Nehemiah Days 1 & 2

In the first day's reading, my attention was drawn to an every day exchange between two people.

Nehemiah asks his brother Hanani, "How are things at home?"

His brother says the folks at home are having a hard time and Jerusalem is in ruins. But it's Nehemiah's response that makes the difference.

A response comes from a person's priorities and concerns. What's important to him or her. Nehemiah's priorities and concerns are revealed by what he does.

His priorities extend beyond the physical and extend into the spiritual. He sees the situation from God's perspective, including the state of his people before God. This results in much prayer and fasting and repentance for their sins.

Personal application: How my priorities are not God's priorities. I miss out on opportunities to pray and act as I should.

For Day 2, the second chapter (v.1 - 10) shows Nehemiah courageously acting on his beliefs and repentance before God in the King's presence.

He traded in his privileged position as cup bearer to the King for a dangerous one as a construction foreman. He boldly stepped through the open door, not only getting permission to rebuild the walls but fortifications and a residence as well as raw materials from the King's store houses.

His act of faith and boldness resulted in the starting of the clock for the Messiah to come. Say what? Yes. This is the decree that is referred to in Daniel 9.

Even his countenance before the King was courageous - cup bearers were supposed to be happy all of the time. Not being so implied that they were disrespectful of the King's generosity. The state of God's holy city, its people and their situation before God impacted Nehemiah and he acted in a Godly manner.

When I have opportunities to act boldly in faith, do I act in the same way?