Page 17 - Principles of Leadership - Nehemiah

intently to the questions he asked in this verse. I found it interesting when Robert Greenleaf wrote about the
ten characteristics of a servant leader, he placed listening as number one. He said, a servant leader must “seek
to listen receptively to what is being said (and not said!) … Listening, coupled with regular periods of reflection,
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is essential to the servant-leader's growth.” It will become very plain in chapter two that Nehemiah had spent
a lot of time reflecting on the questions he asked in this verse. The admonition of James 1:19 needs to be
explored in great depth when our lord admonishes every man to be quick to hear and slow to speak. Again,
there will be no doubt in your mind as we explore this book further that Nehemiah knew how to ask great
questions, was a great listener, and spent much time reflecting on what he heard from Hanani and the men
from Judah, which he questioned.

2. Looking up in dependence (1:4-6a)
Nehemiah 1:4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and
praying before the God of heaven. 5 I said, Yahweh, the God of heaven, the great and awe-inspiring God who
keeps His gracious covenant with those who love Him and keep His commands, 6 let Your eyes be open, and
Your ears be attentive to hear Your servant’s prayer that I now pray to You day and night for Your servants,
the Israelites.

In his book, Prayer, the Timeless Secret of High-Impact Leaders, Dave Earley asks the question, “Do you hunger
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to influence people for God?” Again, we are reminded by yet another Christian writer that “Leadership is
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influence.” However, Dave Earley believes that “Prayer influences men by influencing God to influence
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them.” He believes that “if leaders are to lead well, they must pray well.” Charles Swindoll says, “Prayer, I
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repeat, is essential in the life of a leader.” Nehemiah believed in the priority of prayer. This is demonstrated
by nine different prayers that are recorded in the thirteen chapters of this book. Stop and ponder this
statement. “How great is God that He can pay attention to each of our prayers, millions of them worldwide,
individually and simultaneously! Our minds cannot comprehend it, but God is beyond our comprehension.”
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This first recorded prayer shows us the desperate nature that Nehemiah experienced in his prayer life. When I
heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God
of heaven. Nehemiah did not have the benefit of the New Testament. However, he realized that it would
require fasting and prayer if he were to engage the enemy and win this spiritual battle. We see this truth taught
in Matthew 17:19-21. Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
“Because of your little faith,” He told them. “For I assure you: If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you
will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
[However, this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting.] Matthew 17:19-21 (HCSB) There will be
times in every Christian’s life when we are faced with spiritual battles that seem so enormous that our faith is
severely tested. Nehemiah evidently felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit to mourn for a number of days,
fasting and praying.

“Fasting has long played a significant role in the prayer ministry of the effective spiritual leader. Great leaders
know what it is to feel the burden of the Lord and hear him call them away into extended seasons of fasting and
prayer. The Bible and history are littered with examples of the power of prayer and fasting to turn the tide and
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make the difference.” For further study on the matter of fasting and prayer, I would recommend reading
anything from Bill Bright. He said, “I am convinced that when God’s people fast with a proper biblical motive –
seeking God’s face, not His hand – with a broken, repentant, and contrite spirit, God will hear from heaven and
heal our lives, our churches, our communities, our nation, and the world. Fasting and prayer can bring about
revival.”
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In verse five, we begin to see some of the specifics of Nehemiah’s prayer. I said, Yahweh, the God of heaven,
the great and awe-inspiring God. Nehemiah realized that “God’s overwhelming passion is to exalt the value of
His glory. To that end, He seeks to display it… and He loves His glory infinitely.” Therefore, Nehemiah reminds
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God that He is the one who keeps His gracious covenant with those who love Him and keep His commands.
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