Life Lessons From The Prophet Nehemiah

Life Lessons From the Prophet Nehemiah

Proverbs 21:1 "The kings heart is in the hand of The Lord like channels of water; He turns it wherever he wants." New English translation

Good morning, as we take a look at this proverb we are going to be using the book of Nehemiah to help understand how this proverb translates to our daily lives. Before we go any further lets go over a little bit about who Nehemiah is and what God called him to do.  At this point in the Bible, God's people are  now out of captivity. They were allowed to return back to Jerusalem; Jerusalem is in shambles. Nehemiah 1:3 "And they said to me, the remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire."

Nehemiah, as we learn, felt led to go rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Now, understand, Nehemiah is a cupbearer for king Artaxerxes, who is not a Jewish king and not a king who loves God. Nehemiah did not go immediately to the King and demand that he should be allowed to go rebuild the wall, no instead he prays first; Nehemiah 1:11 shows us that. Nehemiah's prayer did not get answered right away- four months later is when God opened the door for Nehemiah to talk to the king about what was on his heart.  We see this in chapter 2 of Nehemiah. Now God had to move the kings heart, God had to open the door for Nehemiah, and all of this came in response to prayer.

How can we relate this to our own lives? We all have bosses or superiors or someone who has been placed above us. In many cases those bosses are not Christian.  There are many  times when we are so fed up with the situations we are in because we disagree with the people above us. We so quickly want to throw in the towel and just quit and do things our own way. We get mad and say things like, "Well this is obviously not where God wants me". Could you imagine what would have happened if Nehemiah just said, "Well, this is taking too long and I feel called to build the walls of Jerusalem"? The walls would have never been built by him. Part of the story I left out of Nehemiah is that it was the kings lumber he used to build the walls, it was the kings guards who gave him safe passage. God had a plan to use Nehemiah where he was at, and he used his boss to get him there. 

If we are patient and wait upon God and pray before taking action, God will open the doors for us. He will move even in the most ungodly people, to help you accomplish what He wishes. Look back at the proverb the king/or leaders heart is in the hands of The Lord and he can move it. God can move anyone's heart to do His will.

Let us pray. Heavenly Father there are many times I get so frustrated at my work because of bosses and superiors whom you put in charge of me. Lord I don't understand their ways nor do I understand why I am placed where you have me. But I trust you God to move in my boss' heart to have me accomplish what you wish for me to accomplish. Move in my heart so that I may be patient and wait for your guidance.  Give me strength to be the best employee you called me to be hep me honor you in every situation that I am put into. In Jesus' name. Amen.


David Wiggins
Youth Pastor
www.nbcornerstone.com