66 Love Letters - NEHEMIAH

The Book of Nehemiah begins 15 years after the Book of Ezra ends; almost 100 years after the first captives came back to the Promised Land; and some 150 years after the city of Jerusalem was destroyed. After this long time, the walls of the city of Jerusalem were still in rubble. - David Guzik, http://www.blueletterbible.org/

When we are introduced to Nehemiah, he is working in the palace of the King of Persia - quite a prestigious position. Though he lives almost 800 miles from Jerusalem, once he discovers the walls of Jerusalem are in utter disrepair, he grieves and mourns, fasts and prays.

After confessing the sins of his people to God, he reminds God of His promises to his people; “Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; 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.’" Nehemiah 1:8-9

In chapter two we discover what Nehemiah's position is. He is the king's cup bearer. A royal bodyguard of sorts. He guards the king from poisonous wines or food, and is in his presence often, a position of clear influence. Only the most trustworthy and faithful were chosen for this position. A cup bearer had the easiest ability to assassinate a king.

Nehemiah goes to the king and begs for a leave of absence to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. And, graciously, the king agrees.

The rest of the book of Nehemiah, we see the nation of Israel come together and rebuild the different gates; the fish gate, the valley gate, the refuse gate, the water gate, on and on the work continues. Families are mentioned throughout this book, working diligently to make whole their sacred land once again.

It is a great reminder to me that there are walls in my life that can become breeched, some that are in need of repair.

Questions to Ponder

• When brothers and sisters in Christ are suffering from hard times or heartache, are you grieved? Is your heart moved to help? What about those who aren't believers?
• What walls in your life need rebuilding? Time with the Lord? Your marriage? Relationships with your children?
• Ask the Lord to show you ways you can rebuild broken places in your life.