Nehemiah Was Fearful of What Others Think
May 24, 2020
Commentary
As Nehemiah was going about his usual duties the king noticed that he was sad and asked, “Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick.” (vv. 1-2) At first Nehemiah was frightened because it was dangerous to show sorrow before the king who could execute anyone who displeased him. However, he refused to allow fear to stop him from sharing what God had placed on his heart (v. 3). Nehemiah was careful in replying for he knew that his request was a bold one. A few years earlier the king had stopped the rebuilding of Jerusalem and Nehemiah was asking the order be reversed.
First Nehemiah prayed and then he appealed to the king’s sense of respect for the dead (v. 4). He asked the king to send him to the city in Judah where his ancestors were buried so that he might rebuild the city (v. 5). The king asked him how long it would take and then gave him permission to go (v. 6). He also asked for a convoy to go with him. Knowing he would face opposition from his enemies, he requested letters of permission from the king to allow him to pass through the various provinces (v. 7). He also asked the king to write a letter to Asaph, the man in charge of the king’s forest (v. 8). Nehemiah knew that he would need timber for rebuilding the gates of the city.
The Bible does not record his immediate answer but we know that he ended up staying 12 years (5:14). Nehemiah states that the king granted what he asked for because the good hand of God was upon him.
Application
Sometimes, when I have needs, I may hesitate to ask the right people to help me because I am afraid to approach them. They may be more interested and approachable than I think. God’s answer to my prayer may come as a result of my asking others to pray.
Nehemiah 2:1– 8 (NET)
1 Then in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought to me, I took the wine and gave it to the king. Previously I had not been depressed in the king’s presence. 2 So the king said to me, “Why do you appear to be depressed when you aren’t sick? What can this be other than sadness of heart?” This made me very fearful.
3 I replied to the king, “O king, live forever! Why would I not appear dejected when the city with the graves of my ancestors lies desolate and its gates destroyed by fire?” 4 The king responded, “What is it you are seeking?” Then I quickly prayed to the God of heaven 5 and said to the king, “If the king is so inclined and if your servant has found favor in your sight, dispatch me to Judah, to the city with the graves of my ancestors, so that I can rebuild it.” 6 Then the king, with his consort sitting beside him, replied, “How long would your trip take, and when would you return?” Since the king was pleased to send me, I gave him a time. 7 I said to the king, “If the king is so inclined, let him give me letters for the governors of Trans-Euphrates that will enable me to travel safely until I reach Judah, 8 and a letter for Asaph the keeper of the king’s nature preserve, so that he will give me timber for beams for the gates of the fortress adjacent to the temple and for the city wall and for the house to which I go.” So the king granted me these requests, for the good hand of my God was on me.
Illustration: Pilot’s Recording of An Airplane in Trouble
Charles Sawyer, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce, tells about the planeload of people flying across the Atlantic. A voice comes on the intercom: “We are now flying at 35,000 feet. If you will notice, out the right window, the two engines on that side are on fire, and the engines on the left had to be stopped. If you look directly below, you will see a yellow sea recovery raft with six small dots on it. The dots are the pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer, navigator, and two hostesses. This is a recording. (Encyclopedia of Illustrations #3702)