Page 24 - Principles of Leadership - Nehemiah

Remember, in chapter 1:11, Nehemiah had prayed, Give Your servant success today. Success today was his
preferred request. But when we begin to look very closely at the Scriptures, we will find that it took over 100
days for Nehemiah's prayer to become a reality. He began to fast and pray in the month of Chislev (1:1 late
November to early December), and when we come to chapter 2:1, we find ourselves in the month of Nisan.
(Late March to early April) So for over one hundred days, Nehemiah had been fasting and praying that God
would give Your servant success today. Nehemiah had prayed as though everything depended upon God, but
we are about to see that he had planned as though everything depended upon himself.

It is important to remind ourselves that waiting time is not wasted time. The sovereignty of God had delayed
this answer to prayer, and this same sovereignty evidently spoke to Nehemiah and revealed to him that the
time to act was right. God did not want Nehemiah to rush into the king’s presence without proper planning.
Nehemiah needed to pray the Samuel prayer found in I Samuel 3:10. “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” God
spoke to Nehemiah, and he realized that he had reached the point of no return. The text cannot determine
whether or not Nehemiah intentionally appeared differently in front of the king; however, if Nehemiah had not
prayed and planned, this building project would have been a disaster. Therefore, I want to repeat myself;
waiting time is not wasted. God sometimes allows time to elapse because He is trying to do an integrity check
in our lives in order to see if we will persist in our desire to minister. Nehemiah was moved by what he first
heard over 100 days ago, but God was testing his resolve by delaying His answer to this prayer.

When Nehemiah prayed in 1:11, this prayer, Give Your servant success today and have compassion on him in
the presence of this man. “Go Big or Go Home seems to be his motto. He is asking for massive things because
his confidence rests in the LORD’s faithfulness record and is based on the LORD’S character. God is always
faithful to his promises. Paul invites us to participate in this sort of grand vision for prayer in his letter to the
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Ephesians.” Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that can do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that worketh in us. See also 1 John 5:14-15. Successful prayer life and a lifestyle of sin
do not mix. The caveat to this promise of answered prayer rests on the presumption that we can live in blatant
sin and violation of his commandments and at the same time expect God to answer our prayers.

When he asked for success, what was he praying for? He needed success in casting his vision to the one man
who stood between him and his dream. So, for over 100 days, Nehemiah carried the burden of Jerusalem being
in great trouble and disgrace. (1:3) “It is only the man with a crushing sense of burden and responsibility whom
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God can trust with his work… and when God sees we are willing to accept the burden, He opens the door.”
Another commentary says, “the boldness displayed before the King of kings in prayer in chapter 1 is matched
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by the same boldness in the presence of the king of Persia in chapter 2.” Nehemiah believes with all of his
heart that he was following the King and that he had a kingdom mandate that was burned upon his heart.
Finally, this burden became so strong that it became apparent to the King, and he questioned Nehemiah. But
thank God that the words he was about to speak were bathed in prayer and reflected his readiness for this
moment.

2. God’s servant trusts (2:2-3)
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?”

The King could see that his cupbearer was depressed, and he called this to Nehemiah's attention. The text
leaves open the question of whether this display of emotion was staged or unintentional. Nehemiah was now
at the point of no return. The king's comments caused Nehemiah to become overwhelmed with fear. Why did
the king's comments cause Nehemiah to experience such fear? Remember that Nehemiah had an elevated
position serving as the king's cupbearer. The cupbearer was probably the most trusted person who served the
king. Therefore, what Nehemiah was about to express to the King could be interpreted as treasonous!

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