Question: What is your first instinct when you are presented with a problem? What do you feel like doing right away? Do something to try to fix it asap? Ask a friend? Think of the best possible solution and ask the best person to help?
Today, I read Nehemiah. He was an exiled Jew serving as cupbearer to the King of Persia. When his brother and some men came from Judah (his homeland) to visit, Nehemiah asked about his people and Jerusalem, the capital. He learned that the few people who remained there were ‘in great trouble and disgrace.’ as the wall of Jerusalem is badly worn-out and its gates burned.
Nehemiah loved his country and his people so much that he cried for many days. He wanted to help his countrymen in their distress. In his grief, what did he do? He prayed. He not only prayed, he fasted – he did not eat just to concentrate on praying. To whom did he pray? To the God of heaven (v.4-5)
How did he pray?
“I beseech You, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, 6 let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses.
Nehemiah addressed the God of heaven. What kind of God is He? Great, awesome, covenant-keeping, loving and kind, one who keeps his promises to those who love and obey Him. What did Nehemiah first ask God to do? To listen… to what? His confession – for the sins of his people and his own. They disobeyed God’s commandments – they worshipped idols. They did not love God wholeheartedly.
After his confession, he called on God’s promises.
8 Remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples; 9 but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell.’
Nehemiah called on the covenant-keeping God to remember his promise – that if his people turn to Him and obey Him, He will bring them back to their land. Nehemiah acknowledged that God has the power to do as He promised.
10 They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand. 11 O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man.”
On the basis of God’s character and His promises, His relationship to his people vv.5-10, on all these, Nehemiah made his one and only request – to grant him success and compassion before the ‘man’ – the king who can help him help his people.
To ponder:
How often do I solve problem in the best way I can think of? At the soonest time possible? Who first comes to mind when I need help? My husband? My friend? The most capable suitable person for the job?
Do I pray? How do I pray? Who is God to me? My genie – my wish his command? My spare tire – as my last resort when all else do not work?
Do I pray based on the importance of my need, my ministry? Or do I pray based on his character – his great awesome lovingkindness? Do I know his promises? Do i know myself? My sins and weaknesses? Do I go to Him in humility – confessing my guilt before HIm? Do I beg for his forgiveness and call on his grace and mercy to grant me favour – to advance my cause?
What motivates me to pray? What has God put in my heart to do today? To help someone? How can I pray to do this well?
Lord, I confess that I often do not love you wholeheartedly. I disobey you with my words and actions. I am proud. I am not kind. I am impatient. Yet even when I am unfaithful, you are faithful. You keep your promises. You are patient to forgive me when I turn to you. Make me successful today to help someone in need, grant me compassion as you are compassionate. Amen.
