NEHEMIAH – PREPARED IN PRAYER

For what dost thou make request? So I prayed… – Nehemiah 2:4

“True patriot that he was, Nehemiah’s heart was deeply distressed at the desolation of his beloved Zion. Like all other spiritual men he turned his heart burden into prayer. “I wept, and mourned, and fasted, and prayed” (1:4). And what a model prayer it was, combining adoration, confession, argument and petition (1:5-11). The sheer impossibility of his desire being granted – leave of absence from the side of a despotic Eastern tyrant for four months – did not daunt his faith. He was sure of his God.

God can never resist faith. As Nehemiah prayed, God worked in the king’s heart and suddenly the prayed-for opportunity came (2:1-6). Between the despot’s unexpected question and Nehemiah’s daring request, he found time for ejaculatory prayer. “So I prayed to the God of heaven” (2:4). Not only was he granted leave to go to Jerusalem, but full provision for the expedition as well. Once again prayer had invaded the realm of the impossible.

His plan of campaign for the restoration of the city wall simple. “So I prayed…so built we the wall.” He prayed as he worked and worked as he prayed. Did enemies mock and hinder? He utters an ejaculatory prayer and keeps on building (4:4-6). Did they threaten attack? “We made our prayer…and set a watch” (4:9). Prayer was no substitute for earnest endeavour and prudent preparation, and work was no hindrance to prayer. He did not reserve his prayers for special occasions, they pervaded all his activities. He worked no mighty miracle. He saw no spectacular vision. But the prayer of his burdened, believing heart secured dramatic results. In fifty-two short days he was able exultingly to report, “So the wall was finished” (6:15).

Let us practise “ejaculatory prayer.”