Verse: When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Neh 1:4

Background: Israel was in captivity for 70 years under the Babylonians. The promise of Jeremiah that captivity would be over in 70 years was fulfilled when the Medo-Persian Empire defeated the Babylonians and King Cyrus let the Israelites go back to the promised land free. King Cyrus also provided the resources for the completion of the temple.

Problem: After a lot of ups and downs, the Israelites completed the building of the temple. But the remnant there in the province who had survived the exile was in great trouble and shame because the wall of Jerusalem was broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” Nehemiah who was still serving in the Persian palace heard it. 

What makes you weep? Are we bothered about God’s people being vulnerable, do we weep and cry for their redemption?

Response: His response was not to blame anyone on why they did not start building it. He did not start a pity party. He knew the temple inside and the people inside needed to be kept safe by the wall. Our walls are prayer life, the study of the word, and being in the presence of the Lord. We are walking around exposing ourselves when we do not have our walls in place and then do our day-to-day activities.

We know, that Nehemiah wept, sat down, fasted, and prayed, a great rebuilding story started when one man reacted in the right way. We run to the Lord when we are in trouble, but let us change that and run to the Lord for our walls to be set right.