Nehemiah – The Gracious Hand of God Withholds Nothing Good from You
- Vernita "Neat" Simmons
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
Nehemiah 8:10 assures us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. During this time, Nehemiah and the men were on a mission impossible to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. The Jews who had survived were in great distress. The city was in ruins after the Babylonian exile. Nehemiah was cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, ruler of the Persian Empire, and God had granted him unprecedented favor.
The cupbearer was an official of high rank in the royal courts. As cupbearer, he was a man of influence. Not only would he sometimes taste the wine before giving it to the king, but he was a loyal confidant of the ruler. In other words, King Artaxerxes held Nehemiah in the highest regard and trusted him implicitly.
On one occasion, as he served the king his wine, Artaxerxes noticed his countenance had changed and inquired why. After sharing his concerns over the condition of his surviving people in Jerusalem and his desire to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, the king granted him provisions and an escort to do so. We can see that Nehemiah had a heart to serve. And rebuilding the temple would not be an easy task. It would require labor, finances, and time.
In Chapter 2:8, he requested a letter to Asaph, who managed the forest for the king, to provide the timber. He needed it for the beams for the gates, the city walls, and a house for himself. However, to complete this task, they would face fierce opposition. Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about their plans to rebuild Jerusalem, and they mocked them. (Nehemiah 2:19).
Because the people had a heart to work, they refused to allow the words of those men to discourage them. Some carried on the work, while half held spears from dawn until the stars came out. (Nehemiah 3:4; 4:21). Throughout this ordeal, Nehemiah prayed to the Lord. He never buckled under fear, nor did he cause his team to become discouraged and fearful.
Discuss: When faced with fierce opposition, how far are you willing to go to serve in the Kingdom of God? How would you encourage those who might buckle under fear?
As we read in Chapter 6, Nehemiah and the people completed building the wall in fifty-two days after starting their mission. When their enemies and the surrounding nation heard of this, they were terrified. They realized the hand of God was with Nehemiah and his people. Despite the threats, the fierce opposition of Tobiah, Nehemiah, and those helping him never allowed fear to cause them to lose hope. They remained steadfast in trusting the Lord to help them finish what they had started.
By chapter 8, Ezra read the Law to the people, and it caused them to weep. He tells them not to cry because this was a holy day, and the joy of the Lord was their strength. (8:1-12). Beloved, having joy does not mean having all the answers. However, during times when we do not have the answers, our joy will be our source of comfort, hope, and encouragement. It is the reassurance of the source of our joy, God. He is with us through it all.
The people gathered and confessed their sins, and the priests, Ezra the scribe, went over the Law with them. (Nehemiah 8:13; 9:1-3). It led them to recognize they were slaves because of their own rebellion. The Israelites confessed that, despite God’s unconditional love and patience, they still would not listen. Now, they made a solemn promise by putting it in writing to serve and obey God, and and never to neglect the temple. (Nehemiah 8:13; 9:1-3, 32-38; 10:39).
How vital is it that we confess our own contribution to our misfortunes and change our ways? When we do, God seals His freedom, deliverance, and approval, and puts our sin in the sea of forgetfulness. (Isaiah 43:25; Micah 7:19). Dear One, do not continue to ignore the warnings from God anymore. Repent from your sins and turn to Jesus. Disconnect from whoever or whatever has caused you to drift away from Him and reconnect with Him. Let this story ignite a passion to allow God to do a new thing in you.
Discuss: Over the years, there has been a steady decline in church attendance. Many feel comfortable joining social platforms, such as Facebook and Zoom. Why is church attendance crucial in this culture where so many find Christianity irrelevant? Other than inviting others to church, what other approach would you use to increase church attendance?
What moved me about this story is this verse in Nehemiah 2:8, NLT. And the king granted me what I asked, for the gracious hand of my God was upon me. He knew God was with them through it all. When the hand of God is with you, no power, threat, or anything can stand in your way. Dear One, do you feel the call from God to do the impossible? Nehemiah did. His heart was touched profoundly when he received word of how Jerusalem was in ruins. He had to do something no matter the consequences.
Dear One, as we approach a New year, has the Lord called you to do something that will bring an awakening to your nation, community, church, family, on your job, or even in your relationships? Like Nehemiah and his crew, will you do something to change the heart posture of the world? Will you use your skills and gifts to help others who are less blessed than you? Will you bring reform or make matters worse? Will you put your hands to the plow and tear down division and strongholds and rebuild trust, the unconditional love of God, and unity? Will you trust the Lord to help you carry out the task regardless of the fierce opposition?
When the gracious hand of God is upon you, He grants unprecedented favor. Beloved, expect doors that were closed to open, and acceptance from those who previously turned you down. Opportunities from those who will only seal the deal with you. Your advancements will exceed your needs. Your approval ratings will soar well above a 5-star rating. God has reserved a storehouse for you filled with His abundance, guaranteeing that the return will not only be enough but more than enough. His gracious hand is upon you, and no good things will He withhold from those who walk upright before Him. My Friend, go and do what He chose you to do, because He has already sealed the deal, and you are victorious. (Psalm 84:11).
Dear One, Have A Happy and Glorious New Year!
May the musical selection, Just Hold On, by Josh Wright, encourage you to trust in the Lord regardless of any challenges you may face.
Comments