Nehemiah 2:5. “And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favor in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my father’ sepulchers, that I may build it.” SEND ME. “My regular duties I have to perform. Don’t let him know how I am feeling inside. The time is not right yet. Or is this the day? Is this the time I should ask? Maybe it is? He has wine before him, his mood seems okay. Why can I not stop crying? Lord, help me overcome this emotion because he wants more wine right now. O, I can’t stop the sadness and he’s looking right at me! You have made this thing happen today Lord, help me say the right thing!”
The view in the mind of Nehemiah was of a city of sepulchers – tombs of his fore-bearers. Almost like a dead city: open, vulnerable to attack, helpless against all foes. But more than that, it was in a state of reproach. What was once strong is weak. What was once beautiful is sad to look at. What was once the glorious center of God’s dealings with His people is now a reproach to the name of the Lord. How can I do anything about such a state of affairs? I will build it again; I will go at this set time; I will take the responsibility; I will do what God put in my heart. Send me: because the good hand of God is upon me! Send me: because the work is in my heart! Send me: because I know God is in this work! Send me: because I can see the need and know what to do about it! Send me: because God has answered my prayers in this matter! Whether it is Nehemiah wanting to preserve what is important to God; or Isaiah, humbled because of a sight of God; or the Lord Jesus, sent by the Father to incarnate grace and truth in a fleshly body as a man; or me, sent by the Lord Jesus Christ, to incarnate grace and truth in my generation – for us all, we are not going just because we want to; we are going because we are sent. We are sent by One of authority who knows what He is doing. We are sent by One who knows what needs to be done. We are sent by One who figures we can do what needs to be done. We are not sent to mess around, but to get at the work and see it through to completion. We are sent to repair what can be fixed, to build what needs to be started and finished. We are sent to deal with what is wrong and encourage and promote what is right. We are sent with a strength that is greater than our own, so we won’t claim private ownership of what really belongs to the Sender. We are sent and the reputation of the Sender lies in the hands of those He has trusted with the work. We are sent and there’s no point in quitting or coming back with the job undone. It would be unthinkable to not bring to a conclusion a task He has trusted us with, He has not sent us to only make a start but to finish the work He has given us to do. “The wall is finished; the work is done. Shall I go quietly away? No, that’s not fair to all those who labored so hard with me and for me. Let two companies go up David’s stairs to the top of the wall. Let them feel the ownership of this work with their feet beneath them, fellow-laborers around them, the towers and gates within their view. Let them sing and shout and rejoice and worship! Let the women and the children see they are part of a great work. Let these laborers go first – I’ll walk along behind and then we who are responsible can turn all eyes and hearts toward God.”
“Father in heaven: I am learning a bit of what it is to go back to repair what is broken down and some things that are breaking. Please give me understanding as to how to go about rebuilding that which is precious to You. I don’t want to just plaster over cracks, bit I want to find and fix what I can in order for the great work done in the past can continue into the future. Amen.”
Nehemiah 2: 6. “And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? And when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.”
HOW LONG? You have been traveling this road for a long time – How long till this work is done? You have been searching for some way to lasting peace find – How long until to the Savior come? You know it is right to obey what the Word of God says – How long will you procrastinate? There is no question as to what are God’s ways – How long until that way you take?
When you became a child of God, gifts He gave to you – How long until you use those gifts? You know there are those things you are able to do – How long until others’ loads you lift? People around you need to hear the Gospel of peace – How long until you tell them God’s truth? Many have not understood salvation by grace – How long will you wait to explain its worth?
There are many around the world waiting to hear – How long until you are willing to go? There are millions who to you live quite near –
How long until your faith you show? Your children and grandchildren you are able to teach – How long until with them you sit down? They need to see how you live, not just preach – How long until you talk to them alone?
This journey of life I am on will soon be over – How long shall this journey be? When I draw near the end and the angels hover – How long will I have to breathe? The final words I will have to express – How long shall my benediction last? I pray that now and then I can bless – How long until to heaven I pass?
“Father God, the brevity of life seems to come to mind quite often. Not that I am feeling ill, Father, but sometimes the time seems ripe for this journey to end. May my steps always be ordered by Thee and always be in the right direction. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”