Day 51 – Under Construction

Nehemiah 2:1 It happened in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before.

 2 Therefore, the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.”

  Then I became dreadfully afraid, 3 and said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?”

 4 Then the king said to me, “What do you request?”

  Then I prayed to the Elohiym of heaven. 5 I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.”

 6 Then the king said to me (the queen also sitting beside him), “How long will your journey be? When will you return?”

  Thus, it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. 7 Furthermore, I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the River Euphrates*, that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which pertains to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy.” The king granted them to me according to the good hand of my Elohiym upon me.

 9 Then I went to the governors in the region beyond the River Euphrates* and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.

 10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel.

 11 Thus I came to Jerusalem and was there for three days.

 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my Elohiym had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; nor was there any animal with me, except the one on which I rode. 13 I went out by night through the Valley Gate to the Serpent Well and the Refuse Gate and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were burned with fire. 14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to pass. 15 Then I went up in the night by the valley and viewed the wall; then I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate and so returned. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the others who did the work.

 17 Then I said to them, “You see the distress we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” 18 I told them of the hand of my Elohiym which had been good upon me, and of the king’s words that he had spoken to me.

 Then they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work.

 19 However, when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, “What is this thing you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?”

 20 Then I answered them, and said to them, “The Elohiym of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore, we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem.”

God’s names:

Elohiym – Supreme God

Yeshuwa – Jesus

Christos – Anointed One, Messiah

Iesous – Jesus

Theos – Supreme Divinity

Hagios Pneuma – Sacred, Holy, Mighty Violent Wind, Breath, Spirit

Kurios – Supreme Authority

God’s character:

Ever Present

Merciful

Master Builder

When people make plans to build anything, businesses or homes, or make extensions to what is already built, they need work permits from those in authority to build in a specific place.

King Artaxerxes asked Nehemiah why he looked sad. When Nehemiah told him, he gave permission for Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls and the temple. Nehemiah needed letters to give to the people of the land so they wouldn’t hinder the work Elohiym gave Nehemiah to do.

*When he left, he needed to cross over the river. The river name isn’t mentioned. However, a close look at Bible maps of the area Nehemiah traveled showed he crossed the River Euphrates. Therefore, I added the river’s name for clarification.

What building project did Yeshuwa give you? What permits do you need to complete the work?

A common saying among Christians is you are a work in progress, under construction is often expressed, meaning Yeshuwa is working in you, building you into a vessel of joy to the Builder.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christos Iesous for good works, which Theos prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Yeshuwa paid the price for the work He is doing in you with His blood on the cross. His work permit is stamped in blood. Satan cannot come against the work permit on your life unless you give him permission. You do that anytime you give into temptation. Then you need to confess your sin so Yeshuwa can continue to work in you, building you up in your faith.

Jude 1:20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Hagios Pneuma, 21 keep yourselves in the love of Theos, looking for the mercy of our Kurios Iesous Christos unto eternal life.

1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of Theos, which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid the foundation, and another builds on it. However, let each one take heed how he builds on it.

 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Iesous Christos.

Paul refers to himself as a wise master builder. However, the Master Builder of your life is Yeshuwa. It’s His foundation He builds on when He works in you. One day He will complete His construction. On that day, you will face Him and hopefully hear Him say well done.

Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Iesous Christos.

Nehemiah would build the walls surrounding Jerusalem. He would lay the gates and complete the work. Yeshuwa is working in you and will complete the work if you let Him. Don’t let Satan stop His work in your life as Tobias tried to stop the work King Artaxerxes committed Nehemiah to do. Continue faithfully in prayer, worship, and Bible study, building up your most holy faith.

Let’s pray: Father, I am a work in progress. Use Your tools of mercy and grace to build a life of beauty wholly committed to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 10 March 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux