Joining Jesus – 18th March 2019

1. Listen up!
The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Then I said:
“LORD, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’

“They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”

I was cupbearer to the king. Nehemiah 1:1-11

Nehemiah was cupbearer to the king, not a priest or a prophet or, as we might say today, somebody in ‘full time ministry’. The time is around 444 BC, the place is Suza, a city in Persia and the King is Artaxerxes.
The book of Nehemiah records the story of God using a man ‘in the marketplace’ and shows what can happen if a believer submits themselves to God.

Nehemiah was living in Persia because the Jewish people were in exile from Jerusalem. Some had begun to return and one day, when Nehemiah was visited by Hanani from Judah, he heard some news that would change his life:

In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

As a Jew living in exile, Nehemiah was keen to find out how things were in Jerusalem. He had a highly prestigious job and was doing very well for himself and, as such, it would have been easy for him to forget all about Jerusalem and just enjoy his privileged life. However, he chose to ask!

They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

As Nehemiah listened to what was happening in Jerusalem something stirred deep within him. This stirring would lead to action!
Let me ask you a question. If you were to ask people in your community how things are, what would they say? Would they describe a community where people are living for God and where His will is being done on earth as in heaven? Or would they describe something very different?

As you listened to what these people might say, how would you respond? You may be willing to do what is necessary for things to change or, you may think first of the privileged position that you have and not be willing to lose this by doing what is required.

We all have a choice, we can remain oblivious to what is going on in our community, put our fingers in our ears, and just focus on our own life and career. Alternatively, we can remove the fingers from our ears and LISTEN UP to what is happening and then seek God as to how he can use us to do what is necessary to bring transformation.

This week I encourage you to open your ears and listen to the voices in your community and to the voice of God!