Throughout this study, we'll continually hear God's still small voice about one critical verb to know and do as a Christ-follower: persevere.
This week we’re going to understand a bit more about who Nehemiah is, his heart posture toward the Lord, and how we can mourn righteously.
1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. It came to pass in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the citadel, 2 that Hanani one of my brethren came with men from Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
Even though Nehemiah's home was not Jerusalem, he still had concern for the state of his people. I don't know about you, but most days, I'm more concerned about what's on my calendar and task list than what's happening in Nepal, Bhutan, Croatia, Moldova, etc. On the other hand, Nehemiah had a burden for people outside of his realm.
3 And they said to me, "The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire."
The report from Nehemiah's brother was one of great despair. Although the city of Jerusalem had a temple and worship was restored, there was no protection from the outsiders attacking. The same can be true of us if we are not cautious. Though we may worship Him as King, if we fail to keep our walls and gates strong, the enemy can quickly attack us.
John 10:10 tells us that the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. During this time in Nehemiah, the stealing, killing, and destroying were occurring because of broken walls; and spiritually, it can happen to us if we are not appropriately guarded. How do we ensure the walls in our life are adequately constructed and strong? God provides the answer! Let's continue…
4 So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
The recurring theme of late: mourning. Mourning is about feeling or expressing deep sorrow or regret (Merriam-Webster). When it comes to the walls of our soul, the church, and His Kingdom – we must first be humbled and mourn.
We must take our focus off our mighty selves and recognize the need before being called to action. For walls to be repaired, there must be more than surface-level grief over its state.
I'm sitting here drinking a cup of hot tea. I think I left the bag in a little too long, though, because it's pretty potent, even for my taste. Along that same thread, I really had to allow this verse to dig some roots before writing this study. To be straight up about it, I can't tell you the last time I mourned over the state of my own heart, the condition of the church, or the situation concerning God's Kingdom as Nehemiah did.
When I began studying this verse, I knew that I had to allow the Lord to work on my own selfish heart. And He is. The Lord has continued to show me the damaged walls in my own life and the areas in which I need to focus; He teaches me humility (because in reality, my own pride is what has kept me from being concerned with my heart and His church and Kingdom). It seems like an impossible task to repair what is broken. Still, I was encouraged when I read this statement by Andrew Murray:
…humility is not a thing that will come of itself, but that it must be made the object of special desire and prayer and faith and practice.
The Lord must bring each of us to a place of humility and deep sorrow for His work to be fully accomplished. We must recognize that we are just plain water. We must pour out the pride, excuses, and busyness that dirties our vessel so the burden of Christ can purely flavor our hearts.
One word of warning: don't think Satan won't be on your heels trying to 10:10 you (steal, kill, and destroy). Alan Redpath, in his book Victorious Christian Service, comments on this very thing:
"There is a wall to be built around the city of your soul. There is a wall to be built, a testimony to be erected around your church. There is a wall of witness and testimony to be built around the whole Kingdom of God in all the world. Whether you be concerned primarily with building the wall in your own soul, or with building the wall of your church, or with building the wall of the Kingdom of God throughout the whole world, you will discover that there is no winning without warfare; there is no opportunity without opposition; there is no victory without vigilance. For whenever the people of God say, "Let us arise and build," Satan says, "Let me arise and oppose."
If you desire a rebuilding, then armor up and call in the prayer warriors because the battle is upon you!
5 And I said: "I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments, 6 please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father's house and I have sinned.
Nehemiah knows how to kick-start a prayer: "O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy…" Nehemiah knew who was leading this battle – and it wasn't him. I'm sure as he wept, fasted, and prayed, the Lord increased Nehemiah's burden even more.
When we mourn and are humbled, it's much easier to see how great and awesome our God truly is.
7 We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. 8 Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations 9 but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.'
Nehemiah was sure to not only confess the sins of Israel before God but to include himself. Again, we see an act of humility in his heart. It's not just everyone else who's doing wrong; it was Nehemiah as well! Finger-pointing is so easy to do!
In verse 8, Nehemiah is actually speaking of God's faithfulness. He's "reminding" God (and himself) of the word He said in Deuteronomy 4 to the Israelites after their deliverance from Egypt. Nehemiah knew God could handle mighty tasks and that His King was faithful.
Whenever I think about descriptors or characteristics of God, "faithful" is the word that has permanently seared my heart. I often recount God's faithfulness in my own life because He has proven time and again that He knows best.
Redpath also says this, "…prayer is not merely prattle, it is warfare. Real prayer engages in a battle. Real prayer is rooted in the promises of God and in the covenant of the blood."
This statement is so true and powerful! One of my friend's, Angela, wrote a Psalms study a while back and it had a quote from Charles Spurgeon in it that stopped me in my tracks. He states this:
"Mere formalists may be content without answers to their prayers, but genuine suppliants cannot. They are not satisfied with the results of prayer itself in calming the mind and subduing the will—they must go further and obtain actual replies from heaven, or they cannot rest."
When it comes to prayer, be real and don't rest without replies!
10 Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand. 11 O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man."
Nehemiah closes his prayer out with another statement regarding God's power and strength. That's something we could all benefit from meditating on more. While God cares about the problems and situations we face daily, they are so frivolous when we compare them to the hand of God. Isaiah 40:12 gives us a visual thought
"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?"
He truly does have the whole world in His hand, friends.
For I was the king's cupbearer.
Don't miss these last six words. I love how Nehemiah tucked these words in at the end, not the beginning. Nehemiah was in a high position in the king's palace. Yet, you'll notice that his commencing words and burden spoke nothing of the Persian Empire. Though he held a role of prominence, his genuine concern and focus were rooted in God's empire. No matter who signs your paycheck from a business/personal perspective, remember that our interest must not be in earning interest, but in seeking first His Kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Amen.