Nehemiah 11-13: Remember Me with Favor

'Remember me with favor, O my God', Nehemiah ends his writing.  Nehemiah was waging an uphill battle.  .  He had to contend with the Levites neglecting their duties and going back to their fields instead.  He had to contend with people who were working and trading on the Sabbath.  He had to contend with priests who had married foreign women.  But in all of these circumstances, Nehemiah was not afraid to confront the evil doers.  He was fierce in his defense of God's law.

All this from a man who could have been content in his position of cup bearer to the King. He had the king's ear.  He was in an enviable position in Babylon.  He had a pretty cushy life.  He didn't need to get involved with the going's on back in Jerusalem.  But Nehemiah knew that there was one greater than King Artaxerxes.  While he dutifully served the king of Babylon, his heart knew that it was the favor of God that was the most important.  It didn't matter what the most powerful king in the world at that point in time thought of him.  His heart was set on winning the favor of God.

2010 Post - Nehemiah 11-13:  Dedication of the Wall