Nehemiah 1-2

“If you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them … I will gather them from there” (1:9).  Nehemiah was cupbearer to the king of Persia.  Like his contemporary Ezra, he grieved over the situation of his home city, Jerusalem.  He “wept” when he heard that Jerusalem’s walls were broken down, and he remembered God’s promises.  Israel had rebelled, and He had “scattered” them, but He had also promised to redeem them if they repented.   Believing this promise, Nehemiah returned to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls.

Surveying his destroyed city and frightened people, Nehemiah declared: “The God of heaven will give us success” (2:20).