Old Testament: Neh 2.7–8

To read the Bible in a year, read Nehemiah 1–3 on June 16, In the year of our Lord Christ 2024

By Don Ruhl 

While Nehemiah lived in Persia, he received a report from his brother of the horrible condition of Jerusalem, especially that the walls were down and the gates had been been burned with fire. 

Therefore, he prayed to God that he might be able to help his brethren back in Jerusalem. When the Lord God answered his prayer, giving him an opportunity to speak to the king of Persia, for whom Nehemiah worked, he knew how to deal with the king. 

He did not demand anything, but presented the situation to the king. When the king responded positively, allowing Nehemiah to go to Jerusalem, he knew that he would need material. 

He began his request by saying, “If it pleases the king…” And then Nehemiah asked for the king to give him authority to travel to Jerusalem, so that no one would stop him along the way, and he asked for permission to get lumber from the forest back in Judah. 

Nehemiah then said, “And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me” (Nehemiah 2.7–8). 

He knew that he could make no demands, and that the Jews and their land, city, and temple, had been destroyed because of their own sin. 

However, he spoke respectfully to the king and then credited God for all the good that happened. 

Questions: 

• How do you speak to those in authority? 
• How do you want people to speak to you? 

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Don preaches with the Savage Street Church of Christ in Grants Pass, Oregon. 

Listen to his sermons here: GrantsPassChurchOfChrist.com