Nehemiah 2: 20 “So I answered them, and said to them. ‘The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build……”
Ezra 7: 28 “………So I was encouraged, as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me; and I gathered leading men of Israel to go up with me.”
Dear God,
As I read of Your power bestowed upon foreign kings and those who did not worship You, to make possible the rebuilding of the Temple and walls of Jerusalem. I have formed the opinion that these events should speak to me and others, of how important and true Bible prophecies are in revealing Your omnipotence and orchestration of events that cannot be answered in human terms. These undertakings and events, can always be anticipated as occurring in Your time and way. When it is time for the event to happen, history shows that fulfillment has always occurred as predicted.
By Your great and marvellous hand the earth and heavens were spoken into existence and since that time all has been kept in place and working as it should; therefore to fulfill prophesied events is all part of what You do.
In the accounts of the rebuilding of the temple and Jerusalem, it is evident that You moved the mind of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he was obedient to promptings as referred to in Ezra 1:2 to ‘build Him a house in Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who among you all His people? May the Lord his God be with him and let him go up!’ Ezra a true man took up the challenge and led others back to Jerusalem, and the temple was commenced.
Despite Cyrus being obedient to Your promptings, the people who had not been taken into captivity and left behind in the area surrounding the city Jerusalem were not happy because it did not suit their purposes, and lifestyle. Ezra who was ever a faithful to You his God and the temple project; prayed and fasted so that he would be given the answer on how to proceed with the rebuilding. He then challenged all the Jews in the country of Judea to repent and turn from their disobedience back to Your way as given by Moses. Most turned from their obstructive unrighteous living.
Nehemiah a captive back in Persia was another faithful man and when he heard of the ‘great distress and reproach’ represented in the broken down state of the wall around the city of Jerusalem; mourned, fasted and prayed. His king remarkably did not chastise him or have him put to death for his sadness; which was usual. You had a work for Nehemiah to do, and his life was preserved. The king granted Nehemiah leave and sent him off with written authority for his travel and actions needed to rebuild the wall of the city of Jerusalem; plus money for the rebuilding.
The difficulties with the rebuilding project called for him to totally rely on You, his God, for he was subjected to much opposition form without, and with fear and trepidation from within. He endured much hardship; food was scarce, as was sleep and freedom. He and his helpers dared not sleep or leave the re-building, because of the threats made by the enemies of the rebuilding, to carry out destructive actions.
All throughout the rebuilding, progress was made with much prayer and thankfulness to You, with the project under constant treat of being halted. Eventually the conniving of those people without the city was overcome, because the faithful men kept crying out to You for guidance and protection. Eventually they prevailed over the opposition. Nehemiah 4: 4 “Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity!”
The re-builders were not half hearted in their love for You and commitment to the project. They were not mincing their words either!
As we/I keep hanging on to You, please show us when it is right for us to proceed with ‘holy boldness’ in our activities.
I know You never sleep and will provide protection for all of us when we are in distress or need. Please impress me/us to go to You first, and not because all else has failed.
Amen