Nehemiah 8 - Praying God's Word

Please read Nehemiah 8.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/neh/8/1/s_421001

Meditate on verse 2.

Then Ezra the priest brought the law before

 the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen

 with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month.

What a beautiful chapter for how to appropriately respond to God’s Word!  Ponder these truths:

·      The people asked for God’s Word, and they attentively listened to it with understanding (vs. 1-3).

·      When God’s Word was opened, all the people stood up (v. 5).

·      Ezra, the priest and reader of the Word, blessed the LORD the great God.  The people raised their hands and said, “Amen, Amen!”  Then, they bowed low and worshiped (v. 6).

·      The people stayed in their place while the Word of God was explained to them (vs. 7-8).

·      The people wept when they heard God’s Word (v. 9).

·      The leaders wanted to gain even more insight into God’s Word (v. 13).

·      Reading and understanding God’s Word was reason to rejoice (v. 17).

·      God’s Word was read daily to the people (v. 18).

Bless the LORD, the great God, for giving you His Word, desiring to read it daily. As you read, ask the Holy Spirit to give you understanding and greater insight, so it makes sense. Don’t be afraid to engage God’s Word on an emotional level, weeping at times and rejoicing at other times.

Pray Nehemiah 8:3 and 10 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, make _________ and me people who understand and are attentive

when Your Word is read.  This day is holy to You, LORD. 

Do not let us grieve, for Your joy, LORD, is our strength.

Thank You, LORD Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Nehemiah 7 - Praying God's Word

Please read Nehemiah 7.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/neh/7/1/s_420001

Meditate on verse 2.

Then I put Hanani my brother, and Hananiah the commander of the fortress, in charge of Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many.

Nehemiah chose Hananiah to be in charge of Jerusalem because he was   a faithful, God-fearing man. Wow, what an admirable description of a person! Hananiah was faithful. This means he was “stable, trustworthy, and established.”¹ He also feared God, meaning he “stood in awe of, reverenced, honored, respected, and was astonished with”² the LORD.

Do “faithful” and “God-fearing” describe you and those you love? Pray for the LORD to establish those characteristics in you and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7) by praying Nehemiah 7:2 and 5a.

“LORD, make _______ and me faithful, stable,

trustworthy, and established in You.

 Let us fear You more than many. 

May we always stand in awe of,

reverence, honor, respect, and

 be astonished with You, LORD.

 Let us be obedient to do everything

 You put into our hearts to do.

For the glory of Your name, Jesus~”

1.     Retrieved from www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H571&t=NASB

2.     Retrieved from www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H3372&t=NASB

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Nehemiah 6 - Praying God's Word

Please read Nehemiah 6.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/neh/6/1/s_419001

Meditate on verse 9.

For all of them were trying to frighten us, thinking,

"They will become discouraged with the work

 and it will not be done." But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

What an excellent and discerning leader Nehemiah was! Sanballat’s threatening and slanderous letters did not dissuade Nehemiah from finishing Jerusalem’s wall. He simply replied with: “Such things as you are saying have not been done, but you are inventing them in your own mind” (v. 8).

When Shemaiah tried to lure him into the temple to seek protection, Nehemiah discerned God had not sent him; he was only saying what Tobiah and Sanballat paid him to say (v. 12). Rather than worry about his enemies, Nehemiah focused on the goal of completing the wall, asking God to strengthen his hands (v. 9).  Miraculously, the wall was finished in 52 days and the enemies defeated because of Almighty God (vs. 16-17).

What task has God given you? Is someone discouraging you from completing it? Ask the LORD to strengthen your hands. Ask Him for discernment to perceive the motives of others and how to respond. Ask Him to make you above reproach in every area of your life. Let Him accomplish His work in you.

Pray Nehemiah 6:9 and 16 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, let no one frighten _________ and me. 

Do not let them discourage us with Your work

 so it will not be done.  Now, O God, strengthen our hands.

 Let all our enemies hear and see what You are doing.

 Let them lose their confidence when they recognize

 that this work has been accomplished with Your help, God.

In Your name, Jesus~”

Nehemiah 5 - Praying God's Word

Please read Nehemiah 5.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/neh/5/1/s_418001

Meditate on verse 15.

But the former governors who were before me laid

 burdens on the people and took from them bread

and wine besides forty shekels of silver; even their

 servants domineered the people. But I did

 not do so because of the fear of God.

Rebuilding the wall took a financial toll on many of the people because time spent rebuilding did not leave time for providing for the needs of their families. Fields and homes were mortgaged to buy food and pay taxes. Children were sold into slavery. Moneylenders charged exorbitant interest rates. The situation was dire, and Nehemiah intervened as an excellent leader. He persuaded the nobles and rulers to stop exacting usury from their fellow Israelites (v. 7). The fields, vineyards, olive groves, houses, money, grain, wine, and oil were returned to their original owners (vs. 11-12). Nehemiah led by example, not eating from the governor’s food allowance or laying heavy burdens on the people (vs. 14-15). He worked on the wall himself, and his servants’ time was spent building the wall instead of waiting on Nehemiah (v. 16).  Nehemiah even shared his dinner table with over 150 guests each day at his own expense (v. 18).  Incredible!  What was his motivation for being so above reproach? Nehemiah feared God (v. 15).

Thankfully you have the book of Nehemiah to help you become a great, God-fearing leader. Ask God to make you selfless, hard-working, and above reproach. Ask Him to make you His servant who fears Him for the sake of others.

Pray Nehemiah 5:19 over yourself as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“Remember me, O my God, for good, according

 to all that I have done for this people.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Nehemiah 4 - Praying God's Word

Please read Nehemiah 4.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/neh/4/1/s_417001

Meditate on verse 15.

When our enemies heard that it was known to us,

and that God had frustrated their plan,

 then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work.

What an encouraging chapter for discouraging times! The antagonists, Sanballat and Tobiah, angry that the walls of Jerusalem were being rebuilt, insulted and belittled the Jews (vs. 1-3). Rather than respond to their demeaning comments, Nehemiah talked to the LORD about the frustrating situation, giving God his enemies. Then, Nehemiah armed his builders; some stood guard as others built; some laid brick with one hand while holding a weapon in the other. Naysayers would not stop the work of the LORD!

Be aware of “Sanballats” and “Tobiahs” in your life. They are those who mock what God is doing and try to demoralize you by saying things like: “That will never work; it costs too much; you will never get enough people to help; it’s impossible!” Give your Sanballat and Tobiah to God; do not be afraid of them—they are often bullies who are simply jealous of what God is doing in your life. Arm yourself with the Word of God, praying over the situation and obediently doing everything God tells you.

Pray Nehemiah 4:10, 14-15, and 20 over difficult situations as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, the strength of __________ and me is failing,

yet there is much rubbish, and we

ourselves are unable to rebuild… 

Do not let us be afraid of __________.

 LORD, You are great and awesome;

 help us fight for our sons, our daughters,

our wives, and our homes.

 God, frustrate the plan of our enemies,

 and let us return to our work. 

Rally us, LORD!  God, You will fight for us!

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Nehemiah 3 - Praying God's Word

Please read Nehemiah 3.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/neh/3/1/s_416001

Meditate on verse 12.

Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh,

 the official of half the district of Jerusalem,

made repairs, he and his daughters.

Repair is a repeated word in this chapter. It is the Hebrew word chazaq, which means “to repair and strengthen, sustain, encourage, make bold and firm, to support”¹ So many people were involved in repairing the walls and gates of Jerusalem. How encouraging this must have been to Nehemiah! And it was certainly a big deal to God because He recorded their names for eternity.

As you think about this chapter, let the Holy Spirit convict you of areas in your life and the lives of those you love that need repair. Let God encourage and sustain you to complete the task. Let Him give you the words and actions to embolden others to repair and rebuild, so they can be firm in Christ and His will. Making repairs is a big deal to God with eternal consequences.

Don’t procrastinate in making the repairs God tells you to make. Mend relationships; build your prayer life; strengthen your walk with Christ by faithfully being with His church and in His Word. Be firm in your commitment to follow Him.

Pray Nehemiah 3:20 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, help _________ and me zealously repair another section of our lives.

In Your name, Jesus~”

1.  Retrieved from www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H2388&t=NASB

Nehemiah 2 - Praying God's Word

Please read Nehemiah 2.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/neh/2/1/s_415001

Meditate on verse 4.

Then the king said to me, “What would you request?”

 So I prayed to the God of heaven.

Can you imagine a king, president, boss, or other official saying to you, “I perceive you have a need; tell me everything you request”?  Those were the words Nehemiah heard from his boss, the king of Persia, after fasting and praying for God to grant him success and compassion before the man (Nehemiah 1:11).  As God answered his prayer, Nehemiah did not stop praying; he continued talking to the LORD to know exactly what he should ask of the king. God told him what to say, and King Artaxerxes granted Nehemiah’s requests because the good hand of God was on him (v. 8).

How would you respond to someone who wanted to give you everything you needed? Learn from Nehemiah who first talked to the Giver of all things, seeking His desires.

Every good thing given and every perfect gift

 is from above, coming down from the Father of lights,

with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

—James 1:17

As a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7), pray Nehemiah 2:4, 8, 17-18, and 20 over situations were you and those you love have needs.

“LORD, I am praying to You, the God of heaven. 

Please grant _______ and me these requests;

 let Your good hand be upon us. 

You see the bad situation we are

 in, that ________ is desolate.  LORD, help us to rebuild so

 that we will no longer be a reproach.

 Please let Your hand be favorable to us. 

Let us arise and build; let us put our hands

 to the good work.  God of heaven, please give us success. 

Cause us, Your servants, to arise and build.

For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell