Nehemiah 1:4, commentary and pictures

Nehemiah hears the report while serving with honor as cupbearer in the Persian court that Jerusalem lies in ruins with its walls broken and gates burned and its returned people in affliction and reproach, and he sits down and weeps and mourns for days, fasting and praying before God. He understands the desolation came because Israel turned from God and was left under heathen control, so after his first grief he humbles himself before the great God who keeps covenant and mercy, confessing his own sins and his people's sins and pleading for pardon and renewed favor. His weeping, fasting and prayer continue for four months in secret retirement before God while he waits for opportunity to speak to the king, outwardly keeping a cheerful countenance because sorrow may not appear in the royal courts. God can use him because he is true to principle and honors God, while He passes by those who will not serve Him with singleness of purpose. His example shows that prayer does not stand alone but must be joined with earnest effort and wise planning, and that humble prayer is directly answered as God moves even heathen kings to help His people.

Setting and Immediate Grief

Nehemiah was holding a place of influence and honor as cupbearer and counselor in the Persian king's court, with his heart turned toward Jerusalem in deepest interest. He was seated with his cup in an ornate chamber of attendants, columns, and rich furnishings when a plainly dressed messenger arrived from Judah. The humble appearance of the messenger stood in sharp contrast to the splendor around him, and still more to the broken walls and desolate buildings of which he brought word.

The news was that Jerusalem, the chosen city and place of his fathers' sepulchers, lay waste and ruined and was fast becoming desolate. The walls were still largely in ruins and the gates burned with fire, so that restoration was hindered. The temple and portions of the city had been rebuilt, but the temple services were disturbed. The returned exiles were in affliction and reproach, living in constant alarm, and those who remained were embittered by idolatrous assailants taunting them with the question of where their God was.

On hearing these words Nehemiah was bowed in distress and his soul was overwhelmed with sorrow. His grief was so great that he could not eat or drink, but sat down and wept and mourned for certain days. That mourning was joined with fasting before the God of heaven.

Confession and Persistent Prayer

Nehemiah understood that the ruin of Jerusalem had come because of Israel's transgressions in turning from God. Their sins in turning from Him had separated them from Him, so that He would not serve with their sins but permitted them to be brought under the control of heathen nations. When the first outburst of grief was over he turned in affliction to the sure Helper, unburdening his heart in prayer before the God of heaven. He came in deep humiliation before the great and terrible God revealed in fearful judgments upon Israel yet keeping covenant and mercy toward them that love Him and keep His commandments, humbly seeking pardon and renewed divine favor and giving God the glory due to His name, confessing his own sins and his people's sins, for repentant and believing Israel there was still mercy and hope.

God worked not through those who refused to serve Him with singleness of purpose and had corrupted their ways before Him but through Nehemiah. He was registered in the books of heaven as a man who honored God, true as steel to principle, whom God could use to put down false principles and restore heaven-born principles, and God honored him. His prayer was a plea for God to uphold Israel, restore their courage and strength, and help rebuild Judah's ruined places.

His mourning, fasting, weeping, confessing, and praying continued through four months of waiting for a favorable opportunity to present his request to the king. In his seasons of retirement he poured out many prayers, penitential confessions, and tears of anguish that were witnessed only by God and angels and were concealed from human sight. During that waiting his heart remained oppressed with grief, yet he constantly endeavored to carry a cheerful and happy countenance before men. The regulations of Eastern courts forbade any manifestation of sorrow within them and required all to appear gay and happy in those halls of luxury and splendor, so that distress without would not cast its shadow in the presence of royalty.

Answered Prayer Joined With Work

Weeping and praying before God did not complete duty, for mourning and weeping and prayer before the God of heaven must not stand alone but must be joined with work. Petition is to be mingled with endeavor rather than left by itself, joined with earnest effort, careful thought, and well-made plans to carry out the work. While entreating God's favor on behalf of his people, the plan was formed to ask the Persian king for permission and support to go and help them.

Humble earnest prayer in time of need brings God's direct answer, for the Lord hears prayer offered with weeping, mourning, fasting, and prayer. He moves upon heathen kings to come to His people's help and works through kings to carry out His purpose. In this way He answers the many prayers ascending to Him for the help so much needed, even when enemies zealously work against His cause. Those advocating the religious liberty cause must follow this example with humble hearts touched by the Holy Spirit and by reading the book of Nehemiah. Then unwise zeal and false ideas, as over paying taxes on sanitarium and Tabernacle property, will be modified, correct principles will be seen, and the present order of things will be changed, trusting God to keep a place for His work in connection with the world and to prepare the way for truth to progress amid solemn times and increasing perplexities to the close of time.

Applied to the sick, this joining of prayer and work means faith prays conditionally for healing only if in accordance with God's will, for His glory and the good of the sufferer. At the same time rational remedies such as water, air, sunshine, and healing herbs are to be judiciously used. Such use does not deny faith, but keeps faith close beside yet distinct from presumption that refuses all means.