40 Weeks of Your Life: Nehemiah
07-24-2006
by Vicky Beeching

It's very likely that in the ancient texts, Ezra and Nehemiah used to be one single book. So you'll notice they are on the same theme and storyline. It's like watching two different documentaries about the same event!… you get different angles, interpretations and ideas and come away with an even fuller grasp of what took place.

Nehemiah was a man on a mission. He had seen the ruined walls of Jerusalem, and longed for them to be rebuilt. Everyone else might have been OK with their ruined state, but Nehemiah could not bear it one day longer. It was God's chosen city and he wanted to see it restored!

Doing so was seen as a rebellion against the King, but Nehemiah felt that God was calling him to take this bold step of faith for the sake of God's people and city. We seem him stand firm in the face of opposition - his enemies tried all kinds of plots to make him stop building. I love Nehemiah's reply, when his enemies continually asked him to stop and meet with them to defend his action: "I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down". That speaks to me of his single focus on what God had called him to do.

What has God called you to do? Do you have a clear sense of His plan for your life? When you do, and you know what He is asking of you, lets all be as diligent and focused as Nehemiah, allowing nothing to distract us from the great works that He has asked us to carry out!

The end of the book describes the various "reforms" Nehemiah carried out. These were things he did to lead the people into holiness and obedience to God's laws. I love that once he had restored the Temple walls, he made sure that the People's lives were restored to God. Nehemiah wasn't just concerned with buildings and stones - he wanted to reunite Israel's heart back to God… to rebuild their relationship with Him, as well as the walls of the physical temple.

What an inspiring man!