Nehemiah 2:9-20
Nehemiah has arrived at Jerusalem provided with letters by the king. He begins by inspecting the walls, or rather what is left of them. His brethren had told him about them (Nehemiah 1:3), but he wishes to assess the extent of the damage personally. His dismay is overwhelming faced with this sight to which the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for their part, have become accustomed! No doubt we Christians are also in danger of ceasing to feel sorrow at the ruined condition in which the responsible Church is found in these days. It no longer has any wall to protect it against invasion by the world. Naturally such a situation serves the purpose of its enemies perfectly.
In the time of Zerubbabel and Ezra, these enemies of Israel were called Bishlam, Tabeel . . . Tatnai, Shethar-Boznai and their companions. Under Nehemiah, they were faced with Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem. The devil uses a variety of agents. He keeps changing his "staff". But his purpose is always the same: to keep the people of God in a low spiritual state and in bondage.
Nehemiah knows how to go about exhorting the men of Jerusalem. His name means: the LORD has comforted. He receives this joyful, encouraging reply "Let us rise up and build" (v. 18).