Thirteen years had passed since Ezra’s return to Jerusalem. Though Zerubbabel had rebuilt the Temple and there had been some reform under Ezra’s spiritual leadership, the city remained destitute. A remnant of Jews remained in Persia (formerly Babylon). Of those that remained was Nehemiah, a cupbearer for king Artaxerxes. One of Nehemiah’s brothers returned to Persia with bad news after visiting Jerusalem: “The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire“ (Neh. 1:3). Jerusalem was a broken city with broken people. Despite Zerubbabel and Ezra’s efforts, God’s people were defiling themselves again by intermarrying with heathens (Ezra 9-10).
The news broke Nehemiah’s heart. He immediately began a fast and went to prayer. On behalf of Israel and himself he began to repent (Neh. 1:4-11). Nehemiah may have been afraid that the Jew’s return to both Jerusalem and to their former sins may lead God to break covenant with them (Neh. 1:8-9). Here was a man who had a burden for God’s holiness, and for His people.
It came to pass that the Persian king noticed Nehemiah’s visibly sad countenance (Neh. 2:1-2). Nehemiah confessed his sadness of heart was due to the shape of Jerusalem. Artaxerxes asked, “What are you requesting?” Nehemiah quickly prayed within himself and asked: “And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it”(Neh. 2:5). The king gave Nehemiah permission, and gave him official letters to show the governors of the surrounding Persian provinces.
When Nehemiah arrived at Jerusalem he took time to survey the city. He came to the leaders of Jerusalem and said, “Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach” (Neh. 2:17).
Nehemiah didn’t come to rebuild the Temple, Zerubbabel took care of that. Nehemiah didn’t come to teach the Law to the city’s inhabitants, Ezra had been trying to reform the people. Nehemiah came to build the walls. Because what good is spiritual reformation without worldly separation? The Jews needed to be devoted to the Lord, and separated from the world. And to that the people said, “Let us rise up and build!”
Beloved, right worship must be met with right living. The remnant of Jews in Jerusalem needed to be protected from outward enemies who sought to thwart their devotion to holiness. Likewise, the Christian believer must have the same mindset. We are to live in the world, not allow the world to live in us. To be God’s people means to be people of devotion and separation (2 Cor. 6:17).