MAY 6 NEHEMIAH 1 & 2

Nehemiah 1-2

All good and godly leadership begins with a need, and a burning passion to meet that need.

Nehemiah found his passion when his brother returned from Jerusalem with a report on the dire condition of Jerusalem: The wall…is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire. (Nehemiah 1:3) 

This news broke Nehemiah’s heart. What could he do, but pray. And pray he did. He wept, mourned, fasted and prayed for days on end, until a God-inspired plan of action had formed in his mind. The summary of his prayer vigil is the prayer found in Nehemiah 1:5-11. In this magnificent prayer, we find another leadership trait. Though separated from Jerusalem and its returnees…

Nehemiah identified with their sin. Notice how many times Nehemiah says, “we,” instead of “they” in this prayer. He himself had not personally participated in their sin, yet he identifies with it. A good and godly leader identifies with people’s needs.

Yet, leadership does not end here; a good leader forms a plan. We see evidence of Nehemiah’s plan in the closing words of his prayer: “Give success to Your servant today, and grant him favor in the sight of this man.” “What man?” we ask. And in the last line of chapter 1, we see: “I was a cupbearer to the king.” Nehemiah had formulated a plan to enter his master’s presence and seek permission to lead a mission trip back to Jerusalem to help rebuild the ruined walls of the City of David.

All through Nehemiah 2:1-8, when he approaches the king with this request, we see evidence of his planning: He had a specific request, a time-frame, and a sense of what materials would be needed. The king grants his petition, and off he goes!

Before we finish chapter 2, we learn: a good and godly leader helps the people to see the need. First, Nehemiah makes a surreptitious inspection of the ruined walls to make himself personally acquainted with the need. Then he speaks to the people. Again, look at the “we” language he uses: “You see the trouble we are in…” and “Let us rise up and build.” 

But, already, we see the obstacle that, sooner or later, faces all leaders: OPPOSITION.


Tomorrow, we see what Nehemiah does with that!
Pastor Gary