Nehemiah

Background
Nehemiah came to Jerusalem in 444 B.C. He resigned as cupbearer to Artaxerxes I in order to serve his own people in rebuilding the city of Jerusalem. Nehemiah was appointed governor and returned to assist in fortifying the walls of the capital to attract Jews to settle in security.

Nehemiah sees the return of the people of Israel to Jerusalem as the second exodus - not out of Egypt but out of Babylon. The language of Deuteronomy fills Nehemiah to represent this Exodus.

The first order of business upon arrival in Jerusalem at night was to examine and inspect the damaged walls. They immediately began construction and fortification which stirred up the suspicions of the people surrounding Jerusalem. They viewed it as rebellion and began plotting and scheming against the work. (Nehemiah 2:20) Numerous schemes were set up to try and ensnare Nehemiah without success. The workers took turns building and watching over the tower. From this incident comes the beautiful symbol of the sword and trowel.

Nehemiah addressed the problem of financing the project with grace and mercy by cancelling all debts and not imposing heavy taxes thus easing the burden upon the poor. Nehemiah 5 Yet in spite of all the opposition the wall was built in only fifty two days.

Upon completion the people celebrated the festivals of the seventh month, the feast of trumpets, day of atonement and feast of tabernacles, all under Ezra's leadership. Nehemiah began the public reading of the Law of God which convicted the people who had not realised how far short they had fallen during the Exile from God's standards.

A National day of prayer and repentance was held on the twenty fourth day of the reading of the Law. The two laws which stood out over all the rest were concerning intermarriage and the keeping of the Sabbath.

It was time for national celebration. Led by Ezra and Nehemiah Israel march in a procession around the top of the wall to meet at the Temple for a service of thanksgiving led by a choir and orchestra.

After twelve years in Jerusalem, Nehemiah returns to report to the Persian king. 432 B.C. Several years later when he returned to Jerusalem he found that the people had fallen into their old ways. The priest Eliashib had allowed Tobiah, an Ammonite friend of Sanballat to occupy a room in the temple. Nehemiah had the temple cleansed, and reminded the people of their giving commitments under the covenant. He closed the city gates on the Sabbath so merchants could not buy or sell. Mixed marriages were condemned according to the law of God. There were now children who could not speak Hebrew only the language of the Philistines. The book ends with the words 'Remember me, O my God, for good.' (Nehemiah 13:31)

No matter how strong the wall, if God's people will not live according to God's law there is no protection but only judgment. Christ the fulfillment of Nehemiah also laid the foundation for the New Jerusalem with his own blood even in the face of opposition. God would sovereignly accomplish His redemptive purposes through his agents even in spite of fierce opposition.