“And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me.
And they said, ‘Let us rise up and build.’ So they strengthened their hands for the good work.”
Nehemiah 2:18 ESV
Last time we saw Nehemiah’s “come, let us” request to the elders of the Jews, modeling the glorious We of our Triune God. Today we see the final push of our leader to the people: Assurance of God’s favor and the Persian king’s approval for the task.
“I nagad (fully told, expounded) of the gracious yad (powerful ability alongside) of elohim (Creator God) al (hovering over me) for towb (beauty). And aph (furthermore) what the king had said to me.
They replied, ‘Let us qum (arise, stand up) and banah (build).’ So they chazaq (strengthened, became courageous) their yad (hands) for the good (towb, beauty).”
To Nehemiah’s “Come, let us” the people replied with a “Yes, let’s.” Sometimes all it takes is the encouragement that God’s favor and power is resting on a project. And that the human king himself has approved the work.
I appreciated this bit of commentary on our verse today: “Nehemiah sketched the history of his past life, and showed how God’s providence had always shielded him and supported him. This, however, would scarcely have had any great effect had he not been able to appeal further to the king’s words that he had spoken. These words clearly contained permission to rebuild the wall, and took away the danger of their so doing being regarded as an act of rebellion by the Persians. What others might think was not of very much account.” source
Yes, what others might think is not of very much account. Not when you have a united group resting in God’s favor and appropriately submitting to human authority. With such circumstances, anything is possible.
I appreciate I’m typing this on Good Friday. You know, Jewish calendar days were from sundown one day to sundown the next. Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, ate the Passover meal, sent his friend off to betray Him, healed a Roman soldier’s ear, allowed Himself to be arrested, defiled Himself by entering a Gentile governor’s headquarters, shut his mouth in defense and spoke of Truth to that governor, was denied by his dear friend, then was flogged and hung on a Roman instrument of death – all on the same day. On Passover.
The day the Hebrew people celebrate how the angel of death passed over their homes and spared their firstborn son when he saw the blood of a lamb on their doorposts so many years ago in Egypt when they were slaves.
He is our Passover Lamb. Our Elohim did not spare His Son from the death that should have been ours. He paid for our freedom and we are no longer slaves to sin. He did it for the good, the beauty of His glory in our lives.
Friends, let’s wonder at the love this Good Friday. He paid it all so we can live in unity. Strengthened for the good.