Reading: Nehemiah 1-3
And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it. And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time (Neh. 2:5-6).
Nehemiah was a man of power and influence (Neh. 1:11), a fully accepted member of Persian society. He had been born and raised in the land of Persia, and he had risen to a position of importance in the king’s house. Yet Nehemiah was not defined by the circumstances of his birth nor by the privileges he enjoyed. First and foremost, Nehemiah was a child of God, a descendant of Abraham, and a citizen of the nation of Judah. Therefore, when he received a first-hand report of the dismal conditions in Jerusalem (1:2-3), he was filled with great sorrow (1:4). In a state of anguished repentance, he turned to God (1:6).
Over the next four months (1:1; 2:1), Nehemiah fasted, prayed, and planned. His heart was with his people, but he recognized and obeyed the God-given authority of his earthly master, the king. Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation (Rom. 13:1- 2). Nehemiah felt pulled to go to Jerusalem, but he was well aware that he needed the king’s permission to travel. He also trusted that the king would permit him to go if God willed it.
To that end, Nehemiah went to great lengths to discover the fullness of God’s will. By the time he went in front of the king, he knew exactly what he was being called to do. He took the time to explain to Artaxerxes, in terms that the king could understand, every salient point of the mission that he was being led to undertake. As a result of his time spent with God, Nehemiah had an answer for every question the king posed to him (2:5-6). Nehemiah’s request was met with very little resistance because of this careful, reasoned approach.
Frequently, when the Holy Spirit has moved us, we are overcome with a sense of urgency. We feel compelled to act immediately, no matter how complicated the mission is. These feelings are helpful in that they ensure that we wholly commit ourselves to God’s cause, but they can also hinder us in our attempt to follow Him if we allow them to drive us to take action before praying it through. Often in today’s world, working for God will entail going through multiple layers of ‘red tape.’ While that might be frustrating for all involved, in the end, our witness for God will be made stronger because we simultaneously followed His will AND held fast to His Word by respecting those He has placed in authority over us.
Cyrus was a rich and powerful king, and the Lord powerfully used him, but the returning childre
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well (I Pet. 13-14).
Thought For Today When we work for God, we work on His perfect timetable; there is nothing we can do to delay or expedite His plans.
Word Studies: 1:5 terrible = awesome, greatly to be feared; 2:2 countenance = face; 2:7 convey me over = allow me to pass; 2:20 no portion = no part or property; 3:19 turning = corner; 3:23 over against = in front of, opposite of.
Christ Revealed:Through Nehemiah's prayer for his people (Neh. 1:4- 11). Christ also prayed for His own throughout the ages, which includes us today (John 17:20).
Pray For Staff:Gilbert Palafox • Government Officials: Rep. Marie Perez (WA)Rep. Madeline Dean (PA), Sen. Marsha Blackburn (TN) • Country: Philippines (107,668,231) Southeast Asia • Major Languages: Filipino, English • Religious persecution in some areas • 82.9% Catholic; 2.8% Evangelical; 5% Muslim (mostly Sunni); 4.5% Other Christian; 2.3% Iglesia ni Kristo; 1.8% Other; 0.6% Unspecified; 0.1% None • Prayer Suggestion: Seek God in prayer continually and depend on His strength (I Chr. 16:11).
Optional Readings:II Corinthians 8.