2022-09-19 Reflect & Recalibrate - Nehemiah 1 - SBC Chapel

It’s Time to Re-Calibrate

2022-09-19

SBC Chapel

Introduction

Five years ago, my wife Corrina and I were privileged to go to New Zealand for our 25th anniversary. We rented a car and toured the country. The rental car we drove had a built in GPS system that worked well enough most places we went but was quite frustrating in the city of Wellington. Much of Wellington is built on steep hillsides. We would come to an intersection and the GPS system would tell us to turn right but the problem was that there were two roads turning right, one going up and one going down. Invariably we chose the wrong one. Then the voice on the GPS would say, “recalibrating” and begin figuring out how to get us to our destination from our new position. This happened again and again so finally Corrina pulled out her phone and tried Google Maps instead. Their instructions were much clearer, and we were able to find our way out of the maze.

I think GPS systems have done more to familiarize people with the word “re-calibrate” than anything else. Recalibrate has two meanings. One, the original meaning, has to do with readjusting the settings on a machine so that it runs properly and accurately. For instance, the gas pumps at gas stations are recalibrated every two years so that they’re accurate. Now, however, there is another meaning of recalibrate, similar to the first, but applied to us as people. Here’s a definition from Dictionary.com, “to re-examine (one’s thinking, a plan, a system of values, etc.) and correct it in accord with a new understanding or purpose”. (blank) This is something that every person should periodically do. When President Terry asked if I would be willing to speak, he told me that the theme chosen for this year here at SBC was Revival. Spiritual revival never happens unless there is a period of re-examination of yourself in which you realize that the current direction you are going does not line up with the direction God wants you to go. A recalibration. There are a number of Biblical examples of this kind of recalibration in action. One of them is found in the book of Nehemiah.

So, let’s turn to Nehemiah chapter 1. (read v1, 2) (blank)

Nehemiah

There ‘s a lot of information here that most of us know nothing about. We know that Nehemiah is the one speaking and we know who his father is. Then we have a date reference. The month of Kislev in the 20th year in the citadel of Susa. In the first verse of chapter 2 we find out that 20th year refers to King Artaxerxes reign and Susa was the winter capital of the Persian empire, which had defeated the Babylonian empire about 550 years before the time of Jesus. The citadel Susa is in what is now southwestern Iran and Kislev was the name of a Jewish month around November/December, so, the beginning of winter.

At this time of year, Nehemiah’s brother Hanani shows up from Jerusalem, a distance of around 2000 kilometres. Not an easy trek. The land of Judah was also part of the Persian empire. Nehemiah had likely never lived there himself, so he naturally questions them about what was happening there. Here’s what Hanani and his companions told him. (read v3) (blank) The report wasn’t good. Some 160 years previous the Babylonians had completely destroyed the city, tearing down the temple and the walls. 90 years previous to Nehemiah, Cyrus the Great had given permission for the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. They had done so but that’s where the rebuild had stopped. Interesting news. Nehemiah’s reaction, however, was more than simply that the news was interesting.

Listen to Nehemiah’s reaction (read v4) (blank)

Why would this news have bothered Nehemiah so much? He didn’t live there. He lived in one of the capital cities of the empire. The broken walls didn’t even affect most Jewish people. Historians believe most stayed in the lands they had been exiled to. Only some had moved back to Palestine. So, why did it bother Nehemiah so much?

It was actually quite simple. It’s found at the end of v9 in Nehemiah’s prayer, “the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.” (blank) Ever since King Solomon’s time, the worship of God was closely associated with the city of Jerusalem. Even while in exile, all Jews faced towards Jerusalem when praying to God. And in that day and age, every city and town had a wall around it to protect its people and whatever place of worship was in the city. Jerusalem had a beautiful new temple, but no wall. As long as there was no wall, any neighbouring enemy could waltz right in, stop the worship of God, steal the offerings stored there and terrorize the people at will. The broken walls meant that the Jews who had returned to the land were always in a place of insecurity. Even the surrounding village people were at a disadvantage. They had no place to flee to. This also meant that to a certain extend, God’s reputation was tied up with Jerusalem’s reputation.

So Nehemiah wept and prayed and mourned and fasted. From vv5 to 11 we have Nehemiah’s final prayer. (read v5-11) (blank) It is a touching, moving prayer.

What are the key elements?

Confession of the sins of his entire nation.

A reminder of what God had promised to do and a call for him to act on his words.

By the way, do you know how long Nehemiah had wept and prayed and mourned and fasted? Chapter 2:1 tells us the in the month of Nisan he went in to serve King Artaxerxes. Nisan is the fourth month after Kislev, around April. Nehemiah spent a 1/3 of a year on his knees. I imagine that much of that time was spent in thought as to what had all gone wrong for God’s people, the Jews and what was the cause. In short, he examined his heart and collective heart of his people. For Nehemiah this was one of the major events in his life that caused him to “re-examine his thinking, and way of life and correct it in accord with a new understanding or purpose”. (blank) In the next chapter, which I won’t read, we have the story of him sharing his broken heart with the King and his desire to go and help to rebuild the wall. Today I simply want us to think about his spending four months in reflection and prayer. He heard about the brokenness, and he reflected on it and re-examined his heart and his life. He re-calibrated his life and it led to personal revival. Nehemiah was never the same again. After the King listened to his broken heart, his life took a radically new direction, and he moved over 2000 kilometres away to rebuild the broken-down wall of a city he had never been to.

Examining Your Heart

Periodic examination or re-examination of our hearts is key to having our souls revived and to living with purpose, the purpose for which God has called us. Many of you are here because you believe God has called you to a specific purpose. Others are here because you’re trying to figure out what that purpose is. Still others, are not even sure why you’re here. Maybe it just seemed like a good idea. I urge you to take time while you’re here to think through your past. How have you wandered away from God’s path? How have you deliberately gone your own way? God has a call on our lives that is much more than most of us think it is. But we can’t fully pursue his call if we don’t re-calibrate. If you’re wondering how to do so, consider Nehemiah’s example; weep, mourn, fast and pray. Weep and mourn for the brokenness in your life, fast and hunger for God and pray that he will bring healing, forgiveness, and new direction and purpose.

Pause—then pray

“I know just how much I rely on my own faith to guide me through the good times and the bad,” she said. “Each day is a new beginning. I know that the only way to live my life is to try to do what is right, to take the long view, to give of my best in all that the day brings, and to put my trust in God.”