Nehemiah 1: 5 And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,”
Bookends. We use bookends to keep our libraries tidy. Authors use bookends to give emphasis and meaning. The book of Nehemiah is one big bookend to the concept of steadfast love. We find it difficult to translate the word hesed(Neh 1:5; 9:32; 13:14,22), some translators such as the KJV have opted for “steadfast love”—a love that is constant in trial and change. Other such as The Message use the term “loyal love”—a love that is tenaciously determined to hold on and love regardless of the cost.
Nehemiah’s very name speaks to this tenacious love. Israel’s cities lie in desolation after decades of raids from Babylonians, Assyrians, and bandits. The book of Nehemiah takes place nearly a century after the destruction of Jerusalem. All the Jewish people want is some respite from their conquerors.
Nehemiah does not mean God is my comfort, or God will be my comfort. It is the qal verb meaning God has comforted. This is the story of God’s loyal love. God’s covenant love is not predicated upon Nehemiah’s performance or obedience. God’s love is a free and gracious overture to his darling people. Sending His people into exile broke His heart, but He did not leave them without remedy. Before He ever sent them into exile he promised he would send his comforter (Isaiah 40). This comforter would make them feel safe. This comforter will let them know their abandonment of God had been atoned. Their love may have been disloyal; His love is always loyal.
Before the walls of Jerusalem were ever torn down God promised his people a comforter: Isaiah 40:1-2 “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned.”
It is to this scene that the Gospels open our eyes, “A voice crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the LORD;” Exile has ended. God has returned his people to himself. Jesus has come to them. He Himself is their comfort.