In Nehemiah, chapter two, verse twelve, although Nehemiah arrived as governor with the full authority of the Persian Empire behind him, he did nothing for three days and told no one his God-given plans. We can be sure he was waiting on God, not rushing ahead by trusting in his strength, as in Isaiah forty, verses twenty-nine through thirty-one. Then Nehemiah made a cautious, careful survey of the damage done to the walls by the Samaritans while at the same time undoubtedly counting the cost, as in Luke fourteen, verses twenty-eight through thirty. Most importantly, instead of criticizing the people for their problems and sorrows, he wanted to see these problems from their viewpoint. Therefore, he said nothing until he could understand the situation from their perspective and feel what they felt.
When Nehemiah had considered the matter, he told the Jews that God had put it into his heart to build the wall of Jerusalem. He does not undertake to do it without them. By stirring ourselves and one another to that which is good, we strengthen ourselves and one another for it. We are weak in our duty when we are cold and careless.
Nehemiah’s arrival at Jerusalem. He surveys the wall and resolves to restore it. Having arrived at Jerusalem and rested three days as Ezra had also done, in Ezra eight, verse thirty-two, he arose in the night, and some few men with him, to ride round the wall of the city, and get a notion of its condition. Although he had come to Jerusalem with the resolution of fortifying the city by restoring its circumvallation, he spoke of this to no one until he had ascertained, by an inspection of the wall, the magnitude and extent of the work to be accomplished. For, being aware of the hostility of Sanballat and Tobiah, he desired to keep his intention secret until he felt certain of the possibility of carrying it into execution.