After what has seemed like an eternity, I am back at my Bible Journey; real time: 10 days. I really need to focus to read and study daily to try to get caught back up with my one year time frame. I am however giving myself a little grace if I don’t complete the challenge in a year. Even if it takes a little longer, as long as I keep going and eventually read the entire Bible I will count that as a success, as that is the ultimate goal.
So continuing on, today I started the book of Nehemiah. It started out with a report from Jerusalem saying that those that had survived exile were in great trouble and shame. Also that the wall of Jerusalem had been broken down and its gates were destroyed.
As soon as Nehemiah heard those words, he sat down and wept and mourned. He fasted and prayed to God, “O Lord God of Heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments…”
He asked the Lord to forgive the people of Israel and himself for having sinned against him by acting corruptly and not keeping the commandments. At that time Nehemiah was a cupbearer to the king.
When Nehemiah was giving wine to the king, the king asked him why he was so sad. He explained the sadness in his heart for the city being in ruins and asked the king if he could go to Judah and rebuild it.
The hand of God was on Nehemiah for good and he was chosen to “rise up and build.”
Chapter three went on to discuss the groups and people who worked to rebuild the wall and which parts they were assigned. For example, “Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate.” Below is a picture easily depicting what was explained:
