Thousands of Jews were carried into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, over a series of three deportations beginning in 605 BC. Exile from Judah, their homeland, and captivity in Babylon (and later Persia) was God’s judgment on his people for failing to keep his covenant. The length of their exile, 70 years, meant that many Jews were actually born while in captivity. Nehemiah was such a man.
Nehemiah served as the king’s cupbearer at Shushan the palace in Persia, but he had a deep and genuine longing for the land of his fathers. Though many had returned to Judah and the temple destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar had finally been rebuilt (515 BC), Jerusalem itself was still far from being restored. Those who had been to Jerusalem reported to Nehemiah “The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire” (Nehemiah 1:3).
It is at this point that the Scriptures reveal to us some of Nehemiah’s leadership qualities that serve as patterns for our own behavior. First, he identified with the work of God. Though he had never been to Jerusalem, he was burdened for its restoration. Jerusalem and the temple were the very center of Jewish life. The city’s safety was necessary for the service in the temple to be free from interruption. The fact that the walls were broken down left the city vulnerable to the antagonists surrounding Jerusalem and would interfere with worship in the temple.
When Nehemiah heard the report he “sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4). His burden for the work of God took him to the throne of God first. This ought to be our practice as well. The work of building the church is the very work of Christ. He told his disciples “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). We have the great privilege of laboring with him in this great endeavor. Often the Lord will bring to our attention some need in the work of the ministry. Do we bring it to him in prayer? Or do we just complain?
The second thing that Nehemiah did was made himself a part of the solution. Part of Nehemiah’s prayer was that God would “grant him mercy in the sight of this man [the king]” (Nehemiah 1:11). In light of his prayer, Nehemiah said unto the king, “If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favor in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it” (Nehemiah 2:5).
Nehemiah was made aware of the need by those who had come from Jerusalem. He understood the implications of the city’s condition and became burdened for its restoration. He prayed that God would open the door for him to lead in the rebuilding of its walls and gates. God heard and answered his prayers for the Scriptures record that “it pleased the king to send me” (Nehemiah 2:6).
Believer, our Lord has a place of service for each one in the great work of building his church. How do you respond when you see a need? Do you step forward and seek to meet that need or, do you withdraw and hope that someone else will act first? Working for Christ is a privilege!
From the Chaplain 