Preparation for Work

Introduction

This lesson initiates a series of lessons on Nehemiah. This series will take us through most of the summer. In 1988 Dwight and I preached through this writing and we decided that it was time to go back through it again. There are significant points and lessons to learn. The overall point of Nehemiah is to reveal God’s sovereignty in bringing about his will. We also learn from Nehemiah that each person has a role to play in God’s work. Some have approached Nehemiah as a way to describe the role of a leader. But our lessons will focus more on the response to God’s direction. When we are seeking God’s will and that will is revealed, how are we to respond. Today’s lesson will begin the process of discussing what is necessary to be about God’s business.

The book of Nehemiah covers from 445–433 B.C. 1:1 mentions the 20th year and it is assumed this is a reference to the King of Persia, Artaxerxes. His 20th year would then be 445 B.C. In 13:6, Nehemiah mentions the 32nd year of Artaxerxes. Let’s take a quick overview of the history surrounding this writing.

In 586 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon attacked and destroyed Jerusalem. This was the third and final attack on Jerusalem. Thousands were taken captive to Babylon. In 539 B.C. Babylon was defeated by the Persian army led by Cyrus its king. This is the same Cyrus as is mentioned in Isaiah 44 and 45. After a period of unrest in the Persian empire, Darius became king in 519 B.C. This is the Darius mentioned in the book of Daniel. In 486 B.C. Xerxes became king of Persia. This is the king mentioned in Esther and Ezra 4:6. In 465 B.C. Artaxerxes became king of Persia. This is the king during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. Ezra went to Jerusalem in 458 B.C. and Nehemiah came to Jerusalem in 445 B.C.

During the reign of Artaxerxes (465–423 B.C.), Persia was in constant political turmoil. Egypt was a continual thorn to the Persians. Thus, Jerusalem and Judah becomes a convenient buffer between Persia and Egypt. Ezra was sent to help with the rebuilding. Much opposition stopped or stifled it. Nehemiah’s return brings the reconstruction of the walls around Jerusalem resulting in the city being protected and a force to be reckoned with.

Nehemiah is a story of courage, rebuilding, responsibility, and endurance. Our time with this writing will encourage us and inspire us to reformulate our own courage and endurance as we discover God’s will for our lives.

Nehemiah’s Story

Nehemiah serves the king. He is in the citadel in Susa. This palace would have been the winter residence for the king. One of Nehemiah’s brothers comes from Jerusalem. Nehemiah is naturally concerned about what is going on in Jerusalem. He wants to know about the people. He wants a state of the union address. No detail is too small. But the report is not a good report. Things are falling apart. The people are in trouble. They have been disgraced. And to top it all off the wall around Jerusalem doesn’t exist and what was left—the gates have been burned. In other words, Jerusalem is unprotected. It is open to any who would come and want to cause trouble. Jerusalem is open to thieves and enemies.

Nehemiah is overwhelmed by the facts. His beloved city is vulnerable. His kinsmen are cowering in fear. They are exposed to the worst. And Nehemiah weeps. Hundreds of miles away and Nehemiah weeps. But it isn’t a single episode of weeping. This lasts for several days. And during these days he weeps, he goes without food, and he prays. In verses 5–11 the first of many prayers in this writing is offered. It is a prayer in which God is praised. There is confession of sin. There is a reminder of promises God has made. And there is a petition for success—success in the presence of the king. This is a prayer of determination; a prayer seeking God’s direction; a prayer for possibilities.

Application

There are two main points in this chapter that we need to focus on. First, Nehemiah has a real burden for his people. He is overwhelmed at their predicament. He is touched by their grief and difficulty. There are tragedies which arise in which we, too, are touched. Billions of dollars in aid and thousands if not millions of hours were given as well after 9/11. We could watch the events on t.v. and we watched in horror as fellow citizens were murdered. And we wept and prayed. What a tragedy.

But that kind of response and burden is rare. We might feel it momentarily when some tragedy occurs, but to feel the burden to respond is often not there. The truth is that there are just too many tragedies to have that kind of response. We would be at a real loss if every tragedy generated that kind of response. But the other side of the coin is that we too can become jaded to being burdened. We can insulate ourselves so much that we do not feel the need to respond. So let me ask you, “what burdens your heart?” We aren’t talking about something you need to get rid of. What is there that makes you sit down and think and weep and pray and fast?

Is there someone in your life who lives in trouble and disgrace? Do you have a burden for that person? Is there someone in your life whose walls of defense and protection no longer exist? Do you weep over them? Notice that Nehemiah’s first response was to feel the burden of his people. He sat down. He didn’t jump into action. Instead he prayed. Most of us want to go before sitting. Before the work can begin, we must feel the burden.

Second, Nehemiah prays. This is a prayer of repentance. It is a prayer lamenting sin and seeking God’s guidance. But it is also a prayer asking God to make a difference. It is a prayer asking God to open up the doors of possibilities. And it isn’t just a prayer for God to act, but for God to use Nehemiah in those actions.

What are you asking God for? What do your prayers ask God to do through you? Are you willing to be used? Nehemiah just didn’t pray for God to rebuild the walls. He didn’t just pray that the suffering of his people would be lessened. He prayed that God would use him to ease the suffering. He prayed that God would use him to restore Jerusalem. Are you willing for God to use you to restore those who are in great trouble and disgraced? Is there a burden in your heart for the people who are defenseless and unprotected from Satan’s schemes? Are you praying that God use you to bring someone to Him?

Congregations go through cycles. There are times in which things are going well and we feel good about ourselves. Then there are times in which things are not going so well and we become extremely introspective. We begin to ask questions like “what is wrong with us?” “What can we do to be more attractive to people?” Valid questions. Questions that need to be asked. Questions that need to be answered. But not the first response.

We look for a method, a program, a means of getting people into the building. We might even pray over such things. But we leave out something important—US. We want a program or a method, but we want someone else to work it. What we need to do is sit down, weep, fast, and pray. Our elders several weeks ago asked us to be in prayer for them and for this congregation as we seek God’s direction. But I must admit that prayer and fasting have not been a part of my life in response. What about yours?

There is only one method that attracts people—for you to have a burden for them to know Jesus as their Savior. God using you to lead another to Him is God’s method. Do you have a burden for someone? Are you asking for God to use you? Are you willing to be used? Are you weeping, praying, and fasting? Where is the passion for those in great trouble and disgrace? Where is the passion for God’s direction? Maybe that is the reason Jesus tells us to go into the closet to pray. For in the closet where no one can see us, we can truly search for God. I invite you to fast, to weep, and to pray this week. Find a closet. Praise God, confess your sin, remind God of his promise, and then ask him to use you in his will. Will you join me this week? Will you stand in pledge to seek God’s direction?

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