Nehemiah's Godly Character

Nehemiah is a person I highly respect and admire in the Bible because he feared God, was bold to take action for the glory of God and His people, and he was diligent to seek God--even in emotionally charged situations.  One such situation occurred when Nehemiah was appraised of how Jews were indebted and enslaved to one another in their fight for survival and had no means of paying interested charged them.  It was one thing to be enslaved or oppressed by enemies, but by their own people?  Nehemiah couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Nehemiah was incensed when he heard of the oppression taking place in Israel in Nehemiah 5:6-7:  "And I became very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. ⁷ After serious thought, I rebuked the nobles and rulers, and said to them, "Each of you is exacting usury from his brother." So I called a great assembly against them."  Rather than reacting and flying into a rage, Nehemiah's anger led him to think seriously of the correct course of action.  After careful consideration, he rebuked the nobles and rulers--a difficult thing to do when they were brethren he respected and cared for.

Rarely was Nehemiah guilty of making rash or impulsive responses--even when he was angry or upset.  This was Nehemiah's approach when he first heard the people of Jerusalem were suffering, afflicted and the gates were burned with fire.  Nehemiah 1:4 reads, "So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven."  Nehemiah was so moved he mourned for days, and he fasted and prayed to God about the situation.  Though his position in a king's court allowed him access to a ruler with great power and authority, he brought his concerns before the most high God of Israel by confiding in Him alone.

When King Artaxerxes noticed Nehemiah was sad and asked him what was troubling him, Nehemiah explained the sad condition of Jerusalem and the suffering of his people.  Nehemiah 2:4 reads, "Then the king said to me, "What do you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven."  Seeking the LORD and waiting on God's guidance was Nehemiah's inclination, even as God designed our bodies with natural reflexes.  Nehemiah did not take days to give his answer in this case, but he was circumspect to seek the LORD in prayer.  Our mistake can be to give serious thought to a problem but neglect prayer; we can spend time praying yet decide what is a good course of action without receiving clear guidance from God.

Nehemiah provides an example of one who took time to give serious thought to what angered him, who fasted and prayed when he was mournful, and made His request before the LORD God before seeking help from a king.  He was a man who responded in a godly manner rather than reacting according to strong emotions.  Nehemiah feared God, and this led to a cultivation of character made possible by the Holy Spirit in those who wait on the LORD to this day.