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58. Nehemiah.
Nehemiah was the
king's cupbearer in Persia and served him at the royal table. A man
named Hanani returned to Persia from his homeland; Nehemiah asked him
how things were going at home. He was probably hoping to hear some good
news from him. But when he heard that the Jews were still living in
misfortune and contempt and that the broken walls and burnt gates of
Jerusalem had not yet been restored, he wept and prayed and would have
liked to appeal to the king to send him to the aid of his unhappy
brothers, but he did not dare. But his prayer was answered by God.
Nehemiah stood before the king in the palace at Susa and handed him the
cup. The king looked at him and said to him, ‘Nehemiah, what is wrong
with you? You are sad.’ Nehemiah said, ‘How can I not be sad when the
city lies desolate, where the tombs of my fathers are, and its gates are
burnt?’ The king asked him, ‘What do you want me to do?’ Then Nehemiah
took courage in God and said, ‘Send me to my fatherland, that I may
build Jerusalem, where my fathers are buried.’ The king and the queen,
who was sitting next to him, asked him, ‘How long will your journey
last? When will you return?’ For he was very dear to them. They were
reluctant to let him go. But the king gave him leave for an indefinite
period and supported him with everything he needed for his journey and
his fine plans.
Nehemiah built the walls of Jerusalem and was the king's governor of the
whole Jewish land. Everyone did his best to build on the barren
burnt-out places, so that Jerusalem soon regained its prestige, even
though it faced great trials and dangers. But the pious and courageous
governor overcame all obstacles, for God's good hand was with him.
Prophets also arose again to exhort the people and revitalise their
courage with the hope of better times.
‘I will move all nations, that is, all peoples, and comfort will come to
all peoples. Rejoice and be glad, O Zion! For behold, I will come and
dwell with you,’ says the Lord.
The Samaritans were initially mocked when they saw what these powerless
people were about to start. But when they saw how the good work
flourished under God's protection, they wanted to take up arms. They
wanted to wage war against the protection of the Almighty. But they were
unable to do so. Nehemiah allowed the construction to continue under the
eyes of the enemy, albeit with an armed hand. Half of the team was under
arms, while the other half was at work. The builders were also armed.
The sword lay next to the shovel or moulding stick. When the enemies saw
that force was useless, they tried to use deceit and cunning. Cunning is
a more dangerous weapon than the sword. Sanneballat, the chief of the
enemies, suddenly turned to Nehemiah in a friendly manner and asked him
to come to him: ‘You have been slandered before the king; therefore come
to me so that we may consult.’ But Nehemiah did not come. Another wanted
to make him afraid. ‘Flee to the temple! They want to come at night and
kill you.’ But Nehemiah said, ‘Should a man like me flee? I will not
flee.’ His good work and his trust in God had strengthened him with such
courage. He who focusses his thoughts on pious work and is at peace with
his God has nothing to fear. He who believes does not flee.
Nehemiah was also a very unselfish man and a friend of the poor. There
were many poor and indebted among the people. For the rich had seized
their wealth. Their fields and vineyards had already been mortgaged. The
poorest were already selling their sons and daughters into forced
servitude. The pious Nehemiah was heartbroken. He called the rulers of
the people before him and said, ‘Do you want to take usury from your
brothers? What you are doing,’ he said, ’is not right. Should you not
act as God-fearing people and be ashamed before the unbelievers?’ This
speech and his own fine example brought great joy to his heart: as long
as he was governor, Nehemiah had accepted no income from his office so
that he would not burden the land, and yet he entertained one hundred
and fifty guests at his table every day. He lent and helped out of his
own property wherever he could, and did not ask anyone to owe him
anything. He did not shirk any burden in those difficult times. His
servants, who were in his pay, had to help with the building work and
labour like everyone else.
When he spoke thus to the elders of the people, saying, ‘I do not want
to receive back what I have lent to my poor brothers; what will you do?’
they all said with one word and with one heart that they wanted to do as
he had done, and gave back to their poor brothers the pledged and lost
fields without ransom, plus the interest they had already received from
them. Such a man was Nehemiah and was one of the last of whom so many
praiseworthy things can be said. It is not surprising that the king
loved him and said to him, ‘How long will your journey last, and when
will you return?’
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