3They said to me, “The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire.” 4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. (Nehemiah 1:3–4)
Most people refer to the book of Nehemiah as a study of leadership principles. At least in the first chapter, in the introduction, we have a study in logic and reasoning. We start with if my city is burning and the walls have collapsed, then I must first drop to my knees and pray.
You’d have to be blind and totally unaware not to see a corollary in our times. We may live in beautiful cities and walled communities, but spiritually, the rubble is everywhere, and their inhabitants wander in zombie-like trances to and fro, lost and stumbling in the darkness. He who has an ear hear, and an eye see, note how far we’ve fallen! It’s high time we drop to our knees and petition the great God above to come to the rescue.
You may make the point that as cupbearer to the king that Nehemiah was uniquely positioned to act, but aren’t we all in some form or fashion? What’s universal is our ability to appeal directly to the Almighty as we bow at his throne. Same God. Same radio frequency.
If you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell. (Nehemiah 1:9)
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