew that Nehemiah and the people would face opposition from those around them (the world) however, God knew that if the people had faith and believed in His plan that all would turn out for the best and that their enemies would get a slap in the fact (per say). The awesome part about the wall building process, was not that the people raised complaints and were swayed by Sanballat and Tobiah, but rather that all of the efforts to stop the work failed. Thus, the completion of the wall was such a POWERFUL act in the lives of the people because all of their enemies knew that God was on their side and that any attempt at attacking them would fail!
In the hard times of our lives when all the odds seem like they are against us, as the world's lies and threats fill our head, all we have to do is continue working, keep our head up, stay faithful to God, arm ourselves, and keep working until all is finished! Our work is what is most powerful in our lives. When the world sees the fruit of our actions/work it is that fruit that makes them recoil in their threats for they know we have a powerful force on our side.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." - Romans 8:28-30
The fact of the matter is this, God knew what he had called Nehemiah to! God knows what he has called each and every one of us to......therefore, God will carry out his work in our lives.........he will carry out our destiny!
In the story of Nehemiah we see a physical wall that is rebuildt, but if you continue reading the rest of Nehemiah you will notice that a metaphorical wall is rebuilt as well. Not only was the city broken down and crumbling, but the lives of the people were in ruin too. Thus, in rebuilding the walls of the city the lives of the people were put back together as they rediscovered God and his commandments and realized how much they had been living in sin apart from God. Therefore, Nehemiah's work on the wall was about so much more than rebuilding a city wall, it was about rebuilding broken lives through is BOLDNESS in standing up to the world and carrying out the calling God had placed on his heart.
I LOVE the story of Nehemiah because it is filled with so many lessons of faith, perseverance, trust, and ultimately reckless abandonment! Nehemiah is someone we should look to in figuring out how we live BOLDLY for Christ amidst a broken world of the 21st century. We should all ascribe to be Modern Day Nehemiah's as ultimately that is what God has called us to. We should be people that see the brokenness of the world around us and are so heartbroken at the lack of boldness that we are moved beyond ourselves to carry out the burden God has placed on our hearts.
Being BOLD in the world of today is not easy. However, we learned from Nehemiah that even when faced with opposition, taunts, threats, and persecution that God is always on our side and that we have the power to accomplish great things for him. Nehemiah went against the "status quo" in every way, shape, and form by leaving behind a comfortable life to do the radical! Everyone around him thought that he was crazy...........but he proved them wrong.
The thing we have to remember is that the world does not want us to be different! Sanballat and Tobiah didn't want Nehemiah to be different. However, we are called to live apart from the world. Thus, just as Nehemiah did the crazy and BOLD, we to should do the crazy and BOLD because it is what God has called us to do. Just as Matthew 7:13-14 charges us:
In the story of Nehemiah we see a physical wall that is rebuildt, but if you continue reading the rest of Nehemiah you will notice that a metaphorical wall is rebuilt as well. Not only was the city broken down and crumbling, but the lives of the people were in ruin too. Thus, in rebuilding the walls of the city the lives of the people were put back together as they rediscovered God and his commandments and realized how much they had been living in sin apart from God. Therefore, Nehemiah's work on the wall was about so much more than rebuilding a city wall, it was about rebuilding broken lives through is BOLDNESS in standing up to the world and carrying out the calling God had placed on his heart.
I LOVE the story of Nehemiah because it is filled with so many lessons of faith, perseverance, trust, and ultimately reckless abandonment! Nehemiah is someone we should look to in figuring out how we live BOLDLY for Christ amidst a broken world of the 21st century. We should all ascribe to be Modern Day Nehemiah's as ultimately that is what God has called us to. We should be people that see the brokenness of the world around us and are so heartbroken at the lack of boldness that we are moved beyond ourselves to carry out the burden God has placed on our hearts.
Being BOLD in the world of today is not easy. However, we learned from Nehemiah that even when faced with opposition, taunts, threats, and persecution that God is always on our side and that we have the power to accomplish great things for him. Nehemiah went against the "status quo" in every way, shape, and form by leaving behind a comfortable life to do the radical! Everyone around him thought that he was crazy...........but he proved them wrong.
The thing we have to remember is that the world does not want us to be different! Sanballat and Tobiah didn't want Nehemiah to be different. However, we are called to live apart from the world. Thus, just as Nehemiah did the crazy and BOLD, we to should do the crazy and BOLD because it is what God has called us to do. Just as Matthew 7:13-14 charges us:
"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that lead to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that lead to life, and those who find it are few."
Let us all, right now, decide to be "one of the few"! Let us choose the narrow and hard path, for though it may be hard at times, it ultimately leads to life! As Christians we are called to go through the narrow gate. Let us go against the world just as Nehemiah did and have eyes to see what Jesus sees. Let us be heartbroken by the things that break Jesus heart and let us not be content to see the destruction continue.........let us rise up and do something to change it!
Yes, we will face many things. We will have Sanballat's and Tobiah's in our life but just as Nehemiah conquered them, we to shall conquer the world! BOLDNESS to rebuild the broken walls (broken lives) takes our willingness to embrace reckless abandonment! Let us all choose today to live life as a Modern Day Nehemiah.
Yes, we will face many things. We will have Sanballat's and Tobiah's in our life but just as Nehemiah conquered them, we to shall conquer the world! BOLDNESS to rebuild the broken walls (broken lives) takes our willingness to embrace reckless abandonment! Let us all choose today to live life as a Modern Day Nehemiah.
" To be right with God has often meant to be in trouble with men." - A.W. Tozer
I pray that we all have eyes that are open to see the brokenness in the world and that we are willing to embrace reckless abandonment and be BOLD in the midst of a world full of Sanballat's and Tobiah's.
-Madison
-Madison