RESPONSE TO THE STATE OF THE NATION
There were concerned citizens in Judah at this time who felt very bad about the devastated conditions in the nation. These people felt the need to reconstruct their nation. But the resources were not there. Soon, they heard that some of the Jews in exile had prospered and they were Inna better position to provide human and material resources towards the task of rebuilding their nation. Delegations were sent to some of them to come back and help. The prosperous Jews in exile responded positively to the call to save their nation. Nehemiah came first with a large group to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in order to provide security. This was followed by another group led by Jerubabel, Jeshua and Ezra who rebuilt the temple of Jerusalem.
NEHEMIAH'S RESPONSE TO THE STATE OF THE NATION
Hanani, one of the concerned citizens of Judah, led a delegation from Jerusalem to Babylon to confer with the prosperous Jews in exile. They met Nehemiah, who had become the cup-bearer of the king of Persia, Artaxerxes. The Persians had defeated the Babylonians and all the Jews in exile in Babylon had come under Persian rule. Hanani gave a dismal picture to Nehemiah of the shocking conditions of Judah in general and Jerusalem in particular. He said the survivors in the city were in great danger and that the city Lau in ruins with its wall broken. Nehemiah was completely devastated by the news. He became sad and sorrowful. He mourned, fasted and prayed for days. He then sought for, and obtained permission from the king to go back home and do something positive about the state of their nation. The king gave him letters of authority to the provincial governors, who were to assist him with materials for rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.
When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, he conducted a secret inspection tour of the city wall at night. In the morning, he aroused the people to action in rebuilding the wall of the city. He said they should all rally round to rebuild the wsll in order not to suffer further disgrace. Nehemiah faced opposition to the project from Sanballat and his allies, Tobiah and the Arabs. When these enemies of the Jews heard about Nehemiah's plan to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, they were displeased. They despised Nehemiah and queried his authority to reconstruct the city. Nehemiah then warned them to keep their distance. And then, With prayer to God, Nehemiah and his people began the city wall project in earnest.
Sanballat and his allies could not control their anger when they saw that Nehemiah and the Jews had already started the city wall project. They resorted to frustrating the efforts of the people by taunting them. Nehemiah relied upon God, in moments of crisis, to see him through. He prayed to gidyto strengthen the spirit of the workers. He then instructed the workers to carry tools on one hand and weslemsoin the other. This was done until the project was successfully completed.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF NEHEMIAH'S RESPONSE TO THE STATE OF THE NATION
Nehemiah responded positively to the task of national reconstruction. He and his group sacrificed the comfort of prosperous life in exile for the dangers and insecurity of war devastated Judah. However, with faith in God, Nehemiah was able to overcome all the obstacles in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, including opposition from their enemies.
The positive response which Nehemiah and his group made to the task of national reconstruction, should encourage all of us to make similar response in the tasks of nation building. All professionals, especially those who trained abroad and those wealthy ones should rally together and help raise countries from developing nations to developed nations. Our countries belong to us and no one will build the region for us. We must grow up to show concern for our nation.
Here is a summary of what I just discussed.
SUMMARY
1. Hananiah, one of the concerned citizens of Judah led a delegation from Jerusalem to confer with prosperous Jews in exile about the state of the nation.
2. Hananiah met Nehemiah who had become a cup-bearer of Artaxerxes, the king of Persia, who now ruled Babylon.
3. Nehemiah wanted to know the state of Jerusalem and it's habitants.
4. He told Nehemiah that the remnants of the land were in great trouble and shame, as the walls and gates of Jerusalem had been broken down and destroyed.
5. On hearing this, Nehemiah wept and fasted and prayed for days.
6. He asked the king of Persia to allow him go home and was given permission.
7. The king gave letters of authority to the provincial governors to assist him with materials for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.
8. Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem and gave the letters to the governors of the provinces.
9. In the night, Nehemiah conducted a secret inspection of the city
10. In the morning, he rallied the people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem so as not to suffer disgrace again.
11. The people responded and work started.
12. Then Samballat and Tobiah opposed them greatly...
LESSONS TO LEARN
A. Nehemiah showed the spirit of love for his people and nation and we must learn to do the same .
B. Nehemiah motivated his people into action and we must follow his good example.
C. Nehemiah had faith in God through prayer and we should emulate him..