Thursday, November 5, 2015
Nehemiah 1:3-4 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." 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.
PRAY!
The prophet Ezra details his role in the spiritual reformation of the people of Judah thirteen years after the nation's return from Babylonian captivity. The temple and Jerusalem's walls had been rebuilt. When Judah's neighbors saw this, they destroyed the walls, leaving the city defenseless, assuring that she could not exert any political influence in the region.
After this destruction a friend of Nehemiah returned to Persia. He informed Nehemiah that, "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." Upon hearing this news, Nehemiah writes, "I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days ..." After all, this is not what was supposed to happen. God had prophesied through the prophet Daniel, that, "The street shall be built again, and the wall ..." (Daniel 9:25). But, Daniel had prophesied that the walls would be rebuilt " ... even in troublesome times." The burning of the gates of the city certainly qualified as troublesome times. So what did Nehemiah do?
As the cup bearer to the king of Persia, Nehemiah was one of the king's most trusted men. It was the job of the cup bearer to taste the wine for the king, in case someone was trying to poison him. Nehemiah was in a unique position to talk to the king. The Lord had put Nehemiah in this position to accomplish His will. So what did the prophet do? What can we do when we hear of trouble that affects God's kingdom? Do what Nehemiah did: PRAY!
Throughout history, God has placed people in the right place at the right time to accomplish work in His kingdom. That's right, you and I are where we are in church, in our jobs, in our families, in our lives, not just to live our lives, but to further the rule of God in hearts and lives -- we have a part in God's plan to "work all things together for good to those who love Him."
