Nehemiah 2. 6. For how long will the journey be, and when wilt thou return. You will have gathered from the reading that this question was asked by the King to Nehemiah after he had requested permission to visit and rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and there are a few points in connection with the request that we may do well to consider. The date of the book shows that it was one of the last if not the last of the OT historical books, and was written about the time of Esther and Malachi[1]. And when Nehemiah made his request it is divinely stated that “the queen was sitting by him, and it is thought quite probable that it was the Jewish Queen Esther[2].. and this may have had more than a little to do with the favourable answer he received, and it certainly would have helped Nehemiah to make the request. Nehemiah was in captivity in a strange land but his heart was with his own people and Jerusalem was the place he longed for. Moses was once in the Kings palace[3], but his heart was not there, and he chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, and we find them both leaving the Kings palace because of their love of their brethren, and making a long long journey[4]... and does this not bring before us very very vividly the condescending love of our blessed Lord, that led him to lay His robes aside [and] on wings of love come down to suffer and to die. News had reached Nehemiah that is brethren (sic) of the great affliction and reproach of his people, and the temple worship had almost ceased, and it lay like a great weight upon his heart and he sat down and wept and mourned[5]. His sadness was no passing show it continued for three months also and he was continually sad and downcast and the King noticed the change in his face (the index of the soul) and the evidence sorrow of heart, and asks the reason, and let us not forget that our blessed Lord looked down from heaven and saw our lost condition, and not for 3 months, 300 years but for a past eternity He ever had the work before Him and the necessary journey to complete that work, and let us not forget those words in Exodus 3. 8. Israel’s reproach & bondage ever lay as weight upon the heart of God, and He was moved with compassion to send His beloved Son to this sinful world, to bring about a better state of affairs, and to reestablish a spirit of worship amongst men by removing that which was hindering. Nehemiah pleaded on the ground of finding favour, and this was also necessary for our blessed Lord. He had that favour God declared it at His baptism. This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased[6] and throughout the gospel of John especially He emphasized the fact that He was God’s sent one, and it was at this point that the King, asked Nehemiah the question of our text For how long will I journey be an well and wilt thou return? This causes another question to the thoughtful mind Did the King deem it a sacrifice to send him and thus be deprived of his service. We cannot say with certainty but it is quite probable that it was the cause that prompted the question. One thing we can say with certainty that our God deemed it a sacrifice to send His beloved Son to this world on such an errand He that spared not His own Son but delivered Him up for us all. How shall He not with Him freely give us all things[7].. It was His only begotten Son, who is daily His delight[8]. Let us not forget the greatness of the gift. An old man I once met having a large family of girls and one boy, lost that only one in the first world war[9]. I shall never forget the grief stricken face as he told me of it. He went to France, never came back.. He was the only one I had. Nehemiah was sent and he says “So I set him a time. How long? Did the shepherd of Luke 15 set a time in which to accomplish his purpose. I think not? It was untill He find it.. Like Joseph when he was sent on an errand of mercy to his brethren. He found them in Dothan[10]. He did not return untill he had found them. And our blessed Lord did not return untill He had completed the work and uttered that cry on Calvary’s Cross “It is finished”[11]. Then and not till then could He return. Let me correct this error.. He died. He was buried. He rose again according to the scriptures[12], and not till then did He returned to the Father. The Kings saw the perils of the journey He knew there would be no room in the inn[13]. He knew the foxes would have their holes and the birds of the air have their nests but His beloved Son would have nowhere to lay His head[14]. He knew about the bitter hatred that would grow and grow untill it would end in fact heartless cry. “Away with Him crucify Him. He knew.. that He would be spat upon, wrote with that mock robe of purple, and have that reed in hand and that crown of cruel thorns upon His brow[15], and would after that cry of anguish such as never before since has been felt and expressed by man. Behind those words of the King there was evidently a desire for a speedy return. And if I may say it reverently, there must have been a desire in the heart of the Father that the work should be done quickly and that He should return in triumph over death and the grave. But our Lord worked to the timetable of His father When His time was come, He came forth born of a woman, and again in each of the crises[16] of the Christ it was all according to God’s plan. And as soon as He was able to say, I have finished the work fell gavest me to do. He returned. Gloriously triumphant exulted to be a Prince[17] and a Saviour. One moment. May we ask our Lord the question once more He is standing on the mount of Olives, and gathered around Him are His beloved followers.. and presently He commences the return journey to His Father. Could we asked Him the question. For how long will that I journey be and when wilt Thou return.. What would be His answer? I think we might say it would be something like this. Watch ye therefore for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh[18]. He is coming surely coming, but may I ask you solemnly. What does this mean to you? Will you be glad or will you be sad? Will it be all joy or all sorrow? A short time ago I saw a near neighbour of ours pushing a brand-new pram. In it was a new-born baby. Shall we ask that baby the question. For how long will thy journey be and when wilt thou return. Yes and what answer can be given. The length of life is very uncertain but that it will end is absolutely certain. See Eccl 12. 7. Dust returns to earth, as it was spirit of God who gave it[19]
[1] Matthew Henry comments on the book of Nehemiah "This was the last historical book that was written, as Malachi was the last prophetical book, of the Old Testament". He also makes use of the book of Esther in explaining the court etiquette
[2] The authority for this is not clear. Matthew Henry does not make this suggestion
[3] Exodus 2:10
[4] Exodus 2:15
[5] Nehemiah 1:3 & 4
[6] Mark 1:11
[7] Romans 8:32
[8] Proverbs 8:30
[9] Lloyd himself avoided service in the war because of his poor hearing
[10] Genesis 37:17
[11] John 19:30
[12] 1 Corinthians 15:3 & 4
[13] Luke 2:7
[14] Luke 9:58
[15] Mark 15:16-20
[16] This word is not
clearly decipherable
[17] Revelation 1:5
[18] Mark 13:35
[19] The last three words
are squeezed onto the end of the page