The Restoring Builder

April 18, 2021 Background Scripture: Nehemiah 2:11 – 20; 13:1 – 22 Lesson Passage: Nehemiah 2:11 – 20 The word “restoration” has so much packed inside of it. It embodies hope for returning to a point in time that is craved because of what it meant. It also includes the expectation of hard work because there is the need to restore what has been damaged or lost. It could also include painful memories of what might have transpired to cause the setback or overall failure to retain that which was once possessed. Sometimes, there is much more than this depending on what needs restoring. This was the situation for Nehemiah as he felt the pull of destiny to return to Judah. Nehemiah was the king’s cupbearer in Persia. Nehemiah was so trusted that his master depended on him to ensure the safety of whatever he was going to eat or drink. The Jews were carried from Judah to Babylon as punishment for their unfaithfulness to God. That’s a lot to live down for a people who were once a sovereign nation among others in the world. Perhaps the greatest sign of the shameful devastation was the destruction of the wall around the capitol city of Jerusalem. If a sovereign nation cannot defend its capitol city, it cannot defend its sovereignty. After the years of punishment had passed, God allowed some of the Jews to return to Judah. The glory of the nation was gone! The temple, once one of the great wonders of the world, was destroyed and replaced with one of far less magnificence. The exiles were returning but many returned in tears when they saw the remnant of a once proud kingdom. Those who returned were at the mercy of their neighbors because the wall around Jerusalem had been broken down and burned with fire. Their safety could not be ensured from day to day—especially at night. The word of the living conditions in Jerusalem made it back to the Jews who were still living in foreign countries. This included Nehemiah in Persia. The distressing news was heartbreaking to him, and it showed on his face. Nehemiah’s facial expressions did not go unnoticed by the king who received the cup from his hand to drink from. Why would Nehemiah be disturbed and give the king something to drink? The king asked and Nehemiah shared the plight of his fellow Jews in Jerusalem. The king offered Nehemiah more than he would have dared to ask of the king. Nehemiah was given a leave of absence to return to Jerusalem to lead the effort to restore the wall of the city. Furthermore, Nehemiah was given access to the building materials of Persia that were needed for the construction. This was not the point in time to roll the credits and announce that they lived happily ever after. Despite the king’s assistance, Nehemiah still faced challenges from both the Jews and their adversaries. Given the scope of work needed to finish the repair, Nehemiah had to organize a large company of the Jews to accomplish the work. Meanwhile their enemies mocked the work that was being undertaken. Nehemiah told the Jews about the hand of God guiding the circumstances that allowed him to be in Jerusalem, and he encouraged them in the work. Nehemiah rebuked their enemies and declared that the God of Heaven would make their work prosper. After the walls were finished, Nehemiah assisted in restoring order in the city according to the word of God. Restoration for Nehemiah included rebuilding the walls of the city and restoring order among the people of God according to the word of God. The work was difficult, and it took a long time. Nehemiah was not merely a cupbearer or a wall builder. He was a restoring builder for God’s people. Robert C. Hudson April 2, 2021