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kings those days ruled 127 provinces The news he received from the prayer of thy servant which I now
from India to Ethiopia (Esther 1:1). Hanani was not an encouraging one! pray before thee day and night... for
“Those who survived the exile and the people of Israel thy servants, con-
Nehemiah was so dear to the Em- are back in the province are in great fessing the sins of the people of Israel,
peror that when his face showed the trouble and disgrace. The wall of Je- which we have sinned against thee”
sadness of his heart, the king compas- rusalem is broken down, and its gates (v.6).
sionately enquired the reason for that. have been burned with fire” (Nehemi-
Nehemiah had the freedom to share ah 1:3) was the report. His prayer was vicarious... He
his heart before the king. Nehemiah confessed the sins of Israel as if he
had such influence upon the king that What was Nehemiah’s response? committed all those sins! This is true
he granted the request of Nehemiah Did he say, “Oh! It is sad... anyway intercession!
even though it in no way benefited the thank God he helped us to come out
majesty (Nehemiah 2:1-8). Also re- of that city... Thank you Jehova, for all Nehemiah didn’t just “pray!”
member, he was going to Jerusalem as the blessing you gave us in this foreign When God wanted to send the “pray-
the governor of the country of Judah! land...” Nehemiah didn’t say that... ing Nehemiah” to the action field,
(Nehemiah 5: 14) Rather, when he heard these things, he was ready to obey without asking
he sat down and wept (v.4). It was not questions! He was ready to leave his
Nehemiah was a man of influ- a casual weeping... “Sat down and palace luxuries and move to the land
ence, who could live in all luxury wept!” This shows his deep sorrow of uncertainty! Selfless spirituality al-
in the citadel Susa. But he was not within! For some days he mourned ways demands a sacrifice!
a selfish man who looked only for and fasted and prayed before the God
his personal benefits. He was always of heaven. Can you Pray, “Lord, help me to
concerned about God’s kingdom and understand and follow a selfless spirit-
God’s people! Nehemiah was not the High uality. Let my heart be filled with an-
Priest... He was not the king of Israel... guish for the ruins of the church and
Nehemiah went to meet one of he was not even a prophet! He was a pray and intercede for it. Also, Lord
his brothers who came to the capital working man... Still, he had great con- help me to take sacrificial steps to ful-
city from Jerusalem, probably after a cern for the ruins of Jerusalem. Da- fil the mission you have entrusted me
‘mission trip’. He did not ask about the vid Wilkerson calls it Anguish! Deep with, Amen!
journey! He did not ask: “Hanani, how pain!! He was not selfish... He was a
was the trip? Had some fun? Did you man baptised in spiritual anguish! He Further reading: Esther 4:13-17
get good hotels to stay in? Did you started crying before God... not for Colossians 1:23-29
get mineral water to drink...?” NO! himself, but for the church- the peo-
He did not ask any of those things. ple! 41 10CELEBRA
His concern was Jerusalem, the city of years
God and the people of God who sur- Look at his prayer:“let thy ear be of god’s faithfulness
vived there! attentive, and thy eyes open, to hear
TING
