Nehemiah's grief

Now we’ll return to our discussion about Nehemiah. What did Nehemiah hear from his brother that upset him? He grieved when he learned the survivors in Jerusalem were in shame.

For the ancients, the city represented the greatest success of the nation. Its splendor mirrored the splendor of the nation. A strong and beautiful city revealed the culture and order of the nation. So Nehemiah cried out for his people who were without honor, mocked by those around them. Their walls were down and they were exposed.

Nehemiah knew that his people had spiritually been exposed for centuries, refusing to wall out the idolatry of those around them. The walls had come down because God had punished them for that idolatry. Now that spiritual condition could be seen in their physical state: they were uncovered and vulnerable.

The walls had to be rebuilt to restore national honor. The walls would provide protection from the outsiders but also provide the boundaries for those within. Nehemiah’s people would have their own limits, their own spiritual protection, restored.

Nehemiah’s plan ultimately was to go to Jerusalem to muster the people and rebuild the walls. But notice in Nehemiah 1:5 that his first step was prayer, because he could not do anything without God’s direction. He recognized God as keeping covenants and having love for those who love him and keep his commandments.

That’s the wall the people needed to rebuild. They needed to love God and keep his commandments. In doing so, they established the boundaries, the walls, of their nation.

Do you have walls that have been broken down by your wandering eye? Have you left God’s love and commandments for the lure of a different comfort or indulgence? Nehemiah started with mourning and fasting, followed by prayer and praise. It wasn’t too late for Jerusalem and it’s not too late for us.

Start today. Review God’s nature and remember his covenant. He has not left us nor forsaken us. We, too, can rebuild our wall.