"O Lord, Let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man."
I was the cupbearer to the king.
Nehemiah 1:11 NIV
Today we start Nehemiah. One of the points of his book is his dream and that the walls of Jerusalem are rebuilt. His name means that God is consolation. As cupbearer and servant to King Artaxerxes, he had a place of honor, respect and was a trusted advisor. For King Artaxerxes to release Nehemiah from his role was a sacrifice for the king and is an example of the awesome power of the Lord.
In reading about Nehemiah, I learned that in the Bible, a wall can mean a physical structure; however a wall can also be a metaphor for salvation. For example in Isaiah 26:1 NIV it states: "We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts. In addition, walls can represent God's protection: Zechariah 2:5; where as a wall of fire is what God describes Himself to be.
In being committed, Pastor Vokt, on Sept 4th, spoke about delight and referenced Zephaniah 3:17: The Lord God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with his love. He will rejoice over you with singing. In addition we were taught that if we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart in an analogy to these familiar hymn lyrics: Seek ye first the kingdom of God...and all these things will be added unto you. In addition, with delight in the Lord, our joy and our confidence is in God alone; not in our circumstance, possessions, place or anything else.
God listened to a delighted wall-building cupbearer. God will listen to your prayers too.
How are you delighted in knowing that God hears servants prayers?
Were do you find your joy and confidence?
How do you give thanks knowing that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus? (Romans 8)
Pray to find delight in the Lord and to focus on His service.
In Christ,
David P
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