7 Nehemiah Bible Verses To Find Adventure | NIV
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I’m just going to caveat this upfront with a typical Sunday school answer. Jesus is my favorite Bible character. There I said. Second to Jesus is a guy named Nehemiah. There’s an entire book about the guy! The book of Nehemiah is an amazing story of how Nehemiah found adventure in freedom while relying on God’s guidance, provision and security when rebuilding the burned gates and stone wall of Jerusalem. In this article, I want to present my favorite Bible verses from Nehemiah to inspire us in our pursuits of the adventures God has called us to.
Nehemiah’s story provides lessons in effective leadership, including qualities such as vision, determination, strategic planning, empathy, and the ability to inspire and mobilize a team. We can catch a glimpse of Nehemiah’s heart for the people of Israel in his determination to see the wall of the city rebuilt. It is in this vein that we, too, have determination in the pursuit of the things that God has called us to.
Back Story
In the “twentieth year of Artaxerxes”, the Israelites, having been in exile in Babylon, are allowed to return to Jerusalem by the Persian king Cyrus. Nehemiah, son of Hachaliah, hwhile serving as the king’s cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, receives news about the distressed state of Jerusalem, particularly the broken walls and burned gates of Jerusalem. Nehemiah is deeply moved by the news and prays to God for guidance. He then approaches King Artaxerxes, requesting permission to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls. Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem and inspects the damaged walls and gates. Despite facing opposition from adversaries like Sanballat and Tobiah, Nehemiah organizes the people, assigning tasks and mobilizing them to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah faces external opposition, including threats and ridicule, but remains steadfast in his determination to complete the rebuilding project. The people work day and night, with tools in one hand and weapons in the other, to defend against potential attacks. Nehemiah also addresses internal issues, including social and economic injustices among the people. He leads a spiritual renewal, calling the people to repentance and covenant renewal.
Despite challenges, Nehemiah successfully completes the rebuilding of the walls and gates in just 52 days. Nehemiah emphasizes the importance of following God’s laws, enforcing the Sabbath, and ensuring proper treatment of foreigners. He institutes reforms to restore the people’s obedience to God’s commands. After completing his mission, Nehemiah returns to Persia to continue serving the king.
Nehemiah 1:8-11
8 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’ 10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.
11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the sight of this man. I was cupbearer to the king.”
Application
Nehemiah was attempting to gain favor with the king in order to receive permission to head back to Jerusalem to fulfill that calling he had been given. Nehemiah prayed for favor for himself and the rest of the people helping him in this vision. How often do we pray something like this in pursuit of a vision we’ve been given? Personally, this is not something I think to do often. In fact, I typically tend to pray it at the beginning a couple of times, then again when times get tough.
Asking God for success seems like a prosperity teaching that many of us despise. However, this prayer is simply a prayer for the great power and great work of God to become reality in our pursuits. While we may not be attempting to rebuild a city wall, we do have ambitions with great purpose that God has called us to. We must submit our requests so that the strong hand of God can work our vision out through his strength and not our own.
Nehemiah 2:4-5
4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.” I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.
Nehamiah demonstrates a willingness to ask for permission. This is such a common theme in our lives. We seldom ask for help along our our journeys. We don’t ask for permission to embark on a great work. I remember when we began pursuing our dream of building an experience center, I was petrified to ask anyone for their support. I didn’t want to be an “inconvenience” for anyone.
Application
As time went on, several people began asking us how they could help. We simply needed to ask permission to let them in. We serve an awesome God who gives plentifully to those who ask. You can see the exuberance of Nehemiah in verse 5. After he had asked the king for permission and his blessing, he inspired the Israelites in enhance the strength of the laborers.
Nehemiah 4:4-5
4 Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. 5 Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of[a] the builders.”
In response to this opposition and mockery, Nehemiah prayed to God for strength and protection. He acknowledged the insults and asked God to turn them back on their enemies’ heads. Nehemiah also requested that God not forgive or overlook their sins, as they had insulted and opposed the builders who were doing God’s work.
Application
This passage reflects Nehemiah’s reliance on prayer and his trust in God’s protection and justice in the face of adversity. It also highlights the reality of opposition and discouragement that often accompanies significant endeavors undertaken for God’s purposes.
Nehemiah faced great affliction from those that never wanted to see his vision come to fruition just as we do in our battles for freedom and adventure. Our afflictions may come in the forms of social media hate, friends or family that don’t believe in us.
Nehemiah 4:14b
“Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”
This is the charge Nehemiah gave to his people, the “children of Israel thy servants” (Lev 25:55). Remember the Lord. Remember that we live in the Father’s house. He is our strength. “Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.” (Prov. 22:17). God gives is the instructions through the Holy Spirit.
Application
I love the part of this verse that talks about fighting for your families. Everything I do, and every decision I make impacts my family. My desires in life are to provide for them, protect them, and fight for them. Fighting for our families is part of the call. Our families are the reason we fight. In 2022, I fought for my family. I failed a bunch in doing so, but all the hours I worked, the adventures we went on when we didn’t have the money and the sacrifices we made were for my family. We embarked on this crazy adventure through 6 states and 2 countries in a fight for our family. That is why I love this verse so much. Our families deserve our best, and they are worthy to fight for.
Nehemiah 5:19
19 Remember me with favor, O Lord God of Heaven, for all I have done for these people.
In this verse, Nehemiah is praying to God, asking for His favor and remembrance for the work he has done for the people of Jerusalem. Nehemiah served as governor during a challenging time when the city was in ruins, and its people were facing economic hardship and social injustice. Nehemiah’s prayer in verse 19 reflects his humility and recognition that his efforts were ultimately for the benefit of the people and the glory of God. He acknowledges that his work was not for personal gain but for the welfare of others. By asking God to remember him with favor, Nehemiah is expressing his hope for divine approval and blessing for his leadership and service. Nehemiah 5:19 captures Nehemiah’s devotion to his role as a leader and his reliance on God’s grace and recognition for his efforts on behalf of the people of Jerusalem.
Application
Doesn’t this sound a little self-promoting? It’s not. Nehemiah is simply requesting that the Lord remember him for following the commands of God in pursuit of His calling. We should do the same thing. When we choose to pursue the calling given by God, it is ok to ask him to remember us. This isn’t demanding that God provide and bless. It’s a simple request to remember the work we’ve done in pursuit of the kingdom.
What is that calling your pursuing that may have cost you something? Don’t you think God understands the request to remember you for that? He does. He delights in giving good gifts to His children. When we are at our lowest, or even our highest, asking God to simply remember the work you’ve done, albeit through Him, is a delight to him.
Nehemiah 6:3
“I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”
What an amazing line. “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down.” Throughout the rebuilding of Jerusalem, Nehemiah had one goal in mind. He was going to finish rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls come hell or high water. I absolutely love the mindset of Nehemiah in this verse. There are so many aspects of our journeys that will push us to our breaking points. There are distractions that try to take our aim away from the calling we’ve been given.
Application
Fortunately, God’s word is absolute truth. We truly serve a great God. He is capable of doing far more than we could ever think or imagine. When we understand this truth, no distraction is capable of commanding our attention. I’m reminded of the many conversations we had where our decisions were questioned. Our move to a state where we knew no one without a job and without a plan was deemed “too risky”. Leaving the safety and security of a guaranteed income with guaranteed security, family, and friends in the middle of a pandemic with three kids under the age of 5 was “crazy”.
We had a calling on our lives, and we were committed to that calling. This is how we have to approach our dreams. Nothing, absolutely nothing, should distract you from the calling that has been placed on your life.
Nehemiah 6:9
They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.” But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”
When we’re pursuing a dream or a crazy adventure that God is calling us to, there is no doubt whatsoever that “great trouble” (Neh. 1:3) will find its way to us. It is in these moments that our faith is tested. When we moved to Colorado in 2022 to pursue our dream, it seemed that nothing could go wrong until it did. Then, when it did, it came in a hurry. Our income stopped. My father passed away suddenly. We, actually I, totaled our car. We lost $70,000 when we sold our house. Our marriage reached its low point. We had no community. Our dog even passed away.
Application
Nehemiah’s prayer is a simple request for strength. Nehemiah’s enemies were doing their best to stifle Nehemiah at every point along his journey. Nehemiah turned to the one who provides true strength. As humans, we often fail. We also don’t have the strength, courage or hearts to fend off the attacks coming at us in our own strength. Fortunately, we have a supplier of endless strength at our disposal at all times. Strength can come in various ways. It may literally comes in physical strength. It may come in the form of mental fortitude to push past the barriers confronting us. Whatever strength we need in any given moment, God is able to provide it.
Conclusion
The story continues for several more chapters. What we see in the first of the Nehemiah is that he submitted his life to a vision given by God. Nehemiah relied solely on the works of the Lord to provide everything needed in order to accomplish the vision. In the end, Nehemiah was able to experience the joy of the Lord.
My charge to you, reader, is to pursue the visions and callings God has given you. Work tirelessly towards them. Ask for help along the way. Seek permission to pursue them. However, before you do any of that, seek the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. Ask God for his blessing along your journey. Request His strength. He will give it all to you.
About the Author
John Claborn
Hi! I’m John. Author of the post you just read. I like to write about all things adventure. Mostly things to help people live more adventurous lives and care for their families in a more meaningful way. By day, I’m a COO. By night, I’m a rad dad of 4 kids that I don’t deserve and a husband to a woman I can’t understand how I got. My goal is to show freedom to people through adventure and experiences.
