Nehemiah - Chapter 2

Nehemiah 2.1 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. Nehemiah 2.2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, Nehemiah 2.3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? Nehemiah 2.4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. Nehemiah 2.5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it. Nehemiah 2.6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. Nehemiah 2.7 Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah; Nehemiah 2.8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me. Nehemiah 2.9 Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. Nehemiah 2.10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. Nehemiah 2.11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. Nehemiah 2.12 And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon. Nehemiah 2.13 And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire. Nehemiah 2.14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king’s pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass. Nehemiah 2.15 Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned. Nehemiah 2.16 And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work. Nehemiah 2.17 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. Nehemiah 2.18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work. Nehemiah 2.19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? Nehemiah 2.20 Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

Nehemiah : Chapter 2

Nehemiah's Mission of Rebuilding

Nehemiah chapter 2 marks the beginning of a vital mission: that of rebuilding. This inspiring text reveals how God opens the gates to his servant. Through the dialogue between Nehemiah and King Artaxerxes, we learn about his journey to Jerusalem and his nighttime inspection of the city walls. This chapter highlights Nehemiah's wisdom in planning, as well as his courage in the face of initial opposition.

Nehemiah 2 illustrates how God uses people in strategic positions to accomplish His purposes. In this context, we invite you to consider five biblical passages related to the themes of leadership and vision present in this crucial chapter.

Proverbs 21:1

"The king's heart is like a river controlled by the Lord; he directs it wherever he wishes." This proverb reflects Nehemiah's experience with the king in Nehemiah 2:1-8, where God moves the king's heart to favor Nehemiah.

Ezra 7:27-28

"Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put it into the king's heart to honor the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, and who has allowed me to be held in such high esteem by the king, his counselors, and all his mighty officials. When the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, I was encouraged and gathered some of the leaders of Israel to return with me." Ezra's experience echoes that of Nehemiah in Nehemiah 2:8, acknowledging God's hand in royal approval.

Psalm 122:6-7

"Pray for peace in Jerusalem: "May those who love you live safely! May there be peace within your walls and safety within your citadels." This psalm reflects Nehemiah's desire to rebuild and protect Jerusalem, as shown in Nehemiah 2:11-20.

2 Corinthians 5:7

"Because we live by faith, not by sight." This verse illustrates Nehemiah's attitude in Nehemiah 2:12, where he acts by faith in the vision God gave him.

James 1:5

"If any of you lacks wisdom, ask God, who gives wisdom to all freely and willingly, and it will be given to you." This principle is illustrated in the life of Nehemiah in Nehemiah 2:4-5, where he asks God for wisdom before speaking to the king.

Meditating on these passages, we are called to recognize the role of faith and wisdom in our own lives, while seeking to fulfill God's will in our daily actions.