Lessons from Nehemiah, chapter one

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I just started a Bible study on the book of Nehemiah.  Here's what I've learned so far from chapter one, and the first few verses from chapter two.

Nehemiah had a mission from God.  He was to rebuild the the walls of Jerusalem.

It was quite a job ahead of him.  He knew he was going to need help from the powers that be.  He needed to ask for King Artaxerxes' help.

Before he approached the king, Nehemiah did a few things first.

First, he mourned, wept, prayed, and fasted before God. He reminded God of God's faithfulness, His promises to His chosen people that He gave through Moses, and His covenant with them.  

Nehemiah knew God, God's character, God's history with His people, the Jews.  Nehemiah confessed the great sins of his people as well as confessed his own sins before God.  Nehemiah was part of the problem.  Now, God was going to use him to bring about His solution.

God chooses whom He chooses.  God knew Nehemiah's heart.  God knows all of our hearts.  And though Nehemiah was a sinner, as his people were, as we all are since the fall of mankind through Adam and Eve, God used Nehemiah to accomplish His great purposes.

Nehemiah knew that God's hand was on him.  Nehemiah trusted God to help him accomplish this gargantuan, seemingly impossible task.

Nehemiah prayed for God's favor before he met with the king.  I read in a Bible commentary that he prayed for four months before he set foot in the king's presence.

Are we willing to do the prep work before what we deem the actual work?  Prayer is a crucial part of the work that God gives each of us.  It is the most crucial work, because without it, the "actual" work will not happen.

Nehemiah knew his priorities and had them straight.

When he finally approached the king, God gave Nehemiah favor through the king, granting him all of his requests.  He needed the king to send some letters on his behalf:  one for safe passage through Judah, and the other requesting some wood for the beams to build the gate of the wall.

So we see that before the actual rebuilding of the walls that Nehemiah took several other steps first.  

Are we willing to take all of the steps necessary in order to do the work God calls us to?  No shortcuts.  We must see prayer and waiting as essential parts of God's plan for our lives.  They are not "wasted" time or energy at all.  

“Prayer does not equip us for some greater works—prayer is the greater work” (Oswald Chambers, 1924).

I am excited to continue my study of the book of Nehemiah and will be sharing here what God is showing me through it.  It's only just begun!


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