JESUS CHRIST and HOLY SPIRIT in Nehemiah

JESUS CHRIST in Nehemiah

While Christ is not directly referred to in Nehemiah, Nehemiah typifies Him by the life he modeled. He was a courageous leader, defying the odds and encouraging the people to do Yahweh’s work (2:18), even as Christ defied the people’s opposition and encouraged His disciples to endure (John 15:18–27).

He was an ardent prayer (2:1–20; 6:9–14), even as Christ was (Luke 6:12).

Finally, he was dedicated to God’s law (8:9, 10), an important element in Christ’s life as well (Matt. 5:17).

HOLY SPIRIT in Nehemiah

Since creation, the Holy Spirit has been the executive arm of God on Earth. Elihu spoke the truth when he said to Job, “The Spirit of God has made me” (Job 33:4). The pattern is consistent in that it is the Spirit of God who works to make us all that God desires us to be. Nehemiah 2:18 states, “And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me.” The hand of God, His action on Earth, is the Holy Spirit.

Nehemiah, whose name means “Yahweh Comforts,” was clearly an instrument of the Holy Spirit. Under the power of God’s Spirit, he certainly modeled the Holy Spirit’s workings and became one of the early fulfillments of this remarkable prophecy.