June 3, 2002, Ron Cutting, Prestatyn, UK

Rebuilding the Walls

Image Caption: The walls of Jerusalemcomma Israel

The walls of Jerusalemcomma Israel

Submitted

Nehemiah was a Jew, Who lived many years ago. He, and his family had been captured and taken a long way from their home in Jerusalem, to Babylon. Some years later, some of the Jews were allowed to return home, but Nehemiah had become an important servant to the King, so he did not leave, but he often thought about Jerusalem. One day, Nehemiah's brother came from Jerusalem, and after greeting his brother and exchanging family news, his brother told him some bad news. " Life is hard in Jerusalem these days for everyone, and the city wall is still in ruins." Nehemiah was really sad and he prayed to God a long time. It was a very dangerous thing to appear sad in the presence of the King, but one day the King noticed that Nehemiah was unhappy, and said " Why are you sad.?" Nehemiah told the king about his brother's visit and that the walls of Jerusalem were still in ruins and then said " O, King, if you will let me go there, I will rebuild the wall" The King was not angry, but, instead told Nehemiah that he could go and that he would help him. And he really did help, as it was along and dangerous journey, he sent soldiers to protect Nehemiah and the workers, he sent timber and materials for rebuilding the wall. Also, he gave Nehemiah letters for the governor of each country they would pass through, so that they could travel safely. Nehemiah knew that all of this was in answer to his prayers, and that God was helping him. There were some important men, who were enemies of the Jews, who did not want to see the walls rebuilt, two of them were called Sanballat and Tobiah. They mocked Nehemiah saying " You'll never do it," So, as the people started to build the walls they became very angry. Nehemiah allocated a different section of the wall to each family and the wall soon began to look stronger. Sanballat and Tobiah came to watch and made fun of the people " What kind of a wall could they ever build ? Even a fox could knock it down!" They laughed and sneered, to try to put the workers off, but soon the wall was up to half it's height around the city of Jerusalem. Despite many difficulties, and Sanballat trying hard to stop Nehemiah, even to writing a letter to him, which read " I have heard that you want to rule over this land, our King will be very angry when he hears this." Nehemiah took no notice of Sanballat's lies, he continued to pray to God, knowing that God would give him strength. One day Nehemiah went to visit an old man called Shemaiah, who told him that men were planning to kill him, but Nehemiah replied " Am I the kind of man that runs away and Hides?" He knew that God would protect him against any enemies and he was not falling for a trick like that. The people continued to work hard and in fifty-two days the wall was rebuilt. When their enemies saw this they were afraid because they knew God had helped his people, the Jews. The people were delighted that the work had been done so they praised God and thanked Him for helping them The people gathered to hear Ezra, the priest read from the scroll of God's law and listened to the Levites explaining what it meant. This was a special day and without doubt worthy of the best party ever. Now that the wall was finished the people marched along the top in a great procession singing and dancing and cheering. God made them very happy. The news of this great event spread far and wide. Soon the whole land of Israel heard how God had helped and blessed his people and how Nehemiah had been such a good leader. You can read this story in the Bible. You can find it in the Old Testament in the book called 'Nehemiah'.