By He Reads Truth
The book of Nehemiah begins in the aftermath of tragedy; about seventy years had passed since Jerusalem was destroyed and God’s people were exiled. What had once been the homebase for God’s people—a place where they interacted with neighbors, shared meals, and simply lived out regular days—was now an unprotected pile of rubble.
As Nehemiah surveyed the damage, an endless list of overwhelming questions might have plagued him. Would they have what they needed to rebuild? Could he protect his neighbors from the threats within and outside their walls? How was he going to take this broken place and make it what it once was?
Thankfully, Nehemiah didn’t have to answer any of these questions. The book of Nehemiah tells us exactly how God rebuilt both the walls of Jerusalem and the spiritual identity of His people. In the middle of the very real opposition and injustice in this story, there is a God of great patience, comfort, and hope. The Lord strengthened His people for the work needed to restore their physical home. When they failed to live up to their spiritual calling as His chosen nation, God did not abandon them and instead called them back to His law and its wisdom. God upheld His covenant promise to be faithful to them even when they could not do the same in return.
As we read the book of Nehemiah, we will dig deep to see how the struggles and experiences of God’s people resonate in our own lives. We will turn to the God of Nehemiah, the same God who steadfastly restores us when we repent from sin and return to Him. And we will give thanks to the Lord that, in Christ, He has provided all we need to find our sure, safe, and unshakeable home in Him.
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