12/15/2015 Tuesday
Nehemiah 1 & 2 Rebuilding the Walls of Jerusalem
Because God’s greatly blessed/chosen people
had greatly sinned and angered God by having forsaken the ‘orphan and widow’
(i.e. the poor), God finally removed his hand of protection and Israel was
taken captive by their Babylonian enemies. The 50,000 largely middle class and
higher Israelites lived in exile until such time as the Persians defeated the
Babylonians. Then King Cyrus issued a decree granting Israel’s return back to
Jerusalem. Note that not all wanted to return after the edict, some having
assimilated into Babylonian life and maybe forsaken God altogether.
But in Nehemiah (name meaning, “Yahweh has
comforted”) we see a man who greatly loved God and missed his now chaotic
homeland and disintegrated people. Distraught after hearing from Hanani (et al)
the shape that Jerusalem was in (“Jerusalem” representing so much more than a
physical place, but instead where God is with them and among them acting for
them and for the world!), he deems it all the more necessary to seek God’s
face. He mourns, he prays and he fasts, and he cries out to God. Most of all he
reminds God of God’s own past promises which Nehemiah reassures himself and
others God will surely even now keep: “…but if you return to me and keep my
commandments and do them….” Nehemiah sets his sights on rebuilding Israel’s
wall of protection (God). He seeks to restore God to and with God’s people.
Israel, by their sinful actions and inaction
of continued inhospitality had left God. Not even the strong warning of the
Prophets could stir them. Perhaps now God had their attention?
There is a reason our first act in worship is
confession. In this season of God’s promise to come, what have we to confess as
individuals, as a church, and as a nation? Does the sky seem like it’s falling
lately? Nehemiah was afraid of the work he was called to, yet he also knew that
if he remained faithful, God would be his and their God, come what may. In
actuality, God would be their God no matter what, but God can feel abandoned
when we stray away. Let us pray to be a Nehemiah in our world (and even
sometimes our church) in turmoil. Let us, yes, admit our fear, but then stay
faithful and courageous too. Surely God is always with us! Amen.
Michael Boyd
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