Tuesday
Nehemiah Introduction

The Jews returned to Jerusalem in 538 BC and took up the rebuilding of the Temple in 536 BC (Ezra 3:8). This effort was led by a man named Zerubbabel. The work on the Temple came to a screeching halt and was ignored for years. Why? Because folks were focusing on their own homes (Haggai 1:1-5). Seems the people still did not get it.

The people took up the work again and completed the Temple in 516 BC.

Nehemiah, who arrived years later (445 BC), supervised the rebuilding of the walls surrounding Jerusalem.

This process seems backward. Logic would say the rebuilding of the walls should have come first. Once the walls were completed, then the workers could focus on the Temple knowing the walls would protect their efforts. But, God’s ways are not our ways.

The Temple represented the first priority, so God demanded the people restore it first. Think about your commitments. What priority does your handling of resources and time reveal?