May 8, 2026 - Nehemiah 1-6

Giants in the Bible . . . among them, you have to list Nehemiah.  His passion:  “When I heard these words, I sat down and wept.  I mourned for a number of days” (1:4).  His praying:  “. . . fasting and praying before the God of heaven.  His preparation and planning:  “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Judah” (2:4); “I got up at night and took a few men with me . . . I inspected the walls of Jerusalem . . .” (2:11,13).  His perseverance:  To his enemies, he responded, “The God of heaven is the One who will grant us success.  We, His servants, will start building, but you have no share, right, or historic claim to Jerusalem” (2:20).  He stationed guards, and the workers labored with a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other, never stopping until the work was completed, even though facing terrible danger and opposition.  Not bad alliteration, huh?  We can learn a lot from Nehemiah!

Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go,

my daily labor to pursue;

Thee, only Thee, resolved to know

in all I think or speak or do.

The task Thy wisdom hath assigned,

O let me cheerfully fulfill;

in all my works Thy presence find,

and prove thy good and perfect will.   -- Charles Wesley (1749)