Nehemiah 1:1-11     OT p. 420 or 597

[1] The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capital,

[2] one of my brothers, Hanani, came with certain men from Judah; and I asked them about the Jews that survived, those who had escaped the captivity, and about Jerusalem

[3] They replied, "The survivors there in the province who escaped captivity are in great trouble and shame; the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been destroyed by fire."

[4] When I heard these words I sat down and wept, and mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

[5] I said, "O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments;

[6] let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Both I and my family have sinned.

[7] We have offended you deeply, failing to keep the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances that you commanded your servant Moses.

[8] Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples;

[9] but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place at which I have chosen to establish my name.'

[10] They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great power and your strong hand.

[11] O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man!" At the time, I was cupbearer to the king. [ NRSV]

INTRODUCTION:

Harold and Ruth always sat side by side in the fourth pew from the front on the right. Harold sat next to the aisle. He liked being close and he liked being able to get out easily and quickly if he was needed. So, he always sat next to the center aisle.

Everybody knew and loved Harold and Ruth. They had been a part of the Church for years. The children loved them, too, and it wasn't unusual to find two or three of the boys and girls of the church sitting sandwiched between Harold and Ruth. And no wonder. Harold and Ruth were always patient and kind. Their love for children exuded like fine perfume. And their love always paid off; for even the most rambunctious of children settled down in their presence.

If you peeked into the pew on one of those rare Sundays when Harold and Ruth didn't have any children sitting next to them, you would see this couple holding hands. If possible, they always held hands during worship, especially during the sermon. It was one of the ways they communicated and shared the Good News with one another.

As Harold looked out at the congregation, he could see little Amanda, eyes wide with interest. She hadn't been coming to the Worship service very long. As a matter of fact, it had only been a few weeks since Ruth had mentioned her little talk with Amanda one evening in the Sanctuary, a talk that had seemed to change Amanda.

Speaking of Amanda, all of a sudden, there she was. Harold looked down and smiled, "How are you today Amanda?"

"Fine," she said as she swayed bashfully from side to side. And then as bold as could be she said, "Is it OK if I sit with my 'big sister' today?"

Harold heard Ruth laugh and say, "Why sure. Come on, the Worship service is ready to begin."

Amanda squeezed in between Harold and Ruth and then she snuggled up real close to Ruth. Harold just grinned. He was grinning when the prelude started.

Worship proceeded as most worship service did. Amanda participated in every aspect of the service. She sang with everyone, even when she didn't know the words. She just made up her own. Her eyes got real big when the offering plate came by and she proudly put in her quarter. As the plate passed by she asked, "That's God's money, isn't it?" Ruth smiled and nodded, "Yes."

The service continued. The preacher got up to preach and Amanda started to get a little fidgety but she was quiet. Ruth noticed that Harold was particularly drawn into

the sermon. At the conclusion, Pastor Bob offered an invitation. Harold was up and on his feet before the invitation was even finished. He and Pastor Bob knelt at the altar rail and prayed together. There were others came down, too, so, Pastor Bob left to go pray with them, as well. Harold stayed to pray and for whatever reason, was the last one to leave.

After the benediction, Ruth and Harold sought out Amanda's parents, Hannah and Frank. Like always, they stopped to speak with everyone around. Even Amanda began greeting everyone as she walked hand in hand with her 'big sister,' "Hi, I'm Amanda, how are you today?" Her dimpled smile and those big blues eyes and curly black hair just melted everyone's heart.

After a few minutes, the crowd thinned and Harold reached out to shake Frank's hand. "How are you doing, Frank?"

Frank smiled and said, "Just fine. I sure hope Amanda wasn't too much trouble, today. Hannah and I sure appreciate how the two of you let the kids sit with you. You're an inspiration Harold. I don't know how you do it, especially with Amanda."

Harold just smiled. And a he was turning to leave, Frank sort of hesitated but then asked, "Harold, can I be frank with you?"

Harold laughed and said, "You always are."

Frank grinned at the little joke and continued. "Well, it's about this morning and a couple of other times, too. I'm curious. I don't mean to butt in or get too personal but why do you go down to the altar so often when Pastor Bob gives an invitation? I mean, like, you're the best example of the Christian life that Hannah and I know. Why do you need to do that every time Pastor Bob makes an altar call."

Harold looked surprised but then smiled and said, "Well, Frank, it's because the world is filled with so many challenges. You see, you don't have to go to the altar just to repent. You can go to rejoice, too. And with all the challenges of life, it's good just to rejoice in God.

"But, that's not all. I realize that I'm not what I could be. And I want to be more. I want to be like Jesus in everything I do. And I want to be like John the Baptist when he said, 'there must be less of me and more of him.'"

"Going down to the altar is also a reminder of God's ongoing grace in my life. It's a reminder to me and maybe to others, that I'm not perfect. I still have room to go and lots of growing to do. But I know, that through Christ and the Holy Spirit, I can be perfected."

"But maybe the most important thing is that whenever I go forward, there's always a sense of freshness and a new beginning. And you know, that's something we all need from time to time. Especially in a life filled with so many challenges. A sense of freshness and a new beginning. Yeah, a new beginning."

Harold could see Frank mulling over his answer and knew there would probably be more questions, so, like the good herald he was, he asked, "Why don't you and the family join us for lunch? We can talk some more if you'd like."

Frank said, "That would be great." (1)

Nehemiah knew the ongoing struggles and challenges of life that Harold was talking about, didn't he. And like Harold, Nehemiah was a herald, too. He was a herald of the good news of God and the reconstruction of the walls of Jerusalem. Yet even those two great tasks had their own struggles and challenges. Nehemiah met the challenges of life and ministry with honor and prayer. Today, let's look at THE CHALLENGES AND RESPONSE, AND THE NEHEMIAH IN US.

I. THE CHALLENGES AND RESPONSE:

A. THE WALLS: It seems that at every step of the way, Nehemiah faced almost insurmountable challenges. Here in one of the first autobiographies ever written, we read Nehemiah's account of those challenges. (2)

The First Challenge he faced was the destruction of the walls of Jerusalem. It was a major challenge because Nehemiah was in service to the Persian King Artaxerxes, as his cupbearer. He was a trusted and valued asset to the King. One day a report came to Nehemiah that the walls and gates of his beloved Jerusalem had been destroyed. Jerusalem, the Holy City, had been laid open for anyone and everyone to take advantage of. Her major defenses were destroyed.

It broke Nehemiah's heart. He wept and mourned for days. He prayed and fasted too. He didn't just mourn, he acted, too. In his prayer and fasting he petitioned God to intervene and forgive the sins of the people of Israel. Nehemiah went to his knees for the whole nation of Israel. And then asked God to use him to help bring about a solution. And of course, God did. God used Artaxerxes to set in motion the plans for repair. The King honored his trusted and loyal cupbearer by sending him to head up the repairs. Nehemiah's prayers were answered in a most unexpected but wonderful way.

It was an act that gave Nehemiah A SENSE OF FRESHNESS AND A NEW BEGINNING.

B. ENEMIES: The second challenge Nehemiah faced was the mockery and threat from enemies. The first thing their enemies did was simply mock Nehemiah and the Israelites for trying to repair the walls and the gates. And the enemies began to plot together to tear it down completely.

But again Nehemiah went to his knees in prayer for the project God had chosen for him. But instead of praying for the people of Israel, Nehemiah prayed that God would thwart the plans of their enemies. The prayer was sort of a "Do unto them before they do unto us" sort of prayer. And God answered that prayer. Nehemiah also engaged the people's involvement, too, in a very creative way. He combined guard duty with the work. Some of the workers worked while others guarded. But everyone, guards and all, were armed at all times, just in case.

It was a plan that gave the builders and people of Israel A SENSE OF FRESHNESS AND A NEW BEGINNING.

C. CORRUPT OFFICIALS: The third challenge Nehemiah faced was the corrupt officials. These folks were taking advantage of the people doing the work on the walls and gates. In time of war they are called profiteers. They make their fortune off of the misery of others. When the laborers complained to Nehemiah, he brought the corrupt officials to task. In a public trial, Nehemiah condemned them and their actions and called for repentance. They were so dumbfounded that they couldn't even respond at first. They had absolutely no defense. So, they were convicted. But they were also under conviction by God and they repented and restored everything they had falsely taken.

It was a time for these officials and the people they had taken advantage of to experience A SENSE OF FRESHNESS AND A NEW BEGINNING.

D. THE LAW: The fourth challenge was the reading of the Law by Ezra and Ezra's challenge to return to the law. When the people heard God's law they began to weep. Not because they knew they were in trouble but because they hadn't known what to do to please God. They had forgotten the law. And they realized that, in so doing, they had displeased God.

As a result, the whole nation repented and turned back to God. Not only did they turn back, but they reestablished Sukkoth, the Festival of the Booths, to commemorate the event. And eventually reestablished all the religious practices that had been forgotten.

It was a time and action that gave all the people of Israel A SENSE OF FRESHNESS AND A NEW BEGINNING.

Nehemiah met the challenges with faith and prayer and overcame every obstacle and challenge.

II. THE NEHEMIAH IN US:

A. Let's shift gears and talk about the Nehemiah in each us.

Does anyone know who the shortest man in the Bible was? Knee-High-Miah. The only reason I told that joke is because I believe there is some of Nehemiah in all of us. We belong to Christ and as a consequence, we can be people of honor and prayer just like Nehemiah. Not only CAN we, but we're called to be people of honor and prayer. Especially as we face the challenges and struggles of life.

Nehemiah is a perfect example of what the Apostle Paul said about "praying without ceasing." Every decision he made was accompanied and governed by prayer. Every plan he made was accompanied and governed by prayer. If you were to ask Nehemiah to show you his arsenal and weaponry, it would be calloused knees and maybe a prayer mat. Prayer and devotion to God was his number one weapon.

Nehemiah knew that no matter what challenge or struggle came his way, he would be able to face it with honor through prayer, because God was on his side. God had called him to this particular task and God would see him through.

B. We need the attitude and faith of Nehemiah. Often times when we face struggles and challenges in life we don't face them with the same kind of faith and "can do" attitude that Nehemiah had. We start off by thinking "I can't do that" or "I won't succeed."

We even listen to the advice of friends who say, "You've got to be positive, you've got to think positive thoughts." And so we do. Instead of thinking "I won't succeed;" We adopt that positive attitude and begin thinking: "I WILL fail. I WILL fail." (3)

That's not the attitude of Nehemiah. The attitude of Nehemiah is one of "Rising to the challenge by falling on his knees."

A preacher who was preaching Revival at a small church went home with a couple for lunch. He was sitting in the living room, while they finished preparing lunch in the kitchen. He noticed two jars on the fireplace mantel. One jar was filled with beads; while the other had only a few beads in it. The preacher asked the couple what the beads in the jars were supposed to mean. The wife told him that one jar was for all of their burdens; the other jar was for all their blessings.

The preacher looked at the jars again and then asked, "So which one is for burdens and which one is for blessings."

The woman looked at the jars and answered, "First we put beads in a jar for each of our burdens. Then when those burdens turn into blessings, we move them into the other jar. See how full the blessing jar has become; the jar is almost full." (4)

That couple had Nehemiah's attitude. An attitude of "Rising to the challenge by falling on their knees." As a result, they experienced A SENSE OF FRESHNESS AND A NEW BEGINNING.

Through a life of worship and prayer, Nehemiah was able to turn all the challenges and burdens of life into blessings both for himself and for the people of Israel. As a result, they all experienced A SENSE OF FRESHNESS AND A NEW BEGINNING.

Jesus followed the same principle. Jesus was a man of honor and prayer. He didn't undertake any aspect of his life and ministry without first undergirding it with prayer.

CONCLUSION:

And that's what we need to do. We need to be Nehemiahs. We need to be those people who "Rise to the challenge by falling on our knees."

During World War 2, a general found himself and his soldiers surrounded by the enemy. The general, who had the Nehemiah attitude, faced his men and said, "For the first time during this war men, we are faced with a unique opportunity: we are now able to attack our enemy from any direction." (5) Now, that was a challenge.

Nehemiah was assured of victory because of his relationship with God. Like Harold, he realized that life is full of challenges. Like Harold he realized that we can't face those challenges without God. And like Harold, Nehemiah was able to see even the worst challenge or the greatest obstacles as a unique opportunity to serve and glorify God.

What challenges are you facing in your life? What obstacles seem to be looming in your way? "Rise to the challenge by falling on your knees." Experience that SENSE OF FRESHNESS AND A NEW BEGINNING.

1. An original story, please give credit if you use it.

2. Introduction to the Old Testament (New York: Harper & Bros., 1941), p. 837.

3. Adapted from The Pastor's Story File (Platteville, Colorado: Saratoga Press), August 1996

4. Parables, Etc. (Platteville, Colorado: Saratoga Press), June 1997

5. The Pastor's Story File (Platteville, Colorado: Saratoga Press), January 1997 Adapted from a story of General Creighton Abrams during World War II.

The Interpreter's Bible, Electronic Edition, (Abingdon Press, Nashville, 1953)