God Supplies The Build

Nehemiah 2:2–10 (NIV)

2 so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.” I was very much afraid,

3 but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

4 The king said to me, “What is it you want? Then I prayed to the God of heaven,

5 and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

6 Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.

7 I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah?

8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests.

9 So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.

10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther II. Commentary: Preparation

Prayer and planning complement each other in working out God’s will. While we depend on God’s power and sovereign rule, we carefully organize plans that can further his purposes; while we wait we prepare.

2 so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”I was very much afraid,

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther 1. The Opportunity (2:1–4)

Persian monarchs required that those who served them were not to bring personal troubles into their presence. Such a breach of protocol could signal conspiracy or disrespect. But Artaxerxes’s next comment signaled a little hope for Nehemiah because the king rightly interpreted his servant’s disposition: This can be nothing but sadness of heart. Even so, Nehemiah was very much afraid.

This was the first time that Nehemiah had been seen sad or down in the presence of the king.

As mentioned last week, he had a lot at risk going before the king like this, so I could see why he was afraid when the king inquired of him.

3 but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther 1. The Opportunity (2:1–4)

He expected the king to understand the gravity of such a situation, as indeed he did. Respect for ancestral burial sites was of great concern to ancient peoples, particularly imperial rulers.

Some scholars have been inclined to think that Nehemiah intentionally did not mention Jerusalem by name and remained general in his statements about his ancestral city, know that the king did not like the city.

It was also noted the formality of his statement. Even though he had God’s favor, he still acted with respect to the king that he was addressing. Sometimes we can be sure we are on the right road, but out pride and attitude can still stink and mess us up.

4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven,

2:4 Then I prayed. In every step, Nehemiah’s first thought was to pray. Before answering the king’s question, he looked to God for help and wisdom. This is just one of the many times in the book where, without any delay, Nehemiah turns to God and calls on him for guidance.

This is called “spontaneous prayer,” meaning that it is a prayer (usually short) spoken on the spot in a particular situation. (1) In this case, Nehemiah stood before the king and had time only to pray silently from his heart. In emergencies, we do not usually have time for long prayers.

Nehemiah’s brief prayer was enough because of his ongoing relationship with God. He had already been praying and fasting over the past four months

[Adams, J. Wesley, and Donald C. Stamps. 2011. Fire Bible. Springfield, MO: Life Publishers International.]

This what the Bible speaks of when it says to pray continuously. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Prayer isn’t a matter of getting on your knees. Prayer is the elevation of the heart to God and that is all a man needs to praise, to pray and to worship.8

A. W. Tozer

5 and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (2. Nehemiah’s Requests (2:5–8))

Nehemiah began with the formulaic phrases of court etiquette: If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight.

Nehemiah then quickly advanced to his request: Send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.

Again, Jerusalem was not mentioned by name, nor did he refer to the walls of the city. Nehemiah petitioned the king in general terms and kept the focus on his personal desire to restore the city of his ancestors.

6 Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.

Going off of the passage here, we can tell that the king expected him to come back and I would even dare think that Nehemiah planned to come back within a timely manner.

But take note here, that these where the plans of man not God…

God had other plans as we will get too on another sermon, but in short, it would turn out to be over 12 years that Nehemiah would be gone.

7 I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah?

Keep in mind that Nehemiah had just spent the last 4 months in preparation, including praying and fasting over this.

Though the text does not give us great glimpses into all of his prayer time, I could imagine that one of his biggest prayers aside from favor with the King is wisdom on what to do and ask for.

This interaction is fruit of the past four months of planning and praying which we will see even more of in verse 8.

8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests.

When God gives you a mission he will provide the supplies

Fire Bible (Chapter 2)

The hand of God upon Nehemiah was clearly evident in five different ways.

He was sharing in God’s purposes,

God was actively guiding him.

God was giving him blessing and help (v. 18; cf. Heb 4:16).

God was with him, enabling him to prosper and succeed in his work.

He felt a God-given courage and faith.

9 So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.

Being the ruler that the king was, he probably saw this as a type of investment and sent protection with his investments in order to secure them and his cup barer.

For those who enjoy Lord of the Rings where Boromir say that “one does not simply walk into Mordor.”

Here, one does not give out notes large enough to rebuild a city and not secure it.

10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.

This goes to show that not everyone is happy with your success, when one is following the Lord expect opposition from somewhere.

Some will even hate you for following the Lord. One guaranteed hater is the devil himself and his minions will influence others in a way to attempt to disrupt what the Lord is doing.

Don’t listen to them, remain in the word, remain praying, and remain in Godly counsel with fellow brethren.

I want to jump down to verse 18 before I end, and look at the reaction of the remnant when Nehemiah tells them what has happened.

Nehemiah 2:18 (MEV)

Then I told them that the hand of my God had been good to me and also about the king’s words that he had spoken to me.

And they said, “Let us rise up and build!” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.

Take Home Questions:

What is God leading you to do? Ask him

While waiting are you praying and preparing?

Have you surrounded yourself with other Godly people or are you trying to go alone?