Anguish for the Lost

Nehemiah 1:1-11

Who was Nehemiah? Nehemiah was a dispersed Jew in the land of Susa with the Assyrian King. His name meant, “The Lord comforts.” He was the King’s cupbearer. His job was to take a drink from the cup before the king. That way, if anyone poisoned the drink, they would die, not the king. It's not the most rewarding job with great retirement benefits. It was not a job for which people were sending in their resumes. The king trusted Nehemiah since the king’s life was really in the cupbearer’s hand.

Like his counterpart, Ezra, Nehemiah would lead a group to Jerusalem to restore the city. It would be the third and last group brought back since the Babylonian exile. Nehemiah’s most significant concern was rebuilding the wall around the city.

In the book's first chapter, Nehemiah is told by his brother, Hanani, that those who survived the exile were in great trouble. Nehemiah mourns and weeps for days, grieving, lamenting, and sorrowing for his people. Nehemiah had anguish!

What is anguish? Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as “extreme pain, distress, anxiety, to suffer.” Nehemiah was in such agony and pain that he suffered physically, emotionally, and spiritually for his kinsmen.

What was his most profound anguish? The anguish of others. What drew his heart out to the point of tears? The tears of others.

We can either be a complainer of the world we live in or a changer of the world. Nehemiah was a changer who had anguish for Jerusalem; He went back to make a difference because he had a heart for the lost.

Too many sit around and complain about their community but won’t get out and be the change.

Nehemiah did three things we can model. First, he went into a time of fasting and prayer. Second, he confessed all of Israel’s sins to God. Lastly, he brought forth God’s promise. We can impact like Nehemiah if we are willing to do these things. We will eventually read how Nehemiah finished praying and went into action.

Fasting and Prayer

We have spent the last 40-plus days fasting and praying. But I adventure to say did we really fast and pray like Nehemiah? I know I failed on some of those days. Nehemiah did not pray and fast; he sat down with anguish, mourning, and weeping. He fasted and prayed. Nehemiah knew what his name meant and knew the One who would comfort him during this distressful situation. He also knew that nobody could do this task without God. Nehemiah went straight to the Source that holds all the power. Daniel prayed and fasted; he, too, knew who to call out to. Daniel 9:4

Daniel 9:4 ESV

I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,

Nehemiah was greatly concerned for his people, which is evident in his stopping and entering a time of prayer and fasting. I often wonder what it would be like if we were under great persecution. Would it drive us to anguish for our brothers and sisters, or would we become self-centered and focus on just us?

Nehemiah also confessed during his prayer time for Israel and himself.

Confess for Israel’s Sins

When we have anguish for the lost, we confess all the community’s sins. Could we, as God’s people, bring God back into this country? Absolutely! But we would have to admit and confess our sins and those of others. Hear what Nehemiah said, “… confess the sins of the children of Israel which WE have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned.”

Nehemiah knew that he and his father’s house had sinned against God. They put away the way of God and started serving false gods, which caused their exile. Our nation is serving false gods, and His people who are called by His name are not in agony about it or do nothing to stop it.

I hear the complaints, but remember, we can either complain or make a change. It is up to you to decide what you will do. Before we go any further, allow me to share with you some details that are going on in our community that most need to be made aware of.

I have had the opportunity to get to know these children where I teach. So I am going to tell you some of their stories. Stories we would never know if we were not being intentional and getting out in our community. Sitting in our lovely little bubble and coming together on Sunday to fellowship is easy. But we are called to do something else.

The first child I want to tell you about is a little girl who was beaten so severely that her neck was broken. She had a fractured skull, and the CPS said it was the worst case they had ever seen. This girl was in the hospital for four months and now lives with her grandparents because her mom won’t leave the man who did that to her. Her dad passed away when she was 8. She is now 11. Do you think this little girl cares about how a building looks or is decorated? NO! She cares about being loved and not worrying about being hurt. Would she find that in a building or in God’s people?

Allow me to tell you about a young boy who can’t walk correctly because he was beaten so severely that his hips are not correct. Once again, it happened because his mom’s girlfriend became angry with him when he spilled a drink. He now has behavior issues because he looks at everyone as the enemy who does not care about him.

Allow me to tell you about another little girl and her brother who has dealt with homelessness, going from one shelter to another. They sexually abused her at these shelters to the point she tells me that she sees shadows at night. Her cognitive development is hindered to the point that I am not sure she will ever be able to read or write.

The last one, this little girl, has lost everything. Last year, while she was at school, their house caught fire and burnt to the ground. She lost her pets and everything in that fire. She has been bounced around from place to place with her family because they struggle with income. She has a learning disability to the point she is not able to say her alphabet.

How do we know what sins are in our community or what our community needs if we do not get involved? Nehemiah asked, prayed, fasted, and confessed.

In the book of Nehemiah, we see the heart of a leader who deeply cared for the restoration and welfare of his people. This serves as a reminder to us that as Christians, we are called to care for and invest in the well-being of others, just as Nehemiah invested in the well-being of Israel.

Nehemiah also did one other thing: he brought forth God’s promise.

God’s Promise

God’s promise is that He will always be with us, fight for us, and heal our lands. Nehemiah understood who the Only One who could restore them was. Nobody else has the power inside them to make a change but God’s people.

When we get out of ourselves and plug in where God has placed us, we can become Change Agents.

Just as Nehemiah took personal responsibility for the well-being of Israel and its people, we are called to take personal responsibility for the spiritual well-being of those around us, showing them the same love and care that God has shown us.

Like David, Nehemiah asked God to have his ear attentive to his prayer. Psalm 5

Psalm 5 ESV

To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my groaning. Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray. O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you. Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue. Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you. But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.

A servant who desires to fear Your name. A servant who asked God to prosper him that day.

Application:

1. Become outward focus instead of inward focus.

2. We can become intentional in our community.

3. Have a Prayer and Fasting life.

4. Be a CHANGE AGENT!

Nobody cares what you know until they know you care.