Nehemiah 2: 1-8 NKJV (2)

What are you going to do if God calls you to do something about it?

In Nehemiah chapter 1, The question was what are you going to do about It?

In chapter 2, the question is, what are you going to do if God calls you to do something about it? ‌Intro: Divided Kingdom, Captivity, Babylonians, Medes and the Persians.

‌Let's look at three ways Nehemiah responded to his situation.

‌I. Nehemiah Responded Patiently.

Nehemiah 2:1 NKJV

1 And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before.

This would have been roughly Last of march early April 445 to 444B.C. Which would be the Hebrew month of Abib which is the first month in the Hebrew calendar. Now look back to

Nehemiah 1:1 NKJV

1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. It came to pass in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the citadel,

‌Here we have the Month of Chisleu which is the Hebrew Ninth month 445 to 444 B.C. Which would be the equivalent of the end of November to early December. ‌So this gives us a period of about four months. The reason the year is the same is because Nehemiah is going from the time the King ascended to the throne, the twentieth year. Not in the normal order of months like we do today.

‌Nehemiah Prayed and waited for four months. Patience is one of my biggest weaknesses. I don't like to wait. A lot of times God makes us wait and we don't always understand why. It may be that God is preparing us for what He is about to do next. It may be so that we have to rely on Him more. In this case I think it was because God had a plan and that plan needed to be executed at the perfect time. Underline this date because it is important and I will get back to why it is important in when we get to verse 5.

‌II. Nehemiah Responded Prayerfully.

Nehemiah 2:2 NKJV

2 Therefore the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.” So I became dreadfully afraid,

Then I was very sore afraid," (KJV) Why was Nehemiah afraid? ‌The first reason is that the King had probably been very good to Nehemiah and it would be considered disrespectful, ungrateful and even a dishonor to be sad in the presence of the King. ‌The second reason can also be explained at verse 5. ( Because the king had halted the rebuilding of the temple because of trouble with other people in the area.)

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 responds to the King’s question with respect and reverence. ‌why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?

Nehemiah 2:4 NKJV

4 Then the king said to me, “What do you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven.

Nehemiah 2:5 NKJV

5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.”

Nehemiah is saying if it is alright with you King

Nehemiah 2:6 NKJV

6 Then the king said to me (the queen also sitting beside him), “How long will your journey be? And when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.

Nehemiah 2:7 NKJV

7 Furthermore I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the River, that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah,

Nehemiah 2:8 NKJV

8 and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which pertains to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy.” And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me.