Nehemiah is introduced in Nehemiah 1:1 as the son of Hachaliah and a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia (Nehemiah 1:11). He lived in the citadel of Shushan and served in a trusted position within the royal court. When he received a report from Jerusalem about the broken wall and the distress of the returned exiles, he was deeply grieved and fasted, wept, and prayed to the God of heaven (Nehemiah 1:3–4).
In his prayer, Nehemiah confessed the sins of Israel and asked God to grant him favor before the king. In Nehemiah 2, the king noticed his sadness and inquired about it. Nehemiah then petitioned the king for permission to return and rebuild Jerusalem’s wall. The king granted his request and provided letters of safe passage and resources.
Upon arriving in Jerusalem, Nehemiah inspected the damage and rallied the people to begin rebuilding the wall (Nehemiah 2:17–18). Despite intense opposition from enemies such as Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, who mocked, threatened, and plotted against the work, Nehemiah remained steadfast. He encouraged the people to trust in God and to defend themselves as they worked (Nehemiah 4:14–20).
Nehemiah also confronted social injustices among the Jews, such as the exploitation of the poor through interest and slavery. He rebuked the nobles and required them to restore what they had taken (Nehemiah 5:6–13). He governed with integrity, refusing the governor’s allowance and supporting others at his own expense.
Through his leadership, the wall was completed in fifty-two days (Nehemiah 6:15). Afterward, Nehemiah worked with Ezra to restore proper worship and the reading of the Law. The people confessed their sins, made a covenant with God, and rededicated themselves to His commandments (Nehemiah 8–10).
Nehemiah later returned to the king but came back to Jerusalem again and addressed further issues such as desecration of the Sabbath, intermarriage with pagans, and the neglect of temple duties (Nehemiah 13).
Nehemiah’s life demonstrates zeal for God’s glory, a heart of prayer, courage in the face of opposition, and a commitment to righteousness. His leadership was grounded in faith and a desire to restore both the physical and spiritual strength of God’s people.
