Nehemiah

The name Nehemiah means “comfort.”

After the fall of the southern kingdom of Judah, God’s people were exiled to Babylon. Later, Babylon was conquered by Persia. With the Persian king’s permission, God’s exiled people returned to Jerusalem in several waves.

Nehemiah, a member of the tribe of Judah, was a Jew born and raised in a foreign land. He served as the cupbearer in the Persian court (a trusted minister to the emperor). Thirteen years after Ezra led the second group of people back, Nehemiah led the third group of Jews to return to Jerusalem.

Despite numerous internal and external difficulties, the rebuilding of the wall was completed swiftly in just 52 days. After the work on the wall was finished, Nehemiah was appointed governor of Judah (445–433 BC). During his 12-year tenure, he accomplished several reforms:

1. Material Reconstruction: He conducted a census, released Jewish slaves, and appointed people to administer Jerusalem.

2. Spiritual Reconstruction: He held revival meetings with Ezra, read the Law, dedicated the wall, removed Tobiah’s possessions, and carefully addressed issues like intermarriage with foreign peoples.

After his 12-year term as governor of Judah, Nehemiah left Jerusalem to report back to the Persian king. When he returned to Jerusalem, he discovered that some leaders, nobles, and common people had reverted to their old bad habits. He immediately initiated reforms to rebuild their faith and eliminate all evil practices.

Nehemiah was a joyful person, deeply emotional, and dedicated to prayer. He possessed a balanced character: joyful yet capable of sorrow, deeply prayerful yet practical, firm yet gentle, and empathetic towards both God and his people. We need the inspiration of these biblical figures to emulate their virtues, helping us to stand firm in the Lord on our journey of faith.

Nehemiah was not an experienced architect, yet he was called to lead the people in rebuilding the wall—something he had never imagined doing. Today, God often places the burden of ministry on believers who have neither internal experience nor external qualifications. If we confirm God’s call on us, we need not fear, for the Lord says, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). Just as Nehemiah responded to God’s call, he relied completely on God’s gracious hand. And after he responded to God’s call in faith, God was able to use his relationships, position, experience, and diligence to accomplish His will.