First Response

Prayer in Nehemiah (2)

“By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down,
yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.” (Psalm 137:1, NKJV) 

How do you respond to hard news? In some cases our response is automatic, a reflex of grief or urgency. The news hits us like a ton of bricks, even crushing us in spirit. We find ourselves incapacitated for a time, perhaps gasping for breath. 

It’s what we do next that is paramount. 

Nehemiah was a Jew who had been taken into exile from the land of Israel and found himself in service to the king. The Persian empire had taken control from the Babylonians and Cyrus the king of Persia had allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem. Ezra the priest would take up the task of rebuilding the temple. Nehemiah would arrive next to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. 

Nehemiah’s role in service of the king was to be his cupbearer. He had direct access to the king. But while that access was integral and important to the events that would transpire, it was access to another King that would play a more pivotal and instrumental part. 

In likely an ordinary day, going about his responsibilities, Nehemiah heard news that greatly distressed him. “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” (Neh. 1:3). 

Nehemiah’s response to this news was immediate. “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” (Neh. 1:4). His reaction was not merely a matter of interest, like we might have to an update on something in our hometown. Rather, Nehemiah was cut the quick. Sorrow and grief overwhelmed him. 

Why would Nehemiah be so upset? He had it pretty nice where he was. He had an important position and was likely well cared for. He was upset because his heart was with his God and the plans He had for His people. 

Jerusalem was not just a regular city. It was where God had caused His Name to dwell, distinguishing the Jews from all peoples of the earth. He was their God and they were His people. The fact that the wall lay in ruins and the people in distress spoke to God’s judgment on their unfaithfulness. Nehemiah was affected as he was by what the ruined city and ruined lives represented. 

Parallels can be made to us in our day with the state of the church. Our Lord Jesus has said He will build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. But we take stock of things and we see a church in moral compromise, ill-prepared and ineffective to be light and salt for the kingdom of God. The church’s mission to advance the kingdom has fallen on hard times, usurped by fancies and follies contrary to Christ’s call. 

God’s leaders need to weep and mourn and cry out to the God of heaven for the revival only He can bring about. The answer to our grief is not relief but restoration. Our grief is to goad us to action, something much in evidence in the book of Nehemiah. 

These opening words of Nehemiah press two questions upon us. One, are we gripped by a godly grief for the rubble we see in our own lives and in the state of God’s kingdom agent, His church? Two, are we driven to our knees in prayer, crying out to our God for what only He can do. And a third question lurks. Are we willing to commit ourselves to the work of rebuilding? 

Why is prayer of first importance? Ask God to grant you the conviction of prayer.

If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15). 

Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.