Nehemiah

Nehemiah was one of the most underrated heroes in the Bible, cupbearer to the powerful Persian king Artaxerxes I Longimanus. Stationed in the winter palace at Susa. (A cupbearer was a dangerous job and usually given to one of the highest integrity because one of the main ways kings were assassinated back them was to poison their wine.)
Background: Nehemiah is a cup-bearer to king Artaxerxes I of Persia – an important official position. At his own request Nehemiah is sent to Jerusalem as governor of Yehud, the official Persian name for Judah. Jerusalem had been conquered and destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC and Nehemiah finds it still in ruins.
Introduction:
Israelite city (ca. 1000–587/86 BCE)[edit]
According to Jewish tradition, as expressed in the Tanakh, Jerusalem remained a Jebusite city until the rise of David, who conquered Jebus, renamed it City of David and started expanding it. His city was still located on the low southeastern hill, outside today's Old City area. Solomon, David's son, built the First Temple on the hilltop rising right above the city he had inherited, the Temple Mount, and then extended the city walls in order to protect the temple.

During the First Temple period the city walls were extended to include the northwest hill as well, i.e. the area where today's Jewish and Armenian Quarter (Jerusalem) Quarters are located.

The entire city was destroyed in 587/86 BCE during the siege led by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
Walls of Jerusalem - Wikipedia
Jewish postexilic city[edit]
After the Babylonian captivity and the Persian conquest of Babylonia, Cyrus II of Persia allowed the Jews to return to Judea and rebuild the Temple. The construction was finished in 516 BCE or 430 BCE. Then, Artaxerxes I or possibly Darius II allowed Ezra and Nehemiah to return and rebuild the city's walls and to govern Judea, which was ruled as Yehud province under the Persians. During the Second Temple period, especially during the Hasmonean period, the city walls were expanded and renovated, constituting what Josephus calls the First Wall. Herod the Great added what Josephus called the Second Wall somewhere in the area between today's Jaffa Gate and Temple Mount. Agrippa I (r. 41–44 CE) later began the construction of the Third Wall, which was completed just at the beginning of the First Jewish–Roman War.[6] Some remains of this wall are located today near the Mandelbaum Gate gas station.

Nehemiah Chapter 1.....the entire chapter is nearly his prayer to God
1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3 And they said unto me, 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 Prays: A prayer of repentance, for His forgiveness, For His Mercy and Grace, and for His blessing.....and particularly note that Nehemiah reminds God of His commandments to Moses to honor His Word to gather the Jews back to the place He had chosen for them....(after they repented and turned back to God).....
4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

5 And said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:

6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.

7 We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.

8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:

9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.

10 Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.

11 O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.


What a beautiful heart felt, humble prayer of repentance......not of his sins but of the all the Children of Israel, and his father's house.
What can I/We learn from Nehemiah's prayer?

Nehemiah 2: God causes favor to be upon Nehemiah with all he petitioned.

"Nehemiah prayed to the God of heaven, as infinitely above even this mighty monarch. He lifted up his heart to that God who understands the language of the heart. Nor should we ever engage in any pursuit in which it would be wrong for us thus to seek and expect the Divine direction, assistance, and blessing. There was an immediate answer to his prayer; for the seed of Jacob never sought the God of Jacob in vain." Nehemiah 2 Bible Commentary - Matthew Henry (concise)

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. (the mention of the month and time is 4 months from the time Nehemiah prayed in chapter 1...Nisan is April to us...so December is when Nehemiah begin to pray....why wait so long? God's timing...very important)

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?

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.

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. (not only did God give him favor with the king to go....he was supplied with all the materials he would need to rebuild the wall)

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. (and if that wasn't amazing enough God surround Nehemiah with an army to protect him!)

Nehemiah is faced with opposition immediately....the Horonite and the Ammonite....any tribe ending in ite or ite's were enemies of Israel
10 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.

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.

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. (it is wisdom to never let the enemy know what you are up to!)

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. (When Nehemiah revealed that God's hand was upon him and the king as well the men were content to build)

Nehemiah right up front let's the pagan's know they have no portion, or rights, or memorial in Jerusalem....line drawn.
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.

Windmillcharge said:

Nehemiah is an example that Christians can rise to high positions in companies, society but that there they are to stand out for there integrity etc and to live for Jesus.
They may not do dramatic things like Nehemiah, but like Esther or her uncle they may have enormous influence on society.

In a Godless society it takes real courage to be visible different.

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I just learned that Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther were one book at one time.....but I have only gotten two chapters...so I am trying to illustrate how Nehemiah was so successful in all he did.

Windmillcharge said:

Nehemiah is an example that Christians can rise to high positions in companies, society but that there they are to stand out for there integrity etc and to live for Jesus.
They may not do dramatic things like Nehemiah, but like Esther or her uncle they may have enormous influence on society.

In a Godless society it takes real courage to be visible different.

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I just finished reading all of it today...and so much to pay attention to and link to our lives today! Example....defiling the sanctification of the building of the walls and who was allowed inside on the Sabbath....and the gatekeepers, the singers, to be around at all times...there is some deep wisdom here!

Rita said:

I can only speak from what Is laying on my heart as I look at the prayer in chapter one ...what strikes me straight away is the level of grief, concern, burden he has for the temple, and Gods people- for the state they are both in. He knows the broken temple shows that Gods people are in need to ‘ repair and restoration ‘ .....it’s evidence outwardly that they are not in the right place with God. .............

He fasts, repents, reminds God of his promises, seeks to bring about the start of that restoration .......It didn’t come from ‘ the people ‘ but him, on behalf of them. ( but he also includes himself, so it’s not in a self righteous manor - how easily we do that, look to others and see failings, but fail to see that we are equally part of the bigger problem )

I guess I am aware that I don’t have that kind of desire or concern right now.......and that saddens me , convicts me .......which is good , and I need to ponder that part........

one other thing that always struck me with this book is the timing of him hearing about the temple and Gods people - more so as he is now in a position of serving the King, it was the right time ....Godly timing xx
Rita

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Excellent discernment and revelation of this prayer....it does provoke a little self-searching.!

DPMartin said:

you may already know but King David establish the continuous singers at the temple and if you haven't, you might look to the books of Moses where much of what to do and how to do it and who can do it (mainly in exodus and especially Leviticus) is written of which the Jews were trying to reestablish during the time you mention. even today, as the anticipation continues for the third temple, its public knowledge that the devote Jews have prepared everything they can for the new temple with the intention of reestablishing the same practices as the Lord their God instructed via the hand of Moses.

the offerings in todays world ought to interesting considering the animal rights agenda of today (which may be in anticipation of the coming temple). read Leviticus if you haven't, there's a lot of blood letting done at the temple.

the enemy knows more than most the Lord cometh into the world, and will do all it can to prevent it, and or contest it.

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I have read it.... but never paid attention to it....until now. Amazing how your eyes are blind to a thing until one day as you are reading and the Holy Spirit opens them to see what you couldn't before.

DPMartin said:

well it seems it would be wise to read Leviticus with this clarity afforded you by the Grace of God before or at the lest during your study of the reestablishment of the temple practices. it was instructed by the Lord their God and is still practices today the continuous reading of the Torah you should try it for at least three or four times in a row you will be surprised just what it tells of Christ.

guys like Abraham and Moses and King David understood the coming of Christ and that it was the Lord's plan to come into the world via the flesh through the sons of Abraham and it was their service. and just about everything recorded they did was in the service and the prophecy of the same hence Christ fulfilled it. because it was all about Christ.

also its been said by many that Leviticus separates the goats from the sheep and it seems so considering the Lord their God does most of if not all the talking therein.

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Thank you so much for this advice! I bought a book and it is all about Nehemiah...I have been referencing it chapter by chapter...I can't wait to get to chapter 13...
But this information you have shared is very valuable to me....thank you Father for sending me a mentor!

Okay, I need to continue with Nehemiah.....but first as suggested by @DPMartin , I went back to Leviticus and grew to understand the purpose for holiness in building the temple...and in my web search I found this very simplified illustration to use as a teaching tool....
“Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.” (Le 20:26)
Holiness

There were assigned different portions of the wall to build...we can relate this to the Body of Christ with how each has a function in the body to do and that each member's function is necessary so that the whole body operates according to it's design and purpose.

Nehemiah 3 King James Version (KJV)
1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.

2 And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri.

3 But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.

4 And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana.

5 And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.

6 Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, and the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.

7 And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, unto the throne of the governor on this side the river.

8 Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries, and they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall.

9 And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.

10 And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabniah.

11 Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces.

12 And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.

13 The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung gate.

14 But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Bethhaccerem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.

15 But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David.

16 After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half part of Bethzur, unto the place over against the sepulchres of David, and to the pool that was made, and unto the house of the mighty.

Chapter 3 Cont'd
17 After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, in his part.

18 After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah.

19 And next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, another piece over against the going up to the armoury at the turning of the wall.

20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.

21 After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.

22 And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain.

23 After him repaired Benjamin and Hashub over against their house. After him repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah by his house.

24 After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another piece, from the house of Azariah unto the turning of the wall, even unto the corner.

25 Palal the son of Uzai, over against the turning of the wall, and the tower which lieth out from the king's high house, that was by the court of the prison. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh.

26 Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.

27 After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel.

28 From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.

29 After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his house. After him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate.

30 After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another piece. After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber.

31 After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith's son unto the place of the Nethinims, and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, and to the going up of the corner.

32 And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.