Brad Alles

The book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament features a cupbearer to the Persian King Artaxerxes named Nehemiah who is motivated to return to his homeland of Judah to rebuild the city walls of Jerusalem that had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians. One of the striking characteristics of Nehemiah’s leadership is his dependence on God in his prayers and his reliance on godly wisdom as found in the book of Proverbs.

Nehemiah is written in the first person. Bible scholars believe an unknown writer compiled his recollections with 1 and 2 Chronicles, and Ezra. This may have been around 430 B.C. The book’s content details how exiled Jews from Babylon returned to Jerusalem around 537 B.C., but still had no city walls. Nehemiah returned to accomplish that mission and to lead people with prayer and wisdom.

In this age, as in Nehemiah’s time, the Church needs godly leaders who employ prayer and wisdom to navigate the challenges and opportunities set before them.