Because he was serving God and not man, and because he knew that the purposes of God will always ultimately triumph, Nehemiah was not afraid to act boldly. His boldness left his enemies stammering, confounded and in awe. That is perseverance. It is a quality of all great leaders. Is it true of us?
Because he was serving God and not man, and because he knew that the purposes of God will always ultimately triumph, Nehemiah was not afraid to act boldly. His boldness left his enemies stammering, confounded and in awe. That is perseverance. It is a quality of all great leaders. Is it true of us?
After dealing with the erring Eliashib and Tobiah, Nehemiah moved with the same determination to right the other wrongs he discovered. These wrongs correspond to the items promised by the people in chapter 10. Nehemiah’s actions in dealing with them constitute his final reforms.
Apparently, Nehemiah did not fear to place his actions before God for judgment, for he says in verse 14, “Remember me in this, O my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services.” We should all be so bold!
But it is not just that Nehemiah had to continue his struggles into old age that is significant. It is also that he had to deal with exactly the same problems he had dealt with earlier.
I begin this final study of Nehemiah with the history of a well-known politician. I wonder if you can identify him.
The second thing I notice about the celebration services at the dedication of Jerusalem’s wall is the rejoicing. This is related to what I have been saying about singing, since the best singing flows from a rejoicing heart.
After we are told about the dedication of the people, followed by a ceremonial sprinkling of the gates and wall, we are told of the great service of dedication itself. As I indicated above, it consisted of two parts: first, a festive wall-walk, in which Nehemiah led one group of the people in one direction while Ezra led a second group of the people in the other direction; and second, a formal service at the temple at which the choirs sang and the priests offered sacrifices.
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