A wise king surrounds himself with capable people.
Pharaoh made Joseph second-in-command, Genesis 41:40-42. Nebuchadnezzar elevated the best of the Hebrews, young men “skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge,” bringing them into his service, Daniel 1:3-4. The same is true of Nehemiah. He was the king’s cupbearer, a position of great trust. There was more to it than simply keeping the wine glasses full. Nehemiah was a capable and high-ranking officer; the king trusted him with his life.
Nehemiah’s abilities became clear when he oversaw the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. The cupbearer possessed extraordinary gifts of leadership and organization.
He also knew how to pray.
Nehemiah fasted.
When he heard the terrible news about the destruction of the walls and gates of Jerusalem, Nehemiah “sat down and wept,” and he “mourned, fasting and praying” Nehemiah 1:4.
Then he prayed, first praising God for His infinite greatness:
“Yahweh, the God of heaven, the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps His gracious covenant with those who love Him and keep His commands…” Nehemiah 1:5. Notice how many of God’s attributes Nehemiah named. That is what it means to praise God: you tell Him about His own greatness.
Next Nehemiah confessed sin—much of it sin for which he was not personally guilty.
But he knew the nation’s sin touched him. This is “corporate sin,” the idea that we all touch each other. No man is an island. The sins of your family, your town, your culture—those sins are YOUR sins and MY sins.
“I confess the sins we have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned. We have acted corruptly toward You and have not kept the commands, statutes, and ordinances You gave your servant, Moses” Nehemiah 1:6-7.
Finally, Nehemiah prayed the Word.
“Please remember what You commanded your servant, Moses” v.8. Nehemiah then quotes God’s promises back to Him.
Do you ever pray that way? Do you come before the throne like a lawyer standing before a judge, quoting the law to the Great Lawgiver? Do you bring God’s own promises back to Him and ask Him to honor those promises? If that sounds wrong to you, or presumptuous, perhaps, then you do not understand prayer. God WANTS you to pray that way. MEMORIZE His word and pray it back to Him. That is the way Nehemiah prayed—this highly trusted, skilled leader. And God gave him all that for which he asked.
Pray like Nehemiah:
(1) fast,
(2) praise,
(3) confess—individual AND corporate sin,
(4) pray God’s promises back to Him; claim His promises.
May God be glorified in our prayers and actions.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 