In the book of Ezra we had brought before us first of all how that God raised up Zerubbabel, of the house of David, to lead the captives of Judah back to their own land and to rebuild the temple. That was in B.C. 536. Then years later, in B.C. 468, He raised up another servant, Ezra, of the priestly family, to teach His people the law and the other Old Testament Scriptures. Now, about 12 years later, when He would send His people another revival, He takes up another vessel of blessing, Nehemiah, a man of the common people, but one who held a position of responsibility under Artaxerxes king of Persia.
Nehemiah was the king’s cupbearer — a position sometimes spoken of as the king’s butler — and thus stood in neast intimacy with his royal master. It was his responsibility to procure and serve the food for the royal household. He must make sure that no attempt was made to poison the king or his family, so in this way he had the king’s life in his hand. Nehemiah walked with God and apparently had the confidence of his master, who it seems did not interfere with his conscience. However, like Moses of old in the court of Pharaoh, Nehemiah’s heart was with the people of God. He loved God, and he loved His people. He felt for them at the very time when they had lost their title as His people (God does not address them in this book as His people), and they were being punished for their sins against Him. By faith Nehemiah looked on to the final restoration of his people, when God would gather them again in His grace back to their own land and bless them there. He knew that it was in the land of Israel that Messiah should be born, and though Jerusalem was in ruins, still it was to there his heart turned. Nevertheless He had a sense that in chastening His people, God was acting according to His own glory, and this was the only way of blessing for them.
Nehemiah was serving in Shushan the palace in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, when a report reached him of the sad condition of those who had returned to Jerusalem. His brother, Hanani, with others of Judah, had evidently been to Jerusalem, and on their return had visited Nehemiah. They reported that those who had returned to Jerusalem were in great affliction and reproach, and that the wall of Jerusalem was in ruins and its gates burned with fire. Nehemiah’s grief is shown in that he “sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven.” In James 5:1313Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. (James 5:13) we read, “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.”
In his confession that follows, it is beautiful to see how he identifies himself with his people’s sins and casts himself on the mercies of God. He says, “both I and my fathers have sinned.” His was the grief of love, of love according to God. He loved the people of God, but he also felt keenly the way that they were falling short of that which was due to His glory here below.
ML 05/31/1959