For the last three weeks we have been briefly studying the topic of prayer, primarily looking at scripture in the New Testament. Last Sunday in our teaching I made reference that we will be studying this week what we can learn about prayer and how it applies to us from Nehemiah. Before we do, I want to point out some tools that will help us better understand what we read in our Bibles.
Form any good study Bible, we can learn about the many important background details and other significant points within any specific book of the Bible we are studying. I want to encourage you, if you have not already, to make the investment into your spiritual growth by purchasing a good study Bible. It will be an investment in which you will reap the benefits for a life time.
There are two primary characteristics to any study Bible you purchase from Amazon or ChristianBook.com or from somewhere else. First, is the version or translation. Purchase the Bible translation that you are most comfortable reading, such as, the New International Version, the New Living Translation, the New King James, the English Standard, the Hollman Christian Standard and there are many more. Secondly, this is where you need to be careful, not all the commentary in every study Bible is the same. What I mean is, the doctrine of the commentary concerning certain verses differ depending from what basic line of theology the commentator or publisher aligns with.
If you are Pentecostal, I would recommend the Fire Bible Study Bible or The Spirit Filled Life Study Bible, of which all the commentary is from a Pentecostal point of view.
If you prefer attending a Baptist or a reformed evangelical church, you would be comfortable with a John MacArthur, Wiersbe or Ryrie Study Bible. Other good study Bibles are the NIV Study Bible, New Living Translation Study Bible or the Faith Life Study Bible.
The purpose of all this information concerning study Bibles is that when studying any book of the Bible it enhances and better informs you of the important background facts and spiritual insight of the book of the Bible you are reading. The following is an example from the introduction of just the headings which excludes the information of the Book of Nehemiah taken form the Spirit Filled Life Study Bible.
The Book of NEHEMIAH
Author: Nehemiah
Date: Approximately 423 B.C.
Theme: Godly Leadership, Cooperation, Opposition to Success
Key Words: Distress, Praying, Work, the Book, Weeping, Joy, Service
Other key topic headings with important facts and information this study Bible gives are; Occasion and Date, Content, Personal Application, Christ Revealed, The Holy Spirit at Work, Outline of Nehemiah.
A sample from the Personal Application portion presents us with two points that are always important to the way we pray; God’s will and God’s Word.
“Personal Application. Four lasting principles stand out in Nehemiah. First, compassion is often the springboard of obedience to God’s will. Second, cooperation with others is required to carry out God’s will. Third, confidence results from fervent prayer and the exposition of the Word of God, which reveals God’s will. Fourth, courage will manifest itself as sanctified tenacity in refusing to compromise on the conviction that one is doing God’s will.”
We are not going to study in depth the content of the book of Nehemiah, we are only going to look at a few verses along with other examples from other portions of scripture concerning what we can learn concerning prayer and how individuals prayed when confronting challenging situations.
Nehemiah
Nehemiah 1:1-5, 1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. 3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” 4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
Whether we have been believers for many decades or just a few years in our relationship with God, at one time or another we have or will experience the burning passion or burdens concerning specific things that God places on our heart that He wants us to do. If you have experienced this in your own life you can recognize and understand as seen in the first four verses, Nehemiah’s concern and or burden and reaction to the news he received from “Hanani, one of my brothers” concerning “the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem”.
The burden or concern that was in Nehemiah’s heart is clearly seen from the question he asked. His concern for “the Jewish remnant” and “Jerusalem” was something that God had placed on Nehemiah’s heart sometime before he met up with Hanni and those who were traveling with him. The Bible does not tell us that Nehemiah was already praying for the remanent and Jerusalem before his encounter with Hanni and the others. The only detail we have of their conversation is in verse three, “3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”.
Even though Nehemiah had never been to Jerusalem the way he reacted to the news gives us a clear indication of what was weighing heavily on his heart before this encounter. Nehemiah 1:4, “When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.”
Verse four tells us that Nehemiah, “For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” Have you ever been burdened by something that God has placed on your heart that it caused you to react as Nehemiah did?
A very important point that we can easily overlook as we read this text, Nehemiah 1:1 to 2:4, is that it can appear from reading these verses that immediately after Nehemiah finishes his prayer he sees the King and has the conversation concerning what was heavy on his heart. This is incorrect. Nehemiah 1:1 tells us when Nehemiah heard the news concerning “the Jewish remnant” and Jerusalem it was, “…In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year”. “This month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred within the months of November and December.”
In 2:1 it tells us when Nehemiah actually spoke to the King concerning what was burdening his heart. “In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes…” “This month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred within the months of April and May”. This is four months later. Why is this important? During the time that transpired between the four months mentioned, God was working in Nehemiah preparing him for when the opportunity presented itself to speak to the King he would know exactly how God wanted him to respond and ask for. In addition, God was preparing the King’s heart to be receptive and respond the way he did to what Nehemiah was going to request.
Even though God places in our hearts a burden about something or someone, sometimes we have to wait, and continue to faithfully pray until God presents us with the opportunity to speak and or act.
We might never know precisely how God wants to use us for His purposes in the future, but many times before He does, He plants the interest and or concern in our hearts before we actually begin to experience God’s will of what that is.
Jeremiah 29:11-13, 11 ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12 ‘Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Warren Wiersbe in his commentary says the following. “Why would Nehemiah inquire about a struggling remnant of people who lived hundreds of miles away? After all, he was the king’s cupbearer and he was success-fully secure in his own life. Certainly it wasn’t his fault that his ancestors had sinned against the Lord and brought judgment to the city of Jerusalem and the kingdom of Judah.”
Nehemiah’s prayer in verses five to eleven show many aspects that can apply to our prayers when confronting challenging situations. The Fire Bible commentary concerning his prayer tells us the following.
“His prayer included confessing sin (vv. 6-7), recalling God’s former instructions and promises to his people (v. 8; cf. Lev 26:40-45; Dt 30:1-6), expressing concern for God’s honor and purposes (vv. 5-8) and interceding (i.e., pleading a case for others, praying for their needs and concerns) for the people of Israel.”
There are many points we can learn from Nehemiah’s prayer. Here are a few points in the form of questions that will help us apply the principles of Nehemiah’s prayer to any situation that God has placed on our hearts to pray about. How are we recognizing or decerning through God’s eyes and His Word the reason(s) of the current situation we are praying about? Are we acknowledging any personal responsibility for the current situation we are praying about? What has God said in His Word concerning and or what principles from God’s word can be applied to the situation we are praying about?
“It is no accident that Nehemiah’s ministry began with a “prayer burden.” First, Nehemiah prayed and interceded for the needs of God’s people. Then God supernaturally opened the door for him to do something. Because Nehemiah had been faithful to pray, God also provided him with the finances and authority he needed to do the job.” Spirit Filled Life Bible For Students.
Pastor John
