In chapter one, Nehemiah has heard news that caused his heart to break. Jews who escaped the exile in 587 BC are back in Jerusalem trying to rebuild the city. There is one issue that could thwart their plans. The wall around the city is broken down.
In that condition, the exiles living there are vulnerable to enemies who might wish to control the city. Being taken into slavery is the worst thing that could happen to them. Unless they receive help to rebuild the wall their lives are at risk.
Interesting, after receiving the news, Nehemiah "wept and mourned for days and (Nehemiah) continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven." Continual and repetitive prayer demonstrates a heart that knows that hope resides with the Lord and no one else.
He prays for forgiveness for his people. It was their disobedience and unbelief that caused God to allow the people to be taken into exile in the first place. He prays, "We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, the statutes and the rules that you commanded Your servant, Moses. And Nehemiah is sure to also pray for his own forgiveness as well.
Nehemiah also reminds God of His promise that if the people return to Him in faith and keep His commandments, then He would gather the people whom He has redeemed and return them to the holy city.
Finally, Nehemiah confides that he knows of one person who could enable him to go to Jerusalem and find a solution to the building of the wall. That's his boss, King Artaxerxes.
Nehemiah doesn't simply rush in and make demands of the King. He prays for days before he makes his request for the Lord's help. Nehemiah is not only the King's humble servant but he is the humble servant of the King of the Universe, Almighty God.
Have you been too quick to take matters in your own hands when you see a problem that needs solving? Did you think that the issue you were dealing with was something you could handle without the help of the Lord?
It's easy to do, for sure. But how often do we simply make matters worse when we act on our own instead of giving God room to do His work and in His time? Nehemiah's example reminds us to slow down, to really pray over the issue or problem that we are concerned about and trust that the God who loves His children will answer that prayer.
Yes, Nehemiah is a man worth intimating.
