Nehemiah 1 and 2: Rebuilding Walls
Saturday, September 21, 2024
We visit with Nehemiah several times a year and each time we rediscover the themes of covenant, restoration, and rebuilding. Today’s reading takes us to the beginning of the restoration of Jerusalem after the northern invasion and the Babylonian exile. This book was written in about 430 B.C.E. and as it begins, we see Nehemiah, the Jewish man who serves as Cupbearer to the foreign king. Footnotes tell us this means that he was an important official who was allowed to come into the presence of not only the king but the queen as well. This would suggest that he was a eunuch but there is no evidence to support that fact. What we do understand is that he was highly placed in this foreign administration and we can guess, when we see his skills displayed throughout this story that he rose to that position through his skill. But there is an important element to this story. Nehemiah prayed constantly, and this praying kept him connected intimately with his creator. Nehemiah called on God continually for direction, and God gave direction to this good and loyal servant.
As the story begins, news arrives with several Jewish men who have just come from Judah, from Jerusalem. The news is not good; but filled with courage and a love of his God, Nehemiah responds to his creator’s call and so it is with a mixture of trepidation and courage that he goes to the king. As we read, we find several interesting points.
- Today’s reading begins in the month of Chislev – the same month in which we will later see (in the year 165 B.C.E.) the celebration of the re-dedication of the temple which we were reading and reflecting about some days ago. We too are in the month of Chislev, and the celebration of Hannukah was just completed this week. The Festival of Light – the season of a small shaft of light piercing the intense darkness.
- Should you prove faithless, I will scatter you among the nations; but should you return to me and carefully keep my commandments, even though your outcasts have been driven to the farthest corner of the world, I will gather them from there, and bring them back to the place which I have chosen as the dwelling place for my name. This is the covenant promise which Jesus fulfills four centuries later and which he continues to fulfill for us each day.
- Nehemiah not only asks permission to visit his former city, he also asks for soldiers, protection, and permission to fell trees with which to rebuild the city and gates, and a house for himself. He does not do things by half-measures; he is totally and truly dedicated to God in temperance, patience, endurance and perseverance.
Tomorrow, arriving in Jerusalem.
Adapted from a Favorite written during Advent, on December 15, 2007.
Image from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jerusalem_Damascus_Gate_by_night.JPG
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