DAY 6 OF 40 - Better Together Through Prayer And The Word

DAY 6 OF 40 - Better Together Through Prayer And The Word

Nehemiah 2:11-15

11 So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. 13 I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass. 15 Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned.

DAY 6 – RECONNAISSANCE MAN

A reconnaissance man takes a preliminary survey to gain information – an exploratory survey. Nehemiah, a reconnaissance man, is looking over Jerusalem’s ruins…

SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 2:11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. 12 I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem; neither was there any animal with me, except the animal that I rode on. 13 I went out by night by the valley gate, even toward the jackal’s well, and to the dung gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and its gates were consumed with fire. 14 Then I went on to the spring gate and to the king’s pool: but there was no place for the animal that was under me to pass. 15 Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall; and I turned back, and entered by the valley gate, and so returned.

To better understand the ruins that Nehemiah saw that night, go to Google on the internet and type in… Nehemiah viewing the ruined walls of Jerusalem. You will see a picture that reveals the broken down walls and burned out gates to the city. It looks very similar to a picture after an earthquake.

I wonder if the “moonlight” view Nehemiah saw that night is what he expected. He had been told the walls were broken down and the gates burned; but sometimes we don’t think things are as bad as they are until we actually see them. Think of the many people you have seen in the last few years on television returning to their homes following a devastating forest fire, a tornado, a hurricane, etc. Seeing the ruins brings them to reality of what just happened. I believe the same was with Nehemiah. The “reconnaissance man” surveyed the ruins, thought of what God had put in his heart to do for Jerusalem, and found the task ahead of him to be massive!

Nehemiah had a few men with him that night. As they saw the ruins of Jerusalem that night, I wonder what they were thinking... This is so sad…What a mess…These poor people…Is it possible to ever put this city back together?...They need to get someone in here to help these people!

LIFE APPLICATION: Many are like the few men. Few are like Nehemiah, the “reconnaissance man.” Father, when you call me to a task, am I like Nehemiah or the few? Open my eyes, Lord, to see myself as You see me! Amen

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