Year 2, Day 49: Nehemiah 1

Okay, I’m going to take a paragraph and explain the historical timeline as we transition from Ezra to Nehemiah.  It was about 536 B.C. when Zerubbabel and Jeshua first came to Jerusalem with their initial contingent of Jews to begin rebuilding.  The Temple was finished around 516 B.C.  Under Ezra in 457 B.C., a small spiritual revival begins to happen when he comes to Jerusalem.  Almost a decade later in 445 B.C. God sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem in order to rebuild the walls and provide some security for the refugees that had returned to the land.  We should recognize, therefore, that by the time Nehemiah steps on the scene, almost a century has passed since Zerubbabel and Jeshua were first allowed to return to Jerusalem.

Nehemiah Cares

The first thing that I notice here is that Nehemiah asks for a report.  He is genuinely concerned for Jerusalem and for the exiles that have returned.  But let’s get one thing straight.  Nehemiah is primarily concerned with the relationship between God and God’s people.  The health and safety of the people are important, but the people’s relationship with God is of more importance.

Yes, the report is not good for Jerusalem and the inhabitants.  The report actually focuses on the lack of a wall and the harassment of the people.  But we should not presume to know Nehemiah’s focus from the report he receives.  We should know Nehemiah’s focus from the prayer that he prays.  The report is one thing.  Nehemiah’s prayer reveals where his heart is.

Nehemiah Prays

What is it that Nehemiah prays?  His prayer is a simple prayer that follows a pattern that I have spoken of often – and in truth it is a pattern I speak of often because I’ve heard it spoken by others even more often!  The prayer follows a pattern of acknowledgment of God, confession of sin, humble repentance, promise of obedience, genuinely asking for God’s will to be done.  It is such a natural and simple pattern, but it is a pattern that so often we get it messed up.

• Acknowledgment of God: You might think that this step begins in verse 5 with the opening of the prayer when Nehemiah says, “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.” (ESV)  But if you think that, you would be wrong.  Yes, that part is definitely a portion of the acknowledgment of God.  But that is not where it begins.  Nehemiah’s acknowledgment of God begins in verse 4 when he fasts.  Fasting is humbling oneself before God, but it is more than that.  Fasting is an acknowledgement that we believe God is the one who sustains us.  Fasting by definition is acknowledging God’s place in our life.  And of course, not only does Nehemiah fast but once he has prepared himself through fasting Nehemiah acknowledges that God is of the heavens and the only one who honestly keeps His commandments.
• Confession of sin: Nehemiah confesses the sins of his people, but he also is quick to remember that he and his father’s household are not perfect either.  The spiritual leader might bring the faults of the people before the Lord, but the spiritual leader is also quick to acknowledge the place that they have been in error as well. 
• Humble repentance and promise of obedience: Nehemiah lets God know that He understands the promise that God gave to Moses so many generations ago.  Nehemiah lets God know that he remembers that if the people are obedient to God’s ways that God has promised to be faithful to them, gather them together, and dwell with them.  Nehemiah is telling God that he understands the role obedience plays in response to God’s promises.  God is faithful and powerful.  Our part is obedience.
• Genuinely asking for God’s will to become our will: Nehemiah acknowledges that God has begun to bring His people back and He has begun to redeem them.  Nehemiah asks that he would have the strength of character to do his part in God’s plan of redemption.

Community

Furthermore, notice that in verse 11 Nehemiah not only asks for himself but that he might be surrounded by people who are fervent about doing God’s will and who not only delight but who fear God.  Nehemiah doesn’t want to be a Lone Ranger.  He doesn’t want to do it all himself.  He doesn’t need to stand in the spotlight and have God’s plan revolve around him.  What Nehemiah wants is to be a genuine piece of a much larger puzzle – a puzzle filled with all kinds of people accomplishing God’s greater overarching purpose.  Now that’s a great vision and a humble vision with which we begin a new book of the Bible!

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