Bible Study

✍️ Just for your thoughts.

Expository Commentary on the Book of Nehemiah.
Bible lesson 5

Nehemiah was a high-ranking official in the Persian government. With the king’s permission, he was sent to Jerusalem as a governor.
The magnificent temple built by Solomon was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. Later, by God’s grace, the temple was rebuilt.

Although it did not match the grandeur of Solomon’s temple, it was rebuilt in the same place for the Lord.
However, the walls of the city of Jerusalem remained unrepaired for a long time.

They were broken down and lay in ruins. The security of a city depends on its walls. Since the walls were not rebuilt, the city and the temple within it remained unprotected.
When Nehemiah understood this situation, he carried a burden from God in his heart. He obtained permission from the king and came to Jerusalem with a plan to rebuild the walls.
As soon as he began this work, the first opposition he faced was ridicule, mockery, and scorn.
⚔️ The Ridicule Nehemiah Faced
1. Sanballat (Governor of Samaria)
“What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they finish it in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble?”
(Nehemiah 4:2)
2. Tobiah (the Ammonite)
“What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!”
(Nehemiah 4:3)
3. Geshem (the Arabian)
“Are you rebelling against the king?”

In many ways, they mocked Nehemiah to discourage and frighten him. They kept saying,
“The Jews are weak,”
“They cannot do it,”
“This work will not last.”
? Nehemiah’s Response
Nehemiah did not argue with them. He did not fight with words.
He remained calm
He trusted firmly that God was with him
He took the ridicule of his enemies to God in prayer
He proved through his actions that God’s gracious hand was upon him
He glorified God not by words, but by his actions.
? Spiritual Lessons
From this event, we learn important truths:
When a believer receives a burden, vision, or plan from God and begins to act on it,
the first opposition will often be ridicule.
Words like:
“You cannot do this,”
“This is not your calling,”
“This will not succeed”
may arise.
But if a believer does not lose heart and remains focused on God,
God will accomplish His work.
?️ Historical Fact
The walls of Jerusalem lay in ruins for about 140 years.
But Nehemiah, a servant of the Persian government, rebuilt them in just 52 days!
This was not by human strength, but by the help of God.
? Final Reflection
God has a plan for every believer.
It is our responsibility to understand it and act on it.
If we study the Word of God, discern His voice, and obey it,
we can fulfill our calling.
Even today,
every believer is called to stand as a “Nehemiah” in their church.
We must be able to say:
“I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down!” (Nehemiah 6:3)
Zerubbabel was from a royal lineage.
Ezra was a priest.
Nehemiah was not a priest.
Therefore, for the rebuilding of the temple and the restoration of the city walls, all three individuals were necessary.
In the same way, for a church to be built and protected:
Leaders are necessary
Full-time workers are necessary
Believers are necessary
Only when churches understand this truth,
true revival and lasting growth will take place in the church.