In part 1 we briefly talked about who Nehemiah was and the situation he and the Jews of his time found themselves. They were a scattered people who had been defeated and displaced. During this time, the Israelite nation lacked hope, chapter 1 verse 3 says, “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.” However, in the midst of oppression we see God at work. He had/has a plan. In this story, he has strategically placed Nehemiah in a prominent position in the Persian King Artexerxes’ court in which he has a good relationship and influence with the King.
Let’s pick up today in Nehemiah 1:4, “When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.”
I think in 2020, we find ourselves in a similar situation…..in great trouble and disgrace. I’m not going to go too far down the political rabbit-hole that is disastrously happening before our very eyes, but it’s disgraceful. It doesn’t matter which side of the fence you line up on, it’s disgraceful. And it doesn’t matter what happens in November, we are in great trouble. While we may not yet be defeated and exiled, I think we are eerily like the Israelite’s of Nehemiah’s day.
So what was Nehemiah’s response? He did 5 things.
- He sat down. I think this is important. He sat down. He didn’t go. He didn’t leave. He immediately reacted and he did so right where he was. I again want reiterate that God has a plan and more specifically, a plan for your life. I think part of that plan includes you being right where you currently are. Right now, right here.
- He wept. Seeing his country and countrymen in a state of disgrace hurt his heart. This tells me that Nehemiah loved his God and he loved his country. By every other account, I gather that Nehemiah was a strong man; a warrior of sorts. But when he heard of Israel’s state of being, he wept. When was the last time you wept over the state of our nations affairs? Do you look out at what’s happening in our country and weep?
- He mourned for several days.
- He fasted several days.
- He prayed. I think that number’s 3-5 happened simultaneously and they really show the great degree to which his heart hurt for Israel. When Israelites mourned, it was serious and usually lasted for 7 days. They would abstain from certain pleasures and lament over what was lost. Fasting is obviously going without food and prayer is obviously conversing with God. However, I think the 2 combined in a time of mourning are powerful. Have you been fasting and praying for our country and its’ leaders? How about praying and fasting for your family and friends?
Up until a few years ago, I had never fasted. Never. I started consistently fasting about 3 years ago, but it wasn’t until I combined those fasts with deep, intimate conversations with God that I realized the joy that it brought to my life. Something happens to you in a fasted state in which you become more focused and aware (probably because you are burning fats as an energy source instead of glucose). In those moments, it feels as if God comes nearer. You experience the joy of His love and you begin to see clearer His work around you.
I want to encourage you to study Nehemiah and apply his life’s lessons. I believe our country needs you/us more than ever or else we’ll soon end up like 4 century BC Israel……defeated and disgraced. And I also believe that only God can deliver us from the evil that surrounds us. So let’s do as Nehemiah and intercede on behalf of America and mournfully fast and pray for her deliverance!