The enemy often sees the way God is moving before his own people do. Satan then begins to fight furiously to stop God’s purpose being fulfilled even before God’s people understand the implications of what God has already begun to do amongst them Ezra 4: 1-5, 13, 16; 19-20.
The crucial role of Nehemiah
In the capital city of Sushan was a young Jewish man of great ability called Nehemiah. He had worked himself up to a position of great trust alongside of Artaxerxes, the ruler of the Persian- Median empire. Nehemiah was now the personal assistant, or cup bearer, to Artaxerxes, who literally trusted Nehemiah with his life.
The book of Nehemiah begins with the story of how some brethren had just come to visit Nehemiah from Jerusalem. They came with a heartbreaking report of the distressing condition of the Jews who were now living in the burned and ruined city. This caused Nehemiah to weep bitterly with fasting and prayer for the city of his fathers. He cried out to God in deep repentance for the way they had acted so corruptly in not keeping his commandments. He reminded God of his promise that even after he had scattered them, he would return them to the place which he had chosen as a dwelling place for his name, if they would return to him and keep his commandments (Nehemiah 1: 4-11). It is important for us to remember that it is OK to remind God of what he has promised us. We are his remembrancers, Lord you said!
Nehemiah then came before the king with a very sad face because of his breaking heart. He was compelled by the king to reveal what was troubling him. He told the king of his agony and pain over the condition of the city of Jerusalem, the city and place of our father’s tombs (Nehemiah 2: 3). Nehemiah asked to be allowed to go back to Jerusalem, and declare by God-given faith that, if he were permitted to go back there, he would rebuild the city.
Amazingly, king Artaxerxes released Nehemiah to go and rebuild the city. The king also released all the timber, raw materials, and money Nehemiah would need for the reconstruction. He then appointed Nehemiah as governor over the city and over the region and gave him letters of authority to all the nearby governors (Nehemiah 2: 2-8).
Nehemiah, now the city governor appointed and sent by Artaxerxes, was a great allegorical picture of a city building apostle whose role was absolutely crucial.
We must note the difference between the Apostolic ministry of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah: Zerubbabel was an allegorical type of a church building apostle: Nehemiah was an allegorical type of a city building Apostle. Both were necessary and had to work together in their different spheres to see complete restoration of society.
Nehemiah was served by many other wonderful leaders who worked under his inspiration and leadership. Most of those leaders had already been in the city for years. However, until Nehemiah came on the scene with the necessary authority and resources, there was no one able to call everyone together and get them working as a team on the one master plan to bring restoration.
Steps to rebuilding the ruined city.
God found in Nehemiah the character and qualities that he could use to restore Jerusalem. Selecting the right leader was the first step in rebuilding the city.
Nehemiah was a man burdened and heartbroken for the city of his forefathers and for the people living in such dire conditions. He wept and mourned over it for many days.
He was a humble man of prayer and sacrifice as he fasted and sought the Lord Day and night for as long as it took to get an answer. He gave God honor as he prayed and repented for his sins and the sins of the people. He prayed reminding God of the word given to Moses for his people: he said that he would gather those who had been scattered and, if they returned and kept his commandments, he would return them to his dwelling place (Nehemiah 1: 4-11).
When the king asked why he was sad, Nehemiah prayed to the Lord for the right answer to give. It took great boldness to ask the king as the Lord instructed, but because of Nehemiah’s obedience, he was released to leave Sushan and was given everything that was needed to complete the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah was a man willing to pay the price. From a good comfortable job in the King’s palace in Sushan, where he had great favor, he went to live in the ruins of Jerusalem, where he was put under great pressure to keep the peace with surrounding governors.
He was a man of faith who declared to Artaxerxes that, with your permission, I will rebuild it (Nehemiah 2: 5). Nehemiah believed God could use him to do it. He understood the difficulty of his task. The extent of the difficulty can be seen in that he asked the king for letters to the governors and keeper of the forest, a house in which to live, and captains with soldiers to protect him.
The second step in rebuilding the city was when Nehemiah got the plan from God and acted on it, setting a time for completion and then working to that end to accomplish his God-given purpose. It was a man willing to act. He was a doer of the word, not just a dreamer or even just a pray-er. Realizing that rebuilding a ruined city would take hard work over a long period of time, he took a careful survey and was totally realistic about what he was taking on.
Nehemiah was righteous man who feared the king; he understood the risk he took when his sadness was uncovered in the King’s presence and surely had moments of feeling totally inadequate. Although he did not move in fleshly self-confidence, he was prepared to stick like glue to the word God had giving him; he did not let fear, or his sense of inadequacy paralyze him!
The third step in rebuilding the city was applying his leadership and administrating skills to carry out God’s plan. Nehemiah was to lead, direct, organize, and bring unity among many different leaders. Each was building their own part in their own way in their own loyalty. He was not a despotic controller, yet he acted with real authority as he facilitated, directed, and coordinated others to work together in unity.
The workers consisted of businessmen, politicians, judges, priests, and ordinary people of various trades and tribes but they all got together and began working under Nehemiah’s leadership. Each one built in front of his own house (within its own sphere influence). But it was one wall, and through Nehemiah’s leadership, God made it all fit together.
Nehemiah was able to enlist secular, political, and financial support from kings and leaders who liked him and trusted him. He was not a flake or a weird person in the eyes of the secular world. The support and help of these influential secular leaders were a vital part of fulfilling the sovereign purposes of God. But there were some who opposed him. So, it was still a battle for every inch of the wall. Active political opposition had hindered the purpose of God and stopped the work for 14 years. However, Nehemiah was prepared to preserve until it was finished.
Nehemiah was a man who would not let fear hinder him and who could not be intimidated. He did not allow his natural apprehension to stop him from fulfilling God’s purpose. He feared God much more than he feared people.
The fourth step in rebuilding the city was taking action to defend the builders on the wall. Nehemiah was a builder and a warrior, knowing how to defend himself and those with him. He set a watch, day, and night, against all attacks.
The workers worked with their trowels in one hand and their swords at the ready, to be used when needed. Always ready to stand up to the opposition, each man used one hand to build and one to fight and defend against all attacks. There was no dichotomy or separation between secular and spiritual, or church and state. A builder who could not wage war or a warrior who cannot build was of no use in this situation. Everyone had to have both skills. Because they were all armed and dangerous and ready to fight, the attack never came.
The role of Ezra
A great prophetic intercessor named Ezra had arrived in the city in 458 BC, which was 13 years before Nehemiah returned. Ezra was an able teacher, had a great prayer life, and carried the same heart and burden for the city. But he did not have the gift to lead and mobilize the builders or warriors the way that Nehemiah did. Remember also, that many of the leaders who were drawn to Nehemiah were secular businessmen and political leaders.
Ezra did not have the Apostolic gift and leadership anointing of Nehemiah, but he prayed desperately for the city. The temple had been rebuilt and was in daily use. Nehemiah then arrived in the city and organized all the leaders; they began to work, and in 52 days the wall was rebuilt. Then God used the prophetic teaching gift of Ezra to bring deep repentance to the people that resulted in a powerful revival.
It was Ezra, not Nehemiah, who was the instrument God used for spiritual revival in the city (Nehemiah 8-10). But Nehemiah was the one God used to set it all up apostolically! Each had a unique, individual role to play. There was no competition, and abundant grace was upon them all. They were a non-competitive team working together underneath Nehemiah’s leadership.