I recently received a newsletter from a ministry which contained the exhortation: “The Bible says there is a season for everything. This is our season to fight hard—to battle back—to win."
The timeliness of their statement could not have been better fitting with the main point of this study from the Book of Nehemiah, recording the last historical events in the Old Testament, and featuring a man of God who embodies the qualities sorely needed in these last days of the church. Scripture warns us that Satan knows his time is short (Revelation 12:12) and he's unleashing every wrathful and wicked device he has upon "the inhabiters of the earth." Therefore, we need every insight we can find in God's Word that sheds light on how we are to "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12). Nehemiah certainly made himself aware of the times, and the Holy Spirit gave him tremendous insights into what the children of Israel ought to do regarding a variety of very difficult conditions. He rallied the people and led the way to finish the work God planned!
Nehemiah was a Jew born in Babylon during the 70-year captivity. He was highly regarded by the Persian ruler Artaxerxes whom he served as cupbearer and wine steward. It was a significant position of tasting the king's drink and food in order to keep the king out of harm's way. Yet his duty for the "king of kings" (perhaps the world's most powerful ruler at the time) did not lessen his concern for his Jewish kinsmen and their struggles in Jerusalem. Artaxerxes the king took notice: “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart” (Nehemiah 2:2). Nehemiah explained: “Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire? Then the king said to [him], What do you request? So, I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it” (vv. 3-5).
Nehemiah's request of the king tells us a lot about his character. First of all, he immediately "prayed to the God of heaven." Secondly, his request would have him give up an extremely comfortable and honorable position to do work that amounted to hard labor with those who were the poor and struggling returned captives. Not exactly the life he was experiencing among the elite Persian crowd! God gave him favor with the King and he granted him permission to return to Jerusalem for the task of building a wall of protection around Jerusalem. The time of the decree was actually recorded in Scripture which relates to the restoring and building of the city of Jerusalem—in the month of Nisan (March/April) in the 20th year of King Artaxerxes. This is a significant date since it is the starting point of the period of the seventy weeks foretold in Daniel 9: 24-27 that provides a chronological frame for Messianic prediction for the establishment of the kingdom on earth. Verse 2:8 reveals that he was granted his request by the good hand of God.
Nehemiah's first request of Artaxerxes was to give him what was needed to help his people. One of the marks of a godly leader is selflessness, that is, one who is completely other-directed. His request included not only building supplies, but also protection from those whose intention it was to thwart the work of God. This he did, but not without first seeking the Lord in prayer, which He graciously answered: "Then I told them [the Jews in Jerusalem] of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So, they [by God's grace] strengthened their hands for this good work" (Nehemiah 2:18). However, as when any true move of God occurs there will always be opposition from the Enemy. Therefore, a coalition of enemies was formed to hinder the plan for God’s people and laughed and scorned them with great hatred.
Nehemiah did not back down and boldly said “The God of heaven will prosper us and we will be his servants that will arise and build the wall.” (v. 20) Their first task was to restore the gates—gates are where the enemies enter and they had to be secured. The enemies were angry and mocked the Jews. Nehemiah rose up in authority and prayed to God to turn their reproach upon their own heads, make spoil of their plans and bring justice. The people were joined together and set forth to finish the work. This stirred the anger of the enemies and they conspired together (the Cabal) to fight against the plan. But they prayed to God and set a watchman day and night.
In time the people became discouraged and fearful and got their eyes on the circumstances and off God. Nehemiah rose up and took control and organized and armed the people to complete the task and said “Be not afraid of them; remember the LORD, which is great and awe-inspiring and fight for your brethren, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your houses.” (4: 13-14) When the enemies heard that God had brought their counsel to nothing; they returned to the task at hand. They rose together to do whatever it took to complete the task. It took working with one hand and holding a weapon with the other. They sounded the trumpet and said “Our God will fight for us.” The Holy Spirit gave Nehemiah a gameplan of how to engage God's enemies. Certainly, prayer first, then a strategy to enable the work to continue. "They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded" (Nehemiah 4:16-18).
There was a major battle and opposition from those who had ruled over them in greed and had exacted upon the peo0le a great tax burden. Nehemiah arose and confronted the rulers and nobles and said “It is not good that you have done this and you need to walk in the fear of God and remove the taxes and restore their lands, their vineyards, their olive yards, their houses and their money.” (5: 1-11) God brought a Divine reversal as they said “We will restore them and will require nothing of them.” Then the priests took an oath from them of their promise. Nehemiah called for justice from God upon their enemies—to all who refused to follow the promise. Then the people gave praise to the LORD. (5: 12-13)
Nehemiah was an unselfish example to the people and served 12 years (3—4-year terms)! But the former governors before him were chargeable to the people and had robbed them of their bread and wine, their silver and their servants. (vv. 14-15) Nehemiah did not take a salary from the people and prayed “Think upon me, my God, for good according to all that I have done for this people.” The wall was completed in 52 days and when the enemies heard about it they were much cast down in their own eyes for they perceived that this work was done by God! (6: 15-16)
A Great Revival followed—the Book of Moses was brought out and Ezra read it to the congregation of both men and women and all that could hear with understanding upon the first day of the seventh month—the Feasts of Trumpets on our modern calendar of September-October. And the people were attentive unto the Word and all the people blessed the LORD—the Great God and said “Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands, and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.” Nehemiah and Ezra the priest and the Levites that taught the people said: “This day is holy unto the LORD your God mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law…for this day is holy unto our LORD; neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (8: 1-10) The people of God resounded in praise to Him: “Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heavens of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.” (9: 5-6)
What is the application for our day from this account from Nehemiah? Nehemiah's leadership qualities not only helped him react and recognize the problem—he "was very angry" at how the Jewish rulers were treating their brethren. It's called usury. Basically, their kinsmen were being put in financial bondage by their kinsmen. His solution was a stiff rebuke: "Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them" (Nehemiah 5:7). The end result of his uncompromising stance (which is rare in leadership today) was thus: "Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest" (v 12).
Through prayer and obedience to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and His grace, "the wall was finished… in [an amazing] fifty and two days" (Nehemiah 6:15). Adding to that good news, while under Nehemiah's administration, the Lord had Ezra teach the people the Scriptures [the Sword of the Spirit!], laying a critical foundation that they might learn and obey God's laws. And as they did, the people and the land prospered. They went back to the Word "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). Too often among today's leadership, looking to God's Word is not a priority. It's considered as “impractical.”
What Nehemiah did in some cases may seem harsh, even outrageous by today's so-called standards, but two words speak loudly. They are: No compromise. Today we see churches compromising the truth in Scripture as if God has changed His mind about His Word! According to Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” This passage highlights the dynamic and potent nature of God’s Word. The term “alive” (Greek: zōēn) emphasizes its vitality and effectiveness, while “active” (Greek: energeō) underscores its powerful and energizing quality. As believers submit to God’s Word, it works within us, transforming our thoughts and desires. The powerful and discerning nature of God’s Word can lead to conviction and repentance, as it exposes sin and points to Christ’s redemption. The living and active Word of God provides guidance and direction for believers, illuminating the path to spiritual maturity and obedience.
What we know regarding the strategy of Satan, his overall goal as the father of lies is to deceive humanity—which he started with Eve, convincing her of the ultimate lie, "ye shall be as gods" (Genesis 3:5). There is no greater deception that robs us of our true hope, the hope that only Jesus, who alone is the Truth, can fulfill.
Our prayer is that the Lord will raise up leaders in the nation and fathers in the church similar to Nehemiah, who was a bold, prayer-first, selfless, uncompromising man of God. They will need the Lord’s help to guide them through the perilous times of unprecedented deception ahead (2 Timothy 3:1-2). Let us continue to press into God, pray, rejoice, stand in faith, obey, resist the enemy, keep our guard up, and call for exposures. Our part is not over—we can’t stop! The best is yet to come!
"Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD." (Psalm 31:24) “It is better is put your trust in God than to put confidence in man. “(Ps. 119: 8)