THE MEMOIRS OF A PRISONER OF WAR, A SLAVE WHO HAD A HEART FOR GOD’S PEOPLE, SEE WHAT GOD MADE OF HIM!
These are the memoirs of Nehemiah, son of Hacaliah.
Nehemiah’s Concern for Jerusalem
In late autumn, in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was at the fortress of Susa.
Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem.
They said, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”
When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days, I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. Then I said,
“O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands,
listen to my prayer! See me praying night and day for your people, Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned against you.
We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.
“Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’
“The people you rescued by your great power and strong hand are your servants. O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.”
In those days, I was the king’s cup-bearer.
Footnote: The above sounds like the introduction of a nobody who stood up to wipe away the shame and reproach on God’s people. Then God made a giant out of Nehemiah.
Remember, we are discussing God’s method for raising His Army. He doesn’t always call the wise, rich, powerful, and positioned. He calls those with the heart and gives them all they need for the job.
Like some of us today, Nehemiah could have forgotten about God’s people since things were very good for him. He lived in the palace and lacked nothing. So, whatever happened to God’s people was far from him, but he stood out to identify with God and His people. God showed up and promoted Nehemiah from a prisoner of war to a Governor.
I am sure today’s lesson has blessed you.
Let us know what you think and gained from today’s study.
Find your place in God’s last days Army. And plan. Stop staying away from the challenges of God’s people. Let us do what is needed and walk with God as His family. Do not cave into denominational nonsense. It’s one Lord, one baptism, One Spirit, one salvation, and one heaven.
This is your weekend.
-Apostle Godwin ROBINSON
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