Getting Resettled

     When people get settled or resettle, they get comfortable.  This can be a dangerous state.  When a person is comfortable, then the person may become complacent.  When life is good and you have a routine set, it is time to get focused.  It is time to focus on protective, healing, and productive prayer.  It is a good time to focus on other people and build a relationship with God.  You can let go of the past and prepare for the future.

    The Jews had Ezra to lead them to a place to redemption and healing.  Now we are moving on to the journey of prayer led by Nehemiah.  He was not with the people that resettled in Israel.  He was the king's cupbearer, so he heard all the official news about what was happening in his nation at work.  The title of his job tell how he is a risktaker and brave man.  He tried all the kings food and drink to see if it had been poisoned before it was given to the king.

    Nehemiah asked Hanani, a Jew that returned from Judah, about the resettled exiles.  He did not receive good news.  He heard about the disgraceful state that the once grand city of Jerusalem was in.  The wall were still broken where anyone could attack.  It left the entire city vulnerable.  The gates had been burned, so they could not keep anything in or out.  The people had resettled, but had nothing in them to fight to get the repairs done.  They had accepted the condition as it was.

    This broke the sensitive heart of Nehemiah.  He wept, fasted, and prayed for several days.  Here is the thing, it is hard for a cupbearer to fast.  You can't go to the king and be like sorry I can't test your food today because I am fasting.  He had to be creative.  Also, it was a job where you never bring your personal stuff to work with you or you could be killed.  It was all about the boss.

    Nehemiah is a teacher on how to pray.  He begged God to hear his prayers despite the corporate sin of his people in which he confessed in as much detail as he was aware of.  He reminded God of the promises that God had made to His people.  Nehemiah finished the prayer time with asking to be able to return and do something for his people.  He asked God for success and the favor of the king.  He was going to do the unspeakable and make a request of his boss.  It was a big ask, but he asked boldly.

Nehemiah 1