MEDITATION, the Biblical Way

 

MEDITATION
It is a subject that can stir uncertainty, mystery, and apprehension in the minds of some Christians. It can usher in thoughts of something strange and mystical, linked to eastern religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism. But meditation is mentioned in the Bible about 30 times (depending on the translation). Followers of Christ are advised and encouraged to meditate. However Biblical-based Christian meditation differs from eastern religion meditations. In those, a person is guided to empty the mind and then focus on breathing, their body, objects, or chanting mantras. Biblical meditation has the person quiet their surroundings and focus on the Word of God and nature of God, and how God’s Word applies to them. Bible-based meditation should be based solely on the Word of God and what it reveals about Him and His works.

A general definition of meditating is to focus thought on; reflect or ponder. Biblical meditation directs us to focus on scripture and the nature of God. Following are a few verses discussing meditation.

Psalm 119:15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
Psalm 119:27 Help me understand the meaning of your commandments, and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.
Psalm 1:2 But they delight in the law of the Lord meditating on it day and night.
Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you O Lord

Biblical meditation actively engages the mind for the purpose of understanding God’s Word and His nature. It is a way to internalize God’s Word… to take it into our hearts.

Meditation takes time and effort. It cannot be rushed. You must plan to withdraw from distractions so that you can fix your thoughts on God and His Word. Here are some ways to get started:

1. Carve out a time and place free from distractions
2. Begin by thinking about one or more verses of scripture
3. Ask for God to give you understanding
4. Ponder. Reflect. Let it weigh on your mind.
Sometimes you may find it difficult to narrow down or figure out what to meditate on. Let me respond by ending this lesson with one of my favorite scriptures, from the Apostle Paul:

Philippians 4:8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

 

 

Nehemiah: Building Walls & Gates part 8

 

FINISHING THE WALL

The enemies of the Israelites continued to use threatening and intimidation to stop the work on the wall.
Nehemiah 4:11 … our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.”

Nehemiah placed guards armed with bows, spears, and swords where the wall was low or had exposed places. He had half the men do work, while the other half stood guard. The workers who carried supplies would carry materials in one hand, and a weapon in the other. Their enemies were frustrated over and over again. Nehemiah encouraged and strengthened the Israelites.

Nehemiah 4:14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

Work on the wall went on each day from the break of dawn till the stars came out at night (verse 22). Then during the night guards were stationed all along the wall. They were workers by day and guards by night. Nehemiah, himself, was always ready for action.
Nehemiah 4:23 Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water.

In the opening verses of chapter 6 of Nehemiah, we find that the wall around Jerusalem was nearing completion. The work had progressed to where the wall no longer had any breaks in it. The entire wall was joined together though the doors had not yet been hung at the gates. The progress was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, the enemies of Nehemiah and opponents of the wall. Everything these men tried to stop the wall had failed up to this point. The wall was almost finished. It was “now or never time” to try to stop the building. They needed a different tactic.

Nehemiah 6:2 Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.”
They demanded that Nehemiah meet with them in one of the nearby villages to discuss things with them. Four times the enemies sent messengers to Nehemiah saying they wanted to meet with him. Nehemiah did not allow himself to get distracted from what God had called him to do. He was not there to smooth things over with Sanballat and Tobiah. He was not there to negotiate with them. He was there to build the wall. Nehemiah knew they were scheming to get him away from the other Jews so they could harm him. All four times that the messengers came, Nehemiah sent them back the same reply.

Nehemiah 6:3 I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”
Nehemiah knew that they were enemies of the work and would do anything to stop it. He had discernment, a gift that comes with experience and spiritual maturity. Meeting with the enemy would not accomplish anything good, and they would likely try to capture or kill him to stop the work.

So the enemies tried another tactic. They sent an accusing letter to Nehemiah:
Nehemiah 6:6 “It is reported among the nations—and Geshem says it is true—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king. …Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us meet together.”

Nehemiah did not take the bait. He did not stop the work to go address these false charges. He simply dealt with the lie by stating the truth.
Nehemiah 6:7 I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.”
The best way to deal with a lie is with the truth.

Desperate people do desperate things; Sanballat and Tobiah were desperate to stop the work on the walls and gates. A final desperate attempt is recorded in chapter 6, verses 10-13. A prophet named Shemaiah met with Nehemiah.
6:10 He said, “Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you.”

This prophet claimed he knew Nehemiah would be killed that night unless he went into hiding. He was suggesting Nehemiah hide in the temple. Only priests were allowed in the temple. For Nehemiah to hide there would be a sin. Nehemiah, once again, used discernment and what God revealed to him about the heart of this prophet, Shemaiah.

Nehemiah 6:11-13 But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me.

The work on the wall continued, despite all the opposition. On October 2nd, 445 BC the wall was completed, just fifty-two days after it had begun. It was an amazing accomplishment to be done is such a short period of time. It was completed so fast, that even if on the first day, Sanballat and Tobiah had sent messengers to the King in Persia to try to persuade him to stop what was going on, that those messengers would only have been halfway to the king’s palace. It was so amazing that even the enemies and surrounding nations had to believe that God had His hand on it.
Nehemiah 6:16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.

Indeed, God did have his hand in it. He used the willing vessel, Nehemiah, and the people of Jerusalem that had a mind to work, to accomplish His will. No opposition was able to stop it. God’s favor and blessing were on it from the start.

——  The End  ——

Nehemiah: Building Walls & Gates part 7

 

Posted on June 8, 2020

DEALING WITH OPPOSITION

When you start doing a work for God, the first thing you will have to do is fight off opposition.
Nehemiah 4:1 Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews,…
The Hebrew word for “angry” in the verse is charah, and it means burning hot with anger. He was furious and indignant. He flew into a rage and mocked and ridiculed the Jews.

Nehemiah 4:2 “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?”

Sanballat had no authority to actually stop the work. Nehemiah and the workers had the legal protection from the king (refer to letters mentioned in Nehemiah 2:7). All he could legally do was to try to discourage the Jews so much they would stop. He discouraged by criticism and mocking.

In calling the Jews poor and feeble he was saying they were unfit for the task. By mockingly asking “can they build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices” he was asking if the Jews thought that by offering sacrifices to their God, the wall would magically be built. Then he points out they do not even have real stones to build with, but have to use rubbish to build the wall.

As noted before in this study series, many events in the Book of Nehemiah have parallels to ministry today. Here is another. The enemy will attack a ministry by discouraging the leaders and workers. The enemy will tell them the task is too big, and that they are not able to do it. Sanballat wanted the Jews to get discouraged and quit. The enemy wants anyone involved in ministry to get discouraged and quit.

Nehemiah 4:3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!”
Tobiah piles on by criticizing the quality of the work on the wall. Critics like to hang together. They feed off of each other’s negativity.

Sanballat and Tobiah were not having a private conversation. It was a very public discussion with a lot of people around. Their words and mocking were meant to be heard and to get back to the Jews and Nehemiah. What would Nehemiah do? Would he hold a public meeting and give a speech? Would he mock them because they mocked him? No and no again. Nehemiah did what he knew was the right thing to do. He prayed earnestly.

Nehemiah 4:4 Then I prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of the builders.”

This was no feel-good Sunday School prayer! Nehemiah was angry, and the tone and words of his prayer showed it. But he did not lash out on his own. He turned over the situation and his enemies to God. He asked God to turn their shame back onto them and to remember their sins committed against the children of Israel. Once again, Nehemiah provides a valuable lesson in ministry. When you feel ridiculed or discouraged, turn it over to God in prayer. “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord in Romans 12:19.

Nehemiah and the Israelites did not stop and focus on the opposition. They focused on the building of the wall. They were united in their purpose and their work.
Nehemiah 4:6 At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had a mind to work.

Nehemiah 4:7-9 But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, direction. they were furious. They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion. But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves.

The opposition found they could not overcome the Israelites with discouragement and mocking. So they were coming together to plan on attacking and disrupting the builders. Nehemiah and the Israelites did what they knew to do – they prayed for God’s direction.

Coming in the 8th and final part of this study series, Nehemiah and the Israelites face threats and intimidation as the wall nears completion. 

—  END  —

Nehemiah: Building Walls & Gates part 6

 

THE GATES AND MINISTRY

Chapter 3 of the Book of Nehemiah describes the building of the walls and gates of Jerusalem. Many Bible scholars and students have discerned a pattern to the order the gates are presented, and their purpose, in the chapter. It is believed that the order that the gates are named in, and the purpose the gates served, are symbolic of the ministries and purpose of the church. Let us look at the 10 gates of the city, what the purpose of the gate was for the city in that time, and what ministry and purpose they have for the church today.

The Sheep Gate - ministry to God’s people
The first gate mentioned is the Sheep Gate. It was called the sheep gate because the sheep and lambs for temple sacrifice were kept just outside this gate. The first priority of ministry in the church is to the people of God. If the church loves the Lord – they should be feeding His sheep. Another symbolic purpose of the sheep gate being first is that our walk in faith as a Christian begins with the realization that Jesus was the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. The Sheep Gate was along the north wall, to the east side. Today, the sheep gate is known as St. Stephen’s Gate or the Lyons Gate.

The Fish Gate - ministry to the lost
The second gate named in the order of restoration is the Fish Gate. It was called the fish gate because it was near the market where fishermen brought their catch to be sold. To the church today it should represent the ministry to the lost. Jesus called out to his first disciples saying "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” The church needs to be involved in the ministry of evangelism. They need to be fishing.

The Old Gate - foundation principles of the Word & church
Moving around the wall in a counter-clockwise direction, the third gate named in Nehemiah 3, in the northwest corner of Jerusalem, is the Old Gate. The symbolic representation of the Old Gate is to hold onto and treasure the foundation principles of the Word and the church. The old ways of truth never change, and are the foundation of learning. This is not to say we have to hold onto old practices or ways of doing things, but rather hold onto the foundations of our faith. A firm foundation provides the support from which the church can reach the world. New ways grow out from, rather than contradicts, the old truths and foundation.

The Valley Gate - ministry of compassion
The Valley Gate, which is along the southwest part of the wall of the old city, opens up and leads into the Valley of Hinnom and overlooks the Kidron Valley. We sometimes refer to times of trials and tribulations as going through valleys. Nehemiah says the Valley Gate was restored by a man named Hanun, whose name translates or means to bend and stoop in kindness. That makes it fitting that the Valley Gate represents the ministry of kindness and compassion. The local church should be performing the ministry of compassion: caring for, and feeding and clothing the poor, troubled, and less fortunate.

The Dung (Refuse) Gate - ministry of purging or cleansing
The fifth gate named in the 3rd chapter of Nehemiah is the Dung Gate. The word “dung” will make you either smile or cringe. The Dung Gate led down to a valley where all the refuse and trash from the city was dumped. A fire was kept burning there at all times to consume the trash and rubbish. To the church, the dung gate represents cleansing and purging. In everyone's life, there are things that must be disposed of that separate us from God. The message of repentance and the confession of sin can cleanse us. For a ministry dealing with cleansing, the church would have a counseling ministry or a place where people can go for personal help.

The Fountain Gate – ministry of restoration
The 6th gate named in the 3rd chapter of Nehemiah, located in the southeast corner of the city, is the Fountain Gate. The Fountain Gate was near the King’s Pool and the Gihon Springs. The Fountain Gate represents restoration, refreshing, and praise. It should bring to our minds the cleansing and refreshing of the living waters of the Holy Spirit.

The Water Gate – ministry of the Word
Continuing around the city in a counterclockwise direction, and appropriately near the Fountain Gate, we come to the Water Gate. It also was near the King’s Pool and other sources of water. In our study of the symbolic representations of the gates of Jerusalem, the Water Gate represents the ministry of the Word of God. Scripture tells us that we are washed by the water of the Word. Like being bathed in water, we experience a cleansing, renewing and refreshing when we immerse ourselves in the Word of God.

The Horse Gate – ministry of burden bearers
The Horse gate was the gate where horses were brought in and out of the city. Horses were used as beasts of burden and vehicles of warfare. Horses carried burdens and moved objects too large and heavy for men. Every church needs spiritual burden bearers. In Galatians 6:2 Paul writes that we should bear one another’s burdens, fulfilling the law of Christ. Examples of spiritual burden bearers are intercessors, encouragers, and counselors. Along with the spiritual burden bearers, the church needs physical burden bearers- people that fulfill a ministry by doing the labor and working behind the scenes to enable the church to perform its functions and reach people.

The East Gate – perfecting the bride of Christ
The East Gate looked due east, toward the Mount of Olives. The East Gate is now known as the Golden Gate, and was sealed up and blocked off by Arabs many centuries ago. The Bible prophesies (Ezekeil 43:1-2, Zechariah 14:4) that when Jesus returns, He will enter Jerusalem by the East Gate. No seals or blocks will prevent the Word of God from being fulfilled. The East Gate, then, speaks of the return of Jesus Christ. The church and ministries today should seek to turn people toward Christ. Jesus is coming! He is seeking a bride without spot or wrinkle.

The Inspection Gate – gate of inspection & recruitment
The 10th and last gate named is the Miphkad Gate, also known as the gate of inspection or recruitment. It was in the northeast corner of the city. This is a gate where people assembled. It was an appointed place where people were counted or census was taken. It was the place where people enlisted in service. Its spiritual representation is as the place for enlisting in the army of God’s servants. The church is called to build an army of God’s servants and equip them for ministry.

In the next part of this series we pick back up with the scripture starting in chapter 4, where the opposition intensifies and threats are made.

---

Much of the source material for this study comes from the following:
“Studies in Nehemiah” book by Dr. Ronald E. Cottle. 1997
Syllabus and Study Guide for the course “Studies in Nehemiah,” by Dr. Ronald E. Cottle

END

Nehemiah: Building Walls & Gates part 5

OPPOSITION & BUILDING

Nehemiah rallied the people of Jerusalem. The people bought into his mission and vision for building the walls of the city. They were ready and willing to start the work. It was inevitable that opposition would come swiftly, such as the very next verse from where we left off.

Nehemiah 2:19 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab heard of our plan, they scoffed contemptuously. “What are you doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” they asked.
Earlier in the chapter after Nehemiah's arrival, you can also find
Nehemiah 2:10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of my arrival, they were very displeased that someone had come to help the people of Israel.

When you are in God's will and doing a work for God, you can expect to run into the enemy. Who were these men that were opposed to Nehemiah and the people of Israel? All we know is what Nehemiah records, and how he addresses them.

Sanballat the Horonite
A Horonite was a person from the city of Horonaim, a city of Moab. Racial hatred existed between the Moabites and the Jews. Sanballat was one of the regional governors that Nehemiah presented his papers from the king to, on his trip to Jerusalem. He had direct control of the major highway between Jerusalem and the Mediterranean Sea. Sanballat profited by any commerce that had to travel from the Sea to Jerusalem. So when Nehemiah came with papers from the reigning king to rebuild Jerusalem, it was in Sanballat’s financial and political interest to oppose it.

Tobiah the Ammonite
Nehemiah calls Tobiah an Ammonite, though in other verses we learn he was a Jew that abandoned the Israelites and joined their enemies for financial and political gain. Nehemiah referred to Tobiah as "a servant" of Sanballat. So he was likely a gopher or an underling to Sanballat. It is believed he was allotted an area east of Jerusalem to govern.

Geshem the Arab
Geshem is presented as the leader of an Arabian tribe. He likely governed or controlled the southern part of Israel. Bands of Arabs could raid the unprotected city of Jerusalem at will.

These three were all likely regional governors under the king of Persia. Nehemiah came with authority from the king which usurped their power and authority. The Moabites and Ammonites were among the people groups God had driven from the Promised Land for the Israelites. They were the enemies of the Jews from long ago, who were now keeping the city of Jerusalem in ruins. Those who raided and plundered the people of Jerusalem likely made payoffs to these governors. Any change to the status quo in Jerusalem would be bad news to these three. So they were set on harming Nehemiah and disrupting the work or the Israelites.

How would Nehemiah respond to the opposition and the accusations made about him?
Nehemiah 2:20 I replied, “The God of heaven will help us succeed. We, his servants, will start rebuilding this wall. But you have no share, legal right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.”

It was a bold "in your face" reply. It was a defiant reply in the name of God of Heaven! He replied by speaking truth. He spoke truth about God- that the God of Israel was on their side and would prosper them. He spoke the truth about himself and the people if Israel- with God behind they had the power to rise up and build the wall. Then he spoke the truth about the enemy - They owned nothing there, they have no right and authority over them or in Jerusalem.

There is a good lesson in Nehemiah's reply. It is a model response when we are faced with an attack by the enemy of God. When the enemy is speaking to you, respond boldly. Speak out that God is with you and is on your side. Speak the truth that God will prosper you. Tell the enemy they have no authority over you.

CHAPTER 3
Chapter 3 goes into detail about the building of the gates and walls of the city. It tells, in great detail and in a particular order, of the people or families that built each gate or section of the wall. Those who have studied the Book of Nehemiah through the years have recognized a parallel or pattern between the gates of the city and the ministries in the church today. This study will deal with that topic in detail in the next lesson, but there is also a lesson the be learned when looking at who handled the building of different areas of the gates and walls. Look at these snippets of verses in chapter 3:

10 Jedaiah son of Harumaph repaired the wall across from his own house, ...
23 Benjamin and Hasshub repaired the section across from their house, and Azariah son of Maaseiah and grandson of Ananiah repaired the section across from his house.
24 Next was Binnui son of Henadad, who rebuilt another section of the wall from Azariah’s house
28 Each one repaired the section immediately across from his own house.
29 Next Zadok son of Immer also rebuilt the wall across from his own house

Do you see the pattern? The people began to build right in their own front yard and worked out from there. Part of that may have been due to the convenience of being near their home while they worked. But this is also an often repeated Biblical pattern. In Acts 1:8 Jesus tells his followers:

"And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere- in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The important takeaway - Start ministry where you are. Don't say you have to wait for conditions to be right or the place where you are at to change. God wants us to be a witness, share the Gospel, and do his work in our own home and neighborhood, and work out from there.

In the next part, we will start looking at the 10 gates of the city and how they set a pattern for ministry in the church today.

Nehemiah: Building Walls & Gates part 4

NEHEMIAH THE LEADER

Nehemiah had been commissioned and given authority, by the king of Persia, to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the gates and walls of the city. He was equipped to get whatever materials he needed to do the job. Let's pick up now in verse chapter 2, verse 11 and see how Nehemiah prepared for the tasks he came to do. 

Nehemiah 2:11-12 So I arrived in Jerusalem. Three days later, I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem. 
In verse 13 it says that Nehemiah viewed or examined the broken walls and burned gates of the city. The Hebrew word in the verse translated as “viewed” or "examined" is shabar, which means to “give birth” or “burst forth”. A fuller understanding of the word shabar as used by Nehemiah in this passage is to scrutinize, examine, develop a plan, and then to bring the plan to birth. 

A principle of good leadership is that before one begins a task, they must develop a plan. Nehemiah began by inspecting the situation so he could formulate a plan. A leader must know what needs exist, what work needs to be done, and what problems can be expected? Then a leader must determine where to start and how to proceed. In the king’s palace in Susa, Nehemiah was a servant. Here in Jerusalem, he was preparing to become a leader.

Nehemiah had a burden from God, and a vision to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. But he could not do it by himself. He needed to gain the cooperation of others. Other people will not help you do something you have the power to do yourself. Nehemiah needed help to rebuild the walls. He needed other people to help fulfill his vision. Like every good leader, he needed to gain the trust of others, share his vision, and motivate them into action.

After a time of preparation, the time came for Nehemiah to present himself and his mission to the Jewish leaders and people in Jerusalem.
Nehemiah 2:16 - 17  I had not yet spoken to the Jewish leaders—the priests, the nobles, the officials, or anyone else in the administration. But now I said to them, “You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!” 

Nehemiah showed the people the crisis they faced. He made them see the need around them. They were in distress. The walls and gates were in ruins. Next, Nehemiah issued the challenge: “Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.” Sometimes people are able and willing to do a work for the Lord, if they have good leadership to challenge them. Notice, also, that Nehemiah said "Let US", and not "You need to". He made it clear he wanted to help. A leader does not ever ask people to do something they, themselves, are not willing to do.

To gain the help and cooperation of people, a leader needs to build a covenant with them. 
Nehemiah 2:18 Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king.

By telling the people about what happened with the king, Nehemiah was letting them know that God was already working on their behalf. Nehemiah let them know how God had blessed him, and that the king had already given the permission and authority for the work to be done.  He was, in effect, saying to them "God is on our side. Here is proof. Look what he did to bring me here to get this started!" 

What would the people’s response be?
Nehemiah 2:18 ...They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work.
The people bought into the mission and vision of Nehemiah. Their level of cooperation had risen to the level Nehemiah needed to accomplish the mission God had given him. This job had been waiting for years to be done. What was lacking was dedicated leadership to challenge the people to action.

 In the next part of this study - Nehemiah immediately faces opposition to rebuilding the walls. Find out who opposes him and why.  In Chapter 3 the building of the walls is started by different families around the entire city. There is an important lesson in ministry to be learned by looking at the pattern of the builders.  

Nehemiah: Building Walls & Gates part 3

The Favor Of The King

How would God answer Nehemiah's prayer and petition? God's answer to a problem is usually a person. Is it any surprise that God would use Nehemiah to answer his own prayer?  God gave the burden to Nehemiah. That burden became a calling in his life.

Nehemiah continues his narrative in chapter 2.
Nehemiah 2:1a  Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign...
Four months passed from the events in chapter 1 verse 1 to this 1st verse in chapter 2. It was four months from the time Nehemiah was impacted by the news of the conditions in Jerusalem until God moved him to act. What did Nehemiah do in those four months? We know from chapter 1 that after he heard the news, he wept, fasted, and prayed. Scripture does not tell us exactly what transpired in those four months, but we have to conclude he waited on God. He waited to hear from God, for an answer to his prayer, but most of all he waited until God prompted him to act. 

It is not natural for us to wait on God. Our human nature wants us to act impulsively and immediately. You can be sure Nehemiah had to subdue his human nature and wait to hear from God. It takes time for us to be in the right place. Sometimes God needs to work on us and our circumstances, before he wants us to act. Like Nehemiah, we have to learn to wait for God's perfect timing.

Nehemiah 2:1b- 2  I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. So the king asked me, “Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled. Then I was terrified

Why would Nehemiah be terrified? What is so dangerous about the king seeing him sad and troubled that would cause fear? He actually had good reason to be afraid. This was in the Persian Empire of nearly 2500 years ago. It was a common belief of that day that a spirit that was on one person could be transferred to another person. For anyone to bring an evil or unpleasant presence around the king, could be seen as a threat to the kingdom, and be punishable by death. So for Nehemiah to be openly sad and troubled in the front of King Artaxerxes could have been a very bad thing. 

Nehemiah's mission was greater than the fear of his own life.  He did not try to lie or deny his sadness. Instead, he explained it.
Nehemiah 2:3 but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”

Now came the moment that Nehemiah had prayed about. Now is when he needed favor in the king's heart.
Nehemiah 2:4-5 Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting? With a prayer to the God of heaven, I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”

Things could have taken a bad turn for Nehemiah at this point. But God was with him and answering his prayer.
Nehemiah 2:6 The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request.


If the conversation with the king ended right there, Nehemiah's prayer would have been answered. He had permission from the king to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the city walls. But our God is a God of abundance, and when He truly puts a calling on a person, He equips them to fulfill that calling. So there is much more. READ ON!
Nehemiah 2:7-8 I also said to the king, “If it please the king, let me have letters addressed to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, instructing them to let me travel safely through their territories on my way to Judah. And please give me a letter addressed to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.” And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me.

Nehemiah was not just being allowed to go, he was being commissioned to go. He was being given authority by the king and being equipped for the task. It was God who was using King Artaxerxes to equip Nehemiah for the task. An application we can take from this section of scripture- when God calls you, He will equip you. He will supply everything you need for your ministry.

Another good lesson to learn is to be prepared. Notice that Nehemiah was ready. He knew how long to tell the king he would be gone. He already considered what letters and documents he was going to need for his task. He planned for success.

In the next part of this study, Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem. How does he prepare for the task of rebuilding the walls? How would he rally the people of the city to join him?  The answers are coming in part 4.