Nehemiah 1 v 1 – 4 – A broken Heart
“It Begins With A Broken Heart”
“This is a study in the Book of Nehemiah that we have started on Friday Night prayer meetings. It is used at a time when as an assembly of believers, we need the word of God to help us learn how we can be of use to the Lord to be used as Rebuilders for Christ. I pray that these short 15 – 20 min messages will be useful in helping our spiritual life. It is hoped that these messages will be help to someone looking for God’s spiritual help in their lives.” Pastor Johnny
Nehemiah 1:1 – 4
Introduction
Nehemiah is in captivity. He was born in captivity and he had a luxurious life living in the palace of Shushan. He works for King Artaxerxes. He has never been to Jerusalem. The bible tells us that it was in the 20th year of the King Artaxerxes 445 BC. ( Gaebelein’s Annoted Bible) What kind of man was Nehemiah?
- Nehemiah’s name means the consolation of Jehovah. What a name for a man. It may be that his name was given that God intended him to be a consolation of God to the people of Israel.
- He was the son of Hacaliah which means the one who waits for the Lord. What a name that through this father, Nehemiah was born.
- Nehemiah was born in captivity and was living in luxury but his love is still for his homeland. Is it not like us who have never seen Heaven yet we yearn for it so much? Because of what we have heard and read about our dearest Heavenly Father we come to know and love Him and long for the Heavenly Jerusalem.
- Hanani came with news about the homeland of Jerusalem
Nehemiah 7:2 That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.
- Hanani was Nehemiah’s own brother
- The News about Jerusalem:
- The people are suffering
- The city of Jerusalem is broken down
- and the gate is burnt with fire
- There was widespread suffering and destruction
- Nehemiah’s response was brokenness in his heart over his land:
Neh 1:4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
- He sat down after he these words, like a man overwhelmed with the bad news
- He wept – tears come from the heart, when it has sorrow
Ecclesiastes 7:3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
- He mourned, like someone who has lost something
- He fasted and prayed before God
God sees broken down Jerusalem, the place of His presence is being broken down and overrun by the enemies. / The people are suffering, the defences are destroyed. And there is no protection.
How do we rebuild?
“God is not looking for new methods: He is looking for a new man”
When things are broken down and out of sync, HE is not interested in plans, He wants a man. I tell you why – Because HE HAS the plans – but He needs a man to work through …
Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. …
Isaiah 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite (maimed) spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Nehemiah was such a man …
Nehemiah’s response was brokenness in his heart over his land:
Neh 1: 4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
The first step in order to rebuild is to be broken before God.Thoughts:
Are there situations, families and churches that are destroyed? God is calling us to be rebuilders and be first step is to have a broken heart before God.
May we be such a man!