Return to prayer as Nehemiah did
Bible Studies for Life – August 2, 2015
Nehemiah 1:3-11
John HowellNearly a century and a half had lapsed since the southern kingdom of Judah had fallen to Babylon and the people of God ceased to be an independent nation. During that time, the Medes and Persians took control of Babylon and all its territory under Cyrus’ military campaigns.
Cyrus decreed the release of the prisoners that Babylon had taken, including the Jews taken from Jerusalem. They were allowed to build the temple and restore the city. Our lesson indicates the walls of Jerusalem were still broken down and the city gates had been burned with fire. The Jews who “survived the exile and are back in the provinces are in real trouble and disgrace”(v. 3). Nehemiah was cupbearer to King Cyrus.
Nehemiah was greatly distressed by the news of Jerusalem (v. 3). What do you do when people important to you experience difficult times? Perhaps you respond as Nehemiah did. He mourned their losses and hurts as he reflected on the news he received.
Out of mourning, a plan developed. Remember that Nehemiah was cupbearer for the king, an exceedingly important place of service. Nehemiah began to ask God’s help to secure assistance from Cyrus.
Nehemiah turned to God in prayer (vv. 4-10). Nehemiah was already a man of constant prayer. When he approached the king about going to Jerusalem, he prayed to God. Cyrus gave Nehemiah permission to go.
While in Jerusalem, word about rebuilding the wall came to the opposition group. Nehemiah prayed, “Hear us, O our God, for we are despised.” And God answered his prayer (4:4, 6).
After some conflict among the Jews occurred, Nehemiah sought God again: “Remember me with favor, O my God, for all I have done for these people” (5:19). As their work progressed, the opposition maintained that the Jews’ hands were too weak to accomplish their task, so Nehemiah asked God to “strengthen my hands” (6:9)
Nehemiah made one trip back to the king and was given permission to make a return trip to Jerusalem where he revitalized temple worship. “Remember me for this, my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services” (13:14). As can be seen, Nehemiah constantly turned to God for guidance and for approval of what he had done.
The prayer recorded in 1:5-10 is a strong affirmation of Nehemiah’s faith in God. “The prayer itself was full of beauty, and revealed a correct conception of what prayer under such circumstances ought to be. It opened with confession. Without reserve he acknowledged the sin of the people, and identified himself with it. He then proceeded to plead the promises of God made to them and ended with a personal and definite petition that God would give him favor in the eyes of the king” (G. Campbell Morgan, “An Exposition of the Whole Bible,” p. 191). His prayer was very similar to Old Testament prayers found in the Psalms.
In the New Testament, Paul encouraged Roman Christians to “rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer (Romans 12:12). To the Ephesians, he wrote, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for the saints” (Ephesians 6:18). Similar encouragement to continual prayer is found in First Thessalonians 5:17-18: “Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Rick Warren discusses prayer as the means for becoming God’s friend, a fulfillment of Jesus’ word to his disciples, “I no longer call you servants…. Instead I have called you friends” (John 15:15). Warren insists that one becomes a best friend of God through constant communication. God “wants to be included in every activity, every conversation, every problem, and even every thought” (“The Purpose Driven Life,” p. 87). How is it possible to do this?
How successful you will be in “praying without ceasing” may depend on your personality and your daily tasks. I find it easier to reflect on God when I am washing breakfast dishes than I can when riding my lawnmower across tall grass. Driving a car safely demands undivided concentration that inhibits prayer. But stopping at a traffic light provides time to voice a prayer for protection and thanksgiving.
Warren appropriately reminds us that “practicing the presence of God is a skill, a habit you can develop…. You must train your mind to remember God” (p. 89).
As patterned by Nehemiah, we are to confess the sins that so easily beset us and seek restoration to God as we pray. This is also the time to obey Paul’s word “to test and approve what is God’s will — his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
John Howell is academic dean emeritus at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo.
Bible Studies for Life is a curriculum series from LifeWay Christian Resources.