Nehemiah Rebuilds the Wall Story - Bible

Nehemiah was cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia. He lived in the citadel of Susa. One day, his brother Hanani came with some other men from Judah. Nehemiah asked them about the Jewish remnant. He asked about those who had survived the exile. He also asked about Jerusalem.

They said to him, 'Those who survived the exile are back in the province. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down. Its gates have been burned with fire.'

When Nehemiah heard these things, he sat down and wept. For some days he mourned and fasted. He prayed to the God of heaven. He said, 'Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, you keep your covenant of love with those who love you and keep your commandments. Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open. Hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites have committed against you. I and my father's house have sinned. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees, and laws you gave your servant Moses. Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses. You said, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and obey my commands, I will gather you from the farthest places. I will bring you to the place I have chosen for my Name.' They are your servants and your people. You redeemed them by your great strength and your mighty hand. Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.'

Nehemiah was cupbearer to the king. One day, when Nehemiah took the wine to the king, the king noticed that Nehemiah looked sad. The king asked, 'Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.'

Nehemiah was very much afraid. But he said to the king, 'May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins? Its gates have been destroyed by fire.'

The king asked, 'What is it you want?'

Nehemiah prayed to the God of heaven. Then he answered the king, 'If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried. Let him send me so that I can rebuild it.'

The king asked Nehemiah, 'How long will your journey take? When will you get back?' Nehemiah told him the dates. So the king was pleased to send him. Nehemiah also said, 'If it pleases the king, could I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates? Let them give me safe passage until I arrive in Judah. And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal forest? Let him give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the house I will occupy.' The king granted Nehemiah's requests because the hand of the Lord was on him.

So Nehemiah went to Jerusalem. After he had been there three days, he set out at night with a few men. He had not told anyone what his God had put in his heart to do for Jerusalem. He examined the walls. They were broken down. The gates had been burned.

Then Nehemiah said to the Jewish officials, 'You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins. Its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. Then we will no longer be in disgrace.' He told them how the hand of God had been on him. He told them what the king had said to him. They replied, 'Let us start building.' So they began this good work.

When Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed them. They asked, 'What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?'

Nehemiah answered, 'The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding. But as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem. You have no claim or historic right to it.'

So Nehemiah and the people rebuilt the wall. They worked hard. Some rebuilt sections of the wall. Others repaired gates. Some worked near their own houses. Everyone helped. The whole wall was joined together. It reached half its height. The people worked with all their heart.

When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead, they were very angry. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem. They wanted to stir up trouble against it. But Nehemiah prayed to God. He posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

The people in Judah said, 'The strength of the laborers is giving out. There is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.' Also the enemies were saying, 'Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them. We will kill them. We will put an end to the work.'

Nehemiah stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall. He stationed them at the exposed places. He put them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. He looked them over and said, 'Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome. Fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.'

From that day on, half of Nehemiah's men did the work. The other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows, and armor. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand. They held a weapon in the other. Each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. Nehemiah kept a trumpeter with him. He said, 'The work is extensive and spread out. We are separated far apart. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!'

So the people continued the work. They worked from the break of dawn until the stars came out. They did not take off their clothes. Each had his weapon, even when he went for water.

After fifty-two days, the wall was finished. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid. They lost their self-confidence. They realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.

Nehemiah gathered the people together. He read the Book of the Law of Moses to them. The people listened carefully. They wept as they heard God's words. But Nehemiah said, 'This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep. Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks. Send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.'

The people celebrated with great joy. They had rebuilt the wall. They had renewed their covenant with God. Nehemiah led the people to trust God, work hard, and not give up even when enemies tried to stop them. He showed that with God's help, impossible things can be done.

The Nehemiah Rebuilds the Wall story teaches leadership and courage. It shows the importance of faith and teamwork. This story highlights perseverance and divine guidance.