Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Nehemiah stood afraid before the Persian king when questioned about his sadness and what favor he desired for ruined Jerusalem, knowing a nation's fate hung on the impression he made. He did not answer at once but first sent up a brief silent prayer to the God of heaven for direction and support. That instant petition in the midst of business gave him courage and moved the king's heart to grant his request. He then boldly asked for release from court with authority and supplies to rebuild the city and its walls, and the king generously gave him all he asked. His prayer did not replace action but was joined with careful planning and earnest effort, and God answered by working through a heathen ruler to advance His cause.
Setting and Request
The scene is the Persian court, where Nehemiah stands before King Artaxerxes distressed over the ruined condition of Jerusalem. He is afraid as he faces the king's questioning, because the moment is a crucial opportunity to ask for help in restoring Jerusalem. The king asks why he looks sad and then what request he has to make. Nehemiah dares not answer at once, because important interests are at stake and the fate of a nation hangs upon the impression then made upon the monarch's mind.
After praying he gathers courage and answers calmly, asking to leave court temporarily for time away from his duties. What he seeks is authority and permission to go, with supplies to rebuild and fortify Jerusalem and its walls and to restore Israel's national strength. It is the same request he has already been praying about for many weeks, now brought to a decisive moment before the king.
The king responds generously to the request thus made. Nehemiah obtains all that he asked or even desired. The later events of his mission to Jerusalem show him traveling safely with royal letters that secure for him a respectful reception and prompt assistance from the provincial rulers.
Instant Prayer for Help
When the king asked what he wanted, Nehemiah did not answer at once but first prayed briefly and silently to the God of heaven. He darted up a prayer with uplifted heart, without waiting to bow on the knees. His petition came before his answer, offered in the moment of the king's urgent question.
That brief petition sought God's support, direction, and presence as the King of kings at a decisive moment. He trusted that an all-knowing and all-powerful Friend would work for him, including for the request he had already carried for many weeks. That trust gave him courage to speak calmly and to gather courage to ask. His prayer brought him into the presence of the King of kings and secured divine help to influence the king's heart in support of his request.
The verse shows that sudden need can be met with brief, earnest prayer for help and guidance even when circumstances leave no opportunity for a longer prayer. Such prayer can be offered even while speaking with a king and engaged in important business. It is appropriate in any place or circumstance, wherever a person is and whatever the employment. The mind is to be stayed upon Jesus and continually ready, so that it reaches out to God instinctively when need arises.
It is available in the pressures of daily work, during danger in travel, and in times of difficulty, grief, care, or temptation, with reliance on promised aid, protection, support, and power for God's faithful people. Prayer need not wait until one can kneel, but the heart is to be lifted to God wherever one is. All are to follow the same course under all circumstances as minute men and women, remaining ready to act and speak wisely. They are to pray first from fear of making a wrong impression and of letting self come into sight instead of truth as it is in Jesus.
Answered Prayer and Action
Prayer did not finish Nehemiah's duty when the king asked what he wanted, for he joined his prayer to the God of heaven with diligent, careful action. He made thoughtful plans, put earnest effort into the work, and united petition with effort rather than letting prayer replace action. That union shows that prudence and painstaking preparation belong in sacred enterprises and in facing practical duty.
His example joins prayer, faith, and trust in God with sound judgment and boldness in asking for help to advance God's cause. When King Artaxerxes asked what help he wanted, his turning to God in prayer was part of that faith and sound judgment as he prepared to ask the king. Those who present the needs of their work and of God's work should likewise draw near to God and remain closely connected to Him as the Giver of light.
God heard that prayer and moved heathen kings to help carry out His purpose and support the work. He did so even while enemies worked against Nehemiah and opposed him. The king's generous response to Nehemiah's request shows that God answers prayer through those in positions of power, and that God's people may seek help from those in power to advance God's work. By facing a king and receiving opportunity to act as God's servant among rulers, Nehemiah's encounter helped spread knowledge of the true God among the nations during Israel's captivity.
Nehemiah stood afraid before the Persian king when questioned about his sadness and what favor he desired for ruined Jerusalem, knowing a nation's fate hung on the impression he made. He did not answer at once but first sent up a brief silent prayer to the God of heaven for direction and support. That instant petition in the midst of business gave him courage and moved the king's heart to grant his request. He then boldly asked for release from court with authority and supplies to rebuild the city and its walls, and the king generously gave him all he asked. His prayer did not replace action but was joined with careful planning and earnest effort, and God answered by working through a heathen ruler to advance His cause.
Setting and Request
The scene is the Persian court, where Nehemiah stands before King Artaxerxes distressed over the ruined condition of Jerusalem. He is afraid as he faces the king's questioning, because the moment is a crucial opportunity to ask for help in restoring Jerusalem. The king asks why he looks sad and then what request he has to make. Nehemiah dares not answer at once, because important interests are at stake and the fate of a nation hangs upon the impression then made upon the monarch's mind.
After praying he gathers courage and answers calmly, asking to leave court temporarily for time away from his duties. What he seeks is authority and permission to go, with supplies to rebuild and fortify Jerusalem and its walls and to restore Israel's national strength. It is the same request he has already been praying about for many weeks, now brought to a decisive moment before the king.
The king responds generously to the request thus made. Nehemiah obtains all that he asked or even desired. The later events of his mission to Jerusalem show him traveling safely with royal letters that secure for him a respectful reception and prompt assistance from the provincial rulers.
Instant Prayer for Help
When the king asked what he wanted, Nehemiah did not answer at once but first prayed briefly and silently to the God of heaven. He darted up a prayer with uplifted heart, without waiting to bow on the knees. His petition came before his answer, offered in the moment of the king's urgent question.
That brief petition sought God's support, direction, and presence as the King of kings at a decisive moment. He trusted that an all-knowing and all-powerful Friend would work for him, including for the request he had already carried for many weeks. That trust gave him courage to speak calmly and to gather courage to ask. His prayer brought him into the presence of the King of kings and secured divine help to influence the king's heart in support of his request.
The verse shows that sudden need can be met with brief, earnest prayer for help and guidance even when circumstances leave no opportunity for a longer prayer. Such prayer can be offered even while speaking with a king and engaged in important business. It is appropriate in any place or circumstance, wherever a person is and whatever the employment. The mind is to be stayed upon Jesus and continually ready, so that it reaches out to God instinctively when need arises.
It is available in the pressures of daily work, during danger in travel, and in times of difficulty, grief, care, or temptation, with reliance on promised aid, protection, support, and power for God's faithful people. Prayer need not wait until one can kneel, but the heart is to be lifted to God wherever one is. All are to follow the same course under all circumstances as minute men and women, remaining ready to act and speak wisely. They are to pray first from fear of making a wrong impression and of letting self come into sight instead of truth as it is in Jesus.
Answered Prayer and Action
Prayer did not finish Nehemiah's duty when the king asked what he wanted, for he joined his prayer to the God of heaven with diligent, careful action. He made thoughtful plans, put earnest effort into the work, and united petition with effort rather than letting prayer replace action. That union shows that prudence and painstaking preparation belong in sacred enterprises and in facing practical duty.
His example joins prayer, faith, and trust in God with sound judgment and boldness in asking for help to advance God's cause. When King Artaxerxes asked what help he wanted, his turning to God in prayer was part of that faith and sound judgment as he prepared to ask the king. Those who present the needs of their work and of God's work should likewise draw near to God and remain closely connected to Him as the Giver of light.
God heard that prayer and moved heathen kings to help carry out His purpose and support the work. He did so even while enemies worked against Nehemiah and opposed him. The king's generous response to Nehemiah's request shows that God answers prayer through those in positions of power, and that God's people may seek help from those in power to advance God's work. By facing a king and receiving opportunity to act as God's servant among rulers, Nehemiah's encounter helped spread knowledge of the true God among the nations during Israel's captivity.