“ I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days 12 I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.
13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; 15 so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and re-entered through the Valley Gate. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.
Then I said to them, “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.” 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me.” Nehemiah 2:11-18 NIV
Almighty and Gracious God,
Nehemiah did not arrive in a fanfare of trumpets, laying his authority down and shouting orders. He rests three days and gets a lie of the land so to speak. Then quietly took stock of the situation actually inspecting it himself, by himself to get an unbiased view of the situation.
I am constantly reminded that the devil (the enemy) pushes and God leads. He tried to push Jesus in the desert for 40 night but Jesus was led by You, Father and Your Word and safely passed the temptation. Nehemiah takes time to see the whole actual situation so he cannot be misled. It was an overwhelming task he saw! But he did not condemn people with what he saw but called them to trust Your gracious hand and succeed together.
And Nehemiah understood that even though You had sent him there it was not his task but theirs. He was just a part of it. We may have al sorts of things we do at church, for church, in our community and it is good to remember that it is all part of the bigger picture and we are never alone. No only are You with us but we are a part of the church local, national and worldwide. Nehemiah reminds me too that where You guide us God, You provide. Thankyou that You, God did not send Your Son into the world to condemn but to save the world through Him (John 3:17).
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Tuesday 7th October 2025
The story of the song is below the lyrics.
God sent his son;
they called him Jesus;
he came to love, heal and forgive;
he lived and died to buy my pardon;
an empty grave is there
to prove my Saviour lives.
Because he lives I can face tomorrow;
because he lives all fear is gone;
because I know he holds the future,
and life is worth the living
just because he lives.
How sweet to hold a new-born baby,
and feel the pride and joy he gives;
but greater still the calm assurance,
this child can face uncertain days
because he lives.
And then one day I’ll cross the river;
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain;
and then as death gives way to victory,
I’ll see the lights of glory
and I’ll know he lives.
Lyrics: Gloria Gaynor
She writes her account: “I am a wife and a mother. It was in the middle of the upheaval in the ’60s that we were expecting our third baby. The drug culture was in full swing, existential thought had obviously saturated every area of our American thought, the cities were seething with racial tension, and the God-is-dead pronouncement had giggled its way all through our educational system.” She explains that Bill had been down physically and emotionally with mononucleosis. They had been verbally attacked by a close friend for their Christian ministry. The stress on them was intense. Gloria continues: “It was on New Year’s Eve that I sat alone in the darkness and quiet of our living room, thinking about the world and our country and Bill’s discouragement and the family problems – and about our baby yet unborn. Who in their right mind would bring a child into a world like this? I thought. The world is so evil. Influences beyond our control are so strong. What will happen to this child? I can’t quite explain what happened at that moment, but suddenly I felt released from it all. The panic that had begun to build inside was gently dispelled by a reassuring presence that engulfed my life and drew my attention. “Gradually, the fear left and the joy began to return. I knew I could have that baby and face the future with optimism and trust. It was the Resurrection affirming itself in our lives once again. It was LIFE conquering death in the regularity of my day.”