Nehemiah

Nehemiah 2: The good hand of God

Begin in prayer

Before we meet Nehemiah in the king's palace, let us bow our heads and ask Him to meet with us. Please ask Him to still our hearts, and to show our family the Lord Jesus who builds His church.

Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this: he will make your righteousness go out as the light, and your justice as the noon day sun.

Psalm 37:5-6

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us how Your good hand was on Nehemiah, and help us to see Christ the true Builder. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

In the month Nisan of the same year, Nehemiah is serving the king his wine, and the king sees that his face is sad. The king asks why, and Nehemiah, afraid, says the city of his fathers' tombs lies waste with its gates burned. When the king asks what he wants, Nehemiah prays to the God of heaven and then asks to be sent to build it. The king agrees, gives him letters and timber, and sends army captains and horsemen with him, because of God's good hand. In Jerusalem Nehemiah rides out by night with a few men and inspects the broken wall. Then he tells the people about God's good hand on him, and they say, “Let’s rise up and build.” Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem mock them, but Nehemiah answers that the God of heaven will prosper His servants.

As you read Nehemiah 2, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God's good hand was on Nehemiah, so the king sent him to rebuild the city.

Nehemiah had never been sad before the king, and when the king noticed, Nehemiah was afraid (verses 1 and 2). In that moment he prays. “So I prayed to the God of heaven” stands between the king's question and Nehemiah's answer (verse 4). He keeps working while he prays, asking for letters to the governors beyond the River and timber for the gates (verses 5 to 8). Nehemiah gives God the credit, for the king granted it “because of the good hand of my God on me” (verse 8). Sanballat and Tobiah are grieved that someone has come to help Israel (verse 10). Jesus came to Jerusalem too, and He wept over it (Luke 19 verse 41). He is the one who builds His church (Matthew 16 verse 18).

How does Nehemiah 2 show us that God's good hand was on Nehemiah, so the king sent him to rebuild the city?

Nehemiah prays to God, and then he speaks to the king.

The king asks, “What is your request?” and Nehemiah prays before he answers (verse 4). Then he asks plainly to be sent, to build the city (verse 5). He also plans ahead and asks for letters and timber (verses 7 and 8). Prayer and work go together here.

The king agrees because God's good hand is on him.

Nehemiah does not thank the king's kindness first. He says the king granted it “because of the good hand of my God on me” (verse 8). God moves the hearts of kings (Proverbs 21 verse 1). The Lord who ruled the palace in Shushan rules every palace.

Nehemiah looks at the broken wall at night.

He rides out in the dark with a few men and tells no one what God put into his heart (verse 12). He sees the walls broken down and the gates burned (verse 13). Only then does he call the people to build. Jesus also came to a city and wept over it (Luke 19 verse 41). He promised to build His own church (Matthew 16 verse 18).

Enemies mock, and Nehemiah trusts the God of heaven.

Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem laugh and ask, “Will you rebel against the king?” (verse 19). Nehemiah answers, “The God of heaven will prosper us” (verse 20). They have no portion, right or memorial in Jerusalem. The work is the work of God's servants because it is God's work.

Memorise

The king granted my requests, because of the good hand of my God on me.

Nehemiah 2:8

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, am I trusting the Lord Jesus to do what I cannot do myself?

Nehemiah was a servant in a palace, far from the city he loved. Then the king said yes “because of the good hand of my God on me.” That hand sent one man to a city in ruins.

God has sent a better Servant to a world broken by sin. Jesus came from the Father, lived a perfect life, and went to the cross. He carried the sin of His people to the cross, and the work He finished is enough for everyone who trusts Him. He rose in power, and now He is building His church (Matthew 16 verse 18).

Nothing in your own hands can build a new life. Come to Him. Turn from your sin, and put your trust in Jesus. The Lord forgives everyone who comes to Him this way, and no one can snatch that person out of His hand (John 10 verse 28).

Parent's note

Tell your children that God's good hand was on Nehemiah, and that God sent His Son, Jesus, to build His church. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His good hand, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, and each one may thank God for one way He has helped the family.

A man’s goings are established by Yahweh. He delights in his way. Though he stumble, he shall not fall, for Yahweh holds him up with his hand.

Psalm 37:23-24

Lord God of heaven, thank You for Your good hand on Nehemiah, and thank You for sending Jesus to build Your church. Please give each of us a heart to trust Him. Keep us praying and working together this week. Amen.