Walking in the Word

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This blog focuses on encouraging women to enjoy refreshing, intimate times with the Lord in the Word. Hopefully, it will inspire personal study and spiritual growth as we go. This blog also invites discussion over Bible study and some other wonderful Christian disciplines available to us in our spiritual growth! Come and enjoy!

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Aug. 22, 2008

Nehemiah 2 (Part 1)

Posted in Study: Nehemiah

Good morning, friends! I hope your days are full of blessings. Our weeks here are buzzing along, and suddenly they are picking up steam. So, here we are. It's Monday morning, and I fully intend to take a look at Nehemiah again with you. We're in chapter two now. May we all be blessed.

As always, let's pray before we begin. This is critical for me today, since I know I have the temptation to "color" study from my own perspective. I prefer to let the Word of God speak for itself and for the Spirit to counsel and teach.

Heavenly Father, we have the privilege of coming to You, and for that we are truly thankful! We come to You know we cannot possibly fathom the depths of Your Bible without Your teaching and guidance. So, we earnestly seek the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit as we read to glean wisdom from your field of Scripture, Father. Hear our cry for Your instruction and bless us by your grace and mercy, please.

How awesome it is to proceed knowing He can transform our interaction with Scripture when we ask! Thank you, Jesus, for making a way for this very intimate time as we study!

Chapter two is where our story begins to pick up some steam. In the first two verses we get a little information for context. The month is now Nisan. The reigning king is Artaxerxes; he's been king for twenty years. Nehemiah is cupbearer to the king, which we learned last chapter at the very end, and he is actively serving the king at this time. Nehemiah includes specific details such as "I had not been sad in his presence before" and the fact that the king notices. We also know Nehemiah "was very much afraid" (Neh. 2: 1-2) What does all of this mean to us as modern-day students of the Word?

Well, we can now see the news of Jerusalem's sorry state of affairs was delivered to Nehemiah in the month of Kislev. The story continues in the month Nisan. Most of us are unfamiliar with the calendar to which the Bible refers, so this might be glossed over in a casual read of the passage. Here we can see it is approximately four months later. We know Nehemiah's response was to weep and pray. Is it possible he was "fully invested" in the plight of Jerusalem and God's people four months later? Nehemiah "had not been sad in [the king's] presence before" but the king is aware of his sadness (Neh. 2: 2). One thing we culturally "miss" in our reading of Scripture is the consequence for a downcast face in the presence of a king. That was a costly countenance, even to the point of death.

So, who is this king who takes notice of Nehemiah's downcast countenance and responds in an unexpected way?

1 The first Artaxerxes,1 preëminent among the kings of Persia for gentleness and magnanimity, was surnamed Longimanus, because his right hand was longer than his left, and was the son of Xerxes (Plutarch, Life of Artaxerxes).

Fascinating. We have a king who was known for "gentleness and magnanimity" during his reign. Perhaps the events following Nehemiah's explanation for his sadness is the very reason for the king's reputation. Interesting information to file away. God has allowed a king, under very interesting circumstances, to come to power at just the right time to aid His people.

Nehemiah is exemplary to us. Look at his response when the king questions his "sadness of heart" in verse 2:
I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" (Neh. 2:3)

I happen to notice Nehemiah is humble, respectful, and grace-filled in his response to the king. This was probably a wise choice on his part, but let's not forget he has spent several months emotionally, physically, and spiritually fully invested on behalf of his people, God's people. I don't think we read too much into the passage by saying God has been leading Nehemiah the whole way.

It's especially easy to read this in the text in context of what happens next.

God chooses to lead King Artaxerxes to ask Nehemiah a key question, "What is it you want?" (Neh. 2:4) Wow! The king has options in his response. This is not the expected response, but it is the one that I believe God prompts the king to have. Any other king may have chosen the "off with his 'ead" response.

Don't miss the next most important thing Nehemiah does! We can learn much from the wisdom of Nehemiah in all things, I think. He doesn't drone on about the conditions and the unfairness of it all. He doesn't even list those who are at fault whom he would like the king to annihilate. He responds to the king's question with . . . prayer! "Then I prayed to the God of heaven," he writes (Neh. 2:4b). Ah, that I would pray before I speak more often.

After praying, Nehemiah presents his requests. Let's look at the short list.
"If it pleases the king . . . "

"send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so I can rebuild it" (Neh. 2:5).
"may I have letters to the governors of the Trans-Euphrates, so they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah?" (Neh. 2:7)
"may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king's forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates . . . and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?" (Neh. 2:8)

A few interesting things about this list of requests come to mind. Nehemiah wants to travel to the city where his fathers are buried. (Bonus points to the person who knows why this might have "spoken" to the king's heart of hearts!) Nehemiah asks for safe transport through the area that is now fairly unstable and unsafe to travel. He takes it one step further in asking for the wood he'll need to rebuild. The required timer for this job was not going to be a few trees.

Nehemiah 2:8b says "And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests." Notice that Nehemiah prayed before he asked (likely to hear God's direction on asking and the list of "asks" to make), and he is faithful to make the ask. God is gracious to work in the heart of Artaxerxes and in answering each and every request! How often do we pray first and then ask according to His will? Often the list of asks is more about me and less about Him. *sigh*

There is something more to note in verse 9. The king not only provides everything Nehemiah requested, but he goes above and beyond the short list. Take note that "the king had also sent army officers and calvary" with him!

In our home we talk about the difference between honor and respect. Respect is doing what is asked with a good and gracious heart. Honor is doing that . . . and more. Some may even call that "and then some!" Nehemiah receives honor from the king. Amazing.

This looks like a fantastic story! Don't worry, the plot thickens. Verse 10 indicates that there may be more characters for us to meet. Sanballat and Tobiah are introduced, and it doesn't look as if they intend to be Nehemiah's best friends.

More later.

Before I go I'd like to confess I wasn't sure anyone would notice if I took time off. Please forgive me. Apparently, this isn't about me. Let's see if I can manage to be faithful the way Nehemiah was in his task. Since I believe God called me to this, I'd like to remain faithful.

Blessings to you all! Enjoy your intimate times with the Savior!

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Aug. 18, 2008

Nehemiah 1 (Part 2)

Posted in Study: Nehemiah

I'll just apologize now. It's been quite the week for me. If you have read my other blog, you may know we've had a little bit of an emotional crisis in the house. It also happened to be my privilege to serve on our worship team this weekend. So, things were gearing up pretty fast by Thursday (the day I planned to post the following entry). Alas, I hadn't finished this, so I kept it until now.

Well, here we are again. I've had a bit more time to study, so I thought I would put down the next installment of our exploration into Nehemiah. I did want to say one more thing, though, before I continue. Please know this is far from exhaustive in nature. This study is what God shows me as I study along. I share it with you, and I hope it is a springboard to something God will do in your personal, intimate time with Him in the Word. I would hope that, as God shows you new things, that you might feel free to share that here, too. We sure could bless each other in wonderful ways, don't you think?

You'll notice that my lovely friend began working on the rest of chapter one in the comments of Part One, so please take note of her thoughts that are so wonderfully fresh. :')

As always, let's pray before we ever consider opening up the Word of God and studying it. If for no other reason, we are asking our Counselor and Teacher, the Holy Spirit, to take His rightful place as Lord of this study process.

Sweet Holy Spirit, it is to You we come at this time, seeking to be counseled by Your wisdom and taught by Your teaching heart. Soften us to Your teaching and precious guidance. Let us keenly hear with a fresh heart and ears what You have for us today. We love You! Lead on, Spirit. Lead on!

As we begin today, I'm hoping to move along a little more quickly, with hopes of ending chapter one with a wrap up. Let's see how we do today. "The best laid plans of mice and men" and moms. . . . (Where in the world did that quote come from anyway?)

At this point in the story, we are aware of a few things. We know Nehemiah is in the citadel of Susa (the winter capitol of the Persian Empire). We know God's people are scattered, yet a few have been able to return to Jerusalem. We know that it has been (how many?) years since people arrived, yet the walls of Jerusalem are still broken down and the gates are still burned. There has been no concerted effort to reconstruct the city.

Immediately, we get a good glimpse into Nehemiah's response to the news he's received from his visitors reporting the events taking place: "I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven" (Neh. 1:4). Nehemiah deeply feels the plight of the people!

Friends, may I have a heart-to-heart with you on something? As the church in America, do our hearts still break and mourn for those who mourn? How do we, as the body of Christ, respond when we hear news of our brothers and sisters in Christ going through difficult seasons? In a day and age when it is more common to hear news consolidated into sound bites of 15 seconds or less per story . . . when we see our news on a home page with a picture, headline, and short blurb and quickly click to the next url . . . when we tend to hear of someone's trouble, promise to pray for them (later), and quickly forget to return to that thought . . . how are we doing as a Church? (Slowly and quietly stepping down from the soap box.)

Beloved friends, I think Nehemiah's example is one to strongly consider. He wept. He mourned for days. He fasted. He prayed. This is a complete mind, body, spirit, and soul investment in the plight and disgrace of God's people. (Let's just ponder that for a moment.) He was not with those people, experiencing their hardships. He wasn't seeing the destruction daily as his eyes scanned the horizon. He wasn't even experiencing the overwhelming discouragement the people faced as they lived outside their demolished city. Time, distance, and his life of comfort and ease could have allowed him to dismiss it. Maybe he could even just blame the people for being lazy.

After all, that may be what gets in our way, personally. Many of us would say we just can't get that invested in everything, lest we be more like weeping Jeremiah sitting in a puddle all the time. I say it's possible we might need to look just slightly more like Jeremiah or Nehemiah when it comes to the people of God . . . and maybe the people who are not the people of God yet. (Whoops. Where'd that box under my feet come from?) I'd say, in conclusion on this topic, perhaps we might examine this Godly example just a bit. Pray about it. Is God leading you to consider a softer, more invested heart?

I love the details of Nehemiah's response to the plight of the people. He prays. But, more specifically, he prays "before the God of heaven" (Neh. 1:4b-11b). Don't miss this. He is very specific in naming the God of heaven. Sometimes I know why things are, and sometimes I need a little help. A little Walvoord and Zuck is always a good thing:

"The God of heaven" is a title of God used nine times in Ezra . . .--more than any other Bible book--and 10 times in other exilic and postexilic books . . . Elsewhere in the Old Testament that phrase occurs only four times (Gen. 24:3, 7; Ps. 136:26; Jonah 1:9). It points to God's sovereignty. He is the One who made heavent (Gen. 14:19, 22; 2 Chron. 2:12; Ps. 115:15), who is in heaven (Deut. 4:39; 1Kings 8:30, 39, 43, 49; Ecc. 5:2), and who reigns from His throne in heaven (Isa. 66:1). Though Cyrus was a monarch over an extensive empire, Yahweh is far greater for He rules from heaven.
(The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord/Zuck; John A. Martin, "Ezra 1")

I've left out some of the citations in this quote for simplicity sake. In reading the commentary in Walvoord/Zuck on Nehemiah, I was referred to Ezra, so I have given you that information. I hope it is fruitful and beneficial.

Notice in a day and age where sovereignty confusion must have been rampant in the remnant of God's people, see how Nehemiah is not confused. He knows exactly to whom he prays. This is even more interesting, considering what he will be doing next. Take note of his intimate time with God now, in advance of the following events. This might be a wise reminder to us all as well. Our first place to run under the most challenging circumstances (our own or those of people around us) simply must be to our heavenly Father! He runs immediately to the Ruler of all things, the Sovereign God, the God of heaven.

Read the prayer. See the parts of it that my friend mentioned in her comment on the last installment of Nehemiah 1. The model for prayer certainly is there! Notice, too, that this is intercessory prayer at it's best. He is reminded of who this God is, who the very special people are for whom he prays, and he doesn't forget to pray for himself in the end.

Just a little thought for you. How about a little "home work" in the prayer area? Consider studying the example of the prayer. Try to see how God is moving in the heart of Nehemiah as he prays. Think of how you might benefit from taking a lesson from Nehemiah in your prayer life.

For whom will you pray?
When will you pray for this person or group?
How often and how long will you support this person or group?

No, you don't have to answer these questions here in the comments. But, it might be interesting for us to take a moment and select someone or a group for whom we will intercede. No ideas? How about . . .

Children
Family members (who know or don't know the Lord personally)
Your church (pastor, leadership, elders, members, etc.)
Your school (daily guidance, relational harmony, pointing toward the God of heaven)
Your local public schools (protection, the Christians and non-Christians there)

Just some thoughts.

So, how are we liking Nehemiah now? ;')

I love you all! Be blessed as we go through this book. May the God of heaven speak to you in the quiet of your heart as you study.

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