Yearning to remove disgrace from Zion

Nehemiah 1:1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the monthof Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men,and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived theexile, and also about Jerusalem. 3 They said to me, “Those whosurvived the exile and are back in the province are in great troubleand disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gateshave been burned with fire.” - (NIV84)Ezra 9:8 “But now we have been given a brief moment of grace, for theLord our God has allowed a few of us to survive as a remnant. He hasgiven us security in this holy place. Our God has brightened our eyesand granted us some relief from our slavery. 9 For we were slaves,but in his unfailing love our God did not abandon us in our slavery.Instead, he caused the kings of Persia to treat us favorably. He revivedus so we could rebuild the Temple of our God and repair its ruins. Hehas given us a protective wall in Judah and Jerusalem. Yearning to remove disgrace from Zion1. God planted the desire to act into Nehemiah’s heart2. The calamity of broken walls destroyed God’s work3. Nehemiah motivated his people to start building4. Focus and vision was required to defeat opposition5. Ezra’s call for repentance and declaration of grace