Nehemiah. 1:1-11
Please read your Bible text: Neh. 1:1-11
Nehemiah was a cupbearer for the Persian king during the days of the Jewish exile in a foreign land. Towards the end of the 70 years of exile – the LORD God stirred the heart of foreign kings to allow the Jews to return to their homeland in Jerusalem. The 1st return was led by Zerubbabel (Ezra 1-6) then followed by the 2nd under Ezra. Nehemiah was instrumental to lead the 3rd and final return of the Jews. Nehemiah was probably born and raised during the Jewish exile in Babylon. Though he was born and raised in Babylon, he had never integrated himself into Babylon. His heart and soul was sensitive towards the land he had never seen before, the homeland of his forefathers. He is a patriot indeed, one who carried within his heart a burden to return and rebuild the ruined city of his forefathers’ homeland.
It began with Nehemiah in prayer. His prayer came out of spontaneity of his heart, grieving over the ruin of his homeland and the pathetic state of his people. His prayer was saturated with a concern for God’s glory and the temple, filled with quotations from Scripture of God’s promises towards his people. You can tell what kind of a man by the way he prays. From his prayer, we know that Nehemiah is a godly man — a man full of God.
He was concerned about the Glory of His God – vv. 3-4, 11
When Nehemiah heard from his fellowman about the plight of the returned Jews back home and the state of the broken city wall, the rubbles around the Temple of His God, he was grief. He went into prayer with fasting. It was not just the plight of the people; it was not just the ruin or the rubbles of the city wall. It was the Glory of God and His name that was connected with it! In days past, the temple was a magnificent and glorious place of worship to Yahweh—the one and mighty God of all the earth. Now this laid in ruin. Where was God? What would the heathen say? How can God’s name lay in ruins? I believe these are the thoughts that went through his heart. He was unlike other people, for he was uncommon. He cared about God, His name and His Glory. He identified himself before God as a servant who delighted in revering God’s Name (v.11). For that—he wept in prayer and fasting. How much do we care about God’s Name and His Glory? Do we live our lives in such that we will glorify Him? Let’s look at this man from his prayer:
He knew his God – vv.5-6
Nehemiah knew His God to be the great and awesome One. That’s enough an awesome thought, but he also knew God to be loving and faithful. He knew God is faithful to keep His covenant of love to all who belonged to Him. He knew God as One who not only hear his prayer but also see his prayer. Is one thing for people to hear what you are saying but quite another for one who sees the saying in your heart! God is both— His ear is attentive to our outward cries and His eye is opened to see our inward cries. And Nehemiah knew it
He Knew how to be humble before God –vv.6-7
Nehemiah did not blame his people for their sins and the resultant plight they were in. He admitted his own and he identified with the sins of his people before the Almighty God. He used the pronoun “we” instead of the accusative “you”. By that, he humbled himself before God that he too had failed as much as his people. A good leader does not accuse failing followers but identifies with their failures. Nehemiah identified himself with the wickedness of his people and in this, he was humbled before God. One of the trademarks of a godly man is humility.
He knew God’s Promise – vv.8-10
Nehemiah knew God to be One who keeps His promises. He recalled God promise in his prayer: “…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.” He related to God what He had promised through Moses long time ago. He knew God is faithful to keep His promise. What are those promises of God in the Bible you know—that you can claim before God for yourself in prayer? Remember, God cannot break His promises.
He knew the Need for God’s Favour – v.11
Nehemiah asked God for His favour before the Persian king. In verse 11: “Give your servant success today by granting him favour in the presence of this man”. Now, who is this man? Obviously, Nehemiah was referring to the Persian king in whom he was going to ask for help for what was on his heart. Nehemiah knew his head would roll if he had been careless in his approaching the king. So he sought the favour of the higher King – the God who is not only awesome but also is the all-gracious One. Notice Nehemiah asked for God’s favour to be upon him so that he would be successful. He asked for success! So when God’s favour is upon you—it doesn’t matter what challenges you are facing or the most daunting difficulties—you are going to have success.
He knew God has a Mission for him – v.11
Notice that the Holy Spirit in inspiring the record of the Bible would have Nehemiah ended this chapter will these words: “I was cupbearer to the king.” There is a purpose for this! Can you see that beyond your secular job, the Lord would have a greater calling for you? Nehemiah’s secular job was a cupbearer. But in his heart, a far higher mission was already burning in his heart. He said it right—“I was the cupbearer to the king.” But deep in his heart, he was carrying a burden, a passionate desire to fulfil his mission to lead the last of the Jewish exile back home to rebuild the broken ruin of the city wall. His mission: ‘From that Rubble of Shame into Reformed Glory of God.’ Yes, Nehemiah was a cupbearer, and you may be a teacher, a doctor, an engineer or whatever. But beyond your secular job, there is the divine call, a far more fulfilling purpose for you.
Think: Beyond the secular routines—a higher call awaits.
Prayer: Lord, help me believe that I have a greater and noble calling beside my secular job and by your grace to run with it.
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