The
Book of Nehemiah continues where Ezra left off. Roughly 400 years
before the birth of Christ, and the Jewish people were still living
in relative comfort in Babylon, while a tiny group had returned to
Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and resettle the Promised Land.
Chapter 1 reminds me that we need to add action to our compassion.
The book begins with Nehemiah’s firsthand account. “One
of my brothers came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned
them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about
Jerusalem“. We learn later that
Nehemiah held a position of prestige in the Persian King’s palace.
The men gave the sad details of the peril the people were in, “Those
who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great
trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its
gates have been burned with fire“.
The city was defenseless and surrounded by enemies. His reaction
reveals the passion of his heart, “When
I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned
and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven“.
First notice, he did not stop at just being concerned. His first
action is praying fervently before God. I believe prayer does three
things, it gives us perspective; it moves the Heart of God; and it
gives us insight as we listen to the leading of God’s Spirit. As
we study the prayer of Nehemiah we will see it is not a recitation of
a list of needs, nor is it a canned speech. Have your prayers become
repetitive? The God of the universe wants to hear your heart.
Nehemiah’s
prayer is given for us. Perhaps we can learn from it? He begins
with humble praise. “O Lord,
God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of
love… let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the
prayer your servant is praying before you… for your servants, the
people of Israel“. James 4:8 tells
us” Humble
yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up“.
Next he confesses his sins. Sin separates us from God, confession
removes the obstacle. “I confess
the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have
committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We
have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant
Moses“. An important note here,
for some, this is the single reason God seems so distant. God
desires to forgive and restore every one of us and He provided the
blood of the Savior for that one purpose. Jesus died once and for
all “so
that whoever believes in Him would
not perish, but have everlasting life“.
Jesus did all the work to cleanse you from your past, present and
future sins, all you have to do is “believe
with your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord“.
Nehemiah next reminded himself that God is faithful! He quotes
God’s promise to Moses a thousand years earlier, “If
you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you
return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people
are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring
them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name“.
Do you feel like you have been scattered? “Draw
near to God and He will draw near to you”
(James 4:8).
Nehemiah
next interceded for the people in the Promised Land, “They
are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great
strength and your mighty hand“.
And he concludes with a prayer that God would go before him as he
prepared to speak to the Persian King. “O
Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant
and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name.
Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence
of this man.” It seems that
in his time of prayer Nehemiah understood he had to take action. God
uses us right where we are. Nehemiah “was
cupbearer to the king“, and you
are uniquely positioned too. Will you say a word to your neighbor,
or your co-worker or your friend? Over and over after a time of
preparation God commands people “Now
Go“. Has God prepared you for a
purpose today?