Nehemiah’s Grief

Synopsis     Nehemiah 1:1-2:1     7/7/2020 

Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the King of Persia. According to his writings, he lived in Susa.  

One day, Israelites from Jerusalem came to Susa. So, Nehemiah asked about the conditions back in Jerusalem. However, the Jews gave a bad report. The city, it seemed, remained in bad disrepair. And the people were under reproach by local leaders.  

Nehemiah was grieved by the news. So, he cried out to God in prayer. Specifically, he asked God to have mercy on the people despite their sins. And he asked God to grant him a role in the rebuilding of the city. 

Nehemiah’s Grief 

Nehemiah grieved at the news of Jerusalem’s destruction. But his sadness transcended the fact that the people were suffering. It’s true that he felt pity for his kinsmen. Still, his deeper grief was at the thought that God’s plans had seemingly been thwarted by the sins of the Israelites.  

Shrugging at Evil 

I long for a heart so attuned to God that I grieve for the things that grieve Him. 

“Son of man, you live in the midst of a rebellious house; they have eyes to see, but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear. They are such a rebellious house!” Ezekial 12:2