Nehemiah 1: A recipe for success

Major Paula Knight encourages us to adopt Nehemiah’s prayerful attitude.

Key text

• Nehemiah 1:1–11

Nehemiah was eager to hear the news brought to him by his brother, Hanani. Being a Jew from the tribe of Judah, he wanted to know what had happened to those who had survived the exile. He was deeply distressed to discover that the walls of Jerusalem were in ruins, and the gates had been burned down leaving the city unprotected.

Pause and reflect

• What do you do when you receive bad news? How do you react?

Nehemiah sat down and wept. This emotion came out of a deep affection for his people. However, he was also a man of faith, so he didn’t just weep, he ‘fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven’ (v4). Then we are told that he was cupbearer to the king (see v11).

In this opening chapter, we learn much about Nehemiah. He worked in the palace in a position of trust. He had a deep love for his tribe, a good understanding of Jewish Scripture and a strong faith in God. These positive characteristics led him to act immediately when he received the distressing news about Jerusalem.

Pause and reflect

• Nehemiah had a deep love for people, a good understanding of the Law and a strong faith in God. Are these things also important to you?

If we are to be impressed by what Nehemiah achieved when he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, the aspects of his character that led him to the project beginning in the first place – love, understanding and faith – must first impress us.

We often idolise the people we read about in the Bible, thinking we could never achieve the great things that they did. Many of them, however, were not looking to achieve great things; they were simply living their lives in obedience to God’s call with a deep love, a good understanding of Scripture and a strong faith. When we develop these same attributes, we find that opportunities open up for us, not for our own benefit but for the benefit of others.

Nehemiah, Esther, Moses and Joseph all found themselves in positions not of their own choosing, yet they proved to be strategic for the carrying out of God’s plan. If you know the song ‘What Can I Say to Cheer a World of Sorrow?’ (SASB 944), you might remember the chorus says: ‘Just where he needs me, my Lord has placed me, Just where he needs me, there would I be!’

Pause and reflect

• Think about where you are just now. Are you just where God needs you, or are you wondering why you are there?

When we take time to pray and give our current situations to God, we might recognise that he wants to keep us right where we are. Or, maybe, we realise that he needs to move us into a more strategic position. Are you open to both outcomes? Even if you are housebound, you can find opportunities to influence others and share your faith.

Located in what is now modern-day Iran, the citadel of Susa was a royal residence and administrative centre for the Persian Empire. Today, mentions of Iran and Israel bring to mind conflict and unrest, and this was also true in 445BC, when Nehemiah was working in the palace. Babylon conquered Jerusalem in 587BC and the Jewish people had spent 70 years in Babylonia. Out of 2 to 3 million Jews living in exile, only 50,000 returned home. Almost 100 years later, Nehemiah heard the news that they had rebuilt the Temple, but the walls remained in ruins. Although the Jews had tried to rebuild them, their enemies had stopped them (see Ezra 4). It seemed an impossible task and, therefore, they had given up.

As cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, Nehemiah’s job was to protect the king’s cup. He wasn’t a server, he was a protector, checking daily that the king’s drink was free from poison and fit for regal consumption. Now, his attention turned to the unprotected city of Jerusalem.

After much fasting and prayer, Nehemiah decided to speak to the king and request permission to travel to Jerusalem for the purpose of rebuilding the walls of the city. His prayer ends with this request: ‘Give your servant success today by granting him favour in the presence of this man’ (v11). In chapter 2, we read how that prayer was answered.

Pause and reflect

• Is there a difficult conversation that you need to have or a special request you need to make? Pray like Nehemiah: Lord, give your servant success today by granting favour in the presence of this person.

Prayer sits at the heart of success, yet this is not the kind of success that is defined in terms of wealth or prestige. Nehemiah was prepared to give up his privileged lifestyle in order to pursue a different kind of success, one that would benefit the people he cared about and the city he loved.

Nehemiah relied completely on God. He didn’t attempt to speak to the king or begin this project in his own strength or according to his own wisdom. We can learn a lot from Nehemiah about walking with God in faith. When others said ‘I cannot’, Nehemiah said, ‘I can do this with God.’

Pause and reflect

• Nehemiah’s prayer in verses 5 to 11 is a prayer of praise, confession, intercession and a request for help. Take a moment to read it and make it your own.
• Philippians 4:13 says: ‘I can do all things through him who gives me strength.’ Claim this verse for yourself.