Rebuilding the People

Rebuilding the People - Nehemiah 7

After 52 days of hard work, opposition, and threats, the wall and gates were finished. God used Nehemiah to get the approval of the King of Persia, gather the resources, and mobilize the Jewish people to finish the task of rebuilding their walls. It had been 90 years since the first wave of exiles returned to Jerusalem and 70 years since the Temple had been rebuilt. Finally, 140 years after Babylon had destroyed the walls and Temple of Jerusalem, the essential defenses and infrastructure were now in place for the people to thrive.

The greatest need of the people was not the Temple, walls, or gates. In 586 BC, they had mighty walls, gates, and an extravagant Temple. The reason Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians was because of their sin and idolatry. For the city and nation to flourish, they would need to rebuild the people, not just the walls. 

The rest of the book of Nehemiah (7-13) focuses on the work of rebuilding the people. This Sunday, we will look at Nehemiah 7 as they work on how to defend their new gates and walls, while growing the city. 

Every person, family, and church needs spiritual gatekeepers and guards. What and who are the gatekeepers and guards in your life?