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You probably won't find Williams College on many peoples' bucket lists. And, if you happen upon this small, grassy clearing in Williamstown, there's a good chance you'll be the only tourists there. Even mentioning it, many of you have not clue what those names refer to, and admittedly, I knew the event, but nothing of the place itself. The spot doesn't even appear on most maps. But, there are many who would contend that it is one of the most significant historical sites even in the history of the world.

In 1806, Samuel Mills, a student at Williams College, began to pray for foreign missions. Up until that time, missionary organizations in the US only focused on home missions. The account goes that a group of spiritually and same-minded individuals continue to meet, and one day in August, were chased under a haystack by a sudden thunderstorm. What did they pray for, both in that day and the weeks to come? For the Lord to raise a generation that would take the gospel to the ends of the earth.

What was the result? Most trace the establishment of at least three foreign mission agencies to the "Haystack Prayer Meetings," and here we are 200+ years later remembering how God uses the prayers and obedience of His people to accomplish great things, even if those moments of prayer happen in silent and largely unseen moments. As our passage opens this morning, it's now four months after Nehemiah received the news about Jerusalem from his brother Hanani, and it's safe to assume that much of those four months have been spent praying to the Lord and looking for God's will to move forward. When he's granted the opportunity, he uses a little guile and a large dependence on God to ask for permission to go and rebuild the city of his ancestors. God's favor is with him, and the rest is...well, will become history, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Nehemiah 2, beginning in verse 1.

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Maintain a diligent prayer life (vv.1-3).

Ne2:1 “In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence.”

The timing of this episode takes place about four months after the events of chapter 1. (This means that Nehemiah has carried the burden of prayer and seeking opportunity for four months.)

There is no clear explanation as to why Nehemiah waited four months to appear before Artaxerxes. Suggestions range from the king not spending the winter months in Susa to Nehemiah waiting for the Persian feast "tukta" where the king would grant requests to supplicants.

In the four months between Hanani's visit and Nehemiah's appearance before Artaxerxes, he likely spent much time in patient and persistent prayer. Nehemiah specifically notes that he had not been sad in Artaxerxes' presence. Many scholars believe that this may indicate that Neh intentionally showed sadness now.

Nisan covers parts of March and April, meaning four months have passed since Hanani's visit. It seems that Nehemiah has been praying and planning ever since he received news of Jerusalem.

Ne2:2 “And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid.”

Some scholars believe that Nehemiah has not carried this sadness for four months, only now deciding to publicly show his grief. It could have been his duty to remain upbeat and positive.

Artaxerxes could have interpreted Nehemiah's actions as some sort of plot, because sadness of the heart could also be understood as "a bad/evil heart."

Nehemiah's fear likely stemmed from the fact that Persian monarchs typically required their servants to not "bring personal troubles into their presence." Nehemiah's actions could be interpreted as disrespectful.

Ne2:3 “I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?””

Nehemiah reaffirms his loyalty by first speaking a blessing to the king: Let the king live forever!

Nehemiah's answer for his sadness is carefully worded. He does not mention Jerusalem by name, possibly because Artaxerxes has already ruled on work being done in Jerusalem.

The way that Nehemiah refers to Jerusalem could show his respect for his ancestors while communicating a sense of shame in the city's condition. Either way, it seems to have struck a nerve with the king. While much is made of Nehemiah's particular phrasing and intentionally NOT mentioning Jerusalem by name, surely Artaxerxes knew Nehemiah's background. Still, Nehemiah showed considerable shrewdness in addressing the Persian king.

Nehemiah had spent four months praying and planning, looking for the right opportunity to approach the king and request to rebuild Jerusalem.

What about our prayer life? Is it diligent? Are we willing to remain steadfast in prayer if we don’t get an answer the first day? The first week? The first year? What about that situation at work? What about that friend that you felt stabbed you in the back? Are you still praying about that? What about your place to serve? Has God answered? If not, are you still pursuing an answer? Are you content with the when and where and how God has answered your prayer?

What is certain is that we must, as followers of Jesus, continually pursue Him in prayer in order to live a life surrendered to Him.

Courageously trust God (vv.4-8a).

Ne2:4 “Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven.”

Artaxerxes knows that Nehemiah is not simply feeling nostalgic, so he asks, What are you requesting? This is the moment Nehemiah had purposed to look for.

Again, remember the words of Nehemiah in his prayer in chapter 1 -- he prayed to the God of the heavens. As Nehemiah prays here, this previous note informs the interpretation of this pray. Nehemiah is appearing before an earthly monarch, but he petitions the God of heaven. As short as the prayer may have been, and the reader knows nothing of the actual words that were said, it still stands as one of the most beautiful spontaneous prayers in the Bible.

In this case, it seems Nehemiah's quickly whispered prayer is undergirded by the amount of time he has previously spent praying. Neither one negates the validity of the other, but it does draw attention to the fact that believers should strive to live in a constant prayerful communion with God.

Ne2:5-6 “And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.” And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time.”

Nehemiah's submission to the king is seen when he says if it pleases the king. The king, upon hearing the request, grants Nehemiah's desire, asking only for a return date.

The note that the queen is present is interesting, though it is unknown exactly why Nehemiah thought it important to include. The word for queen is unique, only used elsewhere in Ps.45:9. An Aramaic equivalent is used in Dan.5, referring to a concubine. The fact that the definite article is used could mean this is the queen or the chief lady of the king's harem. Artaxerxes is known to have been rather influenced by women, so her presence could have played in Nehemiah's favor.

Ne2:7-8a “And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.”

Artaxerxes grants what Nehemiah asks for, even timber from the king's forest for the wall of the city and Nehemiah's home...possibly an ancestral home. Artaxerxes' generosity is similar to that of his predecessors Cyrus and Darius.

The gates of the fortress of the temple is probably a military structure north of the temple that would provide protection for the temple and the worshipers who gathered there.

It seems that, given the specifics of Nehemiah's request, he had spent a good bit of energy on contemplating and planning what was needed for Jerusalem to be rebuilt. He knew the materials that were needed. He was aware of the political climate and the reputation of the governors...Beyond the River. He knew the name of the keeper of the king's forest. He even planned for the place of his residence while the work was being done.

Sometimes the places that God puts us are nothing short of fearful. If you’ve ever heard me comment on Psalm 23, you’ll know that Ps.23:4 (“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”) used to be a source of terror for me! First off, I only heard it when I went to funerals. Second, I mean, the valley of the shadow of death…as a kid, pretty terrifying! And that’s the place that God will lead us through. Do we courageously trust Him? Do we try to snatch back control of our lives when the places we’re put are uncomfortable? Less than our liking? When we have to lower maybe our standard of living because the job or ministry He’s called us to requires more for less? Maybe we suffer ridicule and popularity because we’ve chosen genuine pursuit of God, not just trivial Sunday/Wednesday pursuits.

Even though Nehemiah is fearful, he quickly prays and presents his desires to Artaxerxes. There seems to be a subtle hint that as Nehemiah has prayed, God has provided wisdom for this moment (see also James 1:5-8 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”). God provides Nehemiah favor before the pagan king. God provides safe passage. God provides the necessary materials. Which brings us to our final point...

Praise God for His grace (v.8b).

Ne2:8b “And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.”

Yes, Nehemiah had planned. Yes, he was aware of the political climate. He was aware of the reputation of the governors Beyond the River. Sure, he’d done his research and planned accordingly. But, all of this diligent planning aside, the reason why the request was granted is because the good hand of God was with Nehemiah.

Good preparation is not contradictory to trust in God's work. J. White notes, "Prayer is where planning starts." Others have noted that the best policy is to work as if everything depends on the "you” and pray as if everything depends on God. (What can certainly be dismissed is effort without faith!)

Ultimately, Nehemiah draws attention to the fact that God's favor has accomplished everything. Believers would do well to remember God's blessing.

When we pray diligently, we become sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leadership in our lives, and He provides us with opportunities to serve God. Trusting in the Spirit's guidance, we move forward in obedience and see the grace of God at work in our lives as He graciously provides courage and strength to serve. At the end of the day, we should stand back and admire not what we have done, but what the Lord has accomplished through us. We would do well to remember that the Lord's hand was with us, and He deserves the praise.

Experience

When believers diligently pray, they will recognize divine opportunities to serve God, relying on His grace to do so. When we see God’s hand at work, when we reflect back on what HE has done, what a wonderful opportunity to give God the praise.

Are you diligently praying in life? Maybe today’s the day that changes, and starting now, your purpose to bring everything, submit everything to God in prayer.

When He answers prayers and opens doors, are you courageously obeying? It’s not that God does NOT want to use us, it’s usually the fact that we pray and either expect Him to magically cure everything, as if obedience isn’t needed on our part, or we just pray and forget to look for how God leads. Let us pray AND look for God’s answer.

Do you ever look back and think, “Wow! Look what God has done!”? Let us all take just a moment before we start singing and think about what the Lord has done for us lately. Then, may our congregational refrain, our unified chorus, be a song of praise to the God who is gracious to each and every one of us.