Receptive Hearts

August 2

Nehemiah 1-3

Psalm 88:1-5

Proverbs 19:17-18

I Corinthians 11

Receptive Hearts

“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” Nehemiah 1:4

The book of Nehemiah is a beautiful picture of God accomplishing His will using ordinary people. Like Esther, God placed Nehemiah in the right place at the right time to carry out His plan. When Nehemiah heard what was happening in Jerusalem, he was heartbroken. The remnant who had survived the exile were in great trouble and disgrace and Jerusalem itself lay in ruins. Nehemiah was born in exile. His family had been carried away by King Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon. During that time many of the Jews assimilated into the culture there and Nehemiah’s family was among them. Nehemiah grew up in Babylon and rose to the position of cupbearer for the king. This was an important role and very unusual for a Jewish young man to be given this honor with such close access to the king. It is important to recognize that Nehemiah did not grow up in Jerusalem. When he heard about the trouble in Jerusalem, he was not lamenting something happening in his hometown. He had possibly never even been to Jerusalem personally. Perhaps his mama talked about Jerusalem, or his dad had told him stories of growing up there. Maybe His grandma told him about going to the temple and about worshipping the Lord there. His reaction to hearing the news about Jerusalem is noteworthy. He wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed for a city and people he did not personally know. Nehemiah was an exceptional man. He had a tender and receptive heart. He knew that Jerusalem was important to God and to the Jewish people and it broke his heart. He didn’t just hear about it and feel a little prick of sadness and then go on with his life. Nehemiah fasted and prayed for days, and he pleaded with God to help.

In His sovereignty, God had placed Nehemiah in exactly the place he needed to be, and Nehemiah took advantage of the opportunity. When the king asked why he was sad, Nehemiah had the courage to tell him why he was upset and to ask the king to allow him to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls. He even asked for letters so that he could get all the supplies he needed for free. And God softened the king’s heart to grant all his requests. It is easy to just skim over this story without realizing the significance. At just the right time, God provided everything needed to bring about His plan. Nehemiah was receptive and obeyed God, and he was used by God to rebuild Jerusalem. This is challenging to me. When is the last time I wept for someone or something that didn’t affect me personally? Am I concerned about the things that concern God? Do I take the opportunities He gives me so that I can be in the position to accomplish His purposes? My prayer today is to be more like Nehemiah.