Nehemiah, whose name means “Jehovah comforts”, was the cupbearer to king Artaxerxes who became governor of Judah after the children of Israel returned from exile in Babylon for seventy years. Ezra and Nehemiah were both involved in the return of the people of Israel to Jerusalem. Ezra was a priest, scribe and religious leader among the people, and Nehemiah was a political and business leader among them. God used both of these men to accomplish His will for the nation of Israel.
The book of Ezra takes place seventy years after the book of Second Chronicles ends and was about fifty years after Zerubbabel, and his assignment was to assist in rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem while reestablishing worship within it. Nehemiah returned about fifteen years after Ezra, and his primary duty was to rebuild the walls which surrounded Jerusalem. Daniel spoke of this time in chapter nine and verse twenty-five where he wrote, “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.” God not only foretold what He was going to do for the people of Israel, but He employed both of these men to carry out His purposes.
Ezra returned to Jerusalem at the decree of the Persian king Artaxerxes in 458 B.C. (See Ezra 1:1-4), and Nehemiah returned at the decree of Artaxerxes in 445 B.C. which was in the twentieth year of his reign. (See Nehemiah 2:1-8) God's plan for the people of Israel was being initiated, and soon His people were to return to Jerusalem. God wants to direct our lives as well, and when we consider all He did through Nehemiah, let us remember that He has a plan and purpose for our lives as well. His plan begins by having a personal relationship with us through His Only Begotten Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and guide us by His Holy Spirit into all truth as He empowers us by His Spirit to live and conduct ourselves according to His ways and business within the world.
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