NEHEMIAH’S RETURN TO JERUSALEM

Nehemiah 2:1-20

  1. Intro.
    1. Nehemiah’s position gave him a splendid opportunity to petition the king
      1. to make a request and then have it denied could cost him his job or even his life
      2. the slightest hint of disloyalty could easily result in death
      3. Nehemiah had prepared the way for his request with four months of prayer (Chisleu, Nisan)
    2. even though Nehemiah’s heart was not in Persia, he did not rashly run to Jerusalem
      1. he waited on God to move the king’s heart
      2. it is possible to move men through God by prayer alone (whether they are believers or not)
  2. Nehemiah’s request to return to Jerusalem - 2:1-8
    1. up to this point he had been careful not to reflect the heaviness of his heart - 1
      1. for four months he carried a burden and nobody knew it
      2. for four months he waited on God to open a door
      3. now he knew that it was the Lord’s will to share his burden with the king
    2. Nehemiah lets his true feelings show and is afraid when the king notices - 2
      1. he was being honest about his feelings of fear
      2. he had good reason to be afraid because his attitude before the king was normally unacceptable
      3. we may sometime experience fear when serving the Lord, but it is overcome by trust
    3. Nehemiah’s explanation for his behavior - 3
      1. first he dispels any idea of disloyalty to the king
      2. he had great sorrow for the condition that Jerusalem was in
      3. shouldn’t we be grieved over the condition of the church today?
    4. the response of the king - 4
      1. he did not have Nehemiah killed
      2. his response was one of compassion
        1. God had changed his heart
        2. God had answered Nehemiah’s prayer - 1:11
    5. Nehemiah’s request - 4-5
      1. before saying anything, he spoke to God (it was short & silent)
      2. his request was to return to Jerusalem and build it
        1. anyone can stand afar off and bewail or criticize the failures of others
        2. one must be in touch with God to be a true builder
    6. the king’s concern and approval - 6
      1. the king didn’t want to see Nehemiah stay away because he was doing a good job as cupbearer
      2. he was a diligent worker, as well as trustworthy & loyal
    7. Nehemiah already had a plan to put into action - 6-8
      1. he was a well organized individual
      2. he had a plan and could give the king a set time for completion
      3. he had been doing more than praying for the past four months
      4. his planning was an exercise of faith (he was sure that God would let him go)
      5. going by faith doesn’t mean going in a haphazard manner
    8. the king willingly sent Nehemiah and provided what he requested - 8
      1. because the Lord’s hand was upon him
      2. four months of patient waiting and praying had produced positive results
      3. God had adjusted the thinking of the king so that he was ready for Nehemiah’s request
  3. Nehemiah travels to Jerusalem - 2:9-11
    1. blessings along the way - 9
      1. he was able to pass through the land unhindered - "king’s letters"
      2. the king offered to do more than Nehemiah had ever expected (officers & horsemen)
        1. because the hand of God was upon the king
        2. God can bend a heart wherever He pleases
    2. opposition soon arises - 10
      1. when we walk by faith, it is inevitable that we should experience opposition
      2. hostility is not an indication that we are outside of God’s will, but that we are doing exactly what God wants
      3. the world is always grieved when God is doing something
    3. Nehemiah in Jerusalem - 11
      1. what was he doing?
      2. judging from his track record, he was probably seeking God for further direction
      3. he acted in a manner quite different than we might normally expect
        1. he didn’t immediately start to build
        2. he waited on God to show him what to do
        3. good leadership is the result of those things that are never seen
  4. Nehemiah surveys the situation - 2:12-15
    1. he kept the mission to Jerusalem a secret - 12
      1. he did not want to draw attention to his mission
      2. he did not want to incite the wrath of the opposition before the building began
      3. he wanted to lay his plans without any possible leakage to the enemy
      4. he didn’t want the enemy to have time to lay plans for stopping the work
    2. a night time viewing of the walls - 13-15
      1. "view" means to scrutinize, to look into something very carefully
      2. a careful investigation was necessary to develop a master plan
      3. a master plan involves building materials, personnel needed, and the process of construction
  5. Nehemiah challenges the people - 2:16-18
    1. Nehemiah gathers the people together and tells them of his desire for the city - 16-17
      1. nobody knew what Nehemiah was doing prior to this meeting - 16
      2. he gives them a reason to build - 17
        1. because of the present condition of Jerusalem
        2. "that we be no more a reproach"
      3. he invites them to build - "let us rise up and build"
      4. this was to be a joint effort, he did not place himself above the people - "we" & "us"
    2. Nehemiah tells them of God’s leadership - 18
      1. man does not naturally think of doing something for God
      2. man cannot accomplish anything for God without His help
      3. God had to change hearts and open doors for this work to go forward
    3. the people were enthusiastic about the work - "so they strengthened their hands for this good work" - 18
      1. strengthen means to fasten upon, to seize, to be courageous
      2. hand refers to an open hand (one that is ready to do something)
  6. Nehemiah confronts the opposition - 19-20
    1. the tactic of the opposition - 19
      1. they used mockery - "laughed us to scorn"
      2. they used arrogance - "despised" (who do you think you are to undertake such a work)
      3. they made false accusations - "will ye rebel against the king"
    2. Nehemiah’s response was to implement a "get-tough" policy
      1. he draws the line of separation (us and you)
        1. God is for us
        2. you have no part in God’s plan for the city of Jerusalem
      2. prior to this time the line of separation was blurred; the result was peace and quietness
        1. Nehemiah raises the wall of separation and this is bitterly resented
        2. he declares his uncompromising attitude in a manner that cannot be misunderstood
      3. in the heat of controversy, Nehemiah remained a man of faith
    3. the constant focus of Nehemiah
      1. he never took his eyes off of God
      2. in every situation God was present
        1. before the king - 4 - "I prayed to the God of heaven"
        2. when alone - 12 - "what my God had put in my heart to do"
        3. before the people - 18 - "the hand of my God which was good upon me"
        4. before the enemy - 20 - "the God of heaven, he will prosper us"