The waiting prophet

11 So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 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 mind to do for Jerusalem and there was no animal with me except the animal on which I was riding.

Nehemiah 2:13–14 NASB95

13 So I went out at night by the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragon’s Well and on to the Refuse Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were consumed by fire. 14 Then I passed on to the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was no place for my mount to pass.

Nehemiah 2:15–16 NASB95

15 So I went up at night by the ravine and inspected the wall. Then I entered the Valley Gate again and returned. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; nor had I as yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials or the rest who did the work.

Nehemiah 2:17–18 NASB95

17 Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach.” 18 I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king’s words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, “Let us arise and build.” So they put their hands to the good work.

Any general thoughts, observations in this passage?

First we notice he waited three days (v.11) then went out, what do you learn from (v.12)?

He went at night

Took a few men with him

Did not say anything to anyone what he was thinking, planning, hoping

What did Nehemiah learn about the walls as he started at the Valley Gate (vv.13-14)?

Broken down

Gates consumed by fire

Nehemiah finished the inspection and returned (v.15); but yet had said anything to who (v.16)?

The Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials or the rest who did the work

Look carefully (vv.17-18) how did Nehemiah enlist the help of the people?

Gave his evaluation and made it inclusive of him too.

He encouraged them to enlist in helping to rebuild the way so no longer a reproach (again inclusive)

He told them how the hand of God had been on him and the task so far.

Nehemiah’s tour

Nehemiah 2:11–12 NKJV

11 So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; nor was there any animal with me, except the one on which I rode.

Nehemiah had come to Jerusalem with

Favor of the King (2:5)

Letters from the king (2:7-8)

Lumber from the king (2:8)

And finally protection from the king (2:9)

Nehemiah came and waiting for three days before doing anything, and told no one what the Lord laid on his heart (vv.11-12)

I like how the enduring word commentary states how Nehemiah arrived:

“Nehemiah traveled to Jerusalem, full of heart, full of prayer, full of faith, full of wisdom, full of a big vision, full of support from the king, then waited three days.”

Nehemiah did not bring everyone in on his plans. He kept it to himself.

Spurgeon says:

“You will often find it best not to commit your plans to others. If you want to serve God, go and do it, and then let other people find out afterwards. You have no need to tell what you are going to do, and, I may add, there is no need for you retelling what you have done, for very, very frequently God withdraws Himself when we boast of what is being done.”

Nehemiah starts on west side of the city (Valley gate) heading south (counter-clock wise) to view and assess the situation.

Nehemiah finally sees with his own eyes what his brother, Hanani (1:2) told him. Can you imagine the tears in his eyes?

He would see the damage, know the fear, the poverty, the insecurity that the broken walls, burned gates meant to the people.

Nehemiah made a right assessment of the situation..

Nehemiah could have taken the approach of some preachers today and only looked and spoken of the good.

Nehemiah made a right assessment and looked at the damage and was ready to get involved in helping

He had the heart, the prayer, the vision, the support, and now the proper assessment so the vision could be done with the help of others. He had the right heart! The heart of a prophet who cared enough to do something.

Can we stop here for a few minutes and look at some things to consider?

Nehemiah went out and made an honest assessment of the situation.

Do we do the same, we look, we see Christians who are strong, joyful, maturing in their faith, and that is great.

Do we notice, care about those who are broken down, struggling, maybe caught in sin. Those who are desperately hurting, are vulnerable?

Some are in this place and they are afraid to ask for help, cry for help, but someone can honestly assess the situation and quietly step in to help

Courson in his commentary gave this consideration: (too long for a screen, just have them listen to it)

“When we look at our children, we know that we love them, and we care for them. But when we look at them honestly, we see their weaknesses of character and the areas where they fall short. We soberly consider what will become of them if those weaknesses dominate their entire personality. We consider what will happen if they grow up rejecting Jesus, and of their future ruin unless God uses us to train and nature their character. In the same way, when we look at our businesses, our relationships, our friendships, we should take an honest look, and not only look at what is pretty, and this includes in looking at the church. We may not be satisfied with the impact we make on the community, but we can assess and do something about it.

If we look, assess around us, and in us, personally will we notice broken walls, burned gates?

There are many broken people in the church and we need to be people to ask for help, or be willing to help others.

Nehemiah enlists help

Nehemiah 2:17–18 NKJV

17 Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work.

Nehemiah discloses the distress “we” are in

They knew the job, thought the job maybe impossible for them, they had put up with it for years and expected years to come. when they had tried before the enemies came and the work stopped

Nehemiah explains his vision; and enlists help from them

Nehemiah having a right assessment of the situation knew it was too big a task for he and his people, that he needed the leaders and people of Jerusalem to get vested in this too.

Can you bet Nehemiah, the one who cared enough to ask, to pray, to risk, and to go would be praying about this before having this conversation?

Nehemiah was wise in his approach to the conversation with them.

He did not come to fix their problem, he came to see the distress “we are in” and do something.

Wisely he enlists help, asks for partnership with them to accomplish the task of rebuilding the wall.

Nehemiah told them the intended result of rebuilding the wall that they would no longer be the reproach of others.

Nehemiah wisely encouraged them in the Lord by what the Lord had already done.

Sent Him

Provided for him

Protected him

The vision was about God not Nehemiah! This was not Nehemiah’s project this was God’s project.

Nehemiah wisely spoke what the king had said to him and his partnering in the project too

Nehemiah did not beg or bargain to get help. He told them where this came from. It came from God, it was God’s calling, God’s task, God’s assignment

The people enlist to engage

They could have answered several ways, but they chose the way that would bring glory to God. It would be a hard way, a difficult way, but with the Lord’s hand on it would be an accomplished way.

The people put theirs hands to the good work!

The heart, prayers, boldness, vision, action and wisdom of the prophet is all rewarded by the enlistment of everyone and they putting their hands to the work.

We can add the heart of a prophet is the heart of a leader here now too, for people were willing to follow!