Nehemiah 2 Commentary: Prepared, Not Panicked

Nehemiah 2 Introduction

Nehemiah is a man of purpose and strategy who provides a pattern for us to follow when he:

Perceives the situation.
Ponders the problem.
Uses passion to be a force.
Prays for direction and favor.
Patiently waits for opportunities.
Methodically develops a plan.
Perseveres through opposition.

In Nehemiah 1, we discussed how Nehemiah perceived, pondered, and prayed because he was so passionate about God and his people. That is Nehemiah's heart at work; his motivation. In this chapter, we will read how Nehemiah patiently prepares and plans. This is Nehemiah's mind at work; his strategy. Perhaps that is a point for us to consider already. The heart fuels the mind. Solomon seems to think so, for he put it in Proverbs.

Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Scene 1: Nehemiah Patiently Waits for an Opportunity

Nehemiah 2:1

¹ In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king.

How long does Nehemiah wait before asking King Artaxerxes for help?

Nehemiah waits four months after he hears the news about his people before asking King Artaxerxes for help. In Nehemiah 1, we learned that Nehemiah heard the news in the month of Kislev (November/December). In the beginning of Nehemiah 2, it’s the month of Nisan (March/April) when he finally gets his chance to do something about his people's devastating situation. From Kislev to Nisan is four months.

Nehemiah is patient. It takes four long months for his opportunity to present itself, yet nowhere does it say he is frustrated or contemplating giving up. Nehemiah has caught a vision for rebuilding the wall, and he trusts that it will happen. He hands the whole problem over to God in prayer and goes on with his business in complete confidence that if God wants to use him, He will present the opportunity. Recall, he ended the last chapter with, “I was cupbearer to the king.” Like, it could happen. I see the king all day, every day.

Scene 2: Nehemiah Prepares

Nehemiah 2:1-6

¹ …I had not been sad in his presence before, ² so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”

I was very much afraid, ³ but I 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, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

⁴ The king said to me, “What is it you want?”

Then I prayed to the God of heaven, ⁵ and I 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 so that I can rebuild it.”

⁶ Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.

How is Nehemiah prepared for this opportunity?

Nehemiah is prepared for his opportunity to help the Israelites in three different ways: a right relationship, confidence that comes from faith, and by mastering the art of diplomacy.

1. The Right Relationships

Relationships don't just happen overnight. Because Nehemiah has developed a close relationship with the king, the king cares about him. The most powerful king in the world notices Nehemiah's expression. Not only does he notice, but he is also so familiar with Nehemiah that he is able to infer three things with assurance from his observation.

What three things does King Artaxerxes notice about Nehemiah's appearance?

King Artaxerxes notices that Nehemiah is:

Sad.
Not ill.
Therefore, suffering from sadness of the heart.

Part of this familiarity comes with the job, because Nehemiah is the king’s cupbearer. The cupbearer to the king is a position of great influence in Nehemiah’s day.

What are the specific responsibilities of a royal cupbearer?

The cupbearer is responsible for ensuring that the king's wine is not poisoned, but the position evolves beyond the simple tasting of wine. Because of his constant access to the king, the cupbearer acquires influence beyond even that of some military leaders and nobles. In some periods of history, the cupbearer is more like a chief of staff.

The reason for this is obvious: only the most trusted of servants gets the lifesaving job. The king has to be completely convinced of a servant's loyalty to him alone, or risk that the servant could be bribed to poison him. With few people he can trust, it is understandable that a king might form a relationship with a loyal cupbearer.

How in the world does Nehemiah, a foreigner, an exile from a country that has been enslaved, with no connections (that we know of), work his way into such an influential position? I am sure his rise up the kingdom ladder did not happen overnight or because he "knew someone." Nehemiah holds a noble position because he possesses a noble character. He is a man of integrity, humility, and faithfulness. Nehemiah can be trusted.

Preparation for God's opportunities begins with relationships. Because of Nehemiah's character, he goes from the business of protecting one life from enemies, King Artaxerxes, to protecting thousands of lives, the Israelites, from their enemies.

2. Confidence That Comes from Faith.

Nehemiah is prepared for this opportunity because he has confidence that comes from faith. I love the part of Nehemiah's story where he confidently makes his request of the king. It is the perfect picture of heaven and earth coming into alignment in preparation for some great work. Nehemiah's desires are in alignment with God's will.

God wants Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem to protect His people, and Nehemiah is willing to do it. The only thing standing in the way is a very powerful king, but that is not a problem for God. He is the King of Kings. Nehemiah knows this.

The knowledge that God can do anything gives Nehemiah confidence. It makes him bold. But it doesn't negate the fact that he is human. So human that, before he begins his request, he tells us what he is thinking: He is very much afraid. Of course, he is. His job as cupbearer is to be calm, cool, collected, and trustworthy. Anything else on the face of the cupbearer might upset the king. It could imply Nehemiah is nervous about poisoning. If displeased, the king could fire or kill him. Despite his fear, he sees his God-given opportunity.

3. Mastering the Art of Diplomacy

Lastly, Nehemiah is prepared because he has mastered the art of diplomacy. Nehemiah begins his plea with deference, "May the king live forever!" Then he simply states, succinctly and without political implications, his personal grief over his people's plight.

I do not think Nehemiah's opening statement is by accident. He needs to assert his loyalty to the king. He also needs to avoid the politics of why his people are in their situation, as it could offend the king. Nehemiah has thought it out. He presents the problem from a position of personal grief, not political outrage. Nehemiah does not get caught up in who is to blame for the situation or how to seek justice. He just wants to move forward and make his people secure.

What is the effect of Nehemiah’s strategy?

The effect of Nehemiah's strategy is that the king becomes sympathetic. His concern and care for the faithful servant suffering before him divert his thoughts from the political implications of the Israelites' situation. Moved to help Nehemiah, the king asks, "What is it you want?"

I wish we could have been there. Did the room go silent? I imagine there are many other servants and dignitaries hanging around. Kings are never alone. Are they shocked that the king has just asked a servant, What is it you want? Are they holding their breath to hear what Nehemiah will ask for? What does the king mean? If Nehemiah asks for too much, will the king blow up? Can they feel the presence of God, the King of kings, as His spirit moves through the room to move the most powerful king on earth?

What does Nehemiah do before he responds to the king?

Before Nehemiah utters a word in response to the king, he prays to the God of heaven. He prays. And in that one breath of a prayer, the room shifts. The Earth moves to align with heaven. The plans of one man lock into place with the plans of God.

Faith can move a mountain. Nehemiah's utter dependence on God and his faith in God are about to move his mountain: the king of Persia. Long after Nehemiah, Jesus said:

Matthew 17:20 ²⁰ Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.

How often do we fail to believe this simple truth?

Nehemiah is bold.

After he prays, Nehemiah boldly asks for the impossible with ingenious deference:

"If it pleases the king," in other words, "Because you are king, and your needs come first."
"And if your servant has found favor in his sight," in other words, "If I have done a good job."
"Let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it." In other words, "I want to serve the ones I love in the same faithful way I have served the king."

So rational, no big political deal… I care for the king, and I care for my people. It’s all it takes. Nehemiah's preparation pays off, and he finds favor.

Because Nehemiah has been faithful, he finds favor with both the king of Babylon and the King of Kings. I think it is so interesting that we get to know that the queen is there too! It lets our imagination explore a little more. Did the king and queen have a little chat? Did she weigh in on the subject? Had Nehemiah found favor with her too? It is all so intriguing.

Many of you who have been on the Bible Book Club journey with us from the beginning know that my favorite Bible verse is:

Revelation 3:8 ⁸ “I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name”

Nehemiah finds favor.

Nehemiah has earned the favor of two kings: his earthly king and his heavenly King.

Nehemiah's "deeds" are faithful, so he finds favor with the king.
Nehemiah keeps God's word and does not deny His name, so he finds favor with the King of kings.

And that is why God places this opportunity, this open door that no one can shut, in front of just this one man, Nehemiah.

A Note for Us

It is something for us to think about. We know from Luke 2:52 that Jesus grew in favor with God and man.

What about you?
How and with whom have you found favor?

Ponder and pray about that. It's not about your strength, talent, or situation. Finding favor is all about keeping God's Word and being faithful to Him. With favor, God will give you opportunities and open doors that no one can shut because you have kept His Word.

Well, the king is pleased to let Nehemiah go. And with the king's pleasure secured, Nehemiah boldly takes his request to the next level.

Scene 3: Nehemiah Presents His Plan

Nehemiah 2:7-9

⁷ I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? ⁸ And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests. ⁹ So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.

What was Nehemiah doing in the four months before he asked King Artaxerxes for help?

Four months have passed in our story, and Nehemiah has been patiently waiting for an opportunity while preparing a plan. He’s not just sitting around doing nothing. Quite the contrary. While we don't know exactly what he is doing, based on his response to the opportunity that arose, it's clear he has been considering his options.

Nehemiah leaves nothing to chance. He has pondered the situation and is prepared to present as many details of his plan as he can. Preparation is guaranteed paralysis prevention.

When we are unprepared, we panic.
When we panic, we become paralyzed.

Nehemiah never panics. His reaction to the king's unexpected question, "What is it you want?” is flawless.

What materials and permissions does Nehemiah request for his journey?

Nehemiah has never seen the city of Jerusalem or the wall, but he knows he will need letters to prove he is on a mission with the king's permission. And that means letters for authority, security, and resources.

And then, because God is good and gracious and helps us out in a million ways we don't notice, God moves the king to give Nehemiah something he didn't even ask for.

What unrequested resource does King Artaxerxes provide to Nehemiah?

King Artaxerxes provides Nehemiah with a royal escort of army officers. What a gift! In fact, such a big gift that Nehemiah probably never would have asked for it. Recall that Ezra didn't. He was afraid to ask this very same king for an escort.

What are the foundations for being prepared?

The foundations for being prepared and developing a plan are:

Perception.
Pondering.
Passion.
Prayer.
Patience.

The lesson for us is that we cannot be afraid to move forward if we don't have all the information. God can lead one step at a time. Keep your eye on the path before you, and if you are going to look up, don't get confused looking ahead of you. Look all the way up to the real Director of this show and trust in Him. If that doesn't work, then look down and hit your knees in prayer until you can look up again.

Scene 4: The Opposition Takes Note

Nehemiah 2:10

¹⁰ When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.

Who are the main leaders opposing Nehemiah's rebuilding project?

Sanballat and Tobiah are the main leaders opposing Nehemiah’s rebuilding, and they will serve as the primary forces of opposition for the rest of the story. The opposition rarely ignores a step forward in God's plan. Part of being prepared is to know that when God gives you an opportunity, the Enemy will notice, and a counterplot will be initiated.

Sanballat, the Governor of Samaria

Samaria is north of Judah and was the former capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel when the kingdom was divided. After the Assyrian deportations, it became a region of mixed populations. Sanballat is not an Israelite. He is most likely either a Moabite or a Babylonian. The Moabites are descendants of Abraham's nephew, Lot, and his older daughter.

Tobiah, a High-ranking Ammonite Official

Recall that the Ammonites are long-standing enemies of the Israelites. They are not descendants of the Canaanites. The Ammonites are descendants of Lot and his younger daughter.

The Abraham Connection

Israel, Sanballat, and Tobiah are all related to Abraham. However, Sanballat and Tobiah are closer, both descendants of Lot. The last thing they need in their region is for Jerusalem to gain power.

Scene 5: Nehemiah Adds Intel to the Plan

Nehemiah 2:11-16

¹¹ I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days ¹² I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.

¹³ By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. ¹⁴ Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; ¹⁵ so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. ¹⁶ The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.

How does Nehemiah arrive in Jerusalem?

Picture this: Nehemiah rides into town with what must have been an impressive show for the struggling group of Israelites. Army officers and cavalry straight from the king. He visits for three days, or at least they probably think he is just visiting with them, because he tells them nothing about why he is there.

Knowing his diplomatic personality, he probably puts them immediately at ease and just lets them chatter while he covertly takes detailed notes for that ever-evolving plan in his mind. No doubt he gathers information from:

Old men are woefully complaining about needing a new wall.
Young men boasting about their dreams beyond the wall.
Women gossiping about scandal within the walls.

Then, after he has heard all he needs to hear about the wall, he sets out to see the wall for himself. Alone!

Why does Nehemiah conduct a secret inspection of the Jerusalem walls at night?

This is a covert operation requiring keen discernment on Nehemiah’s part, so he conducts a secret night inspection of the walls. Nehemiah is appropriately sneaky. He uses his well-honed power of discernment to separate fact from fiction so that he can correctly assess the problem and the strategy required to address it.

Lessons on How to Gather Information for a Plan

Sometimes, covert is the way to go. Nehemiah never tells anyone why he is in Jerusalem. He does not feel obligated to give information to his people. His plan is still in development. Nehemiah, the leader, knows a well-formed plan will be well received. If he opens the discussion with only half-formed ideas and understanding, the city's inhabitants might lose confidence in his ability to lead them. Instead, he listens and observes.

Listening is essential. Nehemiah listened for three days. To be a good listener, you must be able to get people to talk. Observation is essential. Nehemiah knows that a picture is worth a thousand words, so he personally examines the wall alone. He doesn’t rely solely on reports about the wall. You almost get the feeling that after three days of listening, he is looking for some missing pieces of information. Or maybe he is getting conflicting information and needs to verify it.

Making the Plan

The point is, think for yourself before consulting ‌others. Nehemiah does not consult with the few who go with him on the tour of the wall. There is much to be gained from unbiased observation. This does not negate seeking the counsel of others on a subject, but know for yourself as much about the facts as you can. Then, if you do ask others, be sure they have carefully weighed and prayed about their guidance so you are not wrongly influenced. In the end, before you confirm your strategy, pray for the eyes, ears, and mind to understand all that you have learned.

Scene 6: Nehemiah Adds People to the Plan

Nehemiah 2:17-18

¹⁷ Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” ¹⁸ I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me.

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

How does Nehemiah persuade the Jewish leaders to begin rebuilding?

Nehemiah uses simple word choices to get immediate buy-in from the people. He has assessed the situation in Jerusalem, and he has confirmed his strategy. He is now ready to add people to the plan and build a team.

To convince others of a vision, a leader needs to be persuasive. Without it, a leader must resort to authoritarian control. Rules without a relationship lead to rebellion. We have already established that Nehemiah is good at relationships.

He is inclusive. It says, "Then I said to them…" The "them" he is referring to are the Jews, priests, nobles, officials, and community members who have most likely been gathered in an assembly. This is not the time for secrecy. He wants everyone to be compelled openly to accept or reject his plan, without any opportunity for someone to hear it incorrectly from another source.
He is associative. Nehemiah is careful to use pronouns such as "we" and "us" to let the people know he has come not to be a ruler over them but to be a leader with them.
He casts a vision. Nehemiah begins by reminding the people of where they are: "Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned." He finishes by casting a vision of where they could be: "Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem… and we will no longer be in disgrace."
He is transparent. Nehemiah tells the people without hesitation that it is God's hand and the king's blessing that have made his vision possible. In doing so, he is being transparent. He humbly admits he can’t do the job alone.

Scene 7: The Opposition Fires a Shot

Nehemiah 2:19-20

¹⁹ But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”

²⁰ I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”

Who were the three main leaders opposing Nehemiah’s rebuilding project?

We already read that Sanballat and Tobiah are disturbed about the news that Nehemiah has arrived. Apparently, they have now learned that the people are all in and the project is gathering momentum, so they add a third to their team, Geshem the Arab. They are arrogant and threatening in their accusations against Nehemiah, accusing him of rebelling against the king.

How did Nehemiah respond when accused of rebelling against the king?

Nehemiah does not take the bait when accused of rebelling against the king. He reveals nothing, holding his cards, or should I say his letters from the king, close to his vest. Instead, he throws down the God-gauntlet and dares them to pick it up.

Join us for our Nehemiah 3 commentary here.

Group Discussion Questions for Nehemiah 2

Nehemiah waits four months before his opportunity arises, not in frustration but in confident trust that God will open the door. Is there a situation in your life right now where God may be asking you to wait patiently rather than force an opening?
Nehemiah is prepared with the right relationships, the right faithful confidence, and the right diplomacy when his moment comes. Which of those three areas do you feel most needs development in your own life right now in order to be ready to accept God’s call when it comes?
When Nehemiah rallies the people, he is inclusive, associative, visionary, and transparent. Think of a situation in your life where you need to bring others on board with a vision, whether it’s at work or simply getting the kids to clean their rooms. How might you apply Nehemiah’s persuasion tools to this situation?

Previously on Bible Book Club