Then the
king said to me, “What would you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven.
(v.4)
Jerusalem had been leveled and the mighty walls that once
protected God’s holy city lay in ruins (Neh. 1:3). The news broke Nehemiah’s
heart. After mourning and fasting for several days, the prophet sensed the Lord stirring his heart to step up and begin the job of restoration. So he prayed to
God for direction (vv.5-11).
Five months later, Nehemiah found himself before the king
performing his duties as cupbearer and the king noticed Nehemiah’s countenance
was sad saying, “Why is
your face sad? You are not sick, or is this is nothing but sadness of heart?”
(v.2).
Nehemiah
had no idea that his face had betrayed him. He had,
doubtless, intended to seek an interview with the king, and formally state the
whole case. But to be taken unaware, to have to state his case on the spur of
the moment, no doubt caught him off guard. So he instinctively turned to prayer
(v.4), then he spoke to the king. I’m sure that prayer wasn’t very long, but we
know it was effective. King Artaxerxes granted Nehemiah everything he requested
to rebuild both the city and the walls of Jerusalem.
It’s important for us to remember in our own prayer life, it’s
not the length of a prayer, or the flowery petitions that count. Jesus warned
of this when He said, “Do not think you will be heard because of your much
speaking, for this is how the heathen pray” (Matthew 6:7). What does matter, is
that the heart of our prayers, are in tune with His, not our will but His will be done.
The Truth
“Be anxious for nothing, but in
everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your
requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
