I replied, “If it pleases the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.” Nehemiah 2:5
God places divine burdens on every heart of Christ followers. These are needs and problems that we see around us that we just cannot stop thinking about. The question we are answering this week in our Bible study today is, how will we respond to our divine burdens? Will we respond to our burdens with meekness, letting fear get in the way, or will we boldly step up and do something about these divine burdens God has placed on our hearts?
We left off in our Bible study yesterday when Nehemiah, the cupbearer to the king of Persia, acknowledged his burden to see the walls of Jerusalem rebuilt in front of the king in spite of his fear in Nehemiah 2. He went further than just acknowledging his burden. In a step of great boldness, Nehemiah asked the king to give him permission to go back to Jerusalem and head up rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. After explaining to the king that he was distraught because the walls of Jerusalem had been torn down, the king asked him, “Well, how can I help you?” (verse 4). At this question, Nehemiah spoke up and, “with a prayer to the God of heaven,” said, “If it pleases the king, and if you are pleased with me…send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried” (verses 4-5). Now, this may seem like the logical next step in this interaction, but this was a bold request. Nehemiah was asking the king of Persia for permission to leave his job and go to Jerusalem for a significant amount of time. There was a lot at stake if the king did not grant his request. Even still, he boldly made his request before the king. Why? He asked because God gave him a burden, and that burden gave him boldness to take steps toward acting on that burden.
Nehemiah’s boldness is an example for each one of us to follow when it comes to our divine burdens. You see, the burdens he gives us call us to take bold steps, without holding back, when it comes to acting on these burdens. Will you act boldly and take steps toward acting on your divine burden today?
When it comes to your divine burden, what act of boldness is God calling you to take today? This could be a small step or a large step that requires boldness. Maybe your act of boldness is to find out more information about serving so that you can help be a part of the solution to your divine burden. Perhaps acting boldly means having a difficult conversation regarding the divine burden that God has placed on your heart. Whatever it looks like for you, commit to taking that step of courage today, knowing that God will help you as you seek to act on your divine burden.
5 I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”
6 The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request.
7 I also said to the king, “If it please the king, let me have letters addressed to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, instructing them to let me travel safely through their territories on my way to Judah. 8 And please give me a letter addressed to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.” And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me.
9 When I came to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, I delivered the king’s letters to them. The king, I should add, had sent along army officers and horsemen to protect me. 10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of my arrival, they were very displeased that someone had come to help the people of Israel.
