Faith of a praying Prophet

1 And it came about in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, that wine was before him, and I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. 2 So the king said to me, “Why is your face sad though you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart.” Then I was very much afraid.

Nehemiah 2:3–4 NASB95

3 I said to the king, “Let the king live forever. Why should my face not be sad when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies desolate and its gates have been consumed by fire?” 4 Then the king said to me, “What would you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven.

Nehemiah 2:5–6 NASB95

5 I said to the king, “If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor before you, send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.” 6 Then the king said to me, the queen sitting beside him, “How long will your journey be, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and I gave him a definite time.

Nehemiah 2:7–8 NASB95

7 And I said to the king, “If it please the king, let letters be given me for the governors of the provinces beyond the River, that they may allow me to pass through until I come to Judah, 8 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 which is by the temple, for the wall of the city and for the house to which I will go.” And the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God was on me.

Nehemiah 2:9–10 NASB95

9 Then I came to the governors of the provinces beyond the River and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about it, it was very displeasing to them that someone had come to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel.

Nehemiah 2:11 NASB95

11 So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days.

Anything specific stand out to you in this passage, or in general?

Again in this passage we see a very detailed time given (v.1)?

20th year, month of Nisan, and Nehemiah was before the king

What did the king notice about Nehemiah (v.2)?

That he had sadness of heart

The king inquired (v.2), how does Nehemiah respond (v.3)? and how did the king respond (v.4)?

He states the reason he is heart sad. And in a general way where this was without speaking specifically of Jerusalem.

The king asked him, what do you request, and Nehemiah offers up a quick prayer

In (vv.5-6) the request is made, it pleased the king, but Nehemiah presses on what does Nehemiah ask for in (vv.7-8)?

Give me letters for governors

Give me lumber

Give me permission to go and I will do this

Nehemiah set out but not everyone was happy about it, who was not (vv.9-10)?

Sanballat and Tobiah

What did Nehemiah do when he got to Jerusalem (v.11)?

He waiting 3 days

The cup bearer before the King

Nehemiah 2:1–2 NLT

1 Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. 2 So the king asked me, “Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.” Then I was terrified,

Nehemiah the cupbearer

He was a high official

He was a man worthy of trust, faith, and of good character

He was a man who was knowledgeable and able to give sound advise

Yet, still he was a servant under the king so being said in front of him was not a good thing.

We are given the time frame of month of Nisan (this is about April).

There is some significance to this hence why it is there

First, it shows the the heart of the prophet spent time in prayer and contemplation for four months since he had cared to ask (1:1-2)

Second, commentators say that the date establishes the date given to restore Jerusalem walls. Daniel in Dan9:25

Daniel 9:25 NASB95

25 “So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.

that it would be 173,800 days from completion to Messiah coming into Jerusalem. (research done by Sir Robert Anderson British astronomer and mathematician)

Be ready some may not agree that this was the fulfillment, remember it is commentators thought on the passage.

Nehemiah had sadness, sorrow of heart, king noticed it and it brought fear to Nehemiah

Love what Guzik says on this verse:

“Nehemiah understood it was not his place to change the king’s heart. He prayed and left it up to the Lord, instead of dropping hings and trying to manipulate the situation. Then one day, four months later, the king’s heart was different.”

Are we a praying people like the prophet who pray and leave the changing in God’s hands?

Nehemiah 2:3 (NKJV)

3 and said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?”

Nehemiah’s faith is working and he boldly speaks to the king. (v.3)

Notice that Nehemiah does not use the City name?

He used God given grace and tact in what he said to the king knowing the history with Jerusalem and his kingdom.

Have you ever inquired on someone why are they sad or sorrowed? Have you been asked?

Nehemiah was wise, but he was also honest.

Are we? Are we willing to share our burdens with others and inquire of others? Sometimes we need a listening ear and a prayerful heart, or to ask for heartfelt prayers from others.

I know I need to grow in this area personally

Nehemiah’s request

(Check your timing before reading this again)

Nehemiah 2:4–5 NLT

4 The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?” With a prayer to the God of heaven, 5 I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”

Nehemiah 2:6–7 NLT

6 The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request. 7 I also said to the king, “If it please the king, let me have letters addressed to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, instructing them to let me travel safely through their territories on my way to Judah.

Nehemiah 2:8 NLT

8 And please give me a letter addressed to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.” And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me.

When the request was made of Nehemiah what did Nehemiah do (v.4)?

He prayed. (expand on this)

After 4-months of prayer, prayer answered, the heart of the king wanted to help.

Nehemiah asked to be “sent” (v.5)

Nehemiah asks the king to join in his concern for the people in Judah, to partner with him.

Nehemiah had big vision, and a bold ask. He did not want someone else to do something, he wanted to do it, to get his own hands dirty.

4-months of prayer were not just for the people but to help the people, to get a God given plan on what to do. He knew what he needed and asked for that

Letters

Timber

Faith that works

Nehemiah 2:9 NLT

9 When I came to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, I delivered the king’s letters to them. The king, I should add, had sent along army officers and horsemen to protect me.

Nehemiah 2:10–11 NLT

10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of my arrival, they were very displeased that someone had come to help the people of Israel. 11 So I arrived in Jerusalem. Three days later,

Nehemiah steps out in faith (v.9)

Faith’s reception is not always pleasing (v.10)

Praying, working faith is still patient faith (v.11)

God used a pagan king, to invest, finance, protect the work to be done.

Do we trust God to use the people, the things around us to get things done that He wants us to invest in?

Working faith picture inserted here.

Are we people of praying, working faith willing to get our hands dirty?

(Prayer) (Close)

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