Day 131- Nehemiah 1-3, Psalm 131

After the return from exile recorded in Ezra, the story continues with Nehemiah, a Jewish official serving in the Persian court. While Ezra focused on rebuilding the spiritual life of the people through the Temple and the Law, Nehemiah steps in to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, providing structure and security. Together, Ezra and Nehemiah form a powerful picture of restoration, inside and out.

In Nehemiah 1, Nehemiah lived in the royal Persian citadel of Susa, a place of luxury and power. He served as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, a trusted position in the empire. Yet when he hears that the walls of Jerusalem were in ruins and its people were suffering unable to protect themselves, his heart breaks. He fasts, mourns, and prays for days.

In Nehemiah 2, after months of prayer, Nehemiah finally gets his moment with King Artaxerxes. The king notices his sadness. Courageously, Nehemiah explains the ruins of Jerusalem, and miraculously, the king grants him permission to rebuild.

In Nehemiah 3, the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall begins in intense and everyone pitches in. Each person repairs the section closest to their home. It’s not just construction; it’s a community. The wall goes up, brick by brick, because the people do it together.

Psalm 131, David describes a soul that’s settled; not proud, not restless, but calm like a child with its mother. It’s a quiet kind of trust.