UBF Daily Bread

COME, LET US REBUILD THE WALL

Passage: Nehemiah 2:11~20

Key verse: 17b

Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Walls

¹¹I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days^(A) ¹²I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.

¹³By night I went out through the Valley Gate^(B) toward the Jackal^[a] Well and the Dung Gate,^(C) examining the walls^(D) of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. ¹⁴Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate^(E) and the King’s Pool,^(F) but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; ¹⁵so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. ¹⁶The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.

¹⁷Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire.^(G) Come, let us rebuild the wall^(H) of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.^(I)” ¹⁸I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me^(J) and what the king had said to me.

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

¹⁹But when Sanballat^(K) the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem^(L) the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us.^(M) “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”

²⁰I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding,^(N) but as for you, you have no share^(O) in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”

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Footnotes

Nehemiah 2:13 Or Serpent or Fig

1. A lonely task (11-16)

Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem. He did not tell anyone what God had put in his heart to do, but went alone to inspect the ruined walls. After assessing the situation and deciding what must be done, he called the officials together. A leader must have God's mission and find God's direction first.

2. Let's rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (17-20)

The broken wall was a symbol of broken spirits and despairing hearts. Jerusalem was helpless, vulnerable, and disgraced. The people had no courage to begin rebuilding their city or their lives. He told the officials how God had put it in his heart to come, and how God had answered his prayers and moved the king's heart to help. He planted faith in their hearts. So they began the good work of rebuilding. However, the task would not be easy, for there were enemies who were determined to stop them.

Prayer: Lord, help us to rebuild the spiritual walls of America, brick by brick, through one-to-one Bible study and prayer.

One Word: Let us rebuild the wall