Nehemiah 1:1-3 – Are you concerned for Kingdom advancement?

Interestingly the meaning of Nehemiah is “the LORD comforts.”  How apt his name was for his time. For such a harrowing time, nothing was more needed than the LORD’s comfort for the Jews. It was at such a time that the spirit of the Jewish community that returned from exile needed reviving and focus. And the gracious God used Nehemiah in such a time to bring hope and comfort to a discouraged community. He was the cupbearer of King Artaxerxes and was serving him away from Jerusalem.

The first seven chapters as well as chapters 11 and 12 of this book are written in the first person, hence we can say that they are the memoirs of Nehemiah. Being personally involved in God’s renewing work for his community, he was suited to write this  historical account. He began the book by stating the time that he was informed of the condition of the Jews back home in Jerusalem. It was in the month of Kislev. According to the Hebrew calendar, Kislev was in the ninth month and would roughly be around November and December. The first month was Nissan. The place where Nehemiah was at that time was Susa. This was where the winter residence of the Persian King was located. While he was in Susa, some Jews came to him. Among them was Hanani. He was most likely a blood brother.

Nehemiah  was comfortable in his position and had prestige and power. It is easy for a person in his position to adopt a nonchalant attitude. Yet in such a position and far away from home, he showed concern for his people back home. He was keen and interested to know what was happening to the  Jewish community back home in Judah and Jerusalem. his people. In verse 3, we are told that “The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire.” Nehemiah was not an out-of-sight-out-of-mind person. In his position, it was easy to mind his own business. Yet he was genuinely interested in what was happening to God’s people and His community.  In other words, he had a heart for  God and His work.

Like him. we are also living in challenging times. What’s happening in the world signal that we are living in a difficult time.  The church is still recovering from the Covid pandemic. Sadly, many Christians have become both apathetic and lethargic. Being accustomed to the easy, passive lifestyle of staying home, even getting back to physical worship on Sunday has become a struggle. People who were once actively involved had chosen to take a backseat in ministry. It is times like this that we need more people like Nehemiah. Can God and the church count on us to be one? May God stir in us a spirit for His Kingdom and His kingdom. Let us arise from our spiritual slumber and return to kingdom business!