Nehemiah

 

[Nehemiah wrote] As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king. (Nehemiah 1:4–11 ESV).

 

During the rest of this month we will study the book of Nehemiah, who became a community developer for God in Jerusalem. Before that, however, Nehemiah served as “cupbearer to the king” in Susa, one of the capital cities of Persia. He had to sample the king’s wine (and other foods) to protect the king from being poisoned by enemies. When some of Nehemiah’s people (the Jews) came to report about the troubles in Jerusalem, God called Nehemiah to a new job.

 

Nehemiah was an organizer. He knew how to pull teams together. He was knowledgeable about woods, metals, and surveying. But he didn’t begin by raising money or gathering workers; his work began with prayer. “LORD, the God of heaven … let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying.” Nehemiah realized his plans would be futile if the Lord wasn’t at the center of them from the start.

 

In the New Testament, Jesus spent hours in prayer before choosing his disciples. He spent much time with the Father before going to the cross. He taught his disciples how to pray. The renewing work of God begins on our knees—not with a tape measure or a smart phone. Is the Lord asking you to come to him in prayer before you begin work today? Renewal starts in our hearts before God.