(a) Trace the events that led Nehemiah to embark on the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. (b) What do we learn from Nehemiah's role in the reconstructio...

Answer Details

(a) Events that led Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1-2)

Nehemiah was the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes in the citadel of Susa. His brother Hanani and other men came from Judah, and Nehemiah asked them about the Jews who had escaped the captivity and about Jerusalem. They reported that the survivors were in great distress and reproach, that the wall of Jerusalem was broken down, and its gates burned with fire.

On hearing this, Nehemiah sat down and wept, mourning and fasting for several days. He prayed to God, confessing the sins of Israel, appealing to God's covenant promises, and asking for mercy and success before the king. For about four months he carried this burden.

One day, as he served wine, the king noticed his sadness and asked the reason. Afraid but praying to God, Nehemiah explained that the city of his fathers' tombs lay in ruins. The king asked what he wanted; Nehemiah requested to be sent to Judah to rebuild the city, and asked for letters of safe conduct to the governors and timber from the king's forest. The king, and the queen sitting beside him, granted his requests, "according to the good hand of my God upon me."

Nehemiah travelled to Jerusalem with an escort. After three days he inspected the ruined walls secretly by night. Then he told the priests, nobles and officials, "You see the distress we are in... Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach," and told them how God had helped him. They responded, "Let us rise up and build," and set their hands to the good work. Despite opposition from Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem, the wall was completed in fifty-two days.

(b) What we learn from Nehemiah's role in the reconstruction

• Concern and patriotism: he cared deeply for his people and homeland and was willing to sacrifice his comfort to help them.
• Prayerfulness: he prayed at every stage and depended on God for success.
• Good planning and leadership: he investigated the situation, organised the people, and mobilised them for the work.
• Courage and perseverance: he faced ridicule, threats and plots but stayed focused and finished the task.
• Faith and vision: he trusted that "the God of heaven will prosper us," teaching us to combine prayer with diligent action.