Problem, Cry and Pray

Problem

The cry

I've been working on some sermons on the book of Nehemiah

Nehemiah starts by telling us that he receives word that his people aren't well

Nehemiah found him self in a good place, he was a cupbearer to the king

And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” 

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ne 1:2–3.

4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ne 1:4–5.

The Problem

The Cry

The people who had survived were in shame and without community

They were being mocked, we later read that this place wasn't just a city but it had history. Their fathers and mother had been buried there.

Now we begin to understand the cry.

What makes us cry?

The city gates represented community, it was the heart of the city and where religious activity took place, legal matters and public gatherings happened at the city gates. The gates represented stability, power and safety.

In what circumstance do you find yourself?

Have your city gates been burnt down?

The Prayer

Nehemiah started praying and repeating to God promises made

Humanity is never lost but Nehemiah understood that would never be the place to find solitude so he goes into prayer, praying to God for the promises he had made to them. 9)

but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’

In other words 

do what i say and no matter where you find yourself, no matter the circumstance, I will bring you to where I am and the place i have chosen for you to dwell with me.

I know our situation doesn't seem great

I'm reminded of Elija

God tells him to go to the brook cherith

Elija had angered the king and they wanted him dead

once there Elija would drink from the brook and eat bread and meat that was brought to him by ravens

This seems less than favorable but at some point the brook dries up and God once again sends him to a city.

Everyone in this city was dying, when Elijah gets to the city he meets a woman 

he asks her for some food and her response is i only have enough for my son and i to eat and then die

it would seem like God sent Elija from a bad situation to a worst one

But God ends up causing her food to never run out———— better than endless shrip at red lobster

But where I go with this is, it might seem like we have gone from a bad situation to a worst one but do what I say and no matter where you find yourself, no matter the circumstance, I will bring you to where I am and the place I have chosen for you to dwell with me.

Don't lose faith in what God can do

And know that God is faithful to do it all, God is faithful to take care of us by the brook and in the famine