Nehemiah 2:1-8 THE SUPPLICANT Four months of prayer, fasting and preparation of the mind and heart on the part of Nehemiah passed before the first day of the new year in the Middle East. The earnest supplication and spontaneous prayers of a man living conscious of the presence of God with him had prepared this man for that which was ahead. To "wait on God" means we are willing to pray and wait for His time as well as being in His presence in anticipation of learning all He wants to teach us before we are called upon to act. It is normal for us to lay plans and schedules that suit us and we believe would be in our best interest and that of the task before us. It is spiritual when we are confident enough in God to pray, hope and quietly wait for His leading and guidance. To wait without anxiety showing in facial expressions, nervous anticipation and other body language is not easy for us to naturally do.
For four months Nehemiah went about his daily duties in the presence of the king with a cheerful countenance and normal attendant attitude without showing outwardly any anxiety. Some times God uses us to be the answers to our own prayers. That day of celebration was probably not a day in which normal government business was done, so Artaxerxes and the queen were both there when Nehemiah brought the wine to the king as was his responsibility. It may have been because of the celebration going on around him that the sadness in his heart could no longer be concealed by his willpower, or an act of God in His servant that revealed his inner thoughts. The king knew him well enough to see the change in his facial expression. The contrast of the light-hearted attitude between the king and queen and the sadness on the face of Nehemiah was obvious. No wonder Nehemiah response to the king's question was made in great fear.
Fear is a legitimate emotion that God has placed in our nature to preserve us from dangers seen and unseen. Reverential fear is respect for God, and to a lesser degree, for others who have authority over us because of their position and importance. Fear of one's life at the hand of another person is really impossible to hide. It is not wrong, nor is it unseemly to admit to such fear. However, even then we do not need to allow fear to control us or stop us from doing that which is right. Confidence in God and faith in action is greater than the fear of man or even the fear of death.
The courage and faith of Stephen when he was being stoned to death; the fear and trust of the many martyrs at the same time they were dying honored God and testified to the reality of what they believed. We cannot let fear control us or make us reluctant to do that which God wants. Fear of water is not an excuse to not be baptized as a believer. The fear of embarrassment should not keep us from testifying in words to our faith in Christ. "The fear of man bringeth a snare."
Respectful boldness is not arrogance nor aggressive behavior. When we know the Lord is with us in our fears, we realize He will enable us to do what He desires of us. A short prayer in his mind "to the God of heaven" gave Nehemiah the right words to say in the right way. God can do the same for us when we are before judges or are placed in some frightening position. "Whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost." Whenever we are called in question, it is right to give honor to whom honor is due. We owe them the respect the office they hold deserves. It is wrong "to speak evil of dignities." It is right "to be subject to the higher powers."
The way Nehemiah responded to the question of Artaxerxes was non-threatening, precise and perfectly suitable for the setting. God was with His servant using his demeanor, his facial expression and his words in an appropriate way. He honored the king, and he made an understandable request with clarity. He did not use the name of the city of Jerusalem because that would have had political connotations. Rather under divine direction he wisely spoke of "the city where my fathers are buried" to define his desire in a way the king could identify with. Respect for the dead is universal among almost every culture in the world. That reply made his request both precise and personal though it was given in the form of a question. To answer a question with a question is one of the best ways to open a dialogue and bring understanding because the questioner in essence answered his own question. The king trusted Nehemiah as a man and knew him well enough that anything he asked for was of great importance to him. People often will not have the same interest or sense of urgency and concern about a matter that we have, but if we have their confidence, they will assist us or act on our behalf.
It made sense that the king would want a specific answer, a specific place and a specific time when a trusted servant requested a leave of absence. Ambiguity does not sit well in any situation, especially when one is answering a question. When unbelievers ask us of our faith, where we attend "church" and what we believe or why we do what we do, they have a right to a clear answer. People have an expectation that what we do as Christians is not secretive. They may be antagonistic or indifferent but when we reply, our tone of voice and attitude is often as important as what we say. A respectful reply to an antagonistic critical person can be disarming when we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in the way we speak.
When a trusted man does faithfully and well a task he has been given, and can be counted on to be consistent in his service because he has been that way before, he can be counted on to be trusted in other work. To give him a designated work to do and let him do it without unnecessary restrictions, will almost always result in a job well done. Nehemiah's work in the palace up until that day was likely almost the same day after day for a long time. Now for a cupbearer to want to rebuild the walls and gates of a city as a construction superintendent would have been very different. Not only rebuilding but leading men in the project and governing when there would be opposition to his leadership could have daunted a lesser man, and the king would have had his doubts about letting him change his job. Even the requests he made to the king after getting the king's permission to go, indicated he was a capable man and had leadership qualities that were needed for the work he was going to undertake.
The Holy Spirit of God gives guidance and empowers us when we are called to a work for the Lord. But that does not mean we should not make plans as to what needs to be done, and how, and by whom. Ordering one's life keeps us from wasting time or conducting a work in a "hit or miss" manner. Our Lord Jesus Christ made a comment regarding a building project: "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" Nehemiah knew what was needed and where to get it. He had done his homework. He knew there would be opposition beyond the river over which the king had authority. He had thought through the project from the smallest detail of letters, to the largest - timber in the forest.
We are not taking matters into our own hands when we use our common sense that has come from God in the first place. There were political ramifications to consider because by securing the city of Jerusalem with walls and gates, those who claimed local authority even though they had areas of responsibility, would recognize there was another governor who was coming to governed the newly walled city. It is a point of interest, even a marvel, that this man who had never been in that place before, had such a commitment to it that he knew what he would he would have to face and how to deal with it.
Confidence in God involves knowing Him well enough that we are able to pray in faith, and prepare our own hearts and lives in anticipation of Him using us in His work. It also involves focusing our attention on specifics, not just generalities. Faith can wait as long as necessary, but is ready to act in a moment of opportunity. When we trust in our God, we will not complacently wait for doors to open but will be ready to go forward immediately when the door opens of its own accord. It may be that the door is already ajar and it is only for us to reach out the hand of faith and go through. What a joy it is when like Nehemiah, we know "the good hand of my God [is] upon me." God is the Source of the needed grace from the king. God is the strength we need to accomplish the task before us that He has delegated to us for His own sovereign purposes.