A Burden for the Broken Walls
The historical account of Nehemiah, found in the canonical books of the King James Version Bible, stands as a profound testimony to God's faithfulness, the power of prayer, and the triumph of diligent labor over formidable opposition. For seventy years, as prophesied by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:11), the children of Israel endured captivity in Babylon. Though a remnant had returned under Zerubbabel and Ezra to rebuild the temple, the walls of Jerusalem remained in ruins, a symbol of their shame, vulnerability, and spiritual desolation. News of this dire condition reached Nehemiah, a Jewish exile serving as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes in Susa. The report was stark:
The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
This news pierced Nehemiah's heart, leading him into a period of deep sorrow, fasting, and fervent prayer. His burden was not merely for the physical structures but for the spiritual and national dignity of his people, recognizing that the desolation of the city's defenses reflected a deeper spiritual brokenness.
Nehemiah's Intercession and Commission
Nehemiah's response to the crisis was not immediate action but earnest intercession. For days, he mourned, fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, confessing the sins of his people and appealing to God's covenant promises. His prayer, recorded in Nehemiah 1, is a model of humble submission, corporate confession, and bold petition, reminding God of His word to Moses concerning restoration upon repentance.
And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.
Having prepared his heart in prayer, Nehemiah waited for God's timing. Four months later, the opportunity arose when the king observed his sadness. With a renewed prayer for divine favor (Nehemiah 2:4), Nehemiah boldly requested permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls. Astonishingly, King Artaxerxes not only granted his request but also provided letters of safe conduct and timber from the king's forest. This was a clear demonstration of God's sovereign hand, turning the heart of a pagan king to facilitate His purposes.
The Immediate Onslaught of Opposition
Upon Nehemiah's arrival in Jerusalem, his mission was clear, but so was the burgeoning opposition. Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite servant, and Geshem the Arabian quickly emerged as adversaries. Their initial reaction to Nehemiah's purpose was scorn and ridicule, aimed at disheartening the people and undermining the work before it even began.
But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?
Nehemiah's response was firm and faith-filled: "The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem" (Nehemiah 2:20). This declaration set the tone for the entire project, emphasizing divine backing and denying any legitimacy to the adversaries' claims.
Organizing the Work: A People with a Mind to Work
Nehemiah's leadership was characterized by excellent organization and an inspiring vision. He quickly surveyed the ruined walls by night, assessing the enormity of the task. He then rallied the nobles, rulers, and the common people, presenting the vision of restoration and God's gracious hand upon him. The people's response was immediate and enthusiastic: "Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work" (Nehemiah 2:18).
The rebuilding effort was meticulously organized, with different families and groups assigned specific sections of the wall and gates (Nehemiah 3). This division of labor fostered unity and responsibility. The key to their rapid progress is encapsulated in a powerful verse:
So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.
This "mind to work" signifies a collective determination, a willingness to labor tirelessly and sacrificially for the common good and God's glory, despite the constant external pressures.
Escalating Threats and Vigilant Defense
As the work progressed, the opposition intensified. Sanballat and Tobiah, seeing the walls rise, became "very wroth" and conspired with other enemies to fight against Jerusalem and hinder the work (Nehemiah 4:7-8). Nehemiah's strategy in the face of these threats was twofold: fervent prayer and practical vigilance.
Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
When the workers became discouraged by the debris and the constant threat, Nehemiah encouraged them to remember the Lord, "which is great and terrible," and to fight for their families and homes (Nehemiah 4:14). He then implemented a remarkable system: half of the servants worked on the wall, while the other half stood guard with weapons. Those who built did so with a unique posture:
They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
This image vividly portrays the necessity of spiritual warfare alongside diligent labor in God's service. Nehemiah ensured constant communication and readiness, with a trumpeter stationed beside him to sound the alarm.
Internal Strife and Nehemiah's Righteous Judgment
Just as significant as external opposition was the internal strife that threatened to derail the project. The poor among the Jews cried out against their wealthier brethren, who were exploiting them through usury, forcing them to mortgage their lands and even sell their children into bondage to pay taxes and buy food during a famine (Nehemiah 5:1-5). This injustice was a severe breach of God's law and threatened the unity essential for the rebuilding effort.
Nehemiah's response was swift and decisive. He was "very angry" and confronted the nobles and rulers, rebuking their usurious practices. He called a great assembly and demanded that they restore what they had taken and cease their oppression. He then led by example, refusing his governor's customary allowance and personally supporting 150 Jews and foreigners at his table, never burdening the people with his expenses (Nehemiah 5:14-19). This righteous leadership healed the internal division and reinforced the people's trust and commitment to the work.
Continued Deception and Divine Protection
As the wall neared completion, the adversaries resorted to more subtle and sinister tactics. Sanballat and Geshem repeatedly attempted to lure Nehemiah out of Jerusalem to a meeting in the plain of Ono, intending to harm him (Nehemiah 6:2). Nehemiah wisely discerned their evil intent, responding with the now-famous words: "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?" (Nehemiah 6:3). He refused to be distracted from his divine mandate.
They then sent an open letter, making false accusations that Nehemiah intended to rebel against the king and set himself up as king (Nehemiah 6:6-7). Nehemiah refuted these lies, declaring them to be fabrications designed to instill fear and weaken their hands. Finally, they hired a false prophet, Shemaiah, to try and intimidate Nehemiah into seeking refuge in the temple, a sacrilegious act for a layman, which would have discredited him and caused fear among the people. Nehemiah's discernment was sharp:
And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
Despite these relentless attacks, Nehemiah remained steadfast, trusting in God's protection.
The Miraculous Completion in Fifty-Two Days
Against all odds, with constant prayer, diligent labor, vigilant defense, and righteous leadership, the impossible was achieved. The wall of Jerusalem was completed in an astonishingly short period of time:
So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.
Fifty-two days to rebuild the entire circumference of Jerusalem's formidable walls, a task that historically would have taken years, perhaps even decades. This rapid completion was a clear testament to the hand of God. Even the adversaries recognized it:
And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.
The completion of the wall brought not only physical security but also a profound spiritual revival. Following the wall's dedication, Ezra the scribe read the Law to the people, leading to a national repentance, a renewal of the covenant, and a joyous celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles (Nehemiah 8).
Lessons for Today: Rebuilding Spiritual Walls
The narrative of Nehemiah offers timeless principles for believers today, especially in an era where spiritual and moral walls are often broken down. The rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls in 52 days is a powerful metaphor for the work God calls His people to do in their own lives, their families, and the church.
The story of Nehemiah reminds us that with God, seemingly insurmountable tasks can be accomplished swiftly when His people pray, unite, and work with faith. The 52-day miracle of Jerusalem's walls stands as an eternal beacon of hope and a call to action for all who seek to rebuild what is broken for the glory of God.