Thoughts for the Day

In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was served to him, I carried the wine and gave it to the king. Now, I had never been sad in his presence before. So the king said to me, ‘Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This can only be sadness of the heart.’ Then I was very much afraid. I said to the king, ‘May the king live for ever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my ancestors’ graves, lies waste, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?’ Then the king said to me, ‘What do you request?’ So I prayed to the God of heaven. Then I said to the king, ‘If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favour with you, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my ancestors’ graves, so that I may rebuild it.’ The king said to me (the queen also was sitting beside him), ‘How long will you be gone, and when will you return?’ So it pleased the king to send me, and I set him a date. Then I said to the king, ‘If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may grant me passage until I arrive in Judah; and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, directing him to give me timber to make beams for the gates of the temple fortress, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.’ And the king granted me what I asked, for the gracious hand of my God was upon me.

Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent officers of the army and cavalry with me. When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel....

I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire..... The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing; I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest that were to do the work. Then I said to them, ‘You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burnt. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we may no longer suffer disgrace.’ I told them that the hand of my God had been gracious upon me, and also the words that the king had spoken to me. Then they said, ‘Let us start building!’ So they committed themselves to the common good. But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they mocked and ridiculed us, saying, ‘What is this that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?’ Then I replied to them, ‘The God of heaven is the one who will give us success, and we his servants are going to start building; but you have no share or claim or historic right in Jerusalem.’

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Nehemiah takes a brave decision, putting all his trust in God. For a servant of King Artaxerxes to have two allegiances was likely to lead to his death, but when questioned by the king he prays to God that his answer will be acceptable to the king. It is interesting that he mentions that the queen was present, perhaps she was a supporter of the Hebrews. Either way, Artaxerxes generously offers Nehemiah a deal - he will send letters of safe passage to those tribes that he must pass through, as well as building materials, and army and cavalry officers to ensure his safety - but Nehemiah must promise to return.

No sooner has Nehemiah arrived than the opposition rears its head in the shape of Sanballat, the governor of Samaria. His enemies start by ridiculing the attempt to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, and accuse him of rebelling against Artaxerxes. Nehemiah asserts his belief that it is God who will grant success.

We can learn a lot from this faithful servant of God. When we answer a call from God to do something, whatever it might be, we too may get opposition. It may not be dangerous but it can be hurtful, especially if it comes from friends or family. We must learn the lesson of Nehemiah, to keep praying and listening for what God wants us to do.

Lord God,
help us to hear Your call for us
whenever it comes,
and keep us close to You at all times.
When opposition comes
do not let us falter,
but keep us steadfast to the road
You have called us to travel.
Amen.