June 7, 2023

Nehemiah 2:1-10 (HCSB)
Nehemiah Sent to Jerusalem
2 During the month of Nisan  in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,  when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, 2 so the king said to me, “Why are you  sad, when you aren’t sick? This is nothing but depression.”  I was overwhelmed with fear 3 and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I  not be sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” 4 Then the king asked me, “What is your request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven  5 and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Judah and to the city where my ancestors are buried,   so that I may rebuild it.” 6 The king, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” So I gave him a definite time,  and it pleased the king to send me. 7 I also said to the king: “If it pleases the king, let me have letters written to the governors of the region west of the Euphrates River,  so that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah.  8 And let me have a letter written to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to rebuild the gates of the temple’s fortress,  the city wall, and the home where I will live.”   The king granted my requests, for I was graciously strengthened by my God.  9 I went to the governors of the region west of the Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters.  The king had also sent officers of the infantry and cavalry with me. 10 When Sanballat the Horonite  and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites, they were greatly displeased.

Shannon Jamison
Nehemiah found himself in such a state of sadness that he could not keep his emotions from the king. The king asked him what was wrong and once again Nehemiah prayed before he responded. The Lord granted his requests through the king, including provisions to prepare Jerusalem. Nehemiah had faith that God would use him for the good of Jerusalem. James 2:20- "Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?" Have you ever found yourself in a state of sadness where you spent time in prayer to give you guidance?