Invite the congregation to read in their own bibles.

Nehemiah 2:11–20 LSB

So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. And I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my God was putting into my heart to do for Jerusalem; and there was no animal with me except the animal on which I was riding. So I went out at night by the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragon’s Spring and on to the Dung Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were consumed by fire. Then I passed on to the Spring Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was no place for my animal to pass. So I went up at night by the ravine and inspected the wall. Then I turned and entered the Valley Gate and turned around. Now the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing; nor had I as yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the rest who were doing the work. Then I said to them, “You see the calamity we are in, that Jerusalem lies waste and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach.” And I told them how the hand of my God had been good to me and also about the king’s words which he had said to me. Then they said, “Let us arise and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work. But Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard it. And they mocked us and despised us and said, “What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” So I responded to them with a word and said to them, “The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we His slaves will arise and build, but you have no portion, right, or remembrance in Jerusalem.”

Pastoral Prayer

King Artaxerxes approves the project to rebuild the walls and gates of the city.

Above approval, the King provides letters of authority to Nehemiah to collect the supplies needed for the project.

A royal bodyguard is supplied to Nehemiah to keep him safe as he makes the 1,100 mile-long journey to Jerusalem.

Above all these, Nehemiah is the acting Governor in the Judean region.

There remains, however, an element of opposition from those who seek political and financial power in the region, as a prominent religious center is taken away from them, along with the people and lands to govern.

The question we must ask ourselves is: “Are willing to obey God even in the face of challenges and opposition?”

The Holy Spirit Gives the Right Words, at the Right Time

Nehemiah expressed what was needed to stress the dire need of the exiles in Judea.

The Holy Spirit impresses on Nehemiah to speak of the needs present in Jerusalem, to move the King to give what was needed for the task at hand.

The Holy Spirit kept Nehemiah’s words from the people after his arrival, also, as to make the most of his plan to make the most impact.

This echoes the words found in the New Testament:

Mark 13:10–11 LSB

“And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all the nations. “And when they lead you away, delivering you up, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.

God is constantly at work to lead us, as we continually die to ourselves and find the Holy Spirit living out our faith before the Father.

The Servant Follows Wholeheartedly; The Holy Spirt Leads Boldly

Where the people have lost sight of hope for the suffering punishment of disobedience, Nehemiah is led by compassion and God’s grace.

As the Holy Spirit led Nehemiah to step up to serve, Nehemiah displays a wholehearted trust in God, who is a ruler over all rulers.

Nehemiah’s trust is more than mere sentiment, it leads to action.

We see Nehemiah showing us the kind of devoted that is perfected by Jesus’ ministry as our King, Prophet and Priest. We can see these offices melded together in the Priestly prayer of Jesus found in John 17:6-10.

John 17:6–10 LSB

“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. “Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me. “I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours; and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them.

The comfort for us, as disciples, is that Jesus fulfills perfectly for us, what Nehemiah fulfilled in part for the people of God as a leader in a time of need.

The Servant Leads Courageously

Courage is more than a commodity in God’s church, it is a requirement of the life we are called to lead Before the world. Listen to the perspective from two men:

“Courage is not having the strength to go on. It is going on when you do not have strength.”

—Napoleon Bonaparte

One of my favorite Theologians puts it this way:

“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”

—John Wayne

Nehemiah took the time to get settled and acquainted back in Jerusalem.

Trusting God, Nehemiah takes time and great personal risk to observe and inspect the wall and gates to the South of Jerusalem.

The text gives a real sense of determination and trust in God, His Sovereignty, and His Providence.

Nehemiah’s rallying the leaders with optimism, the provision of King Artaxerxes, and the presence of an Israelite governor give the people a new found sense of purpose and energy.

Jesus encourages us when we, His disciples, face difficulties and opposition:

John 16:33 LSB

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Because we are given this promise and we see in the book of Nehemiah that it is possible, we can trust His ability to make us stand firm.

The Servant Stands Firm

Nehemiah now finds that someone inside of the city is feeding information to the old rulers over Jerusalem. We see his response to the accusation and taunt about leading a rebellion against the very king that gave his blessing and resources for the good work in the city of Jerusalem.

God is recognized as the source of confidence and power for the people.

The people are described as having confidence in a king that rules over their earthly king.

Nehemiah calls out the reality that Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem are in no way partakers of what God has done for the people

No Portion—These men are not part of the tribes of Israel and have not inheritance among the children of the 12 tribes.

No Right—There is no authority these men have over the matter, since the King has given his blessing for the work.

No Remembrance—They are not entitled to the worship of God as they are not keeping the law and are likely practicing syncretism—the mixing of two worship streams, worshipping two or more deities in two different faith systems.

This servant, Nehemiah, is leading and he is not giving quarter to the sneaky, underhanded, and false devotion to YHWH.

What started as a mournful prayer for the well-being and remembrance of God for His people, is now turning to action through the careful planning and Holy Spirit-led wisdom for the servant who is leading for God and not for himself.

Rightly do we read from Paul’s hand:

Philippians 1:21–22 LSB

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know what I will choose.

How should this truth of service and leadership impact me?

I am called to…

Individually—My walk as a disciple must be founded on my trust in God’s Sovereignty in my life, through Jesus Christ.

Collectively—We are called to rejoice as God leads us to rebuild what is broken among us.

Ultimately—God is leading us to live under his plan and purpose for the Church.

Invite people to surrender to God’s work in their lives and to surrender to God’s leadership.

Offer a Pastoral Prayer.

Kings, Governors, and a Sovereign God