1The words of Nehemiah the son of Hac-aliah.Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the capital,£
2that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem.
3And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
4As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
They had been dispersed as far as the wind could carry them. The people of God had been disobedient to His calling. Like the chaff which the wind blew away, they were now blown away from the land of Promise. Only a small group had returned back to the land of Israel at this moment.The remnant now had grown discouraged. They had enemies from the outside. Scripture also tells us that they had enemies from within. They now cried out to their God to hear them once again.
This is why Nehemiah 1:1 is such a beautiful thing to me. The name Nehemiah means, "Jehovah comforts." I know that there are times in my life, when just like these Jews, where it seems that God does not hear. Does He know my grief? Does God not know about my enemies? Does He not know that these trials also are falling upon my family? The answer will always be during these times, we serve the God who comforts.
Contrast the scene we have before us with Nehemiah's brothers back in Israel. Nehemiah's brothers and sisters were barely surviving. Nehemiah though lived in Susa the wintering town of the Medo-Persian empire. he lived probably surrounded by all that represented the word comfort. Incredible! Don't forget this, as Nehemiah could have stayed in Susa. He could have finished his life surrounded by glory. He will hear of the needs of his brothers and leave all of these riches behind him. He had a greater calling and that was to comfort his people.
This is exactly what Jesus has done for us in accordance with Philippians 2:5-11. Jesus would leave all of His glory to enter into our world. He would be our Savior. He would leave it all behind so that we as disobedient children could be made into sons of the Most High.
Nehemiah did not want to turn a deaf ear to the people of Israel. Nehemiah's brother Hanani, had come back from the land of Israel with several others from Judah. Nehemiah did not wish to remain ignorant about his people. Nehemiah had to know how his brothers were doing in the land of his Father's.
So often if we will be honest with ourselves, we don't want to know the facts. You see, when we find out the truth about things, we are called to act upon what we now know. What will we do when we hear or see the needs of this world? Are we scared to broaden our horizons? Are we afraid to look beyond the comforts of home? God, help me to live in light of any truth revealed to me. Lord, help me to deal with any revealed sin of my heart.
The news of the exiles was not good news. Words that described the situation at hand were, "great trouble and shame." The words that brought Nehemiah to his knees were these words, " The walls of Jerusalem are broken down and its gates are destroyed by fire." At this very moment Nehemiah's world came crashing down around him.
You see for us, walls fallen down might not mean very much. The people of Nehemiah's time knew the idea of broken down walls meant that Israel was now stripped of any protection against her foes. Israel without walls was wide open to death and destruction.
What do you and I do when faced with devastating news? What will be our first reaction when our walls come tumbling down? What will we do when the hurricanes of this world blow through our organized and structured worlds? Will we respond with fear, anger or doubt? What course of action will I take?
Nehemiah had the right kind of reaction when his world came crashing down upon him. Nehemiah became a child. A Child, what do I mean by that? Look at Nehemiah's reactions in the rest of this passage. First thing, upon hearing these words, he sat down, wept and mourned for days. Have you seen a child when he becomes brokenhearted? For those of us who are, or have been parents, you know what I mean. Our hearts go out to our children when we see their hurt. We want to comfort their broken hearts.
Secondly, Nehemiah continued to fast and pray. He came to his Father broken. He was so devastated upon hearing the news he could not eat. In the midst of all of his pain he knew he had to talk to his Father. Food was of no importance to him now as he looked only to Abba, Father to take away the hurt. Is this our reaction to our trials? Will we not pray? Nehemiah had become a child asking the King of Glory to comfort his heart as well as his people.
Brothers and sisters what is is that has broken your heart? Do you feel as though your walls and that all your strength is gone? I know that I do at times. Will we not come to him as a child, and cry out to Him? Only through a broken spirit, can He truly use us. He alone is the one who can comfort our heart.
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