Introduction: Thanks to the NIV Bible and Message paraphrase, both of which I’ve leaned fairly heavily upon for this attempt at a narrative of the first two chapters of Nehemiah. This is a narrative that has been Kiwified, i.e. easily understood by New Zealanders.
The Narrator’s words are in [].
The person who is speaking the part of Nehemiah is in standard font.
[Here are some of the memories of Nehemiah, cup bearer to King Artaxerxes the Long Handed of Persia.
Nehemiah was a Jew who was living in exile in ancient Iran. His people had been living there since the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 587 BC. In the ensuing years the Persians had taken control of Babylon and its territories which included Judah.
We join Nehemiah.]
It was around November- December in the year 444 BC. At the time I was in the palace complex at Susa one of the great cities of what you would call Southern Iran. One of my brothers Hanani had just arrived from Judah with some fellow Jews. I asked them how things were going with the rest of the Jews living in Jerusalem who’s families had survived all the dramas of the past one hundred and fifty years and managed to continue living there.
The news was not good. They told me, "That the people living there, and in the province of Judah were in dire straights and that thing’s are about as rough as it gets, they’re not doing well,” they said “in fact the place is a mess. The walls of Jerusalem are still just a pile of rubble; the city gates have been burnt and all that’s left is a pile of ash.”
When I heard this, it left me shattered; I just sat down and cried and cried. I grieved over this for days, fasting and praying before the God-of-Heaven.
I said, "GOD, God-of-Heaven, and The Great and Awesome God, loyal to his covenant-his promises you’re always faithful to those who love you and obey your commands: Look at me God, listen to me. Pay attention to this prayer LORD, I’m your servant and I’m praying day and night, asking you to help your people, your servants, the People of Israel. I confessed the sins of the People of Israel.” I called out to God saying, “I’m included myself, I and my ancestors, among those who have sinned against You.”
[His prayer continued.]
"God we’ve treated you like dirt: We haven’t done what you told us, we haven’t followed your commands, and we haven’t respected the decisions you gave to Moses your servant.
Why did we act like that? You yourself remember the warning you gave your servant Moses, you said, ‘If you betray me, I’ll scatter you to the four winds, but if you come back to me and do what I tell you, I’ll gather up all these scattered peoples from the ends of the Earth and put them back in the place I chose to mark with my Name.’ “I knew that God could do all things and knew that he would do what he had promised.”
"Well, there they are—your servants, as you said, they’re certainly scattered. Your people who you so powerfully and impressively redeemed, it was you who saved them. O Master, listen to me, listen to your servant’s prayer—and yes, to all your servants who delight in honoring you—and God please make me successful today, please God you know what I need to get from the king."
[Nehemiah worked for the King he was aware of what God had so powerfully done for the people of Israel previously he was cup bearer to the King. His was a position of great trust, to bear the cup of the King; one had to be beyond reproach. A drop or two of the right liquid in the cup of King and he might be no more. The cup bearer was a most trusted servant.]
[ Four months later. In the presence of the King, at the hour for serving wine, as was his role Nehemiah brought it in and gave it to the king. Could this be the part of how God answered Nehemiah’s prayers?
He had never looked so miserable in the Kings Presence before, so the King asked what’s wrong Nehemiah? You’re not looking so flash; you’re not crook are you? My goodness man you look depressed.”]
That blew me away, I was kind of stunned, and I didn’t know what to say. Then I blurted out, "Long live the king! And why, why…shouldn’t I be depressed when the city, …..Jerusalem, the place where all of my family is buried, is in ruins and the city gates have been reduced to a pile of ash? Your Majesty the news I’ve heard about the place is getting me down, I’m sorry your Majesty but I’m not doing so well."
[The king then asked him, "So what do you want?" ]
Praying under my breath to the God-of-Heaven, I said to the King, "If it’s alright your Majesty, and if your Majesty thinks I’m a capable kind of a bloke, send me to Judah, to the city where my family is buried, so that I can rebuild it."
[ The king, with the queen sitting alongside him, said, "How long will your work take and when would you expect to return?"]
I gave him a time, and the king gave me nod to go to Jerusalem and get the job done.
Then I said, "If it pleases your Majesty, it’s likely I’ll have a few problems with my travels. Can you provide me with letters to the governors across the Euphrates that authorize my travel through to Judah; and also an order to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, to supply me with enough wood for the beams of The Temple fortress, the wall of the city, and the house where I’ll be living. I can see well be needing a fair amount of good quality timber."
God provided everything that was needed for the job his generous hand was with me and the king gave me all I had asked for. When I met the governors across The River (the Euphrates) I showed them the king’s letters, I had no troubles, just straight forward travelling all the way down to Jerusalem. The king bless him, had even sent along a cavalry escort, he was right behind the whole trip.
When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were not impressed at all, they were cheesed off that anyone would come to look after the interests of my people, the People of Israel.
And so I arrived in Jerusalem. After I had been there three days, resting up a little, you see it had been a long haul. I got up in the middle of the night; now there were a few blokes who had travelled there with me. But I hadn’t told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. I knew that he could help me through this, and he would help me but at this stage I was keeping it quiet.
So under cover of night I had a bit of a nose around the city riding my donkey. I went past the Valley Gate toward the Dragon’s Fountain to the Dung Gate looking over the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken through and whose gates had been burned up, it was a mess!
I then crossed to the Fountain Gate and headed for the King’s Pool but there wasn’t enough room for the donkey I was riding to get through. So I went up the valley in the dark continuing my inspection of the wall. I came back in through the Valley Gate. The local officials had no idea where I’d gone or what I was doing— I’d kept my trip very quiet, a bit cloak and dagger in fact, I hadn’t breathed a word to the Jews, priests, nobles, local officials, or anyone else who would be working on the job for that matter.
I wanted to look for myself and make my own mind up, before giving them my state of the city talk.
Then I gave them my report: " Let’s face it I said: we’re in a bad way here. Jerusalem’s a mess; even its gates are shot. Then I gave them my plan for the rebuild, this is what I said, ’Come on you fella’s—let’s rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and not live with this shambles any longer, it’s a jolly disgrace." I told them how God was supporting me and in his kindness and power he would help us with our task and how the king was backing my plans.
They called out, "We’re with you Nehemiah. Let’s get on with the job." That was great! They even rolled up their sleeves, to show how keen they were to get on with the job.
When Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they laughed at us, they gave us a right ribbing, they had the check to say "Ha! What do you think you’re doing? You won’t get away with it; do you think you can cross the king?"
So I gave them the message, I let rip; I said "The God-of-Heaven will make sure we succeed, he can provide for his people and he will provide for his people. We’re his servants and we’re going to get on with the job of rebuilding his city. You can keep your nose out of it, you lot pull your heads in —Jerusalem’s none of your business, so push off!"
[And so the rebuilding of Jerusalem was underway!
In life as individuals, have you considered, are there any areas if your life that require restoration or rebuilding, parts of your life that are rubble or ash?
Things that need addressing, we serve a God who can and will assist us with our living, who wants to see individuals and communities restored, God heals lives.]
(Response)
Benediction:
We serve a God who can,
he can rebuild cities and lives,
A loving God who will,
he will rebuild lives and give us futures
worthy of being created in his image,
Live your life as worship to our God and Father,
THE King of Kings!
Amen
Or another Benediction:
The God of Nehemiah is our God,
The God who answers prayers,
He restores and builds up,
He turns waste land to pasture,
Broken lives to rejoicing,
Stand before him and share,
Share his wonder - his awesomeness!
Amen
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