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NEHEMIAH’S PRAYER

I. QUAR., LESSON VII., FEB. 12, NEH. 1:1-11

Golden Text—”Lord, be thou my helper.”—Psa. 30:10

VERSES 1-3. Nehemiah was an Israelite of the tribe of Judah. He was of one of those families which had not returned to Palestine under Cyrus’ decree of about ninety years previous. He was an influential man, a Counselor to King Artaxerxes; for such is the significance of the title, “Cup-bearer” (verse 11). His attention was called to the pitiable condition of the returned Jews by

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his brother and certain others of his tribe

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who had returned to Babylon. The seventy years intervening between this lesson and the last had not been years of prosperity, but of adversity, to the Israelites, both in Jerusalem and in Babylon. Their enemies, taking advantage of the weaknesses of Ahasuerus, who reigned during the interim, had attacked the partially rebuilt walls and gates of the city of Jerusalem and had wrecked the former and burned the latter, which were of wood: and at Babylon, as we learn from the Book of Esther, a plot for the complete extermination of the Israelites had almost succeeded under the guidance of their enemies led by Haman—but had been prevented by divine interposition.

VERSES 4-11. Nehemiah’s subsequent history proves him to have been a great man—a man of wisdom and of executive ability—and his conduct as here related testifies to the same; for he at once sought the Lord, desiring of him wisdom and grace that he might act aright—that he might perform what he felt to be his duty toward his people—”Israel.”

In this we have a lesson which every real Christian’s experience corroborates. Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory (i.e., for self-glorification or honor), but let all things be done for the Lord’s glory. And whoever is seeking service from such a motive will surely seek the divine wisdom to guide into the divine will and work.

Prayer is not to be entered into with a view to changing the divine will and getting it to conform to our imperfect ideas, but rather to bring our hearts and minds and conduct into conformity to the divine will, assured that therein is our greatest and truest happiness. Nehemiah’s prayer was of this proper sort. He confesses the justice of the Lord’s chastisement of Israel for their sins. He properly includes himself with the others of his nation. He recalls the fact that God’s dealings were just—in exact fulfilment of the covenant made with that nation. (Lev. 26:33, etc.; Deut. 4:25, etc.; 28:64.) Then he refers to the Lord’s promises in the same connection, That if Israel would repent he would return his favor to them.—Deut. 30:4; 9:29; Isa. 11:12.

Nehemiah was so deeply in earnest that he continued his prayers and supplication after this manner for several days; not that the Lord needed urging on the subject, but that the subject was growing upon Nehemiah’s mind and heart. Gradually he was made earnest and strong enough to take an important part in the answering of his own prayer, as is shown by verse 11. His petitions closed, not with a boastful feeling that he had thought out a plan for Israel which would bless them and cover himself with honor, but with a plan which he believed to be of God, and upon which he desired God’s blessing. He was about to bring the matter which was so close to his heart to the attention of the King Artaxerxes, and he prayed, “Prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy [favor] in the sight of this man”—the king.

Let us each follow this same course. “In all thy ways acknowledge him [God], and he shall direct thy paths.”—Pro. 3:6.

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— January 15, 1893 —