提要
上帝已明顯將尼希米置於有影響力的敏感地位上，使他成為波斯王亞達薛西的酒政。要得到這種位置，尼希米必須是一位忠貞，可信賴的官員。因為他的責任是先嘗了酒，再給王喝，他必定經常面見君王。尼希米住在書珊城，是波斯帝國的名都之一；他的住處乃王的冬官。雖然尼希米是生在以色列被擄之時，一直住在外國，他的心卻常在耶路撒冷，他列祖所在的那城（參2:3）。他有一個榮耀的地位，並且自己也做得十分順利；可是他並不自私，仍然親切地關懷耶路撒冷同胞之福祉（1:2）。他聽到他祖先城市的不幸和殘破景象，內心深感同情和悲痛。那城原來是猶大國光榮的都會，聖殿的基址。
尼希米受聖靈催促，決心採取行動。他是一個實際而聰慧的人，有異象，又有火燒般的熱望來榮耀主。修復被毀的耶路撒冷聖城──上主選擇置放祂名的地方──他可以為主帶來榮耀。他的動機是出於對上帝的愛，與履行祂旨意的心志；其次是他對耶路撒冷骨肉同胞的熱愛。尼希米對這可悲處境的第一項反應，是到主面前禁食祈禱。以謙卑和痛悔的態度，他為同胞代求，承認上帝為全能者，信守聖約。他承認同胞毀約的罪，並替他們尋求主說，他們都是祂特選的子民，並且祂也應許垂聽忠信餘民的禱告。最後他祈禱的要點是：求上帝答應，讓他在亞達薛西王眼前蒙恩（1:11）。
無怪乎尼希米熱心地祈禱了好幾星期，並且當他把自己的願望呈現在亞達薛西王之前時，心存懼怕，因為他要王幫助他建造耶路撒冷的城牆，而這同一國王才剛下了一道旨意（因有人誣告猶太人想叛變），停止正在建造城牆的工程（拉4:21~23）。在上帝的眷顧下，亞達薛西王在他的命令中加了一小句話，允許這旨意稍加變動（拉4:21）。主回答了尼希米的祈禱，就是讓王恩淮他（2:6），並且還有官方的信函交給尼希米，授權給他，領導人民重修聖城。甚至還給他一支軍隊陪同保護，因為他是中央的官員（參4:23）。
尼希米很有智慧的在夜晚祕密測量了耶路撒冷的城牆，這樣才不致激起仇敵的喧囂或是暴力反應。這些敵對者剛剛才拿到亞達薛西王的旨意，要叫猶太人停止修牆。這些反對者在王的前一個命令之下，擁有權力（拉4:23），可以毀壞城與門任何新造的部份。仇敵近來所做的破壞，使得尼希米甚至不能由任何一扇門，騎著驢子進城（2:14）。
以禱告的心衡量了橫在面前的巨大工程之後，他把自己的計畫告知了猶太人，包括眾祭司，貴族，官員，還有那些先前在城上工作的人（2:16,17)。他以鼓勵的話語告知同胞上帝如何使他重獲築城的許可，並得以返鄉督察，這使百姓重新燃起了熱心。這些人原來是絕望和失敗的，現在則又團結一致，以活潑的熱情，立即開工建造。他們的仇敵在旁邊譏笑又輕視；但是尼希米很有耐心、自制和堅忍。他也信賴以色列的上帝，必會賜給他們成功（2:20）。當主的子民憑信心踏出步伐，並為祂工作時，反對的聲浪是可預期的（參林前16:9），但我們的上帝終必得勝。
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Overview
God had providentially placed Nehemiah in an influential and sensitive position as the cup-bearer of Artaxerxes, the king of Persia. To attain such a position, Nehemiah had to be a loyal and trustworthy official. Since his duty was to taste the wine before it was served, he would have had regular access to the king. Nehemiah lived in Shushan, one of the capitals of the Persian Empire, and he resided in the king's winter palace. Although Nehemiah was born during the Israelite captivity and had always lived in a foreign land, his heart was in Jerusalem, the home city of his forefathers (cf. 2:3). He had an honoured position and was doing quite well for himself, yet he was unselfish and sincerely concerned about the well-being of his brethren in Jerusalem (thus his question, 1:2). He was moved with heart-felt compassion and grief to hear of their distress and the broken condition of his ancestral city, the former glorious captial of Judah, the site of God's Temple.
Prompted by the Holy Spirit, Nehemiah decided to take action. He was a practical and intelligent man with a vision and a burning desire to glorify the Lord. By restoring the ruined city of Jerusalem, where the Lord had chosen to put His name, he would be bringing glory to the Lord. His motivation was, firstly, his love for God and desire to do His will, and secondly, his love for his brethren in Jerusalem. Nehemiah's first reaction to this grievious situation was to go to the Lord in prayer, accompanied by fasting. With humility and brokeness, his intercessory prayer recognized that God was almighty and faithful to the covenant, even though the people were unfaithful. He confessed the sin of the people and sought the Lord on their behalf, reminding Him that they are His own special people and that He had promised to hear the prayers of the faithful. Finally, the crux of his prayer was that God would grant him favour in the sight of Artaxerxes (1:11).
It is no wonder that Nehemiah prayed fervently for several weeks and was fearful when he presented his desire to Artaxerxes to go and help build the walls of Jerusalem, considering the fact that this same king had just issued a decree (in response to accusations of insurrection by the adversaries of the Jews) to stop the walls from being built (Ezra 4:21-23). In the providence of God, however, King Artaxerxes had put a clause in this decree which allowed for it to be changed (Ezra 4:21). The Lord answered Nehemiah's prayer; a favourable response came from the king (2:6), as well as official letters which gave Nehemiah the right to lead the people in the rebuilding of the walls. He was even given a military escort for his protection, since he was an official of the king (cf. 4:23).
Nehemiah wisely and secretively surveyed all around the walls of Jerusalem by night, so as to not cause much excitement or violent reactions from the many adversaries of the Jews who had just obtained the decree from Artaxerxes to stop them from building the walls. These adversaries had violently imposed the decree (Ezra 4:23), and in so doing they would have destroyed any newly built portions of the walls and gates. This recent destruction was such that Nehemiah could not even go through one of the gates on his donkey (2:14).
After prayerfully considering the magnitude of the task which lay ahead, he revealed his plans to the Jews, including the priests, nobles, officials, and those who had previously been working on the walls (2:16-17). His words of encouragement, giving God the glory for making it all possible, gave rise to enthusiasm and a team spirit among those who had been in despair and defeat. They arose with unity and fresh zeal and immediately began to rebuild. Their enemies mocked and despised them, but Nehemiah was patient, self-controlled, and persistent. He was also confident in the power of the God of Israel who would give them success (2:20). When people of the Lord step out in faith and do a work for Him, opposition is to be expected (cf. 1 Corinthians 16:9), but our God is victorious.
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