The Story
Nehemiah woke up late. It had been a late night of feasting. The king was preparing to go on another campaign. This was to be a short one, really more of a training exercise. There was a local kingdom where the local magistrates had become arrogant and thought that they could forsake paying their taxes. This kingdom had only a small army and Nehemiah knew that the kingdom’s armies were actually loyal to Artaxerxes. Nehemiah knew this because spies from the kingdom had informed the king of the issues. Now Artaxerxes was going to ensure absolute authority by a show of force and the men that had been placed in command of the kingdom by his father would be beheaded and new, better men would be put in charge.
Nehemiah’s bed was soft and comfortable. Servants waited to care for any perceived need. For the moment, all that Nehemiah wanted was to lay quietly on the soft sheets, and breathe in the sweet fresh air, scented by the flowers. He felt peace, he would not have to be the one to risk the potential poisoning that he always felt would happen someday. He was a cupbearer, and as such, was trusted by the king but also expendable.
Even without his normal official duties, Nehemiah was disciplined and started each day by praying the Shema.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down, and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
His servants were from around the world and all prayed to different gods. Many of whom Nehemiah was familiar with but did not really understand. He knew that he was in the minority of those that only served one God, much less the God of the Hebrews. His father had taught him the disciplines of a faithful and dutiful Jew. Nehemiah had learned his lessons well and practiced as many rituals as he could routinely. Due to the fact that he was far from Jerusalem sacrifices were off of the table; but that did not stop him from daily prayers and arranging to take the Sabbath off most weeks.
Nehemiah had heard that the temple had been rebuilt but it was nowhere near the magnificence that his father had told him about when he was a child. In fact the description sounded emotionally painful. How could an inferior structure bring glory to his God? Yet, it was better than no temple. Here, Nehemiah came to himself and realized that his mind was wandering. He needed to focus on his prayers. Deep down Nehemiah believed that it was this dedication to his God that had protected him over the course of the past several years.
