Nehemiah 1:3 - "They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
The Lord wants His people to live in peace and safety.
The Lord desires for His people to live without war and famine.
That’s why the Lord brought them out of the land of slavery to a land flowing with milk and honey.
This only happened when God was with them as their Father and King. God was their provider and protector.
When Balaam was called by Balaak to curse Israel, Balaam said, "I cannot curse these people because their Lord is in their midst."
If God is not in the midst of His people, they are like a city without walls.
Look at what King Asa did when He became the king of Judah:
2 Chronicles14:1-7 - "And Abijah rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. Asa his son succeeded him as king, and in his days the country was at peace for ten years. Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands. He removed the high places and incense altars in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him. He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the Lord gave him rest. “Let us build up these towns,” he said to Judah, “and put walls around them, with towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God; we sought him and he has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered."
King Asa did the following things when he became the king of Judah:
King Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.
He did try to implement his own idea - instead he ruled and reigned according to the law of God or the word of God.
King Asa removed the foreign gods and all its images.
King Asa did not compromise with the standards of society.
King Asa commanded Judah to seek their Lord, the God of their ancestors.
He used his God-given authority to command the people to repent and to turn to God.
He did not interpret the scripture in a way that would please people or twist it to suit his agenda, but took it how it was given.
King Asa cleansed every town in Judah.
He demanded the town be cleansed, from the inside out.
He demanded the complete surrender of his people everywhere.
King Asa called the people to unify and build the walls and gates around the Jerusalem.
The enemy can attack at any time - therefore, we need to be alert at all times.
What was the Asa's result of seeking God and obeying His commandments?
The land was at peace.
No one was at war with Israel during those years.
The Lord gave him rest.
Rest from every side.
They built and prospered.
The country was at peace for ten years.
Nehemiah 1:3 - "They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
Why are God’s people living in shame, great trouble, and disgrace?
Why were the walls of Jerusalem broken down?
How were the gates burned with fire?