Nehemiah : WK 3 - MON
Asking
Nehemiah 2:4-8
The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?”
With a prayer to the God of heaven, I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”
The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request.
I also said to the king, “If it please the king, let me have letters addressed to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, instructing them to let me travel safely through their territories on my way to Judah. And please give me a letter addressed to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.” And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me.
Relationships matter. Nehemiah repeatedly appeals to the king based on their connection. “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me…”, he urges. This reminds me of the Charlie Brower quote, “Few people are successful unless a lot of other people want them to be.” By most definitions, King Artaxerxes is an outsider to the people of God. However, he behaves as if he is on the inside. I wonder if that stems from a long history of trusting Jewish people.
Our passage includes what might seem to be a throwaway line: “The king, with the queen sitting beside him…” Jewish tradition suggests there is only one reason Ezra, the writer, would include this note describing who sits beside the king. They believe the queen in question is none other than his stepmother, Queen Esther. King Artaxerxes has associated with trusted Israelites all of his life. Based on these relationships, he doesn’t behave like an outsider in the conversation. He is engaged, helpful, and responsive.
We should all be cautious about drawing lines of exclusion. Have we placed some in the category of “the enemy” that God would have us call “friend”? There is very little downside to the indiscriminate expressions of friendship and trust. I wonder who might be willing to step up to help us today if only we would ask?
Oh, and then there’s this… Artaxerxes seems worried about whether Nehemiah will return. This highlights the rarity of their relationship. I wish it were more common that when God’s people ask for a favor, the immediate response is to hope we could be around more often. Nehemiah’s response isn’t recorded. Perhaps it’s more significant that Artaxerxes asked.
Throughout this entire interaction, we witness a combination of boldness and respect, careful pre-planning and wonder, concern mixed with gratitude. Such a difference is made when we rest in the hand of God.
Nehemiah 2:4-8
The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?”
With a prayer to the God of heaven, I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”
The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request.
I also said to the king, “If it please the king, let me have letters addressed to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, instructing them to let me travel safely through their territories on my way to Judah. And please give me a letter addressed to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.” And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me.
Relationships matter. Nehemiah repeatedly appeals to the king based on their connection. “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me…”, he urges. This reminds me of the Charlie Brower quote, “Few people are successful unless a lot of other people want them to be.” By most definitions, King Artaxerxes is an outsider to the people of God. However, he behaves as if he is on the inside. I wonder if that stems from a long history of trusting Jewish people.
Our passage includes what might seem to be a throwaway line: “The king, with the queen sitting beside him…” Jewish tradition suggests there is only one reason Ezra, the writer, would include this note describing who sits beside the king. They believe the queen in question is none other than his stepmother, Queen Esther. King Artaxerxes has associated with trusted Israelites all of his life. Based on these relationships, he doesn’t behave like an outsider in the conversation. He is engaged, helpful, and responsive.
We should all be cautious about drawing lines of exclusion. Have we placed some in the category of “the enemy” that God would have us call “friend”? There is very little downside to the indiscriminate expressions of friendship and trust. I wonder who might be willing to step up to help us today if only we would ask?
Oh, and then there’s this… Artaxerxes seems worried about whether Nehemiah will return. This highlights the rarity of their relationship. I wish it were more common that when God’s people ask for a favor, the immediate response is to hope we could be around more often. Nehemiah’s response isn’t recorded. Perhaps it’s more significant that Artaxerxes asked.
Throughout this entire interaction, we witness a combination of boldness and respect, careful pre-planning and wonder, concern mixed with gratitude. Such a difference is made when we rest in the hand of God.
- Who are three people, outside your family, that you could ask for a big favor? Why did you choose them?
- What physical improvements would you like to see in your home? At your place of worship?
- What recent answer to prayer are you thankful to God for today?
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