Nehemiah 1 & 2: The God Of Heaven

Verse of the Day: (2:4) Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.

1.  House (1:1-11)

Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned. (1:6)

Though Nehemiah was only a king’s cupbearer, yet his heart was like a king, as he sought to lead his people of Israel to rebuild their ruined city and walls of Jerusalem, after he heard of their plight. (1:11) Though it seemed an impossible task as he was in Persian (modern Iran) serving King Artaxerxes of Persia, and far from Jerusalem, yet he prayed to the God of heaven for direction and guidance. He not only prayed for the rebuilding project, but he also humbled himself, and confessed his sins and the sins of his father’s house (Israel). Indeed, many times our tasks may seem impossible to accomplish, but let us start with prayer, and trust God, and do exactly what He has impressed upon our hearts, and eventually we shall complete them. Let us thus commit ourselves and our houses (families) to serve God to the end, and He shall bless us now and forever. (Joshua 24:15)

2.  Heaven (2:1-7)

And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me: and I set him a time. (2:6)

Indeed, whatsoever we ask in God’s name, He shall answer us. The God of heaven must have touched King Artaxerxes’ heart to permit Nehemiah and his people to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their city and walls. Nehemiah must also have been a faithful and godly cupbearer that the king fully trusted him. Let us therefore always pray to our God of heaven that His perfect will be done in and through us, and for His glory. (Luke 11:1-4)

3.  Hand (2:8-20)

And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me. (2:8)

Not only King Artaxerxes approved of Nehemiah’s project, he even commanded his leaders to supply him with all the timber that he needed for the project. Indeed, let us humble ourselves under the good and mighty hand of God, and He shall exalt us in His time. Let us also cast all our cares upon God, because He truly cares for us. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to pray to You, the God of heaven, to only do Thy will.