When Mourning Turns to Leading

Nehemiah, The Cupbearer

When I was a young mom, there were many occasions when my kids wanted something warmed in the microwave oven. Knowing these appliances don’t heat in a uniform way, I always tasted the food or drink first, to make sure it wasn’t too hot. Nehemiah, too, had a similar role with King Artaxerxes.

Instead of checking the temperature of the drink, however, Nehemiah acted as more of a guard. He had to protect the king from contemptuous foes who would try to sneak poison into the king’s chalice. Not only did he guard the cup, but he would often put himself in danger by tasting the drink first.

The position of cupbearer might seem menial, however, the king had to have full trust in this person. Loyalty remained the utmost trait for anyone serving in this role. Obviously, Nehemiah’s character bode well with the king. Until the instance recorded in chapter one of Nehemiah, this royal cupbearer had been faithful and had never been anything but cheerful in the king’s presence.

There isn’t much discussion of how Nehemiah rose to this position, but one fact is certain—he was trustworthy, and the king knew it.

Nehemiah’s Request

Chapter 1 of Nehemiah reveals even more of this cupbearer’s true character. Upon hearing of the destruction of Jerusalem, the city of his heritage, he was deeply troubled. For days he mourned and fasted. I think it’s important to point out that he was in the presence of the Lord during his sadness. He openly grieved and sought God about what his role should be.

I’m not sure at what point God clearly placed the task in his heart, but when he came before the king, Nehemiah already had a plan. Not only did he have a plan, but he also knew how to execute each step and boldly made his requests to the king.

Did Nehemiah have a military background? Leadership training? We don’t know. All we know is he came before the king, and for the first time he was obviously sad, and the king took note. Because the king asked about his sadness, the door opened, and Nehemiah requested permission to go to his homeland and lead a rebuilding effort among the people. He asked for letters to access the forests and for safe passage. And the king granted him these requests. Why? Because King Artaxerxes knew Nehemiah’s heart. And God’s hand of favor rested on Nehemiah’s quest.

 

Nehemiah Helps Rebuild Jerusalem

Nehemiah boldly traveled to Jerusalem and examined the damage during the cover of night. He continued seeking the Lord through every step and soon he cast his vision to all the people. Heads of families rallied their kin and took sections of the wall. A huge team effort began, all because of Nehemiah’s heartbreak and boldness to do something about it.

One of the parts of this story that I love is that everyone used their own talents, gifts, and skillsets. Singers. Carpenters. Craftsmen. Everyone had a job, and everyone participated, even the women. They stood next to one another, working side by side—an Old Testament picture of the body of Christ.

Where God Works, the Enemy Lurks

Once the work began, naysayers arrived. Sanballat and Tobiah mocked them. They informed the enemies, whose land surrounded the Jews, of the quest for rebuilding Jerusalem. The enemies were angered and made plans to attack and besiege once again.

What did Nehemiah and the others do? They prayed and asked God for continued favor. Then Nehemiah stationed people in the lower, more vulnerable areas. These guards stood beside families with swords, spears, and bows. Then he stood and reminded the people of the faithfulness of God and that he would be faithful again.

The enemies got wind that the walls were fortified with guards and they ceased their attack plans. But Nehemiah kept half of the men on watch and kept the other half on task with finishing the rebuild. Even those building carried weapons while they worked. Nothing deterred Nehemiah. He had heard from God and knew this was what he was supposed to be doing.

 

The Finishing Touch

After much work and many more attempted distractions, the wall was completed. My favorite part of the story comes next. Nehemiah has Ezra read from the Book of the Law to the people. This generation had never heard the words for themselves. For hours, they stood and intently took in the law. Many knelt low to the ground and worshipped. Other times the assembly lifted their hands in the air and declared, “Amen.”

As he read, Nehemiah and Ezra reinforced many practices that were heard for the first time and the people immediately obliged. They wanted to do what God, their rescuing Father, had instructed them to do. They mourned. Confessed. Worshipped. Obeyed.

 

The Precious Word

There is so much more to the story, but this is where I always pause. They were a people who had gotten away from their roots. Many had never even heard the Word of God read out loud, and once they did, they were immediately moved to action. Their hearts were tenderized by a holy and compassionate God.

How about us? Do we cherish God’s Word? Are we so moved by the instructions and his deep love that we immediately obey?

Even when we’ve been far away, we can still come back. The Israelites did.

And Nehemiah. Let’s not forget about him. He boldly obeyed and changed the trajectory of the Israelite nation. All because he took his broken heart to God and longed to be used.

Are you far away? Come home.

Have you taken God’s Word for granted? Pick it up and seek him once more.

Is God moving your heart in a seemingly impossible direction? Just say yes and leave the details up to him.

(For more on seeking the Lord, Take Everything to the Lord in Prayer – Inspire A Fire)

© Christy Bass Adams, May 2024, all images from Canva