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Artaxerxes sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem
In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, 2 so the king asked me, ‘Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.’
I was very much afraid, 3 but I said to the king, ‘May the king live for ever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?’
4 The king said to me, ‘What is it you want?’
Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, ‘If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favour in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.’
6 Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, ‘How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?’ It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.
7 I also said to him, ‘If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? 8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?’ And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests. 9 So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.
10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.
– Nehemiah 2:1-10
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A Time for Vulnerability
Nehemiah is a cupbearer to the King of Persia, and his role is a highly esteemed position requiring great integrity and a pleasant disposition. As the King’s cupbearer, Nehemiah has to ensure the wine is good and safe, then he must present the cup with a smile. He must be professional and honour the atmosphere of the royal court lest there be severe consequences. So when Nehemiah arrives to work gloomy-faced on one particular day, the King demands to know why. Nehemiah could have cowered down and claimed that he ate something bad for lunch, but instead, he courageously opens up about his sorrow over the destruction and brokenness of his home country. Nehemiah’s moment of expressed discontent becomes a pivotal point that eventually brings restoration and revival in his life and the lives of God’s people.
Many years ago in the U.S., I stumbled across a Christian music genre called, 'Divine Discontent' and the phrase intrigued me because it hit home somehow. At the time, I served in ministry where I was a cupbearer of the gospel, ministering to others with a smile on my face but sorrow in my heart. I wasn’t the only one, as the culture around us discouraged vulnerability. People whom I worked alongside in ministry, no matter what brokenness they were witnessing or enduring, learned to hide their gloomy faces. They ministered to others without showing any indication that they themselves were suffering with needs to be addressed. I was no different. I learned to swallow my pain, serve others, and not ask for help when I needed it.
Nehemiah is a beautiful illustration that sometimes we need to open up about what’s disturbing us. Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with remaining professional in professional environments, and knowing when and when not to bring personal issues to work. There is an important place for emotional stability and consistency. However, Nehemiah demonstrates that there are divinely appointed times of discontent in which we are called to address a situation of brokenness to ultimately bring about restoration and revival in our own lives and the lives of others.
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Reflection
No matter what our role, no matter how high our positions, or what impressive inner courts we dwell in, there are times when we need fixing and we need outside support. There are times when we are called to be honest about our situations, struggles, fears, hurts, and needs. And why? It is because the King of Kings desires to bring restoration and resolution that goes beyond us as individuals. The restoration that is birthed out of our areas of vulnerability can and will be a blessing to you and others for generations to come.
In what areas do you find it difficult to be vulnerable or ask for help when you need help? Why do you feel that it is difficult to address these areas? Who can you talk to in order to gain the help or support you need?
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Prayer
Lord, I thank You that You are a King who I can always be honest with, and that You have ordained select people that I can be open with and vulnerable to. I thank You that this area of discontent is purposed to bring about resolve in areas of brokenness in my life and the lives of others. I may have to undergo some practical steps towards rebuilding those areas like Nehemiah did, but I believe that You will be guiding me every step of the way and granting me the support I need. I put my trust in You to prevent the enemy from interfering with my progress in these areas while I move towards gaining wholeness. Amen.
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Written by our Children's Ministry Pastor, Monique Franz.
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