November 18, 2024 | Be God's Light
Nehemiah Weeps about Jerusalem's Walls
Scripture: Nehemiah 1(NIV)
1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:
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 had 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. 5 Then I said:
“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
8 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’
10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”
I was cupbearer to the king.
Devotional
The exiles in Babylon returned to Jerusalem in three waves. Here’s the timeline:
586 BC – Jerusalem is destroyed, including the temple and wall around the city; Jews are exiled to Babylon.
538 BC – The first remnant of 50,000 people returns to Judah led by Zerubbabel to begin reconstruction of the temple. It is completed in 516 BC.
458 BC – The second remnant of 2000 families returns to Jerusalem led by Ezra to restore proper allegiance to the Lord.
445 BC – The third remnant of a few people returns to Jerusalem led by Nehemiah to rebuild the wall around the city.
Nehemiah had an official position in the royal court as cupbearer to the king of the Medo-Persian Empire. Yet as a Jew, his heart was wrecked when he heard that the wall around the holy city of Jerusalem was still in a shambles. He knew that this meant the residents were unprotected from enemy attacks. The news caused him to weep, mourn, fast, and confess the sins of himself, his family, and the Israelites.
It had been 140 years since the walls were broken down and the gates burned. And it had been 70 years since the temple was rebuilt. Nehemiah had never seen any of it. He had just heard stories passed down through the generations. He was a Jew, but his life was in Susa, the royal capital of the Persians.
What makes your heart break? What people group or cause are you passionate about? Is God moving your mind and spirit to have compassion for something in your community or world? How is the Holy Spirit encouraging you to pray, speak, go, give, or do something about it?
Poem
The Cupbearer
The cupbearer sips the wine poured for a king
Protection ‘gainst poisonous schemes
At times the wine’s sweet, fragrant cup full of joy
At times filled with wrath intervenes
The cupbearer sits and hears all that’s presented
The good news, the shrouded news meant to confuse
With no say and no will and no power to exert
Coming dangerous waves to diffuse
And yet, the cupbearer has voice before one
The great King of Kings listens well
As the cupbearer pours out his heart-cup to God
In confession, vast danger to quell
The cupbearing servant well knows his low place
Yet still trusts in the high place of One
Who knows and who holds all the poisonous schemes
Offering cup of wrath up to his Son
This Son weeps great tears as His blood sweat drips down
His deep anguish pours out from His soul
“Take this cup from me, Father, but Your will be done”
Drinks the cup, saves His people, the goal
