In our study of Nehemiah chapter two, we get to see how God takes care of his own people. The story can be an assurance for us that, if we are his, God will protect and provide for us.
Now, if God speaks to you in this study, you can save your own personal notes on this page. Then, every time that you look at this study, your notes will automatically be added to the page. To add a note or to display your previous notes, click on the YOUR NOTES button.
In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of Artachâshashta the king, it happened that I took the wine and brought it to the king. Prior to then I had never appeared sad in his presence. The king asked, âWhy do you look so sad? Youâre not sick, so this must be some deep inner grief.â At this, I became very fearful, as I said to the king, âMay the king live forever! Why shouldnât I look sad, when the city, the place where my ancestorsâ tombs are, lies in ruins; and its gates are completely burned up?â
In chapter one, we saw how Nehemiah mourned, fasted, and prayed for this meeting. Now, he is going about his job as cupbearer and the king notices his sadness. We are told that he had never been sad in the presence of the king before. That is striking as basically Nehemiah was a slave but he had not been sad in the presence of his master before. That is an example for us of faith in action as Nehemiah held on to the promises of God even in the midst of difficult times. Because he had been the faithful man of God and not been sad, the king noticed the difference and asked what was wrong. You see, he was not allowed to just bring the subject up and talk about it with the king. The king had to bring it up and allow him to speak. Once the king asked, he was able to share the trouble on his mind.
The king asked me, âWhat is it that you want?â I prayed to the God of heaven, then said to the king, âIf it pleases the king, if your servant has won your favor, send me to Yâhudah, to the city of my ancestorsâ tombs, so that I can rebuild it.â
If only we could all do like Nehemiah did here in this passage. After the king asked him what he wanted and before he answered, he prayed to God. We are not told of the words he prayed but I can only imagine him saying something like "God speak through me and guide me". Then, he simply trusted in God and asked the king to send him to rebuild the city of Jerusalem.
With the queen sitting next to him, the king asked me, âHow long is your trip going to take? When will you return?â So it pleased the king to send me, and I gave him a time.
Answered prayer! Nehemiah prayed for favor with the king and was faithful in telling him what God had placed in his heart. God worked in the king and granted Nehemiah's request.
I then said to the king, âIf it pleases the king, have letters given to me for the governors of the territory beyond the [Euphrates] River, so that they will let me pass through until I reach Yâhudah; and also a letter for Asaf the supervisor of the royal forests, so that he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress belonging to the house, for the city wall and for the house I will be occupying.â The king gave me these, according to the good hand of my God on me.
This passage tells of God providing much above what Nehemiah probably ever imagined. You see, when he first started praying, he simply asked for favor with the king. Now, God gave him the courage to not only ask the king to let him go but also to protect him on the way and provide building materials. God takes care of his own and we see that in this passage as well as throughout every part of the Bible. That fact should give us all encouragement each day.
I went to the governors of the territory beyond the River and gave them the kingâs letters. The king had sent with me an escort of army captains and cavalry.
God takes care of his own and it is usually above and beyond what we expect or even ask for. Here, Nehemiah had asked for letters to the governors of lands where he would have to travel so that he would be protected. God had the king to not only grant that request but to also send the army with Nehemiah for protection.
When Sanvalat the Horoni and Toviyah the servant, the âAmoni, heard about this, they were very displeased that someone had come to promote the welfare of the people of Israâel.
Sanballat was the governor of the province of Samaria and Tobiah was the governor of Ammon. These areas were a part of the Persian empire. When they heard about someone coming to help build up the city of Jerusalem and to help the Israelites, they were not happy. The thing about it was that Tobiah had a business thing going in the Temple and was making money and Sanballat was his friend and his daughter had married the grandson of the high priest (Eliashib). Tobiah had married the daughter of a priest (Shecaniah). So these guys had a good thing going with the temple and the leaders and didn't want anyone rocking the boat. Sadly, there is much of this same corruption in the "church" of today as it seems that many have their own interests and they do not necessarily match the will of God.
So I reached Yerushalayim. After I had been there for three days, I got up during the night, I and a few men with me. I hadnât told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Yerushalayim; and I didnât take any animal with me except the animal on which I was riding.
Nehemiah left the city with a few men to travel around the outside of the city. God had told him to rebuild the city walls and gates but he had not told that to anyone else that was there. He was letting the group of men see for themselves and trusting God to speak to their hearts. This is a good example for us as Nehemiah could have arrived in the city and held a big meeting to declare what God had told him. This would have been a big chance to make himself look like the big believer but instead he quietly was obedient to God. We too can be the humble servant and allow God to use us and trust him to speak to others.
I went out by night through the Valley Gate, to the Dragonâs Well and the Dung Gate, and inspected the places where the walls of Yerushalayim were broken down and where its gates had been burned down.
Nehemiah and his group began their inspection of the walls of Jerusalem. He tells us that he left the city through the Valley Gate. This gate was on the west side of the city in the neighborhood of the present Jaffa Gate. In the Bible, a valley usually symbolizes a place of sorrow, trials, and humbling so it seems very fitting that this is where Nehemiah would start. Physically, it was a long distance between this gate and the other gates. The Dung Gate was the gate where all of the trash was taken out of the city to be burned.
Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and the Kingâs Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to pass. So I went up the valley in the dark and went on inspecting the wall; then I turned back, entered through the Valley Gate and returned,
Nehemiah continued his examination of the situation regarding the security of the city of Jerusalem.
without the officialsâ knowing where I had gone or what I had done. Till then, I hadnât said anything about this to the Judeans, cohanim, nobles, officials or anyone who would be responsible for the work.
Nehemiah had not told anyone of what God had told him to do instead he went out and surveyed the situation. While he was doing that, he was allowing God to show him what he wanted and to speak to his heart. This is a good model for us as well in that, when God tells us to do something, we do not need to check with anyone else. We simply need to listen and obey.
Afterwards, I said to them, âYou see what a sad state we are in, how Yerushalayim lies in ruins, with it gates burned up. Come, letâs rebuild the wall of Yerushalayim, so that we wonât continue in disgrace.â
Now that God has shown Nehemiah what he wanted him to see, Nehemiah can share the vision with the leaders of the people. He simply asks them to look around and then calls on them to join him in what God had told him to do.
I also told them of the gracious hand of my God that had been on me, also what the king had said to me. They said, âLetâs start building at once,â and energetically set out to do this good work.
Nehemiah not only asked the people to join him in the vision but he also explained how God had worked to provide for the plan. The people were inspired and energized because they could see God at work. This verse can serve to remind us to tell others what God has done and is doing in our lives. This is called a testimony and is a very important tool in reaching the world.
When Sanvalat the Horoni, Toviyah the servant, the âAmoni, and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they began mocking us and jeering, âWhat is this you are doing? Are you going to rebel against the king?â
It seems that there are always people that will oppose the work of God and this is what Nehemiah faces in this verse. Those that do not know God will not understand his ways and so there will be opposition. There is a pattern throughout the Bible of people mocking God's servants (Jesus himself was mocked before he was crucified). We should expect the same thing.
But I answered them: âThe God of heaven will enable us to succeed. Therefore we his servants will set about rebuilding. But you have no share, right or history to commemorate in Yerushalayim.â
In the face of the opposition, Nehemiah reminds them that it is God who is in control and will give them success in the rebuilding efforts. The fight over Jerusalem as described in this book may seem as just a part of history but the same struggle is going on today. The city is divided but, just as Nehemiah said, those that are opposed to God and Jesus Christ have no claim to the city. We must remember that the city of today is only temporary and God has promised a new Jerusalem when Jesus returns.
Read about what we do with the data we gather and the rules you agree to by using this website in our privacy policy.