(REFLECTIONS ON Nehemiah 2:11-20)

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.

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.

After his arrival in Jerusalem, Nehemiah quietly went out at night to see the current state of Jerusalem’s wall. Previous to this, he had just heard reports about the wall, and upon hearing, his heart was stirred by the Lord to go and participate in the rebuilding efforts.

However, Nehemiah didn’t join these efforts with trumpets blowing, with a big procession announcing to all those that had already been in Judah for some time now, that their savior had come. He didn’t loudly proclaim that He was the answer that God provided to the people there, but rather said nothing at first.

What is the significance of Nehemiah’s approach and how can this be a lesson for us today? Yes, Nehemiah previously heard, was moved to act, but his first step was to go and see, and in that to understand. Yes, many times we are convicted by the Lord, moved by the Spirit to do His work. However, do we then carry with us a hero complex, like we are now the main character of the story, rather than first to go and seek understanding? People were there before, years before, rebuilding the altar of the Lord, and rebuilding the temple of the Lord.

There would be challenges to rebuild the wall and it wouldn’t help anyone to try to come in with the sights and sounds of fireworks bursting into the night air. Nehemiah went, saying nothing during the cover of night, quietly, to seek understanding. It is only then that he said to the few others that were with him, “let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.”

This is a reminder to us as the Lord places burdens on our heart for His good work, to seek understanding. When we go and see, we can begin to understand, realize that we are participants in what the Lord has done, is currently doing, and will continue to do.

We are a part of God’s salvation story, however we are reminded that story doesn’t begin with us or end with us, so may we learn to go and seek understanding first, and then begin the work that He has placed on our hearts.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Nehemiah 2