40 NEHEMIAH
He Rebuilt the Wall
NEHEMIAH lived in the Persian city of Shushan, but his heart was in far-off Jerusalem. He loved that city, for Jehovah’s temple was there. God’s people had been allowed to return there after a long exile, but pure worship was still not thriving. The city’s walls were in ruins. In those days, a city without walls was defenseless against invasion, so few people wanted to live there.
Nehemiah was a respected government official under the Persian King Artaxerxes. Above all, Nehemiah was a loyal servant of Jehovah. One day, Nehemiah’s brother visited, bringing news of “a terrible situation” in Jerusalem. Not only were its walls still in ruins but its people were “in disgrace.”
Nehemiah was deeply distressed. “I sat down and began to weep and mourn for days,” he later wrote. He prayed to Jehovah, begging him to remember His people and to help them. Afterward, as Nehemiah served wine to Artaxerxes, the king asked him why he looked gloomy. Nehemiah was frightened—but he spoke up. He told the king about the plight of Jerusalem. Artaxerxes asked him what he wanted. “At once,” Nehemiah wrote, “I prayed to the God of the heavens.” Then he told the mighty ruler that he wanted to leave his post for some time, return to Jerusalem, and help to rebuild its walls and gates. The king granted Nehemiah’s every request!
Nehemiah made the long and perilous journey to Jerusalem. Once there, he discreetly inspected the ruins of the city walls by night. Then he organized the people and encouraged them to join in the restoration work. He set the example by taking part in the labor himself. The people joined in, including wealthy and prominent ones, such as goldsmiths and even princes—one of whom worked alongside his own daughters.
The Jews had many enemies who did not want to see Jerusalem become a safe and powerful city. At first, they used mockery and ridicule. One opposer said that even a fox could knock down the wall that Nehemiah and his people were building. Nehemiah ignored them and kept encouraging the workers.
In the face of ridicule, threats, and fear tactics, he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem
The opposition intensified. When the wall reached half of its intended height, a threat came: Enemies were preparing to attack from all directions! Nehemiah took practical measures to guard the city. Frustrated, the enemies abandoned the idea of a direct attack. From that time on, Nehemiah and half of the workmen stood guard, armed and ready, while the other half kept working on the wall. But the enemies did not give up.
The next tactic was to use a death threat to scare Nehemiah into hiding inside Jehovah’s sacred temple—a violation of God’s law. Nehemiah refused. He said: “Should a man like me run away?” He kept right on working, knowing that the Jews were doing Jehovah’s will and had His support. And Jehovah did support them! In only 52 days, the wall was completely rebuilt, and those ridiculers and persecutors were filled with shame.
Nehemiah now needed courage in dealing with his own people. He had to take the lead among them, helping them to serve Jehovah. For instance, when the rich oppressed the poor by making loans and demanding high interest rates, Nehemiah fearlessly corrected them. Later, when he learned that some had disobeyed Jehovah by marrying foreign wives, he boldly counseled them and upheld God’s law.
At one point, when the people were discouraged by their own failures and sins, Nehemiah taught them a wonderful truth. He said: “The joy of Jehovah is your stronghold.” Nehemiah knew that serving the happy God brings deep satisfaction. No wall, no fortress, is a better stronghold than that. To this day, such joy can be a source of real courage.
Read the Bible account:
For discussion:
In what ways did Nehemiah show courage?
Dig Deeper
1. What was involved in Nehemiah’s role as cupbearer to the king? (w10 7/1 9 ¶5-7) A
National Museum of Iran, Tehran, Iran/Bridgeman Images
Picture A: Persian relief showing the cupbearer to Darius the Great, the grandfather of Artaxerxes
2. How did the daughters of Shallum differ from the prominent men of the Tekoites? (Neh. 3:5, 12; w19.10 23 ¶11)
3. How could those who were carrying the loads do “the work with one hand while holding a weapon in the other hand”? (Neh. 4:17, 18; w06 2/1 9 ¶1) B
Picture B
4. Why was Nehemiah concerned that some Jewish children could not speak Hebrew? (Neh. 13:23-27; w16.10 14 ¶4)
Reflect on the Lessons
How might elders imitate Nehemiah’s . . .
reliance on Jehovah? (Neh. 1:4-11; 4:14; 13:1-3)
eagerness to work alongside his brothers? (Neh. 4:15, 21-23)
willingness to listen? (Neh. 5:1-7) C
Picture C
What does the example of Nehemiah teach us about the rewards of sacrificing a comfortable lifestyle to serve Jehovah more fully?
In what other ways might you imitate the courage of Nehemiah?
Meditate on the Bigger Picture
What does this account teach me about Jehovah?
How does the account tie in with Jehovah’s purposes?
In the resurrection, what would I like to ask Nehemiah?
Learn More
What can we learn from Nehemiah about the power of prayer?
“God Answered His Prayer” (Web series “Bible Study Activities”)
In this dramatization, see how Nehemiah courageously responds to relentless opposition.
Nehemiah: “The Joy of Jehovah Is Your Stronghold”—Part I—Excerpt (5:22)