THY SERVANTS. Nehemiah 1:10-11 In Nehemiah’s prayer, he appeals to God’s faithfulness. He knew that only through God’s supernatural power could Jerusalem and the Israelites survive. So, he renounced his life of ease, luxury, and importance in the Persian Empire to follow God’s guidance into a life of trial, hard work, and heartbreak. With courage, patriotism, and faith in God, Nehemiah moved forward despite great obstacles. For 36 years, his administration was successful, despite constant, bitter opposition.
He prayed for four months with other “servants” before making his request to the king. As a servant of the king, he was uniquely positioned to intercede for the people in Israel. He knew he was serving God, so he used what he was and what he had for success in God’s work and God’s purposes.
At the heart of this servant of the Lord was a burden to meet the needs of others who hardly knew anything was wrong. He was willing to identify with those who had been in bondage and were incapable of meeting their own needs. His relationship with God was grounded in God's word and promises, so, as an intercessor for others, he was on solid ground. His faith in God was such that he could make specific requests in plain words and know he was heard.
When he approached the king, he had meditated, prayed, and carefully planned what he would ask for. He was able to state a clear course of action from start to finish, and his role in the work was clear. Nehemiah also had a vision that motivated others when he spoke. He was willing to delegate responsibility and had a clear understanding of how to supervise the work and lead it to completion.
The times are tough, Lord; the view is black. The walls are down, Lord; the people lack a testimony. But not only that, Lord; affliction, trouble, fear, loss – no reward is here because we have failed miserably. We need help badly, Lord, some visible evidence. These are Thy servants, Lord, Thy chosen few. I’m one of them, Lord, not being or doing all I knew I could or should. But we are not our own, Lord, though much we’ve left undone. We are Thy servants, Lord, bond-slaves of Thy Son. My head is bowed, Lord; my failure stares me in the face. But Lord, I love my Master; this hole-bored ear shows His grace.
We are Thy people, Lord; we are no longer our own. Weak and poor, we long for stronger, fuller, greater lives lived for truth, righteousness, and Thee. As one of Thy people, Lord, I bow my head and my heart – hear me. We are not able, on our own, to do Thy will, though we’ve tried. Give us strength, Lord, courage, and power from the One within. I know the price was high, Lord, that we might all be redeemed. We may never know, Lord, all that word means. But this I know; no longer are we – nor I – our own. Thy grace and mercy, justice – all have been made evident to us, and we, by blood, have been atoned for. We are Thine own alone, Lord, and yet so much to self are we bent. I humble myself here before Thee; I do repent.
Thy power is great, Lord: divine, sufficient, full of enablement. Yet it can be applied to feeble folks like me – faith evident when knees are bent, and hearts do bleed. Show me once again, Lord; send Thy power from Thyself. The power we so greatly need and want, that in this place, Lord, repentant, humbled people will praise Thy great glories. Thy hand is strong, Lord, the grip, the love, the pressure easily felt. The pain is hard, Lord, when, in chastisement, our hearts do melt, when the loving hand, an appendage of God’s great heart of love, bears down heavily on arrogant shoulders. From above comes evidence so strong and sweet - the Lord really cares; And from Thy all-sufficient hand of grace comes all we need to bear this load.
“Thy servants” – they all belong to God. They are those who do the will of Another. They do not have the right to make independent decisions. Their work is defined by God. They have one overriding obligation – to do God’s will in God’s way and in God’s timing. They are not independent. They are not free to ignore His will or to put their own interests ahead of the Master’s. They do have the privilege of speaking with the Master, of learning from Him, and of trusting His guidance and authority. The servant’s responsibility is simply to act under divine authority, by divine guidance, with divine sanction, and to do God’s will.
“Thy people” – they are uniquely God’s. They belong to Another. They bear God’s characteristics. Their character is to reflect God. They are His family; His peculiar treasure; His love-object; His nation of people with a heavenly citizenship. They are to be a heavenly people, with interests and aspirations aligned with His heavenly kingship.
“Thou hast redeemed” – they have been paid for by God. His only Son was given so that those who belonged to Him by creation would now belong to Him by redemption. The price of redemption was high. We have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. The days of slavery to sin are past. Now we have the blessed bondage of freedom in Christ. As bond-servants, we are free to serve Him out of love.
“Thy great power” – they are saved because of God’s power. The Gospel of Christ is God’s power unto salvation for everyone who believes. God’s great power is uniquely His because it is the power of meekness; the power of life and death; the power of unmeasured love; the power of revealed grace; the power of bestowed mercy. It is unique because its results will endure forever and be evident to all who see it in action. It is not the power that blows everything apart, but the power that brings together and binds tightly, so that there is order and usefulness. They are kept by the power of God.
“Thy strong hand” – they are rescued by God’s strong, outstretched arm and secured by the hands of the Father and the Son. His strong hand reached down to the perishing, pulled us from the miry pit, and set us on a rock. His strong hand protects us from all enemies. His strong hand provides shelter and safety.