Lessons from Rebuilding the Wall

 Words of Encouragement

The Israelites were taken to Babylon and after 70  years it is time to return . Prior to this the Lord had  sent many prophets  warning them to repent but they did not heed his warning. The first consequence of sin was the loss of property, followed by drought and famine and finally expulsion from the promised land. Their enemies took the land and  they were taken into captivity and slavery by the Babylonians. This is a warning to you and me, God is always trying to get our attention. Will  you let him get your attention before the consequences set in? Perhaps, it is partially why  you and I  were led to RMI. He wants your attention!  Will you use this time to get to know Him? My situation got so bad because I would not give Him my attention before that. Perhaps it’s the same for you, if so- now is the time!

Nehemiah 1: 8-11(ESV)

Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.  O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”

Back to the story, King Cyrus issued a decree allowing the Jews to return back to the land. Zerubbabel  led the first return, then Ezra followed many years later Nehemiah was the last to arrive and build the wall in a record 52 days. Before this, the city was decimated. The walls were in shambles meaning the people lived in danger and God’s commandments were being ignored.

These three men played important roles in the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Zerubbabel, the prince, who represented the political side; Ezra, a priest and scribe; and finally Nehemiah, the layman. They lead in the rebuilding of society; the temple; the priesthood and their actual city. Now the prince and priest played their roles well, but they failed to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and cleanse the temple. For that job God raised up Nehemiah. There was a lot of opposition to the physical rebirth of Jerusalem and Nehemiah had a tough battle ahead of him. Here is how he deals with it: 

Nehemiah prayed about everything 

Nehemiah believed in watching and working. He also believed in working and praying. Watching, praying and working characterized this man. In this short book, we have 14 of his prayers. Before he set out on the project, Nehemiah prayed. When he approached the King, he prayed. When he was in trouble, he prayed.

Nehemiah 2:4 (ESV)

Then the king said to me, “What do you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. 

What a remarkable example for us of how to get something done. Pray before you start. Pray as you go. Pray when the going is tough. Pray about everything. Always be prayed up! Sometimes you want to solve things yourself but right now you are in a situation where perhaps things are way out of control. You cannot solve this situation, you cannot figure it out except by praying about it and when you think about it - remember it is before the Lord. 

Nehemiah cared about the things of God

He could have had a nice career in Persia, he could have sent money and wished them well from a far but he did not. He sought the Lord to open the door to change. When God opened the door for him to speak to the King, he didn’t mind asking for the King’s official help and protection along the route. Remember, a lot of jews had settled in Persia. They were successful in business and had comfortable lives. Nehemiah could have had this, but he chose to care about God’s people, the temple and city. If we want to be in God’s will today, somewhere along the line we will have to become involved in a movement that is getting out the Word of God to the needy world. Dear brother care about the things of God; When you pray commit yourself to His service and you will grow closer to him

The Lord is personal with how He leads us 

God is not going to lead us all alike. He led Ezra back to the land with no support whatsoever, and He led Nehemiah with half of the Persian army with him. God will use both ways. It is my experience that our own restorations are very personal and each of us He leads us differently. He also does the same for your estranged spouse. You will not see it coming and don’t even bother to second guess the Lord! What matters is that He will work on you and your spouse. When you hear testimonies, do not copy paste others expressions of faith but have your own expressions of faith and trust in God. One man I heard said that he always spared a seat for his estranged spouse at church believing she would come back (much to the annoyance of the ushers!). Months later when his wife came back and sat next to him, he got to say to the ushers “told you so!”. So you cannot copy paste the sparing of a seat for your wife but you can copy that this man  had faith for his wife to return. I challenge you to find your own expressions of faith that your wife will return and everyday show the Lord you believe him.  

 The Lord sees your Faithfulness 

The rebuilding of the walls and gates of Jerusalem was one of the greatest building projects  and happened in record time.  Each family had to build a section of the wall and they had to guard it against spoilers. What Nehemiah led was an ambitious project, and it was a wonderful testimony of God working through individuals. It was a lot of hard work and sacrifice  by many people. When the walls were completed, all of Jerusalem gathered at the Water Gate to listen to God’s Word being read. Many of them had never heard the Word of God before and they wept. So keep doing all your acts of righteousness, kindness, service for God and His kingdom. Your efforts are not wasted and they will bless others when the breakthrough happens. 

Expect Opposition 

A plan to restore God’s people cannot go unchallenged by evil.  The enemies came to ridicule Nehemiah armed with a renewed accusation of rebellion against the king. At this time, Nehemiah doesn't waste time answering or defending their mocking. Their real desire is to stop the project any way they can. So, he excludes them from being part of the project. They know he has the King's authorization, so they are powerless to bring a new charge of rebellion, as they had previously (Ezra 4:7-23). Instead, he points to God's help and blessing. You will experience this as you go along. Negative people, faithless people, naysayers and saboteurs. You know that all things will work together for your good and you are to have no fear. All opposition will eventually be silenced. Satan would love to add another divorce to his count- he says you are trying to rebuild. Expect opposition! but remember God will breakthrough.  

Nehemiah 2:20

"The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it." 

What God has said will come to be 

Nothing can stop what God has planned or allowed. The Lord said that they would be punished for their sin and they were. At the appointed time he said they would be set free and they were. He stood by them as they built the wall and it happened in record time despite opposition. So if God has spoken to you in a dream, a vision, a messenger, through His word and said something or promised something - He has said it, therefore it will happen!

God can work in an enemy kings’ heart

It is not recorded that any of the kings believed in the Lord. Only one of them was related to Queen Esther from years before, yet God worked in their hearts to release the Jews and even provide for them. So, it does not matter who is in charge at your work, the judge should not scare you because God’s purpose for you cannot be stopped. He works through anyone He wants. 

So much we can learn from Nehemiah, bear these things in mind as you work with God to rebuild your marriage on the Rock that is Jesus.

~ Tad RESTORED in Australia

If you haven't already done so, please take a moment to read my testimony and then my wife's encouragement.

Tad RESTORED in Australia

Also, here are the previous letters from prior months that I hope will inspire you in your Journey.