president nehemiah

I just finished Nehemiah last week.
I like Nehemiah.
and as I was reading through the book, and thinking about all of this presidential stuff, I think that Nehemiah would make for a good president. here’s why:


// Nehemiah had experience on the executive level.
Nehemiah was cup-bearer to the king of Persia. he was his closest and most trusted friend. he was near the decision making process and was possibly part of the decision making process. this paid off. Nehemiah planned, organized, delegated and got the job done.


// Nehemiah was great at foreign relations.
he convinced the king of Persia to not only let him go and rebuild the wall of jerusalem, he got him to fund it!


// Nehemiah was a brave leader.
when the opposition came, he kept on going. he encouraged the builders, he refused to be intimidated. and he built the wall without any bloodshed or conflict. in chapter 6, nehemiah’s enemies were threatening to kill him. his friends suggested that he hide from them in the temple. I love his reply (from the new living bible): “Should someone in my position run from danger? Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life? No, I won’t do it!” … They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me.” he was calm in the face of opposition and pressure.


// Nehemiah was a patriot.
the destruction of the wall of jerusalem caused Nehemiah to weep. he risked everything to rebuild it.


// Nehemiah led by example.
he worked form the early morning to late at night to rebuild the wall. the people that he had delegated jobs to knew that he was working just as hard as they were, and that motivated them. he was one of them. he wasn’t afraid to call his friends on the carpet for their sins.


// Nehemiah defended the oppressed.
in Nehemiah 5, Nehemiah heard the cries of his people of how they had run out of money. He furiously went to the rich people that had loaned them money and called for an end to the high interest that they were charging.


// Nehemiah wasn’t driven by ego.
after the wall was built, Nehemiah stepped back and allowed Ezra to lead the celebrations and religious recommitments of the land. He didn’t need to spotlight. He was driven by the task, not by the credit.


// Nehemiah put national security as a high priority-
there were literal holes in their national security, but under nehemiah's leadership, those holes were filled in and the wall was built up.


// Nehemiah was a passionate and inspiring communicator.
he motivated his people to accomplish the impossible. he laid out a vision and told them how they could be a part of accomplishing it.


// Nehemiah was a man of prayer.
he didn’t make decisions without praying first. in chapter 2 the king of Persia asks how he can help Nehemiah, and before he answers, he prays. he also inserts these little prayers all through out the book. I love them because they are sort of selfish, but hey, if God is listening, why not? after sharing a difficult moment, Nehemiah often prays, “Remember me. O God…” as if to say, “do you see this God? don’t forget to bless me for this!”


obviously God thought that Nehemiah would make a good leader too- that’s why He put him in the position.