A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

However, when God hides His face, He can be found by those who seek Him. There are
five ruberic appearances of God’s name in Esther. His name appears in acrostic in Esther 1:20;
5:4, 13; 7:7; and the fifth is the “I AM” found in 7:5. While the Jewish writers hid many different
acrostics in the Hebrew text of the Psalms, the name of God is the only acrostic in Esther.
Whereas the English reader may miss God’s name, the readers of the Jewish Age did not. In the
Masora and three other ancient manuscripts, the acrostic letters for God are written majuscular
(larger than the rest), so the Lord stands out boldly and prominently.
Because the name of Jehovah is not apparently included, some have suggested Esther
should not be in the canon of Scripture. But in no other book is the providence of God more
conspicuous. To the Jews who remained in the more-lucrative Babylon, God would not forsake
His covenant to His people.
FIFTY-ONE
NEHEMIAH:
The Rebuilding of the Walls
(Nehemiah)
Just because certain of the Jews chose not to return to the land of promise with the
remnant did not mean they were not interested in what was taking place in Judah. From time to
time groups and individuals would travel from their homes across the fertile crescent to Judah for
an extended visit. When they met their fellow Jews on their return home, someone was bound to
ask how things were in Judah. At times the question was asked simply to show interest in the
person’s trip, but more often there was a genuine desire to learn more about the land God had
promised Abraham and the city David had made his capital.
This was the situation in the city of Shushan when a civil servant named Nehemiah met a
group who had just returned from Judah. Naturally he asked about the situation in Jerusalem.
What he learned was discouraging. He was told, “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” (Neh. 1:3). There was a temple to gather the Jews
spiritually, but there was no city around which they could rally politically and nationally.
Though Nehemiah had apparently never been to Jerusalem, news of the condition of the
city of David moved him deeply. For four months Nehemiah spent time praying and fasting
about the situation. So emotionally distraught was he over the news that he often mourned and
wept as he prayed. He understood that the Captivity had happened to his people as a result of
their sin as a nation. But he also understood God had promised to restore the nation if it repented.
While he continued to serve in the royal court, he began to think of something practical he could
do.
After four months, the king noticed Nehemiah looked sad one day and asked about the
problem. In fear, Nehemiah briefly explained his concern about the condition of his homeland.
When the king asked what he wanted done, Nehemiah explained his plan. He asked to be
relieved of his duties in the palace to return and build the city wall. Further, he gave the king a
list of the supplies he anticipated needing and an approximate schedule as to how long the