But first, pray! (Nehemiah reflection #1)

Talking about prayer. There’s an easy way to induce guilt for the Christian. Almost 100% guaranteed.

But don’t we feel the need to pray?

-        When we see the local news.

-        When we see the international news.

-        When we know what’s going on inside us, and around us, for ourselves and for those we love.

Don’t we feel the need to pray?

There’s very few Old Testament characters of real encouragement. But for me, Nehemiah is one of those who stands out as a real source of encouragement. Nehemiah, the book, covers a period in Israel’s history after the Babylonian exile – when some of the Jewish people rebuild their city and country. The book contains reflections from Nehemiah over a 12 year period (5:14) as the appointed governor of the recovering Judah and Jerusalem.

One of the sources of deep encouragement to me from Nehemiah has been his quickness to pray.

Let me give you 4 examples:

• In chapter 1, Nehemiah, then in Persia as a cupbearer (think Chief of staff) of the Persian King Artaxerxes, receives news of what bad shape the beloved Jerusalem is in.

In response we’re told that Nehemiah sat down and wept. He mourned with fasting and praying before the God of the heavens. And his prayer in 1:5-11 is a rich mixing of adoration and confession, and argument and petition before God.

• In chapter 2, while before the Persian King and faced with the somewhat dangerous opportunity to make a request before that king, what does Nehemiah do?

He first prays to the greater King! (2:4)

• In chapter 4, now in Jerusalem, there are sinister and dangerous plot against the Jewish builders. And the response? (you guessed it)…

“So we prayed to our God…” (4:9)

• In chapter 6 the intimidation tactics of the enemies continues. We read: ‘For they were trying to intimidate us saying: “They will drop their HANDS from the work, and it will never be finished.”’ Nehemiah’s response?

“But now, my God, strengthen my HANDS.” (6:9)

Why do you think Nehemiah prays as a first response?

I’d suggest that he does so because he walks conscious of his God.

• That he is under the God of the heavens (1:4, 2:20)

• With an awareness of God’s gracious hand at work (2:8, 18)

• That God will do the fighting and defending of his people (4:20)

• And that ultimately the completion/success of the task rests with God (6:16)

In other words, he prays because he knows God, and walks with and under Him.

May this God revealed even more fully in Jesus as true and good and faithful to his promises, be the one we know. And may that show in prayerfulness. Of us being the ones, when things pop up, of going: ‘But first, let’s pray’.

Grace and peace

Ryan (Howard College, Campus Director)