OT: The Book of Nehemiah, Chapter 6

Nehemiah 6:1-19

6:1 Sanballat and Tobiah were unsuccessful in discouraging Israel so they plotted another tactic, this time against Nehemiah directly. They devised a plan in order to deceive Nehemiah into discrediting himself as a leader among his people. 

It was evident that Israel's progress was dependent on and pushed by Nehemiah's leadership; he was their pillar and they sought to swipe it down, causing all of Israel to crash and crumble. But Nehemiah knew of their true, corrupt intentions; God had ensured that Nehemiah was informed and therefore prepared against their tactics.

6:3 Yet all deceitful and corrupt plots fail to interrupt the progress of children of God. Their hearts, minds and souls are devoted so completely to their God-given work that distractions in the periphery are a nonissue. Nehemiah was focused on his God-given purpose and mission; he did not have time, or inclination to entertain his enemies with their schemes. Ultimately that meant Nehemiah did not entertain fear or doubt or self-focused motives. 

6:4 They were persistent; evil often is persistent and therefore our faith, and commitment to righteousness, must also be. They sent the letter another four times but each time, Nehemiah responded the same: I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you? We should ask ourselves that same question whenever we feel tempted off of our path (either by our own selves or by others). Why would we leave the important work we are doing with God? 

No, most of us are not building walls. Most of the work we do with God is work we do within ourselves on our faith and character. A lot of the work we do with God is done in the relationships we cultivate with others. Sometimes the work is work we do on a project, career, semester of school, in order to get to a place God has been preparing us for. 

Why leave that important work to entertain temptations and corruptions? Fear, doubt, greed, anger... each are distractions we must learn to shut down as Nehemiah so succinctly did. For example: If God has been working with you to create patience within yourself, why leave that important work and return to impatience? If God is teaching you to trust, and you have been working on it, why leave that work for fear? It would be unproductive and even regressive. Stay focused, you are doing important work.

John 5:17
“My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”

6:5-7 Sanballat and his servant tried another tactic; they tried to lure Nehemiah away from his work on the false premise that he was trying to usurp the king and become king himself. King David was a victim of such outright lies; much of the Book of Psalms is David lamenting the lies that had been told about him. Sanballat tried to use such lies as bait, to draw Nehemiah out of his work to defend himself. But as David knew, Nehemiah knew: God was his defender and therefore he could remain focused. 

Take note of how persistent opposition will be! It will look for opened spaces, even crevices in which to infiltrate your resolve. Make sure there are none; recognize its tactics and disassemble them.

6:8-9 Nehemiah knew they were trying to frighten him; God gave him clear perception of what was truly happening. Always listen to what God is quietly, but emphatically speaking; Nehemiah was able to discern true threats from frivolous distractions. 

They were trying to make Nehemiah weak, therefore Nehemiah did the most logical thing he could think of: he prayed for strength. He prayed for reinforcement from God in the specific area that his enemies were trying to attack. God is quick, able and eager to supplement us when we make the supplication for Him to do so.

6:10 Enemies were riddled throughout; a secret supporter of Sanballant (and enemy of Nehemiah) tried to cause panic in him to flee to a forbidden place. This man, Shemaiah, hoped that Nehemiah would be caught in the forbidden place and would consequently ruin his reputation among the people. 

Shemaiah used evil's most effective and prominent method: fear. Fear turns us into puppets on devil-held strings. If our faith in God is not strong, if we do not have righteous resolve, fear causes us to derail quickly. Sanballat and Shemaiah thought that they could ruin Nehemiah by causing him to make a bad decision in order to save his life. 

6:11 But Nehemiah knew something that was not yet written: those who are willing to lose their lives for God's sake, will actually gain their lives, Matthew 16:25. Nehemiah chose not to react with fear and cowardice. He was a spiritual example to his people, he could not flee without unraveling all of the work he had done for their faith. 

He was a man of God and therefore had to live as a man trusting and reliant on God. God teaches His children not to fear and therefore, when we are in a position of spiritual leadership, we cannot fear; it would be detrimental to the people we lead.

6:12-13 It was somewhat of a test for Nehemiah: God had not yet told him this was a fake threat. Only once Nehemiah had relied on his faith and made the right(eous) decision did God uncover to him the deceit of Shemaiah. He never actually had to flee at all! There was no threat to his life. But had there been, Nehemiah was fully prepared to lose his life if it meant maintaining his adherence to God's will. Nehemiah did not do the right thing because it was easy, he did it even though it was not easy because it was right. 

6:14 Like Nehemiah, we can trust that God will remember every person and plot that was against us. If not for his relationship with God, those threats would have made him afraid. If someone as spiritually strong and focused as Nehemiah admitted that without God, he would have been afraid, we know that evil has the power to overwhelm us too - but not if we have a relationship with God! 

6:15 The wall around Jerusalem was finished in just fifty-two days. Focused, committed, spiritual work has miraculous, nearly-immediate results. The wall around Jerusalem had been in ruins for years and would have remained so without spiritual leadership. The people of Israel would not have recovered if not for God's intervention. Recognize how rapidly and miraculously God's work (and godly work) can transform your life.

6:16 God prevailed again to the detriment and discouragement of those against Him. We can consistently expect that our fears, doubts and enemies will always be so disheartened by God's triumph over them in our lives. As God's children, we are well fortified by the wall that is Him. 

6:17-19 Although Tobiah had followers inside Israel, Nehemiah knew of the man's true intent; for Nehemiah exalted the word of the Lord over the word of men. 

OT: The Book of Nehemiah, Chapter 5

Nehemiah 5:1-19

5:1 It was a profound and precise blessing for God to plant Nehemiah among his people at this time. They were newly freed from imprisonment and oppression but with their newfound freedom, they began to oppress and impression themselves. They were spiritually fragile but also morally; deficiencies in their faith exacerbated their moral deficiency. 

5:2-5 It became difficult for some parents to feed their families. Families mortgaged their land, vineyards and houses to be able to afford grain. Other families borrowed money to pay for the king's tax on their lands. Some even sold their children into slavery for money! Acts of such desperation were evident of one thing: individual and national neglected relationship with God. 

The people of Israel were not adhering to the commandments of God! Their negligence of His instruction caused desperation:

"The prolonged period of working, watching, fear, and weariness inevitably led to trouble among the people in Jerusalem. There were three groups of complainers, each introduced with the phrase 'there were those who said'. The first group had large families, and did not have enough food to eat. The second group had large mortgages to pay and could not buy food. The third group had large taxes to pay and had been forced to mortgage their land and even to sell their children. The people's basic problem is pinpointed in the words 'against their Jewish brethren'. The people were not complaining merely about poverty and high taxes; the were grumbling about each other... in short, this was a class conflict. 

From the perspective of the law, there were two problems here (1) usury, lending money and charging interest, and (2) slavery. It was not wrong for a Jewish person to lend money with interest to a non-Jewish person (Deuteronomy 23:19-20), not was it wrong for a Jewish person to lend money to a fellow Jew. However, the Law did prohibit usury (Exodus 22:25). Also, a Jewish person could hire himself out to someone, but not as a slave (Leviticus 25:35-40)."

NKJV Study Bible  

All of their problems were due to their unwillingness to work together, justly, under the commandments of God. So often the people in the Old Testament (and people in general) did not even need enemies to ruin their lives, they were successful at doing that themselves. They were not living as a righteous family and because of that, they caused serious social ramifications. 

5:6 Nehemiah became furious when informed of the situation. His reactions toward his people were always visceral; he was entrenched emotionally, which qualified him as an excellent servant of God but also one who truly felt the weight of his purpose. 

5:7 Nehemiah contemplated the problem: although his emotional reactions were always heated, he did not hastily act on that explosive energy. He consistently remembered to approach all problems with collected thought. 

5:8 Once he identified the problem, Nehemiah confronted (rebuked with stark truth) the nobles and rulers. They could not defend themselves because they knew they were wrong; they were not doing their part to obey and distribute the word and blessings of God. 

The verse says they "found nothing to say" and that implies that at least for a moment, they searched. It is no wonder that Nehemiah was so angry! It is a severe detriment to our lives when we search for a way to defend our corrupt behavior. When we are wrong, we need to admit it and claim it in order to gain control of it before it gains control over us. 

5:9 Nehemiah spoke plainly: What you are doing is not good. 

It would have been easy to react differently, even flagrantly. The behavior of the nobles and rulers was abysmally cruel and selfish. Instead, Nehemiah chose to approach them with the simple truth that their behavior was right and they needed to right it. He explained that with so much and so many nations against them, it would be prudent for them to listen to God.

5:10-11 Nehemiah was not a hypocrite: he followed the word of God that he commanded his people to also follow. He told the nobles and rulers to restore the property, grain and money to the people they took it from. They were not permitted to become rich off of other people's desperation and remain within the kingdom of God. 

5:12 They made an oath to Nehemiah that they would restore what they had unlawfully taken. 

5:13 But Nehemiah remained disgusted with their behavior and shook his fold of his garment: “So may God shake out each man from his house, and from his property, who does not perform this promise. Even thus may he be shaken out and emptied.” It was a comfort to Nehemiah (and should be to us) that God responds to injustice. Nehemiah was furious at the actions of the upper-class but understood that ultimately, God had the power over them. We do our best but ultimately pray for God's presence and power within whatever our situation is. 

5:14 Nehemiah served as governor for ten years but never received the income of a governor. From his God-granted leadership position, Nehemiah served, and so did the people with him. Nehemiah's actions were a precursor, symbolic of the life of Jesus. 

5:15 God gives us power and position, skill and opportunity in order for us to serve the kingdom and thus the well-being of the (fellow) children of God. The unrighteous men who "served" as governor before Nehemiah did not actually serve the people at all. They used their position to increase their power, property and wealth, even if it meant placing burdens on the people. 

Nehemiah admits that his reverence of God kept him humble. None of us are perfect; we are tempted each day in both minor and major ways to give in to ungodly behavior and decisions*. But like Nehemiah, our respect for God should be more persuasive than anything else. He served righteously not because it came easily to him to do it, but because of Who it came from. 

*Our daily struggles with temptation are not always huge things like murder and corruption! Often our struggles with temptation are expressions of impatience, frustration, anger, vengeance. Sometimes our struggles are choosing trust over worry; forgiveness over hate; time dedicated to scripture instead of some other entertainment. 

Humans are not robots. Our choices and actions are initiated by nano-seconds to lifetimes of thought. God does not expect us to easily or even naturally make the right choices, but ultimately we need to make them. To do that, we have to decide what has power over us: the word of God or the will of our temptation. 

5:16 Nehemiah and the people with him chose to be in Jerusalem as workers rather than beneficiaries. Choose to be in God's kingdom as a worker rather than a beneficiaries. Nehemiah did not procure wealth and property; his mission was not to increase his authority. He built a wall around Jerusalem but beneath it, amid it, within it, he established a foundation of faith and for that reason, true protection was constructed. 

5:17-18 Nehemiah chose to live and eat modestly; he chose not to live decadently around people who were impoverished. God helps us to perceive the reality of our surroundings; decadent things lose their appeal when juxtaposed life: Nehemiah witnessed the struggle of the people around him to live and his meager provisions became more than enough. 

5:19 "Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people." We do not actually have to make this statement to God. He knows who we are. He knows the motivation and reason behind everything that we do. God is keenly aware of where we chose to store our treasures during our lifetime, Matthew 6:21. Nehemiah chose, through a modesty and faithfully effortful lifestyle, to store his treasures in heaven. His heart was with his people in the midst of the plight and God surely saw that. 

OT: The Book of Nehemiah, Chapter 4

Nehemiah 4:1-23

4:1-3 Operation Rebuild-Jerusalem's-Wall was the project Israel needed to fortify their faith. The project required commitment, hard work and persistence through opposition, doubt and lethargy. Opposition's voice became more prominent and persuasive as Israel broke ground on profound purpose. Though Sanballat, his cohorts and army were a distraction, they were an essential one. 

For Israel (or any child of God) to survive in faith, they had to learn how to dismantle the power their enemy's mockery over their minds. Their faith needed to learn to trust and thus persist despite conditions in its periphery. When we put the kingdom of God in our sight and focus steadily on it, God takes care of the threatening noise alongside our faith. 

4:4-5 Nehemiah entered Jerusalem during a spiritual crisis. His torment was not simply over the condition of Jerusalem's wall (important though it was). Nehemiah was tormented by the crumbled and thus ineffectual faith of his people; for if they continued to live without a relationship with God, the condition of their wall would be irrelevant. 

Israel was not unaffected by Sanballat's taunts, but they brought their despair to God. A prayer is made in this verse for God to deal with the situation. The enemy was thwarting the progression of God's mission, not just the personal agenda of a few. Affiliation with God's mission comes with the protection of God; Sanballat thought he taunted mere men but he was up against Righteousness Itself.

4:6 The people poured their effort into the construction of the wall and steadily it came together, encircling the region and reaching half its height. Their progress, even before it reached fulfillment, was hard earned. Dedication yields results and rewards but it is a process. A study half-wall was a massive, collective accomplishment but it was not yet enough to prevent an enemy army. 

When as individuals we enter into covenants with God, we can expect the same process to unfold within our own lives. The walls we build with God are meant to be pillars of strength and protection: patience, wisdom, humility, compassion, perseverance, trust. When we begin to construct patience, for example, we do not immediately start out with an abundant supply or even the necessary skill to employ it. During our progressive but incomplete states, we need to rely on Him to fortify us. 

4:7-8 Sanballat's insults turned into actual threats as he observed Israel's success. A large group began to amass and plot against their progress. 

4:9 Again, Israel was not unaware or unconcerned about the threats around them. We can imagine that there was fear within the region, rumors of impeding invasions discussed over family dinners and between neighbors and friends. But Israel continued to pray to God and He helped them to remain collected and organized against threat and fear. They organized a night watch; the wall would never be unattended and therefore enemies could not catch them unaware or unprepared. 

4:10 Threats came from outside the walls but inside as well; the people of Judah's pressured frustration became homegrown threat. They felt that the strength of their laborers was insufficient as well as the conditions for building. 

4:11-12 They were scared. They felt that their enemy's had the opportunity, passion and might to secretly attack. They had the people constantly feared and it hindered their production and enthusiasm for the wall. 

4:13-14 Frightened though they were, Israel continued to behave wisely under Nehemiah's instruction. He armed and positioned men to protect the wall from all sides at all times, but most importantly, Nehemiah positioned his people in faith in God. He reminded them of how the strength of God over-powered and out-performed their enemies. Nehemiah inspired a spirit of faith and camaraderie by reminding Israel that together, they would protect what was most precious to them: their wives and children and friends. 

In the midst of our own fear and doubt and threat, we too must remember that our God over powers and out performs every enemy we have: mental or physical, real or imagined. We must remember that we align ourselves with God because we agree with His principles of love and peace, family and compassion. 

4:15 God fulfilled His promise of protection; their enemies backed down when they realized their plan was known. They had no element of surprise and their zeal sputtered out; God ensured Israel had no weakness, they were not vulnerable: they were informed and prepared. Frequently the moments we most realize God's strength is when we see our enemies shrink from His mere shadow hovering over them as He stands behind us. Before He even makes a move, just His presence is our lives is enough to fortify us. 

Threat neutralized, Israel got back to work. When God provides us with material and opportunity (and protection) we should make the most of it. They did not take time to boast or celebrate, they returned their focus to the task at hand. The reason God neutralizes our threats is so that we can continue on in our integral, purposeful work within His kingdom. 

4:16-20 They remained prepared as they worked. Along with their wall-building tools and materials, Israel remained armed. They set up a system of warning (trumpets) in order to quickly alert the region of intruders and simultaneously continued to strengthen the wall. 

4:21-23 Except to wash, the laborers remained at the wall and active. It was arduous, constant work but faith and obedience to God kept them from folding. 

There is a lesson to be gleaned from this wall-building business. In Nehemiah's time, the strength and condition of a nation's wall exhibited to other people how strong or weak the nation was. A well fortified wall kept enemies at bay but also boasted a powerful nation. If the children of Israel were to represent God, their wall (built and fortified by faith) needed to be impressive. 

The (walls) lifestyles and governments and systems we build for our families and communities within our world represent who we are and the God we serve; based on our values, they are meant to establish, protect and serve the people within them. God helped Nehemiah and the Israelites to build a wall that would protect the within. Such protection comes from God as an element of the covenant with God we make: to build ourselves to build and serve the without, those who are not ourselves.

There is an understanding God's children must have with Him: He blesses us, and with those blessings we bless others. He helps us, and with His help, we help others. He strengthens us so that we are strong enough to lift the weak. If God makes you a strong wall, there is something or someone He wants you to protect. 

OT: The Book of Nehemiah, Chapter 3

Nehemiah 3:1-32

3:1 The first portion of the wall the leaders of Israel undertook for repair was the Sheep Gate in the north of the kingdom. The high priest and his fellow priests were responsible for the Sheep Gate. In scripture, sheep are significant: not only is Jesus the sacrificial lamb, but God's children are symbolized as His flock of sheep. The Lord is our shepherd. For Jerusalem to thrive once again, it needed to focus on the protection of the sheep.

Moreover, Jerusalem needed to commit to sacrifice to God; in their day, sacrifice meant animal sacrifice. In our day, God asks for thankfulness, Psalm 50:14: a spirit and lifestyle of gratitude to God. Both Israel and Judah had fallen because the people neglected, opposed and eventually forgot God. They disposed their spirit of gratitude for all that He had provided and replaced Him with corrupt desires.

Each portion of the wall represents (protects) an aspect of the lifestyle lived within the kingdom.

3:3-5 The rebuilding of the Fish gate.

3:6-7 The rebuilding of the Old Gate.

3:8-13 The rebuilding of the western portion Jerusalem's wall.

3:14 The rebuilding of the southern portion of Jerusalem's wall.

3:15-32 The rebuilding of the eastern portion of Jerusalem's wall.

The development of our faith is the development of a comprehensive border around our lives. Reparation is fortification; and when we arduously, steadfastly commit to spiritual reparation, God fortifies our lives.

1 Peter 5:10
...may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

God resourcefully uses the details our journey to fortify us. Jerusalem was spiritually broken down but the faithful, righteous community of fellow-workers under God created a renewed atmosphere of impenetrable strength.

OT: The Book of Nehemiah, Chapter 2

Nehemiah 2:1-20

2:1 Nehemiah was the king's trusted cup-bearer; he had the ear of the king, Artaxerxes. Even more notably Nehemiah also had the ear of the King of kings, our God. Like Joseph, Genesis 41, Nehemiah had been placed by God into a position where he could help the plight of his people. 

2:2 King Artaxerxes observed Nehemiah's sorrowful countenance and inquired about it. 

2:3 Nehemiah answered truthfully; he was overcome with despair because his people were not safe. 

2:4 Based on Nehemiah's answer, the king asked him what his request was; to Artaxerxes it was obvious that Nehemiah could not continue with his routine as cup-bearer while his people suffered in Jerusalem. God orchestrated a moment where Nehemiah did not actually have to ask for anything, it was offered to him. 

2:5 It would have been imprudent, and likely against his character, for Nehemiah not to address the king with deference. Politely, Nehemiah told the king that he would like to be sent to Judah, the place of his family, in order to rebuild it. 

2:6 That easily orchestrated is the Lord's will: the king simply asked Nehemiah how long he would need, and when he would return. The situation is ironic; the king allowed Nehemiah to leave and make another kingdom stronger. The king was pleased to send him.

2:7-8 Nehemiah also requested letters for the governors of the region he would be passing through in order to avoid conflict. He also requested access to the king's timber to build the wall and a house for himself. 

And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me.

Note that Nehemiah did not say: and the king granted them to me according to his goodness, or his generosity. The king granted Nehemiah every opportunity and material he needed for his purpose according to the good hand of his God upon him. God provided. God swayed the king into Nehemiah's favor. Always pay close attention to preciously Who is parted the sea in your life. 

2:9-10 Nehemiah was allowed to pass safely and swiftly through the region beyond the river toward Jerusalem. There were people who did not want to allowed Nehemiah to pass (Sanballat and Tobiah), in fact they were deeply disturbed by it. They wanted the children of Israel to fail. Despite resistance, God arranges for His children to pass safely and swiftly through. 

2:11-12 Once arrived in Jerusalem, Nehemiah awoke in the night to privately observe the condition of Jerusalem. 

2:13-16 Jesus also had private, night-talks with God. Before announcing his purpose in Jerusalem, Nehemiah looked at the area God had appointed him to. He saw it with his own eyes, he analyzed the work that needed to be done. He learned what he was choosing to take responsibility for. God always either fully prepares or fully provides; He never leaves us to handle life on our own. 

Although God had trusted Nehemiah in an important role of leadership, Nehemiah remained humble. He did not charge into Jerusalem with a long, loud speech. He entered quietly, solemnly and with a wholehearted intention to know the problem well before tackling it.

2:17 When he felt fully prepared, Nehemiah spoke of his intention to the leaders within Jerusalem: Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach. Their faithlessness made them a reproach to the people around them, their corruption tarnished the reputation of the faith they were supposed to represent. If Jerusalem could strengthen its faith, its spiritual wall would render it impenetrable.

2:18 Rather boldly, Nehemiah expressed his trust in God's hand over his life. Though it was an extraordinary task ahead of him, Nehemiah was able to solemnly, courageously approach it. God had cleared the path and arranged the circumstances along it to work in his favor. Faith in God supplied Nehemiah with every tool and material he needed, and he confidently explained that to the people around him. Again, we see in scripture how reliance on faith is worthwhile!

2:19 Predictably, those who did not believe in God laughed at Nehemiah's mission and confidence in its God-divined success. Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem tried to portray Israel's reconstruction as rebellion against the king. But Israel's restoration was a spiritual matter, one between God and His children. That and those which were in the periphery were not involved. 

2:20 Nehemiah remained unshaken in the face of opposition and mockery. Galatians 1:10, For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ. It did not matter if he had the approval of the people around him. It did not matter if he had the support of the people around him. Nehemiah had the approval and the support of God and it was quite enough. 

The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build...

We should challenge ourselves to conquer each day with the verse above pressing us forward into the places God has prepared for us and prepared us for.

OT: The Book of Nehemiah, Chapter 1

Nehemiah 1:1-11

The name Nehemiah means: God comforts. It is fitting that Nehemiah should have this name as he is known for seeking the comfort of protection from God for his people, in the form of a wall around Jerusalem. Nehemiah was answered affirmatively by God.

1:1-3 Nehemiah inquired after the people of Israel returned to Jerusalem. Men from Judah and a man named Hanani informed Nehemiah that their people were in great distress and reproach. Their main physical defense, the wall of Jerusalem, was broken down and burned. The state of Jerusalem always reflected the state of the people's faith; because it was broken down, we know that the people needed spiritual revival.

1:4 In response, Nehemiah for several days wept, fasted and prayed to God. The state of Jerusalem's wall (faith) would entirely define the state of their kingdom; without a defense system (spiritual or physical), they would be swiftly and consistently plagued by enemy breaches. 

It was as if Nehemiah were inquiring after a loved one, only to find that they were vulnerable and emotional broken, stressed and with only brittle faith. Rightly, Nehemiah immediately released that though he was unable to directly respond, God was able. It is so prudent for us to release that our inadequacies can be supplemented by God through prayer. 

Sometimes the intercessory prayers we make for others become opportunities given by God for us to help. Nehemiah had been set up by God to have the power and position to help Jerusalem restore itself. They process, as ever, began with a sincere prayer. 

1:5 It is both instructive and powerful to pray the prayers of servants of God from scripture, our spiritual history. Their words were concise and thorough, yet wholehearted and sincere. They knew God well and were therefore able aptly to communicate with God. Nehemiah's prayer is beautiful as it begins with a statement of God's beauty: great, awesome (awe-inspiring), steadfast, merciful, loving, sincere. Our ultimate blessing is that we can rely on those promised, unchanging characteristics of God in our own lives. 

“I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments,

1:6 Nehemiah requested God's attentiveness. He prayed that God would analyze the situation in Jerusalem which was the basis of his prayer. The best thing that can happen to our situation (whatever it is) is that it be perceived from God's omniscient position. He is best able to map the journey, or draw the blueprint, which will accomplish whatever our situation truly requires.

Nehemiah prayed without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 5:7. The situation was dire, his heart was entirely invested. Our communication with God is unlike the communication system we have in the word. We should not tap into Him like text-messaging when we think we need Him, because we always need Him. We should have our line of communication open throughout each day, in order that we are able to perceive His presence and receive His purpose in all moments. 

He prayed day and night because his whole body and soul was committed. That level of dedication evidences to God that we are ready to co-accomplish something major with God. It evidences that we are willing and steadfast.

Nehemiah approached God with humble honesty. He recognized that he and his people were imperfect. He relied on the reason God ever chose this people in the first place. In Deuteronomy 7:7, God explained that they were small and weak. It was a miracle because of its illogical nature but it was one Nehemiah was grateful for and called upon. The people of Israel were still those small people in great need of Him. 

...please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned.

1:7 Just as Ezra wept and admitted in the previous book, the people of Israel had behaved corruptly. They disobeyed the commandments of God, even though they knew better. Whenever we approach God, we must be willingly transparent. God knows our hearts anyway, Jeremiah 17:10. To approach Him dishonestly is pointless, cowardly and unproductive. Nehemiah exposed their sins because those were the places their lives most needed God. If there is darkness in our life or our heart we must expose it to the light. It might be difficult, ugly, and or scary, but it must be done to put the chaos into order.

We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses.

1:8 In Deuteronomy 11:26, God presented Moses and the children of Israel with a blessing and a curse. Nehemiah recalls it here:

Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations;

God was very clear that steadfast blessing depended on steadfast adherence to His commandments. The commandments He made are the road-map to both the destination and maintenance of blessing. Faith and righteous-living draw blessings in. Unfaithfulness and disobedience cause us to go off course and shut blessing out.

1:9 Yet God placed a saving-grace within His promise: should a person return to Him, even after a period of unfaithfulness, the same blessings would be available to them. Nehemiah acknowledged that the people of Israel broke their faith and then relied on God's promise that it did not mean the covenant was irretrievable. 

...but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.’

1:10 God had given the people this opportunity to live, build and worship freely; to organize themselves as a strong, independent nation. All of that blessing is made possible when we submit ourselves to servants of God's will. When we serve God, He utilizes our faithful labor to build beautiful lives for ourselves and the people we care about. 

Nehemiah gave all credit to God. It was God's power, design and hand that released them from captivity. It was the very same which would enable them to remain free. Nehemiah called upon that Divine-skill and generosity, he humbly leaned on that dependence. 

Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand.

1:11 The word servant was used three times in one sentence. Nehemiah wanted to serve God above all else; he was clear that though he desperately sought to save his people, he would do precisely what God ordered. Nehemiah felt in his heart that he had an opportunity to help. He was about to approach the king of the nation he served with a request to leave to help his people; he knew that permission would only be granted if it were orchestrated by God. 

O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”
For I was the king’s cup bearer.

We we devote ourselves to God, we devote the elements of ourselves to His kingdom, His mission, His people. Nehemiah had some power and position and he intended to donate it to the well-being of God's people. He proudly elected to be an instrument through which God would bring restoration to Jerusalem's wall. 

Individuals with massive faith make astounding, progressive impact when they co-work with God, 1 Corinthians 3:9. 

OT: The Book of Ezra, Chapter 10

Ezra 10:1-44

10:1 Ezra brought an emphatic prayer to God; he wept and bowed prayerfully. His humiliation was deep, his sorrow was sincere. Ezra had prepared his entire life to lead these people under the will of God; the people's outright rejection of God, whom he loved so much,  hurt. A very large assembly of men, women and children joined Ezra in his prayer. Together, they presented a heartfelt apology to God.

10:2-4 A man named Shechaniah spoke to the despairing Ezra and his words encouraged Ezra that there was a course of correction. Those who had disobeyed God were willing to divest themselves of their wives whom God did not approve. They were willing to renew their covenant with God. Shechaniah reminded Ezra that if they dealt with the probably responsibly, according to the commandment of God, there was still hope. 

10:5 Spurred into action, Ezra required that the leaders of the priests, the Levites, and all of Israel swore an oath of re-commitment to God's commandments. The people had regressed and disobeyed but with effort toward righteousness, they began to make progress again (entirely due to God's generous forgiveness). 

10:6 Still, it was not easy for Ezra to release his sorrow. He fasted bread and water; likely he searched for clarity and for direction from God. It's difficult to be fully committed among people who are not. Ezra was not content for the people of the tribes to continually make and break and make their covenant with God. 

10:7-8 Only those who were willing to submit to God's commandments were welcomed. Each person was to gather in Jerusalem; whoever did not attend would lose their property, their portion, their inheritance from God. Similarly God invites us into the courtyard of His kingdom, if we neglect or reject the invite, we also reject our inheritance. We reject that invite by not living righteously.

10:9-11 It was a gathering heavy with rain and the weight of shame and regret. Ezra informed everyone gathered that they must change their lifestyles, repent and separate themselves from corruption. Upheaval of corruption from our own lives requires change, repentance and separation from things (and people) we desired to have that do us harm. It is an arduous process but it is necessary and ultimately beneficial.

10:12-15 The people were willing but acknowledged that it would be a long process of correction. Marriages needed to be nullified. Lifestyles across the land needed to be changed. 

10:16-17 Ezra and other leaders began the process case by case. 

We now have the benefit of working personally, directly, with our God; He hears our case (soul-to-soul), outlines the process of correction (guides along the way), and hands us magnanimous acquittance once we submit His word and will. We do ourselves a severe disservice when we do not access the tools a personal relationship with God provides. God is willing to help us make righteous adjustments to our lives, take Him up on the offer! 

10:18-44 A lengthy list of men who had taken idol-worshiping wives is listed. If they were to recommit to the word and will of God, it was necessary for them to cleanse their lifestyle. We cannot build strong, untainted faith if we do not filter out toxins: toxic relationships, desires, behaviors, thoughts, spoken words.