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Nehemiah 2:1-10. A MAN OF PRAYER – devotional 11-22-19

Nehemiah 2:1-10. A MAN OF PRAYER – devotional 11-22-19

Nehemiah 2:1-10   Kevin E. Jesmer

Key Verse: 2:4         11-22-19

And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid.” (2, ESV)

Dear Lord Jesus. Thank you for your guiding hand in my life and in this world. I need you to be my Lord, Savior and Friend. Thanks for being with me. I pray that you help me to accept one word of God in my heart. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Part 1: Nehemiah’s Concern For God’s Glory and God’s People (1-5)

Verses 1-5, “In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. 2 And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid. 3 I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” 4 Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.”

Nehemiah’s job as cup bearer was a very precarious position. If the king became displeased or angry, Nehemiah might lose his job and/or his head, and the situation in Jerusalem might become worse. But God led him to the point where he had to confront the king and make a demand for the good of his people.

Nehemiah boldly told the king about his sorrow for Jerusalem. The king responded, “What is it you want?” Let’s go back in time and think the relationship dynamics. Nearly 4 months had gone by since the last chapter. What has he been doing all this time? We have no doubt that the man had been given to prayer. In his heart, there was nothing more important in the world to Nehemiah than the glory of God and the condition of the people and of the city of Jerusalem. Nehemiah anguish was godly anguish. It reflected God’s own anguish over his people and his city. God loved that city because in all the world, the place that held God’s name and his honor was Jerusalem and the temple. God disciplined them because he is true to his word. And he disciplined them because they deserved discipline. But God was not happy to do that. God mourned with his people who had degenerated into a sinful and godlessness people.

Nehemiah shared and reflected God’s anguish very well. He reflected God’s heart. God wanted them to share in his anguish over sinners, pray for them and even shepherd them. Jesus raised disciples and taught them how to share in the heart and mind of God. the disciples eventually grew to anguish over sinners. Paul anguished over his own people and deeply cared for them. What does God want from us? He wants us to anguish over lost people as Nehemiah anguished over his people and city. When we genuinely anguish over the condition of lost sinners, God is moved and reveal to us his plan on how to bring them back to God.

The time came when God initiated his unique mission. He had been in the king’s presence many times since he was the official cup bearer. But in all this time, he had not once asked the king’s favor. It would have been so easy to “jump the gun” and prematurely make a request. Rather he waited for the God-given opportune time to make his request. How patient he had been in all these months! The right time had finally come now after four months of quiet and patient prayer. Nehemiah had initiated the request. This was not easy. It is a testimony of his faith in God— to know that sovereign God who has a purpose for him.

The opportunity to speak to the king came in a most unusual way. Look at verse 2. “so the king asked me, ‘Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.’ I was very much afraid.” One day he came into the presence of the king and the king noticed that Nehemiah’s face looked very sad. The burden he had for his people was affecting his outer appearance. His sorrow was almost palpable. You could see it on his face. He was always in anguish over the plight of his people, but this time it was just overwhelming. He could no longer hide what was going on in his heart. He prayed and fasted, and made up his mind to speak to the king. God made it so. The right time to open his mouth and speak had finally come.

God had prepared the king’s heart to be inquisitive about Nehemiah. The king immediately noticed and asked him why his heart was sad. Nehemiah was very much afraid. That the king himself noticed Nehemiah’s sadness tells us that there was something special about this king. He was not a selfish king, but one who was very familiar with his attendants. He was concerned about them enough to notice their distress. Now, a man with a broken heart stood before the king. The king had never seen Nehemiah in this condition before. He sensed that Nehemiah his cup bearer was grieving over something. He could have easily ignored Nehemiah’s distress as none of his concern. The king did not have to even inquire of him. But he asks him what was bothering him. It was the very opportunity which Nehemiah had been waiting for the last four months.

But before we consider Nehemiah’s response, the last word which Nehemiah records in verse 2 are very interesting. He tells us that he was very much afraid. The opportunity had finally come, but that did not mean that it was going to be easy. Regardless of the close relationship that Nehemiah and the king may have had, Nehemiah admits that he was “very much afraid”. There are several things that we can learn here. Nehemiah wasn’t ashamed to admit his fear. Also…yes, he was afraid but it’s clear that he did not let his fear paralyze him nor hinder him from taking this opportunity which God had given him. He was not a captive to fear. He did not become a slave to his fear, and then become useless in the mission that was entrusted to him.

Fear, if it is allowed to rule the heart paralyzes. Even God’s people, when caught by their fears become paralyzed. Abraham was afraid of the king of Egypt, Pharaoh. In his fear he had to lie about his wife saying that she was his sister. When the Pharaoh took her from him, Abraham was powerless to do anything, powerless to rescue his wife, and powerless to leave Egypt. God had to finally rescue him through divine intervention.

There are always tasks that God would have his people do. Especially the task of bringing the Gospel to the people around us. Jesus once said: “the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few, therefore ask the lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field.” God calls us to be workers in his harvest field. But most often it is not so easy. At times it makes us downright fearful.

God gave Nehemiah the thrust he needed. He spoke up about what was on his heart. Read verse 3,” I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” Nehemiah confessed to the king about his anguish. It was a leap of faith. He entrusted it all to God.

The king showed favor to Nehemiah and invited him to talk about his request. Look at verse 4, “Then the king said to me, ‘What are you requesting?’ So I prayed to the God of heaven.” The king was willing to listen! When Nehemiah took a step of faith, God moved the king’s heart. What could possibly make a king willing to listen to a cup bearer, other than the very hand of God! it was an impossible situation. Nehemiah was not the king’s advisor nor the royal engineer. He was a cup bearer. But the king was willing give him a listen. Praise God. Whenever someone expresses their anguish in prayer, they experience the hand of God in their lives.

Now Nehemiah was in over his head. He could not shrink back now. What request could he make? What could he possibly do for the people and the city? But Nehemiah knew that God would know what needs to be done. And how to do it. And so, he prayed. Look at verse 4b. “and so I prayed to the God of heaven.” Nehemiah understood that the Lord had given him an opportunity to bring his heart’s conviction— the task God laid upon him — before the king. God had opened the way. Though he had a short time to react, he took that moment to pray to God before he spoke. He wanted God’s direction. He wanted God’s strength. He wanted God’s blessing. Most of all he wanted God involved in every step of his life and mission. So he prayed to the God of heaven.

It was a step by step prayer before God. Eight times throughout the book we witness this “on-the-spot” prayer. He had faith that believes that this was not his plan. It was God’s plan— the mission God had given him. And he treated it so. He believed that God had a plan and that God wants to do it in his own way.

How often do we neglect doing things in God’s way? When God puts a task on our hearts, we pray one time and then proceed to do things according to our own wisdom and effort. Some hardly stop to seek God’s guidance. I pray to be a person that always prays first even if it is “on-the-spot” prayer.

Nehemiah prayed to the God of heaven. With God’s strength and inspiration, he boldly answered the king. Read verse 5. “And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.” He requested permission to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the city and its walls. It was an unlikely that the king would allow it. But as farfetched as this hope may have been, Nehemiah trusted that God would work to fulfill his purpose. And If the king refused. Nehemiah would have understood that it was not the right time and he would have continued to hope and pray I am sure.

Part 2: An Emergency Prayer (6-10)

Verses 6-10, “6 And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time. 7 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me. 9 Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.”

The king was actually not averse to the plan. He probed Nehemiah for more information. Look at verse

6, “And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you

return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time.” The king knew how to listen. He

asked Nehemiah how long he would be gone. The king decided to send Nehemiah and his team. He had

the king’s blessing. He needed to set a time, and he did. Nehemiah does not tell us the time he set for his

mission. but we know that he spent 12 years in Jerusalem fulfilling the Lord’s mission. Wow! What a

powerful work of God!

Knowing God was with him, Nehemiah made another bold request. Read verses 7-8. “And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.”

     The man who had started out by saying “I was very much afraid” now went further than requesting a leave of absence to fulfill his mission. His fears had subsided. His faith grew every step of the way. He asked the king for letters to be written to the governors of the provinces Nehemiah’s team would have to pass through on their way to Jerusalem.

The journey was not a small and easy one. It was a vast distance (900 miles) he would have to cross over rugged and arid land before reaching his destination. The journey would be fraught with danger. The governors would have questions as to the nature of his journey. They should also provide him with enough protection to reach his destination. When he arrived, he would need timber for the rebuilding of the walls. So he requested all that would necessary for him to make the journey and during the time he would be there. He obviously had good organizational skills. He had thoroughly thought about all the details ahead of time. He prayed. He planned. He carried it out.

Nehemiah knew it was not just his organizational skills at work here, but rather God’s power. In verse 8b he says: “And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.” Nehemiah knew who God was. He was the “God of heaven, the great and awesome God.” He also knew that God rules all things in heaven and on earth, and that all things answer to his sovereign will. Consequently, Nehemiah knew that the events that have thus far occurred were part of God’s plan to restore his people along with Jerusalem. Nehemiah knew that he was only an instrument in the hand of this mighty God, who used him to bring about his purpose. And he gave glory and honor to God.

Look as verses 9-10 again, “Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.” The men who are named in verse 10, Sanbalat and Tobiah are mentioned with negative undertones, one an ammonite and the other a horonite, both aggressors towards the Israelites whom they regarded with contempt. While the Israelites were suffering in their exile, these people rejoiced and celebrated the misery of the Israelites. When Ezra the prophet returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, these peoples opposed the rebuilding of the temple and became a hindrance and snare to the builders. For a while the persecution was so severe that the rebuilding project was halted for a long time. Only then did they relent and ease their opposition.

The Bible teaches us that every time God was doing something marvelous in history, the enemies of God and of his work became disturbed and intent on causing trouble. But they never prevailed over God and the people whom God had chosen to fulfill his purpose.

We are living in a generation so completely opposed to God and to his work that hindrances, pitfalls, hardship and difficulties are rampant. But we must believe that regardless of how much Satan and his servants are disturbed, the work God has given us to do must go on, and that he would prevail. But we must remember as the saint Paul says: our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the forces of darkness that wage war against our soul and the souls of those we love.

Our enemy today is not Sanbalat nor Tobiah, but rather fears and doubts, anxiety and despair, indifference and complacency, hedonism and selfishness and all the temptations that assail our hearts and minds to distract us from what God would have us do. And God would have us build and rebuild, rebuild and then build again. He would have us trust him in all things, especially in working out a plan we need only pray about and embrace.

Prayer: Lord, help me to share in your heart and your concern for your glory and your people. Make me into a man who patiently prays and steps up to follow your leading in all things.”

One Word: Concern, pray and follow God’s leading.

References: Sarah Barry’s daily bread

Teddy Hembekides (Pastor of Triton UBF) message on Nehemiah 2 . http://tritonubf.com/sermons-messages/nehemiah’s-request/




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