055. Prayer Of Nehemiah For The Captive Remnant Of Judah

Prayer Of Nehemiah For The Captive Remnant Of Judah The Prayer as recorded.—Nehemiah 1:4-11. The Lord’s Answer.—Nehemiah 2:1-8.

Nehemiah was a Jew of great piety, and occupied the station of cupbearer to Artaxerxes the king of Persia. The whole of this book is a record of his actions, of his zeal and disinterestedness for the advancement of the true religion. His station in the Persian court had prevented him from going to Jerusalem, but he expressed a godly concern about the condition of his brethren in Judea, and the temple of God. Jerusalem lay without walls or gates of defense, and had done so since its devastation by the Chaldeans.

Nehemiah, on hearing of the sad state of his brethren was troubled, and the impulse of his heart was to go over and help them, if he could only secure the patronage of the king. In this perplexity he remembers a God who reigns king over all, blessed forevermore, in whose hand are the hearts of even the highest of earthly rulers, and he calls upon him in prayer. No circumstances should ever render the Christian careless of the interests of the church of God; like Nehemiah he should be concerned for her welfare, and like him pray that God would build her walls and strengthen her borders. He should improve his talents and take advantage of every circumstance to add to her numbers, and even when far separated from her, his efforts for her prosperity, though in his own sight feeble, God may bless, and make eminently powerful in spreading the cause of truth in the world.

“Till, filled with light and joy and love, Thy courts below, like those above, Triumphant hallelujahs raise, And heaven and earth resound thy praise.”