Nehemiah: a study of prayer before action

Nehemiah is often remembered as the man who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem after Israel’s exile to Babylon and helped renew the faith of the Israelites as they returned. He is the last of the Old Testament historical  books. His book records the history of the third return to Jerusalem. He saw a problem and set out to solve it. He organized, managed, supervised, and encouraged. He was met with opposition, confronted injustice and kept going until the job was done. He was a man of action; however, he was also a man of prayer. He came to God in prayer in many situations. Long, focused prayers and even brief, quick prayers before responding to questions or taking action. Through his story, we learn that prayers and action go hand in hand. Through prayer, God guides our preparation, teamwork and diligent efforts to carry out His will. What were his prayers? How can we model his example? 

In his first prayer, recorded in Nehemiah 1:5-11, occurs when he hears about the state that Jerusalem sits. After he fasts and mourns, he turns to God in prayer. There are elements to his prayer that we can model for our own prayers. First, he praises God. In verse 5, he prays “ O Lord, God of Heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands.” Second, he seeks repentance. In verse 6b-7, he confesses “the sin we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.” Lastly, he prays for his specific request. In verse 11, he asks for favor as he brings his plans to the king. As the cupbearer for Artaxerxes, the king of Persia, Nehemiah had a great access to the king. To do what he wanted, he needed the king’s permission. Nehemiah asks that God work on the king’s heart to fulfill his request. In his prayer, Nehemiah recognizes God’s holiness and asks for a hearing, confesses his sins and asks for specific help. By including God in his plans and concerns, it prepared Nehemiah’s heart and gave God the room to work. The elements of his prayers are similar to the way Jesus teaches us how to pray during the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4). 

Not only did he pray before approaching the king, Nehemiah prayed before taking other action. In Nehemiah 2:4, Nehemiah prayed for strength before answering the king’s question. I picture the scene as Nehemiah brings the king his wine, his heart is heavy about the state of the city, and the king asks him what is troubling him. Before answering, he takes a deep breath and prays silently, “O Lord, give me strength.” How many times have you prayed quickly for strength, patience or favor? Prayer doesn’t always have to be on your knees and long. It can be the moment before you leave your car to go into work or school. It can be during the final steps before an important meeting or a big exam. It can be any moment when you need to call on God for help. Nehemiah’s plans were met with great opposition which resulted in threats. Instead of acting impulsively, Nehemiah prayed first. In Nehemiah 4:4-5, 9, he prayed for help against those who despised them and insulted their efforts. He prayed that their guilt or sin would not be erased from God’s sight (verse 5) and prayed before posting a guard to watch over the day’s work and meet with any threat that may come (verse 9). When the opposition and insults continued, Nehemiah prayed for strength to prove the opposition wrong (Nehemiah 6:9). Instead of running and hiding, he prayed for strength to continue doing what he knew God wanted him to do. We can do the same! 

Nehemiah prayed for favor and remembrance. In Nehemiah 5:19, he prayed “Remember me with favor, O my God, for all I have done for these people.” He wasn’t seeking recognition or reward from the people; but from God, for whom he did the work. Hebrews 6:10 tells us that “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” It is easy to be discouraged as we think our efforts are not being seen. While people may not see our efforts, God does and he will remember. Nehemiah prays for remembrance again in Nehemiah chapter 13, verse 14. 22, and 31. He prayed to be remembered for his faithful service (verse 14), to be shown mercy according to God’s great love (verse 22), and to be remembered with favor (verse 31). As he reflected on his efforts to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and bring the people from captivity, he asked God to remember his works. As he worked, toiled, fought opposition, Nehemiah remembered it was for God that he worked. Philippians 4:6 tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” We are to turn our worries into prayers, just as Nehemiah did, and our prayers can turn into action. 

In conclusion, Nehemiah was a man of prayer and action. He was a man who held a passion for God, a concern for God’s people and a zeal for the house of the Lord. He prayed before he took action. He prayed for guidance, for strength and for remembrance. Essentially, there was nothing he wouldn’t pray for. How often do we pour out our hearts to God? How often do we give him a specific request to answer? What stops us? Nehemiah did not let the impossible stop him from approaching God for help. We can do the same. In today’s society, prayer is often looked down on and seen as a cop out instead of real action. However, I have seen prayers answered many times in my life. While the world may scoff at your prayers, God does not. He listens and he responds. Let us follow Nehemiah’s example and be a people of prayer and action. 

Harvest of Gold: Darius and Sarah's story continues

Harvest of Gold by Tessa Afshar is the sequel to Harvest of Rubies. Sarah is still adjusting to life married to a Persian aristocrat. She has wealth, property, honor and power and yet the one thing she desperately wants seems impossible to get: her husband’s love. What she doesn’t realize is that Darius is battling within himself. He finds himself drawn to her, at the edge of falling in love with her, yet he always seems to find an excuse to pull himself back, to close himself off. When a plot against the king is discover, Darius is sent on a mission to expose the plotters before it is too late. At the same time, Sarah’s cousin, Nehemiah, hears God’s call to return to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls. Nehemiah’s journey to Jerusalem and Darius’ mission soon combine, and Darius finds himself being pulled by his mother’s God. Will Darius discover who is behind the plot against the king? Will he finally surrender to his love for Sarah? Will he stop running away from God and surrender to his call?

Harvest of Gold starts soon after Harvest of Rubies ends, and Darius and Sarah can’t seem to find a peaceful life before they are caught up in another plot to unravel. This book didn’t have the same intensity as the first book and it’s drama seemed to be drawn out. The story was separated into three parts. The third part is where the real emotions and drama happens although it seems rushed in order to finish the book. Overall, I enjoyed Darius and Sarah’s continued story and the challenges Nehemiah faced as he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. If you enjoyed Harvest of Rubies, you will enjoy Harvest of Gold, although it doesn’t exact live up to its predecessor.

Harvest of Gold

is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Sabbath: a day of rest and worship

Sabbath is a weekly day of rest and worship. It was instituted at creation when God hallowed the 7^th day and rested after his creative labors (Genesis 1:1-2:3). There is no distinct mention of the Sabbath in Genesis and no mention of the Sabbath until Exodus 16:21-30 when the Israelites were in the Desert of Sin before reaching Mount Sinai. God gave them a double supply of manna on the 6^th day of the week in order that the 7^th day may be a rest from labor (Exodus 16:23). Jewish tradition holds the Sabbath on Saturday (beginning at sundown on Friday) and Christians hold the Sabbath on Sunday. What exact does the Sabbath entail? What is the history behind it?

Observing the Sabbath became a requirement after Moses was given the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17, 34:1-5). The 4^th Commandment states that the 7^th day would be observed as a holy day. A day when everyone, including strangers, would be required to rest from any work and labor. The reason given for this day of rest is that the Lord rested on the 7^th day, having blessed it and hallowed it. God intended the Sabbath to be a blessing of both physical and spiritual. The sanctity of the Sabbath was to include the sacrifice of two lambs including a regular burnt offering (Numbers 28:9-10) and 12 loaves of showbread (Leviticus 24:5-9, 1 Chronicles 9:32). The Sabbath required extra offerings because it was a special day of rest and worship, commemorating creation and deliverance of Egypt. Numbers 15:32-36 dictated that a willful Sabbath breaker was to be put to death. When the Jews returned from their exile, Nehemiah made several reforms in order to reestablish their traditions including observance of the Sabbath. Trade was forbidden on the Sabbath because the lure of money interfered with the need of rest (Nehemiah 10:31) and traders were sent home and the city’s gates shut as the Sabbath hours approached (Nehemiah 13:19).

There have been attempts by Old Testament critics to find a Babylonian origin for the Jewish Sabbath. There is evidence that among the Babylonians, certain things were to be avoided on the 7^th, 14^th, 19^th, 21^st, and 28^th days of the months. However, the 19^th day breaks the sequence of 7s and there is no question the Hebrew Sabbath is older than the Babylonian observance. The Sabbath was associated with the idea of worship, rest, and divine favor rather than certain taboos and avoidance. Over the centuries, many Jewish religious leaders added rule after rules to God’s law which guaranteed that everyone who be in violation. Jesus healed people on the Sabbath to show that while the Sabbath was holy, it was created for man’s benefit and people’s needs must take precedence over the law (Matthew 12:1-14, Mark 2:23-36, Luke 6:1-11, and John 5:1-18).  The best time to reach out to someone is when he or she needs help and it is right to care for others’ needs even if it involves on a day of rest (Matthew 12:10, John 9:14-16). Seven times he performed miracles on the Sabbath. Why? Jesus empathized the intent of the law while the Pharisees focused on the letter of the law (Matthew 12:5).

Early Christians, most of whom were Jewish, kept the 7^th day as a Sabbath. Since Jesus’ resurrection occurred at the beginning of the week, they began to meet for worship on the 1^st day of the week which they designated as the Lord’s Day. As the split between Jews and Christians widened, Christians gradually began to meet for worship on the Lord’s Day and eventually it became the Sabbath and they gave up the 7^th day observance. Through the centuries, the Lord’s Day (or Sunday as we know it today) became known as the 7^th day. Unfortunately, there are Christians today who develop the attitudes of the Pharisees and forget the true nature of the Sabbath and look down on other Christians who are not in church every Sunday. And in this day of companies being open 7 days a week, it would be hard for many Christians to take every Sunday off. So, when someone a day off in the middle of the week, that day could be there Sabbath. A day to rest and worship God and study His Word. Bill Sunday (1862-1935) once said, “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.” There’s more to be a follower of Christ than church every Sunday.

In conclusion, it is easy to let responsibilities of work, family, and community to crowd our schedules that we don’t take the time to worship. Taking a day of rest, any day, is important to reenergize and focus on God and his Word. I think too many people get hung up on semantics when they argue whether the Sabbath is Saturday or Sunday. The Sabbath is simply a day of rest and worship. So, whether you rest and worship on Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday, et cetera, you are keeping the Sabbath. While the Sabbath is an important day, it does not allow us to be lazy bumps on a log. If you see someone who needs help, it is good for you to help, just as Jesus did.

Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther: when God seems silent

Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther are known as the post-captivity books. Ezra, the faithful scribe, records the Jews returning to their homeland after 70 years of captivity in Babylon. His records show God’s faithfulness to keep His promise to restore his people to their land. Nehemiah demonstrates leaders as he guides the Jews to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Finally, Esther is the story of courage to stand up to certain death for the livelihood of others and the celebration created as a reminder of that courage. Many people will point out that God is silent in these books. Although God doesn’t speak in these books, He isn’t inactive as the events unfold and His guidance is seen in the faithfulness and devotion of these three people.

Ezra, the true and faithful scribe, records the events which return the Jews to Jerusalem. The Lord moved in the heart of Cyrus, the king of Persia as he proclaimed that the temple was to be rebuilt in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1-2). Despite opposition from some Persian officials, the rebuilding begins with the king’s increasing support. Ezra was a committed student of the Law. He was determined to follow and teach the God’s word. Once the Jews were back in Jerusalem, he was determined to get the Jews back on track with God as he taught the Law to the returning families. Ezra showed the people that God kept His promise to return them to their land and they must show their gratitude by returning to God and the practice of His Word. “For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel” (Ezra 7:10). Ezra is an example of how devotion and commitment to knowing and practicing God’s Word has a direct effect on how God works in our lives.

Nehemiah, the rebuilder of walls, was the cupbearer to the king (Nehemiah 1:11). A cupbearer was an important position. He was to ensure the safety and quality of the king’s drink. It also gave him unique opportunities to speak with the king. As Nehemiah waited for the right moment to approach the king with his requests, King Artaxerxes notices Nehemiah’s distress and opens the door for Nehemiah ask to be sent to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls of the city (Nehemiah 2:1-6). In Jerusalem, Nehemiah was the type of leader which gets the work done. He carefully planned and encourage teamwork as he solved problems which often arise when people work together. He also have courage and tremendous faith to get the work done even if it meant getting dirty with the workers himself. He was a leader that people will follow. “I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what they king had said to me. They replied, ‘Let us start rebuilding.’ So they began the good work” (Nehemiah 2:18).

Esther, the Jewish orphan who become queen and she was placed in a position to risk for her life for others. Her cousin, Mordecai, had overheard a plot to kill the Jews by the government official Haman and he became distress as it was a king’s decree. Word got back to Esther about the plot and Mordecai pleads with her to tell the king (Esther 4:13-14). She agrees, “I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16). Esther devises a clever plan to expose the plot to the king by throwing a feast for Haman. At the banquet, she makes one more request. She asks the king to spare her people and the king is outraged that such a thing was plotted (Esther 7:3-5). She exposes Haman as the plotter and he is hanged. The king then decrees that the Jews had the right to protect themselves from whoever tried to do them harm (Esther 7:11). In response to these events, the Jews began a new celebration, Purim. Purim is celebrated as a day of joy and feasting. It is a day of giving presents to one another in remembrance of Esther’s bravery and courage.

In conclusion, while God is silent in these three books, He certainly isn’t inactive. He sent in motion the Jews return to their lands. He can be seen in the story of Ezra, a man who never forgot where he was from. He worked within the law of the land he lived with respect but he never let God’s law become second. He can be seen in the story of Nehemiah, a godly leader, one who isn’t afraid to work alongside the men to complete the work as well as caring for his men when the practice wasn’t so generous. And He can be seen in the story of Esther, a woman who hid her true heritage, only to reveal it when a greater threat loomed. From these examples, we need to remember that when God seems to be silent, He is working. He is working in your life and when you least expect it, that work will be reveal. Follow the examples of Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther, keep the faith and trust in God.