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2025 Study of the Book of Nehemiah #2

LET US REBUILD THE WALL OF JERUSALEM

Nehemiah 2:1-20

Key Verse 2:17

1. In what ways did Nehemiah approach King Artaxerxes to make his request (1-4a)? What did Nehemiah do first at that time (4b)? Reflect on Nehemiah’s prayer life (1:4-11, 4:4-5, 5:19, 6:9, 13:14).
2. How could Nehemiah answer and make specific requests to the king’s questions (5-9)? Who were the enemies that sought to hinder the rebuilding of the wall (10)?
3. After arriving in Jerusalem, why did Nehemiah not tell anyone what God had put in his heart to do for Jerusalem (11-12, 16)? Reflect on Nehemiah’s leadership as he examined the walls and gates of Jerusalem (13-15).
4. How did Nehemiah inspire and encourage the Jews in Jerusalem to take action (17-18a)? How did their response demonstrate their willingness to follow his leadership (18b)? How did Nehemiah respond to the enemies’ mockery (19-20)?
5. What types of “walls” might our community need to rebuild today? What practical actions must we take to rebuild the walls in light of this passage?

2025 Nehemiah Jan 19, 2025

LET US REBUILD THE WALL OF JERUSALEM

Nehemiah 2:1-20

Key Verse 2:17

Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.”

Last Thursday, M. Moses Kang and I visited M. Siegmund in Albany. By God’s grace, his health had significantly improved. He was able to talk with us well and clearly remembered the New York UBF members. He is scheduled to be discharged from the hospital tomorrow or the day after. Siegmund’s wife testified that he was recovering miraculously through the power of prayer. Thank you all for your prayers. I pray that we rebuild the wall of prayer both personally and communally and continue to experience victory this year.

Nehemiah heard that the wall of Jerusalem was broken down, and its gates were burned with fire. The Jewish remnant there was in great trouble and disgrace. Then, he sat down and wept. For some days, he mourned, fasted, and prayed before God. While praying, Nehemiah felt a holy burden to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. He asked God to give him success by granting him favor in the presence of the king.

Please look at verse 1. “In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before.” The month of Nisan is the first month of the Hebrew calendar, which falls within March and April on our calendar. Do you remember when Nehemiah heard the news about Jerusalem? It was in the month of Kislev, which falls within November and December on our calendar. So, from the time Nehemiah heard the news about Jerusalem to the day he made his request to the king, there was a gap of four months. This shows that Nehemiah didn’t immediately go to the king with his request after deciding to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. I believe that Nehemiah spent those four months praying even more and making the practical preparations he needed.

On that day, the king noticed Nehemiah’s sad face and asked, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill?” All servants were expected to always maintain a cheerful face before the king. They could never upset the king in any way. Moreover, Nehemiah was the cupbearer, someone directly responsible for the king’s safety and life. What if the king, seeing Nehemiah’s sad face, suspected that the wine had been poisoned? The king could have immediately thrown Nehemiah into prison and turned the palace upside down, searching for traitors. That’s why Nehemiah was very much afraid.

He had not been sad in his presence before. Even though Nehemiah was deeply grieved over the situation in Jerusalem, he knew how to control his emotions before the king. But that day was different. His sadness was visible on his face. Why? Was he so overwhelmed with sorrow that morning that he couldn’t hold it in? Was he deeply depressed after four months of prayer without seeing any answer from God? Or did he intentionally show sadness, risking his life, to make his request to the king? We don’t know the exact reason. But what’s important is that through all of this, God was at work. God had determined that on this day, Nehemiah would make his request to the king about Jerusalem. God stirred Nehemiah’s heart and emotions, allowing his sorrow to show on his face. God also let King Artaxerxes notice Nehemiah’s face closely and prompted the king to ask him first. God had already softened the king’s heart that morning. God had prepared the king to listen to Nehemiah’s request and to accept it.

It is essential for us to pray and wait for God’s timing with patience. If we act impulsively, we will fail. We must always remember that God Himself leads His work. God plans, God implements, and God completes. God moves and uses the hearts and lives of those who are needed. Therefore, we must wait for God to act, follow His guidance, and actively participate in His work with obedience. Nehemiah prayed and waited for four months, and God heard his prayers. When the time came, God began to act directly.

Nehemiah responded to the king’s question by honestly sharing what was on his heart. Bringing up the topic of rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall to King Artaxerxes was an incredibly difficult thing to do. When we read Ezra 4:6-24, it seems that there was an attempt to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem during Ezra’s time. However, the enemies of the Jews sent a letter to King Artaxerxes. They claimed that the Jews would refuse to pay taxes and rebel against the king after rebuilding the walls. In response, King Artaxerxes ordered the reconstruction of the wall to stop. Now, asking the same king to allow the rebuilding of the wall meant asking him to reverse his own decision. This could have offended the king, putting Nehemiah’s life at great risk. Nevertheless, Nehemiah, trusting in God, revealed his heart to the king. Doing God’s work requires faith and courage to the point of risking our own lives. We must fully trust in God and act by faith.

How did the king respond to Nehemiah’s answer? The king asked Nehemiah, “What is it you want?” What an amazing and hopeful question this is! The king was not offended. He didn’t get angry. On the contrary, he asked, “What is it you want?” The king showed his willingness to help Nehemiah. This happened because God was working in the king’s heart. Nehemiah must have been filled with excitement at the king’s question. The opportunity he had been eagerly waiting for over the past four months had finally arrived. He could now quickly present his request to the king. But what did Nehemiah do first at that moment? “Then I prayed to the God of heaven.” Before responding to the king’s question and presenting his request, in that brief moment, Nehemiah prayed to God. Nehemiah was a man of prayer. He always relied on God and prayed. The book of Nehemiah records over ten instances where he prayed. Nehemiah often prayed long and deep prayers. He also prayed short but heartfelt and high-quality prayers. He prayed continually. God heard Nehemiah’s prayers and granted him great success.

Many of us have probably prayed S.O.S. prayers in times of urgency. And God often answered our S.O.S. prayers. A missionary had a car accident while traveling with his family. The car fell off a cliff, and during that brief moment when the car was in the air, he prayed, “God, if you save us, I will live for you.” The car was completely wrecked, but miraculously, no one in his family was hurt. I also prayed a short and sincere prayer when I was kidnapped: “God, if you save me, I will serve you full-time.” And I was safely released. Whether it’s during a job interview, a green card interview, or an important exam, we often offer desperate prayers in those brief moments. God sees our hearts and hears our prayers. Only through prayer, we can serve God. Without God’s help, we can do nothing. May we become people who earnestly pray and always rely on God.

Nehemiah was also a man of action. He asked the king to send him to Jerusalem so that he would rebuild the city. At that time, the king asked him, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” Nehemiah then set a time. This indicates that Nehemiah had already calculated the time needed to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. If Nehemiah hadn’t prepared an answer beforehand, he might have responded vaguely, saying, “Well… maybe a year or two?” In that case, the king might have replied, “Think it over and let me know next time.” And that next time might never have come. Meeting with the king and discussing this subject could have been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If Nehemiah hadn’t been prepared, he might have missed that chance.

Not only that, Nehemiah had already prepared what he would specifically request from the king. First, he asked for letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates so that they could arrive in Jerusalem safely. He also requested a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the royal park, to provide timber for rebuilding the wall and the gates. Nehemiah had already researched where to obtain the materials and even knew the name of the person responsible for them. Nehemiah was a leader who planned, prepared, and acted. God’s gracious hand was on him. The king granted his requests. When we trust in God, rely on Him, and take action, God helps us.

Look at verses 11-12. “I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days 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.” Finally, Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem. He came as the governor of Judah, appointed by King Artaxerxes (5:14). The Jews in Jerusalem must have been very curious about why Nehemiah had come, how he would govern, and what kind of person he was. Some people were probably full of hope, expecting Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem. Others might have been anxious about the changes he might bring and how those changes would affect them. Still, others might have thought, “What’s so special about Nehemiah?” and showed little interest.

Some leaders attempt radical reforms from the very first day of their term. They arrive with detailed plans already prepared and announce them immediately. Tomorrow, on January 20, President Trump will be inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States. It is said that he will issue around 100 executive orders on his first day in office. I consider it possible because he is already well aware of the issues facing the United States and has been preparing his policies accordingly. However, Nehemiah’s situation was different. After arriving in Jerusalem, he didn’t engage in any visible activities for three days. I believe he spent those three days praying and resting after a month-long journey. Knowing that people were watching him closely, he was careful not to act impulsively.

Nehemiah was a prudent leader. He didn’t reveal to anyone what God had put in his heart to do for Jerusalem. Instead, he wanted to first examine the actual condition of the walls of Jerusalem. So, he set out during the night with a few others. Quietly, and without anyone knowing, he moved under the cover of darkness. He went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well. From the Valley Gate, he could observe the great valley area. Then, as he moved toward the Dung Gate, he examined the walls of Jerusalem. The walls had been broken down, and its gates had been destroyed by fire. Next, he moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool. But there was not enough room for his mount to get through because of the debris and rubble. So he went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, he turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. The area Nehemiah examined at night, focusing on the walls and gates, was primarily in the southwestern area of Jerusalem. It seems that the walls and gates in that area were more severely damaged and more vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks.

When we want to rebuild our broken walls, it is important to closely examine their actual condition. By identifying which parts are broken and how severely they are damaged, we can plan how to rebuild those broken walls. At the beginning of the year, I delivered a message on Zechariah 4:6, suggesting that we rebuild the broken temple in three areas: first, our personal relationship with God; second, our families; third, our church. If we take this seriously, we must specifically identify which parts have broken down and how severely they are damaged.

Let’s think carefully about our personal relationship with God. In which areas are we most vulnerable? What sins does Satan use to attack and bring us down? If we are frequently troubled by lustful desire and fall into sin, the wall of holiness in our life has been broken down. If we easily lose our temper, causing harm to others, the wall of self-control has been broken down. If we are easily hurt by others and struggle with negative thoughts, the wall of self-esteem in our lives has been broken down. Let’s think about our family. In what areas is our family vulnerable to Satan’s attacks? If our family frequently argues or experiences conflict over financial issues, the wall of faith in God has been broken down. If there is no communication between husband and wife and each one lives a selfish life, the wall of love has been broken down. If children rebel and cut off communication with their parents, the wall of trust between them has been broken down. How about our church? If unresolved issues among members remain, creating potential conflicts that could burst out at any time, the wall of unity in our church has been broken down. If our members are not growing spiritually and remain stagnant, the wall of spirituality in our church has been broken down. If our church fails to bear fruit in God’s mission, the wall of mission has been broken down. We must examine our reality carefully from God’s perspective and determine which areas of our broken walls need to be rebuilt.

After much prayer and careful examination of Jerusalem’s wall, Nehemiah finally stood before his people and spoke. Let’s read verse 17 together: “Then I said to them, ‘You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.’” Nehemiah first pointed out their current situation. “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire.” He described their circumstances accurately, based on the facts. Then, he encouraged them by saying, “Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.” Not only that, but he also shared a message of hope with them: “We will no longer be in disgrace.” The Jews had to endure many humiliations due to the broken walls, facing constant invasions from enemies. Nehemiah reminded them of the disgrace they had suffered and stirred up their courage, saying, “We will no longer be in disgrace.” To achieve this, it was essential to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. “Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.”

How long will we be defeated by Satan’s attacks and live in disgrace? How long will we fall into Satan’s temptations, end up spiritually broken, and live in self-condemnation? How long will we struggle with the doubts and negative thoughts planted by Satan, doubting God? How long will our families fall into Satan’s schemes, hurting one another? How long will the members of our church suffer from Satan’s attacks, failing to love one another? How long will our church be hindered by Satan, unable to serve God’s mission and remain stuck in failure? We will no longer be in disgrace! “Come, let us rebuild the wall of our personal relationship with God, our families, and our church.”

The people all were encouraged and replied, “Let us start rebuilding” and began this good work. To rebuild our broken walls, we will focus on the following three things.

First, we will rebuild the wall of prayer. I hope that each of us will become people of prayer, personally engaging in a deeper relationship with God. I also pray that our community will gather more often to pray together, becoming a community united in prayer. Second, we will rebuild the wall of God’s word. I pray that we will become a community that meditates on, accepts, obeys, and practices God’s word. Third, we will rebuild the wall of God’s mission. We will rebuild our Fellowships, where our church members support each other spiritually and grow together. We will also rebuild our ministries: BBF, CBF, HBF, Orchestra, Praise Team, Tech Team, and others. In particular, we will devote our efforts to rebuilding the Campus Ministry this year.

“You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” May God bless each of us and our community this year to rebuild the broken walls in our lives. Amen.