Introduction
• Nehemiah was heartbroken to know that the holy city of Jerusalem was still in ruins after the people began their return from captivity. He had a position of authority and privilege in Persia, but his heart was with his people in Judah. He fervently prayed that God would remember and bless his people once again.
• What came from his prayer and devotion renewed the strength and pride of the people of Israel and is a testament to what strong character can do.
• I’m Brent and this is episode 24 of The Bible Unplugged. We look at the life and challenges of Nehemiah who took on the monumental task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem when the people returned from captivity in Persia.
• Please take a minute to look at the show notes for this episode at PowerLoveandMiracles.com under the Podcast tab.
Background
• As we discussed in the previous episode, King Cyrus of Persia decreed that the Jews could return to their homeland and build a temple. This happened in 538 BC.
• In 458 BC, after the completion of the Temple, Ezra renewed the spiritual devotion of the people, but the city was still in ruins and vulnerable to outside enemies.
• God was at work in the life of Nehemiah, advisor to King Artaxerxes, to lead in the restoration of Jerusalem.
Who was Nehemiah
• In the Book of Nehemiah chapter 1 we learn that he was the “cupbearer to the king.” His was responsible for tasting and checking the king’s food for poison. This was a precarious position and probably did not have a lot of longevity. Nehemiah, being so well trusted by the king, was also and advisor and confidant.
• Nehemiah must have been a man of strong character, wisdom, and integrity to rise to that level as a Jew.
• We know that the Jewish nation was held in high regard by the leadership in Persia and were trusted advisors, counselors, and teachers.
• We know little about Nehemiah’s early years, but we know that he must have been from a devout Jewish family since he was given the name that means, “Yahweh has comforted.”
• From Nehemiah’s writings we know he devoted himself to prayer and had a deep reliance on God to care for the people of Israel.
• He was likely raised in the Persian courts and education system which gave him a deep understanding of Persian law, customs, language, and politics
How did Nehemiah lead
• To understand Nehemiah’s leadership style, we need to compare him to two other prominent Bible characters during the time the people were captive.
• Esther, used her quiet grace, wisdom, and political power to reveal to her husband, King Xerxes, that the whole Jewish nation was in peril.
• Ezra, the priest who inspired the Jews in Jerusalem to return to God, led by the example he set in his life. We see humility and courage in the way Ezra conducted himself.
• Nehemiah was a strong and courageous leader who took charge and commanded people to do the right thing. He was the perfect leader during a time when enemies, foreign and domestic, tried to stop Jerusalem’s walls from being rebuilt.
• All three were different, but all three were brought into the picture by God to lead in the best way for that time.
Nehemiah’s Enemies
• In this episode I want to focus on Nehemiah’s enemies. Who they were and how they acted tell us why Nehemiah was the perfect Jewish leader for his time.
• The book of Nehemiah talks about three primary enemies who tried to disrupt Nehemiah’s task. We find all three discussed in the Book of Nehemiah chapter 6.
• The first is Sanballat, identified as the governor of Samaria, part of the nation of Israel.
• The Jews had a visceral hatred for the Samaritans. Many people were left behind after the Jewish nation was taken into captivity. The people of Samaria intermarried the Assyrians. Devout Jews in Jerusalem considered them half-breeds or worse.
• Sanballat likely gave his allegiance to Persia because he used his Persian name, which means, “San, the moon god, has saved.” The Jews would have hated this name, but he stayed in power any way.
• Tobiah, whose name means, “Yahweh is good,” used a Hebrew name, but was not devoted to the Jewish people.
• He is described as an Ammonite. This group of people were the descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew. They lived in the area of modern-day Jordan and were constant enemies of Israel. Jews were forbidden for marrying Ammonites even though there were related due, in part, the Ammonite worship of the false god, Molech.
• The third enemy is Geshem, the Arabian. Geshem is a Hebrew name which means, “rain.” Rain is a valuable resource that symbolizes blessing and prosperity.
• He is of Arab descent. The Arabs represented the broader regional opposition to Jerusalem’s reconstruction.
• These three men were shrewd and devious in their attacks on Nehemiah. We will discuss how Nehemiah responded in the next episode. They attempted to take down Nehemiah and the reconstruction with four primary tactics.
• They were unified in their opposition and coordinated their strategy. They threatened, mocked, and tried to ruin Nehamiah’s reputation with the people.
• They attempted to demoralize the builders in Jerusalem through ridicule and fear.
• They tried to discredit Nehemiah with the people and also with Persian leaders, saying that Nehemiah had ulterior motives for wanting to build the wall. They accused Nehemiah of wanting to become the king of Judah and displace the Persians.
• They even tried to assassinate him. Nehemiah writes about a Jew by the name of Shemaiah who tried to lure Nehemiah to a room in the Temple where assassins were waiting to kill him.
• How Nehemiah overcame his enemies is the subject of the next episode.
What we learn from this
• Nehemiah faced his opposition head on through is faith, courage, and moral strength. We may be called on to take a stand against opposition to our faith.
• Nehemiah was a man of prayer and devotion to God. By spending time and effort in prayer, studying the Bible, and asking for God to take the lead in our lives, we will grow in faith and in our ability to overcome personal challenges.
• Nehemiah showed his moral courage and leadership abilities in spite of the constant challenges from his enemies. When faced with seemingly insurmountable problems, we will find God’s strength and wisdom when we focus on God, not the problems.
What do we do with this
• The Bible has a lot to teach us about facing difficulties. Here are some examples:
• The Book of Philippians, chapter four says, “Be anxious in nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” What challenges are you facing now? What are your biggest concerns and fears? Be certain that you focus on your relationship with God and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you toward the future God has designed for you.
• The Book of James, chapter 2 says, "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." God rewards us when we take action. Decide now to face your challenges in life, ask for help from trusted advisors and friends, and commit to following God’s lead.
• We learn more about the faith and moral courage of someone when they are under siege than when they experience peace and comfort. When in the middle of difficulties, allow God to work in you to develop your courage and integrity. As The Apostle Paul said in Colossians chapter four, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for others.”
The conclusion
• And, as you know, the music in the background means I have run out of time for this episode, but there’s more.
• I hope this has been helpful. If so, give this podcast a high rating and share it with others.
• In the next episode we will look at how God used Nehemiah’s unique personality to overcome the challenges and obstacles to completing the task God laid before him.
• My prayer for you is that you will see that your God-given personality and abilities are useful in his kingdom and for other people as well.
• Have a blessed week
The disclaimers
• Just to let you know
• All opinions are my own. If you agree, keep listening. If you don’t… keep listening, there may be some good stuff here.
• All Bible quotations come from the World English Bible which is a public domain work
• Our show theme song is “Awesome Call” by Kevin MacLeod and is available under a Creative Commons license
• The content of this podcast is copyrighted 2025 by J. Brent Eaton
• This has been a Power Love and Miracles production
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