Nehemiah was a Jew, who was a high official in the Persian court. He inquired, out of concern, for the wellness of Jerusalem and the inhabitants thereof, and what he heard troubled him. Nehemiah 1:3-4 says, “And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.” So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the GOD of heaven.”
Nehemiah was ‘abroad’, doing very well in the king’s palace, but he never forgot his people and roots. Then, he resigned from his post, and returned to Jerusalem to undertake the Herculean task of Nation Building/Rebuilding the Broken Down Walls of the City. Make no mistakes about it, to REBUILD NIGERIA would require SACRIFICE: individual and collective SACRIFICE! Let every NIGERIAN, within and without, know that WE MUST BECOME SELFLESS and SACRIFICIAL like Nehemiah to redeem NIGERIA from the doldrums of political and economic captivity. We MUST!
Jerusalem had been conquered and destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC, and Nehemiah’s daunting task was to rebuild the walls and re-populate the city. Jerusalem was in ruins for some six decades and without protective walls for over two centuries. But, it took Nehemiah only 52 days to reinforce the gaps and rebuild the wall. He gathered his people together, equipped them, and led them in rebuilding the ruins. Nehemiah 4:6 tells us how he and the people got the job done, “EVERYBODY HAD THE MIND TO WORK!”
That’s how nations are built – EVERYBODY MUST HAVE THE MIND TO WORK. And, that is why I’m so passionate about RIGHT MINDS FOUNDATION – teaching Nigerians, especially the young ones, to cultivate the RIGHT MIND: ATTITUDE, PERSPECTIVE and BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS towards NIGERIA and their fellow human beings. We’re all brothers and sisters – CHILDREN OF THE LIVING GOD.
After the wall was built, Nehemiah ensured that the people were read GOD’S Law, and they understood it. Both the sacred and the secular were necessary to fulfill GOD’S plan to restore the Nation of Israel. We NEED SAME in Nigeria now! And, that is why our spiritual leaders must look beyond themselves and their little empires to NATION BUILDING, by providing GODLY EXAMPLES TO ALL, most especially to the political leaders, who are particularly devilish in their mindset, as we currently know them.
Nehemiah got the job done in record time by instructing and inspiring EVERYONE TO BUILD THE PORTION OF THE WALL IN FRONT OF THEIR HOMES. Nation Building begins from our INDIVIDUAL HOMES and FAMILIES. NIGERIA is failing because many homes have failed to raise their children well. We must repent and rededicate ourselves to the TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD, WILL and WAY. Nehemiah instituted extensive moral and liturgical reforms in rededicating the Jews to JEHOVAH. Our pastors and imams can’t do less, if we’re ever to REBUILD NIGERIA.
Lessons from Nehemiah’s leadership include: GOD’S leader responds to a GODLY Call, and casts a compelling VISION before the people. GOD’S leader cares for the people and their situation. GOD’S leader helps define the reality of the situation, and provides clearcut SOLUTIONS. Prayer is essential to know GOD’S Will. Nehemiah was a prayerful prudent planner and confident motivator. Leaders should be GODLY EXAMPLES, and not fraudulent devils in exalted positions.
Selah!
DA