To those of you who are unfamiliar with the story: Nehemiah is a Jewish exile serving as cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes. Upon hearing about the dilapidated state of Jerusalem’s walls, he is deeply distressed and prays for guidance. Granted permission by the king, he returns to Jerusalem and rallies the people to rebuild the city’s walls, despite facing strong opposition from neighboring enemies like Sanballat and Tobiah. Nehemiah’s leadership, strategic planning, and reliance on prayer help complete the reconstruction in just 52 days.
This is what my playlist focuses on.
But the backstory is even more bizarre! Ninety years earlier, the Temple was rebuilt. Ninety years! For nine decades the walls lay in ruins, leaving God’s people vulnerable, open to attack; limiting their ability to live as a community by harming their ability to look after those who most needed assistance.
There’s a message here for the modern church. Nehemiah teaches us that when God stirs your heart, it’s for a purpose bigger than you. Through prayer, boldness, teamwork, and trust, broken things can be made whole — and God’s name is glorified.
In a world full of brokenness (inside and outside the church), Nehemiah’s story is a call to rebuild what matters most: faith, community, and hope. But it starts with prayer.