Topical Bible: Compassion and Sympathy: Nehemiah

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The biblical figure Nehemiah is a profound example of compassion and sympathy, as demonstrated through his leadership and actions in the Old Testament. Nehemiah, a Jewish cupbearer to the Persian King Artaxerxes, is the central figure in the Book of Nehemiah. His account is set during the period of the Jewish return from Babylonian exile and the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls.

Nehemiah's Compassionate Response to Distress

Nehemiah's journey begins with a deep emotional response to the plight of his people. Upon hearing the news of Jerusalem's desolation and the suffering of its inhabitants, Nehemiah is moved to tears and prayer. Nehemiah 1:4 states, "When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven." This reaction highlights his profound compassion and empathy for his fellow Jews, demonstrating a heart aligned with God's concern for His people.

Intercessory Prayer and Confession

Nehemiah's compassion is further expressed through his intercessory prayer. In Nehemiah 1:5-11, he confesses the sins of Israel and pleads for God's mercy and favor. His prayer reflects a deep sense of solidarity with his people, acknowledging their collective failures and seeking divine intervention. Nehemiah's willingness to stand in the gap for his nation underscores his sympathetic nature and commitment to their restoration.

Action Motivated by Compassion

Nehemiah's compassion is not limited to emotional responses or prayer; it propels him into action. After receiving permission from King Artaxerxes to return to Jerusalem, Nehemiah takes on the monumental task of rebuilding the city's walls. His leadership is marked by a genuine concern for the welfare of the people. Nehemiah 2:17 records his rallying cry: "Then I said to them, 'You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.'"

Empathy in Leadership

Throughout the rebuilding process, Nehemiah exhibits empathy and understanding. He addresses the economic injustices faced by the poor, as seen in Nehemiah 5:1-13. When he learns of the exploitation of the less fortunate by their fellow Jews, Nehemiah is angered and takes decisive action to rectify the situation. His insistence on justice and fairness reflects a leader who is deeply attuned to the needs and sufferings of his people.

Encouragement and Support

Nehemiah's compassion also manifests in his encouragement and support for the workers. Despite opposition and threats from adversaries, Nehemiah remains steadfast, providing both spiritual and practical support. Nehemiah 4:14 records his exhortation: "After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: 'Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and daughters, your wives and your homes.'"

Legacy of Compassionate Leadership

Nehemiah's legacy is one of compassionate leadership, characterized by a deep empathy for his people and a commitment to their well-being. His account serves as a testament to the power of compassion and sympathy in effecting change and restoring communities. Through prayer, action, and advocacy, Nehemiah exemplifies how a heart aligned with God's purposes can lead to transformative outcomes for His people.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Nehemiah 1:4
And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Church and Social Evils
... communion with Christ there is no sufficient sympathy. ... Nehemiah wept and mourned,
and that was well ... motives except the highest"namely, compassion caught from ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the church and social evils.htm

The Privilege of Prayer
... of our Redeemer is bending over us in compassion and love ... God and plead for divine
guidance, as did Nehemiah when he ... we lose much by lack of sympathy with one ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/steps to christ/chapter 11 the privilege of.htm

The Hebrew Prophecies.
... When Nehemiah made his collection he found these manuscripts ... Jew fenced out the Gentile
from his sympathy! ... petty consistency and the grudging compassion of man ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter v the hebrew prophecies.htm

Travailing for Souls
... It was the same with the work of Nehemiah. ... A man with no sensibility or compassion
for other men's ... any degree of the earnest anxiety and sympathy, which marked ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/travailing for souls.htm

CHAP. I. -II. 3 (II. 1).
... the female sex [Pg 210] finds greater sympathy than the ... weaker, stands in greater
need of the compassion of men ... 33; Jeremiah 22:12; Ezekiel 21:35; Nehemiah 4:14 ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i -ii 3 ii 1.htm

Light for them that Sit in Darkness;
... who saved them out of the hand of their enemies' (Nehemiah 9:27 ... Again, in a Saviour
there must be not only merit, but compassion and sympathy, because the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/light for them that sit.htm

And ii.
... strikingly demonstrated by Vitringa: "Although," he says, "the emotion of compassion
be by ... the royal castle, called the "upper house of the king," Nehemiah 3:25 ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i and ii.htm

The Preface to the Commandments
... The law of God has truth and goodness in it. Nehemiah 9:13. ... God is full of compassion
to such as are in misery. ... And this sympathy stirs up God to deliver. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/1 3 the preface to the.htm

A Traveler's Note-Book
... how in such strife courage and sympathy and tenderness ... have led up to this height
of pure compassion. ... founders of the restoration"Ezra, Nehemiah, and their ...
/.../merriam/the chief end of man/iii a travelers note-book.htm

The Desire of the Righteous Granted;
... Mark 9:24). The man that feared God desired to fear him better, saying, 'I
desire to fear thy name' (Nehemiah 1:11). But these desires ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the desire of the righteous.htm