Nehemiah's Sense of Urgency

Nehemiah saw the need – the walls and gates of Jerusalem were in ruin. Although Nehemiah was in Persia, he saw the opportunity – he made a request of the king (whom he served as cupbearer) to go to Jerusalem and help repair the city. Nehemiah found favor with God and the king and soon found himself seated in the capital city of Israel. The story of the reconstruction ends with great victory as the walls are rebuilt and the gates repaired in 52 days. Part of this amazing transformation can be seen in the incredible buy-in that Nehemiah accomplishes with the people. Let's take a look at what scripture tells us concerning Nehemiah's vision casting strategy and effectiveness.

Chapter two of Nehemiah captures the arrival of this leader into the city. Verse 11 states, “So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem” (ESV). Nehemiah had heard a report of the destructive state of the city while he was in Susa (1:1-3). He acted upon the report and made his way to the city. However, once he arrived, he spent a few days getting settled and taking stock of the surroundings. Then he took a secret night tour of the walls in order to conduct personal research. He told no one of his plans, dreams, ideas, or vision. He gathered factual data before making speeches; he evaluated the situation before he proclaimed his plan; he made his inspection before he declared his expectations. Verse 16 of chapter 2 makes it plain that he did not go to the authorities (the officials, the priests, or the nobles) before he was sure about the situation and could provide eyewitness details of the severity of the problem.

But then, Nehemiah casts his vision. Verses 17-18 record Nehemiah's words as he carefully addresses the people, “'You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and we will no longer be in disgrace.' I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me.” Notice a couple of significant aspects of this charge.

First, the urgency of the message is paramount. We are in trouble! The city is in ruins! The gates are burned! In other words, disaster is all around us and we have to do something or all will be lost! The urgency of the situation demands action – a subcommittee to review the various options and report back for a discussion and vote is not the order of the day; sitting around and hoping that others will come to the rescue is rather foolish; maintaining life in the midst of fire and crumbling rocks is not a good plan; no, now is the time for urgent planning and decisive action.

Second, the invitation is personal and all-inclusive. Notice the pronouns throughout this challenge, YOU see the trouble WE are in....Come let US rebuild the wall...and WE will no longer be in disgrace. The urgency concerns US – the people, the leaders, the priests, Nehemiah himself – they are all in this together... to live or die, to build or burn, to restore or recline, to construct or to concede.

Third, the invitation involves both the positive and the negative perspective. Positive: come let us rebuild. What is in ruin, let us redeem; what is burning, let is redo; what is falling down, let us reinforce. Bringing transformation out of the jaws of destruction can be a powerful motivation in the hearts and minds of people. Negative: let us avoid the robe of disgrace; let us refuse to wear the brand of failure; let us reject the jeers of ridicule. Opposition will come, but let us overcome the fear of humiliation. Let us rebuild and then we will never again be in disgrace. Vision communicates a bright future in a contrast to the urgent need of the present reality.

Fourth, notice Nehemiah's appeal to the sovereign grace of God. He quickly tells of God's faithfulness in the past through Nehemiah's personal testimony. Nehemiah does not appeal to his own background of leadership or his outstanding character or examples of his integrity and authenticity. No, Nehemiah points to God's gracious hand – Nehemiah stands before them because of God's call upon his life, because of the burden that the God of heaven placed on his heart, and because of the path that God paved and the resources that God provided for this adventure that lies before them. The hand of God was upon him. And notice that he ends with the affirmation pronounced by an earthly king. God was so evident in the planning of the reconstruction project that he moved the heart of an earthly king to assist in the project.

The response is recorded in just a dozen English words, but I would have loved to have heard and felt the enthusiasm and excitement generated in the reaction of the people. The last part of verse 18 reads, “They replied, 'Let us start rebuilding.' So they began this good work.” Do you see the two-fold affirmation? The first is a positive reaction, a mental assent, and vote of buy-in - “Let's start rebuilding!” The second is a positive action – so they began the good work. It was more than just a joint hooray, it surpassed a shout of commitment, it went way beyond a pledge of support. The affirmation grew legs, the shouts lifted tools, the enthusiasm put on shoes and began to walk, and the clapping hands began to lay the bricks of reconstruction.

Nehemiah's short statement of vision-casting holds many keys to the motivation and inspiration of others. Without his carefully planned strategy of touching the hearts and wills of the people, 52 days of work might have accomplished very little. Inspire the people, build the wall...motivate the heart, overcome great obstacles...paint a real sense of urgency, create a genuine spirit of victory.