King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Friday, September 26, 2025
Chapters: Nehemiah 1-4
Message: Nehemiah: Nehemiah Builds A Wall
Hello My Friend,
As we begin the reading of Nehemiah, we learn the importance of Christians coming together in unity for the cause of Christ. We also learn that each and every saved, born again Christian plays a part in the cause of Christ, [1 Corinthians 12:27-31 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.]
In a time when it seems like everything is in utter chaos and mankind has literally become what the Bible describes as “brute beasts”, it is hard to find unity even among Christians. However, if you look past the corrupt media, politicians, churches, and schools, you will find a small group who will not bow to them, [2 Peter 2:9-12 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;]
The Book of Nehemiah is the sixteenth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains thirteen chapters. The author of the book is Nehemiah and it was written to the Jews. The timeline for these events is approximately 446 BC to 434 BC. The purpose of the book was to continue showing the history of Israel and the rebuilding of Jerusalem after their captivity was lifted. What we are to learn from the book is that there will always be opposition whenever we choose to serve God, but we can endure it by fearing God and trusting Him, [Nehemiah 6:16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.]
About ten years after the temple in Jerusalem had been rebuilt, and two years after Ezra’s visit, a man named Hanani arrived in Persia and told Nehemiah of the dire conditions that still existed there. Nehemiah, felt great grief over this and mourned for days so in order to get some instructions he fasted and prayed to God.
[Nehemiah 1:1-4 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. 4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,]
This was approximately ninety years after the Jews had been taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, while the temple and courts were built, the wall and gates were still in ruins, which enabled their enemies to attack them at will. Now, we may not know why no one considered repairing the walls that were clearly necessary to be around the temple, but they were up against a lot of opposition and perhaps that was the reason why. Now, Nehemiah, decides to consult with God before making any decisions while reminding him of the promise He made.
[Nehemiah 1:8-11 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: 9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. 10 Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand. 11 O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.]
If there is one thing that I have learned it is that while it is best to consult with God on every matter, it is crucial to consult with Him on things that are going to be life changing. Nehemiah, was careful to acknowledge that not all of the Jews would choose God and were content to live their lives in their sin, but those who did choose Him would be gathered together one day, [Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.]
Being the kings cup bearer was a very important position and not just one in which they would serve drinks to the king and his guests, he was also a counselor to the king. Nehemiah, had made up his mind he was going to ask the king for leave of absence, but did not need to convince him very much as the king saw the look of despair on his face.
[Nehemiah 2:1-4 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. 2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, 3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? 4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.]
We all need to be concerned for our nations, families, and our Christians like never before, even to the point that we might have to pray and fast as well. There is an evil taking place like we have never seen before and we as a nation of Christians need to be coming together like never before, [1 Corinthians 12:12-13,25-26 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.]
Schism, means division, and if there was any good to come out of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, it is that it brought a unity to Christians that we have not seen in a long time. This may be the third Great Awakening for America and beyond as many countries felt the impact of this. Now, we will understand how this ties in with the story as we continue, but Nehemiah really did not have an answer to that question. So, he prayed about it, and that was when God had given him the burden of rebuilding the wall that separated Jerusalem from the world. Then he asks the king for permission to go to Jerusalem for a period of time.
[Nehemiah 2:6-8 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. 7 Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah; 8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.]
Notice who is sitting by the king, queen Esther, since women were not permitted to be at court during social matters, this circumstance proves that Nehemiah enjoyed the favor and confidence of the Persian monarch in an unusual degree. Now, every, saved, born again Christian has the favor of not only Jesus, who sits at the right hand of God, but God Himself, [Romans 8:33-34 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.]
God, has given us an appointed time in which we are to reach the world with the Gospel, but here is the thing, we do not know when that time will actually be. This is why we need to not only be prepared for when that day could come, we also need to do whatever we can to help others prepare for that day as well, [Matthew 24:38-39,42-43 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.]
Jesus, really has some thought provoking messages, but think about what He is saying here. This is not about us who are saved, this is about believers who have yet to receive Christ as their Saviour. We need to make sure that we are doing everything we can to reach family, friends, next door neighbors, colleagues, whomever it is that the Holy Spirit lays upon our heart with the Gospel while we are still able to do that. Christ’s Church is suffering because they are not prepared for His return and in order for them to get prepared they need to separate themselves from the world. When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, for three days all he did was look around at the conditions of the city.
[Nehemiah 2:10-12,16 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. 11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. 12 And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon. 16 And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.]
As you can see, they will already face some opposition, and no one even know why he was there. Nevertheless, the conditions were much worse than he thought, so after he reveals who is was he spake to the people about rebuilding the walls and they were glad and wanted to help.
[Nehemiah 2:17-20 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. 18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? 20 Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.]
Notice that it says that they strengthened their hands to do what they knew was a good work. Anything we do for God is a good work, and it takes our willingness to do it is our greatest strength. Now, once we are willing, it is Christ’s strength that allows us to follow through with it, [2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.]
Of course, Sanballat, wasted no time in trying to stop them from rebuilding the wall, but once he saw the letter there was nothing he could do on federal level. Nehemiah, is telling Sanballat that they have every right to be in Jerusalem, doing what they are doing, but they on the other hand had no right to be there. There is absolutely nothing that the world can do to stop Christ’s people from doing a great work for Him, [1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.]
The Jews were eager to help rebuild the wall, and this was not just a few people stepping up, even the priests were helping. One group at a time would build a portion of wall, beginning with the sheep gate, [Nehemiah 3:1-3,9,32 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel. 2 And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri. 3 But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof. 9 And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem. 32 And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.]
The fish gate, being on the north-west side of Jerusalem, looked toward the sea, and overlooked the fish market, which is why it was called the fish gate. Notice that they all worked together, even if the task was not so great, and for the first time in centuries, every family played a part in helping to rebuild the walls. No one fought with each other or felt more superior over the other, they all worked together. Every member of the body of Christ serves a purpose, [1 Corinthians 12:22-24 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:]
Nehemiah, and his small group of people were determined to get the walls built around Jerusalem, but every where they turned they were faced with opposition, not only from the enemy, but those elite Jews too. First, they tried intimidation.
[Nehemiah 4:1-4 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? 3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall. 4 Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:]
These fools knew that the workers were trusting God to see them through, but what they were doing was tempting God. They were no different than the fools who watched Jesus on the cross saying that they would believe in Him if He came down from the cross, [Matthew 27:39-43 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.]
How sad are the one who mock us for our faith? It really does no good for us to argue with these fools, all we need to do is pray, and keep doing the work that we are called to do, and God will take care of them. However, since we are human, it might be easy to say, “Let Go and Let God!”, but the execution is not always so easy. As much as we tell ourselves that faith trumps fear, that is not always the case, at least, until we get over that fear. Now, when the intimation did not work to stop them, they resorted to trying to destroy everything they were doing. Nehemiah, tried so hard to encourage the men, but things had gotten so bad that they had to stop.
[Nehemiah 4:6-9,11 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. 7 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, 8 And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. 9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. 11 And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.]
The men were scared, tired, and physically worn out as we all get sometimes and this is where we need to come together as one. We have the power to make a difference and turn things around, but if we do not come together and fight for each other then nothing will. Once they came together in prayer, that revived them and gave them the strength and drive they needed to resume their work. Nehemiah, formed a plan to keep working day and night. A group would work around the clock while another group would keep watch and fight off any opposition.
[Nehemiah 4:14,16,18,20 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses. 16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. 18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me. 20 In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.]
In other words, they took turns day and night to help in the repairs while others stood on guard so that the work would not get interrupted. Let me tell you, we truly are in a battle here, one that takes the entire body of Christ, while our preachers and teachers are preaching and teaching the Gospel, the rest of us need to be praying and encouraging them. We cannot win this battle on our own, but we can win it by coming together as the person who will be in midst of us to give us that power is Jesus Christ Himself.
[Ephesians 6:11-13,18 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;]
Today’s Prayer: God, As one of Yours that has been called to serve You, I do not know why You see fit to use me because I know that I have let the opposition slow me down from time to time. Thankfully, You never gave up on me, and are always eager to use me to actually build walls that are fortified by You. Lord, give me Your strength to break through every opposition that Satan uses to try and stop me. Let me trust You in every decision I make and give me the confidence that I need to keep going in my faith, yet serving You faithfully. Help me to let go of any opposition that keeps me from serving You diligently, and give me Your mercy and grace, and the Holy Spirit power to break through them all. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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