Nehemiah - Chapter 2
1-8:
NEHEMIAH GAINS THE KING'S BLESSING
If we were only read chapter one we might be tempted to classify Nehemiah as one of the men of vision of the Old Testament, those men whose minds are fixed only on things above. But the second chapter shows another side to Nehemiah. Here he plays out a careful strategy in preparation for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.
We saw that Nehemiah first heard of the dire conditions in Jerusalem during the Jewish month of Chislev. Now verse one says that the time is the month of Nisan, four months later. The scene opens with Nehemiah in his official capacity as cup bearer but something is different now. Such a servant would never initiate a conversation with the king. By appearing unhappy, Nehemiah was able to bring the king to ask him what was wrong, and by this moment, he was able to make a special request of the king.
This strategy involved risk. When the king noticed his unhappy look and asked what was wrong Nehemiah says he was “dreadfully afraid”. Knowing he was about to ask for a special favor, he was surely nervous.
With so much at stake, he wisely began the conversation with the statement of “...May the king live forever...”.He then began to explain his sadness in a very clever way. He asks a question to explain his sadness in verse 3 but did not mention Judah nor Jerusalem by name. The approach was so clever and successful that the king asked him,
“What do you request?”
Before answering, Nehemiah offers a quick but silent prayer. Then he frames his request in a way that honored the king by using the words, “... If it pleases the king...”.
Now he then mentions Judah and his desire to rebuild the city there.
The king so valued the service of Nehemiah that he only asks him how long he would be gone and when would he return? Nehemiah must have given an answer that satisfied the king as the king gave his permission. In truth, Nehemiah was gone twelve years.
Now more strategy occurs as Nehemiah asks for letters of approval to assure his safe passage and for lumber from the king's forest to use in the rebuilding.
Everything requested was granted. We must notice here that even though Nehemiah had been most clever, he gives credit not to himself but to “... the good hand of my God upon me...”. He again recognizes and admits all blessings are his only from the Lord.
9-10:
FIRST MEETING WITH THE REGIONAL LEADERS
Now we learn that the king arranged a military escort to take Nehemiah to Judah. Two men are introduced here who will play an important part in the remainder of the story, Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite. Sanballat was the governor of Samaria and Tobiah was considered lower ranked helper.
Both men were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well being of the children of Israel. Both men knew that Nehemiah may pose a threat to their positions and we will see that they were right to worry about the influence Nehemiah would bring to Jerusalem.
11-16:
SECRET SURVEY OF THE WALL
Shortly after Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, he set out on a secret mission to survey the broken wall. He took only a few men, those who could be trusted to keep the mission quiet for the time being. To maintain quiet and assure secrecy, he took only one animal.
This passage again reveals Nehemiah as a man of careful strategy with a good sense of timing. He wanted to evaluate the scope of the job awaiting him but without drawing attention to his plans earlier than he was willing to reveal them.
17-18:
NEHEMIAH RALLIES THE TROOPS
After appraising the condition of the wall, Nehemiah spoke to the Jews of Jerusalem and the surrounding region. He stated the problem at hand and called upon the people to participate in the solution. Then he added two incentives for the people to join the work. People from surrounding lands had for a long time taken advantage of the broken wall to take whatever they wished from those in Jerusalem, by theft or force.
The first incentive was that the rebuilt wall would end their being looked at as easy targets (ending the reproach of outsiders).
The second incentive was to tell them that both the hand of God and of the king was behind this work.
With God and king on their side, the people decided to start the work.
We see that Nehemiah was a successful motivator. He identified the problem, called the people to be part of the solution, and motivated them by addressing their concerns and interests.
19-20:
FIRST CLASH WITH THE OPPONENTS
Verse 19 announces another adversary, Geshem the Arab. At first, Sanballat and Tobiah responded by laughing at the Jews. On one hand this laughter was meant to discourage the builders. On the other hand, it demonstrated how lightly they took Nehemiah's efforts at restoration. But the laughter did not diminish the spirit of Nehemiah. He declares that “... the God of Heaven himself will prosper us...”. Here he was admitting that the work may have been too much for just man, but with God behind the effort, there would be no failure.
Nehemiah made it clear that the opponents were to have no part in the work nor were they any longer welcome in Jerusalem. Unfortunately, we will see they will soon return.
His leadership qualities are now showing forth as the man of grief and tears starts the work God had approved through his prayers.