8 “REMEMBER the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’ Nehemiah 1
The Book of Nehemiah begins in Babylon, where the Jews had been exiled for their disobedience. Nehemiah wept and fasted before the Lord for the condition of Jerusalem and it’s people and he REMINDED God of His Promises. Nehemiah is a Book for the Church today, he had a vision for restoration and set about rebuilding in the face of opposition. The people had to build and to guard the walls of Jerusalem as they worked. Building and Battle happened together, they had to go hand in hand and I believe it will be so for believers today.
14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. REMEMBER THE LORD, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” Nehemiah 4
Nehemiah led by example, he stood up and encouraged the people when the opposition was severe. He pointed the people towards God, ‘Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome’. He told them we have someone on our side who is far more powerful than the enemies around us. Remember the Lord in times of trouble, He is faithful.
16 ‘But they, our ancestors, became arrogant and stiff-necked, and they did not obey your commands. 17 THEY REFUSED TO LISTEN AND FAILED TO REMEMBER the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. (HARD TO BELIEVE PEOPLE WOULD CHOOSE SLAVERY BEFORE SERVING GOD, BUT THEY DO) But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them, … Nehemiah 9
Nehemiah had the Word of God read to the people and then they and their leaders entered into a binding agreement with God. In the place where they had forgotten God, they turned back to Him once again and Israel were restored to their own land.
We can make the same choice today. Being a slave to this world system and being governed by a selfish elite is a bad alternative. ‘REMEMBER WE HAVE A FORGIVING GOD, GRACIOUS AND COMPASSIONATE, SLOW TO ANGER AND ABOUNDING IN LOVE.’
God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.