Nehemiah— Return from Captivity
06.01.22
So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. (Nehemiah 4:6)
Nehemiah is the main character in this book. He is also the author, for the book begins: The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah… His name means ‘Jehovah comforts.’
The events of the book took place from 445-430 BC. Ezra had traced the history of the Jews from the return of the Babylonian captivity and the rebuilding of the Temple. We learn how God fulfilled His promise to return His people to the land of Promise after seventy years in exile in Babylon.
During Ezra’s time the Temple was rebuilt, but the walls of the city had not been repaired. Nehemiah now returns with another remnant to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. The Jewish people have now been back in their land for over ninety years.
Twelve years have passed since Ezra brought revival to Jerusalem. However the conditions which Nehemiah found when he arrived were grave: the Temple walls and gates are still in ruins—an eyesore; there is a famine; the poor have mortgaged themselves to the rich; and the people have been lax in Sabbath and other observances.
Nehemiah gave up his position as the cupbearer of Artaxerxes, the king of Persia, to come to Jerusalem. He spent four months in prayer seeking God’s help. At the end of this, the king decreed that he return with a remnant, and with his provision and protection. Nehemiah became the governor of Jerusalem and led the people in repairing the city walls.
Ezra and Nehemiah were both men of God but they served Him in different capacities. Ezra was a priest who dealt more with the spiritual needs of Jerusalem. Nehemiah was a layman who served in more of a political capacity. With God’s help, under the leadership of Nehemiah, they accomplished in fifty-two days what had not been done in the ninety-four years since the first return under Zerubbabel.
It took great faith in the LORD to overcome what appeared to be insurmountable opposition. Their mantra was: Let us rise up and build! (Nehemiah 2:18). The opposition included ridicule, deception, and outright military attack. This opposition parallels the spiritual battle of the believer. There is no triumph without trouble. There is no victory without vigilance.
There are ten gates mentioned that Nehemiah and his men rebuilt for the city of Jerusalem. It appears as though the gates have a spiritual significance. Among them are the ‘sheep gate’ which surely points to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The ‘old gate’ points to the Word of God, the source of the old paths which are tried and true. The ‘fountain gate’ stands for the Holy Spirit who provides a never-ceasing fountain of blessing for God’s people. And the ‘east gate’ points to Christ’s return. We are told that He will one day enter the city through that gate, which has been sealed since 1543 AD (Ezekiel 43:1-7).
Nehemiah portrays Christ in his godly character. He also pictures Him in his willingness to leave a high position of honor in order to bring about a work of restoration. Jesus left the ivory palaces of heaven to bring redemption to mankind by His work on the cross.
The decree of Artaxerxes marks the beginning point of Daniel’s prophecy of seventy weeks of years which, though interrupted by an unspecified time, begins the countdown for the return of the Messiah. (Daniel 9:25-27) We live in that interrupted period of time. Have you come to the Savior? Are you listening for the trumpet?