The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. Nehemiah 1:1-2 NIV
Why did Nehemiah care so much about the people who had made it back to Jerusalem? He needn’t be personally effected by their failure or success; he was living in Persia, with a good job and the favor of the king he worked for. Nehemiah cared because God cared! His heart was sensitive to the pain and suffering of his brothers and sisters in the family of God. He cared so much that he wept when he heard the answer! When you pray for others, do you feel their pain as if it were your own? Those who do, like Nehemiah, find themselves in the greatest position to help when the opportunity arises.
They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” Nehemiah 1:3 NIV
Israel had been in exile for 70 years. Living through those years and being able to return to Jerusalem was a wonderful blessing, but the city was not the same as it was in it’s glory days. Sin had led to the exile of the children of God and their beloved city had suffered much damage in the process. The wall, it’s first line of defense, had been broken down. The gates, which were formerly locked at night to keep the enemy from gaining access, were no longer able to keep the enemy at bay.
The exile represented the consequences of Israel’s sin. As we all know, sin always carries with it consequences. We may not find ourselves in 70 years of captivity, but, without a doubt, the sin in our lives brings with it some very strong chains! Sometimes, surviving the exile just isn’t enough. Sin leaves us with a broken down wall and burnt gates! Our vulnerability to the enemy is never something to take lightly. Those answering Nehemiah understood that though the people had survived the exile, they were in trouble! If their line of defense was not strengthened, the enemy would drag them right back into captivity. This was not a time to celebrate surviving the exile, there was much work to do!
Habitual sin comes with some very strong chains! If we battle to break free, then celebrate our survival, but neglect to build a wall of defense, then we too are in great trouble! With gaps in the wall and burned down gates, it won’t be long before the enemy grabs hold of us again and drags us right back into captivity!
I’m sure the remnant who returned to Jerusalem wanted protection from the enemy. After all they’d been through the last thing they wanted was to go right back into captivity. But the city was a mess and resources were a problem. There was so much rubble, I imagine they didn’t even know where to start! They needed help, someone from the outside who could lay out a rebuilding plan and could provide the materials they needed to get the job done – someone who cared enough to do so! God sent them Nehemiah.
If you’ve battled out of the captivity of sin, don’t be foolish enough to think the hard work is done. You’ve survived the exile, but the wall still needs to be repaired! Don’t remain vulnerable or the enemy will drag you back into sin. Ask God to send you a Nehemiah, someone who cares and has the resources and expertise to help you become strong. Perhaps He’ll send a counselor, a pastor, a doctor, a therapist, a prayer partner, an AA group, a Christian ministry, a church, a rehab or a support group. Whatever your circumstance, trust God to send the right person with a good plan to rebuild, then work hard to build up your defense!
Satan loves it when all we focus on is returning to Jerusalem and don’t concern ourselves with making the necessary repairs. Our lives are a mess, but he encourages us to look past the rubble and go on with life as usual, as if surviving the exile, i.e, the consequences of sin, is the ultimate goal. Meanwhile, he plots our ruin, strategically mapping out his next attack!