THE BEGINNING OF A GOOD WORK

Passage: Nehemiah 2:11-20

Key verse: 18

NIV

Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Walls

11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days(A) 12 I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.

13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate(B) toward the Jackal[a] Well and the Dung Gate,(C) examining the walls(D) of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate(E) and the King’s Pool,(F) but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; 15 so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.

17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire.(G) Come, let us rebuild the wall(H) of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.(I)” 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me(J) and what the king had said to me.

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

19 But when Sanballat(K) the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem(L) the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us.(M) “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”

20 I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding,(N) but as for you, you have no share(O) in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”

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Footnotes
  1. Nehemiah 2:13 Or Serpent or Fig
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

11 (A)So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. 13 I went out by night by (B)the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to (C)the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem (D)that were broken down (E)and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I went on to (F)the Fountain Gate and to (G)the King's Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass. 15 Then I went up in the night (H)by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. 16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.

17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, (I)how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer (J)suffer derision.” 18 And I told them (K)of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” (L)So they strengthened their hands for the good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and (M)Geshem the Arab heard of it, (N)they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? (O)Are you rebelling against the king?” 20 Then I replied to them, (P)“The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim[a] in Jerusalem.”

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Footnotes
  1. Nehemiah 2:20 Or memorial
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

People must have wondered why Nehemiah had come to Jerusalem. To be honest, Nehemiah didn’t tell them right away, but approached the issue of his arrival very carefully. The Jews, priests, nobles, and officers were among those who would be doing the work of repairing the walls. What if they said “no”? What if they refused to participate? After three days, Nehemiah secretly went out at night and surveyed the damaged walls for himself. When he addressed the people, it would be with a first-hand knowledge of the work that would be required. When Nehemiah finally spoke to the leaders, he did so by appealing to their identity as God’s people. It was not right for God’s people to be living in such disgrace. For the glory of God, they needed to take action and rebuild the city. His testimony of God’s gracious hand encouraged their hearts and they agreed to start rebuilding.

The good work of God’s people never goes unopposed by the enemy and the rebuilding of the walls in Jerusalem was no exception. The response from Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem was almost immediate. They mocked and ridiculed the Jews and even made a false accusation about them rebelling against the king. However, their tormenting could not shake Nehemiah’s faith. The God of heaven would indeed grant success to his people!

Prayer: Father, help us to see how you are working.

One Word: Commit yourself to doing God’s will