April 25, 2024 - Nehemiah 1-2 (with reflection on Ezra 10)

“While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly” (Ezra 10:1).  One man, Ezra, had seen the disobedience all around him.  One man made confession.  One man prayed.  One man wept and cast himself down before God.  And then . . . many, many people began to do the same!

“I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4).  In Jerusalem, Nehemiah reported to the people:  “Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem” (2:17), and the hand of the Lord was with him, and the walls were restored.  One man sees a need.  One man prays.  One man surveys the need and calls others to come alongside him.  And the job gets done.

One man . . . one man . . . one man.   Hmmmm . . .  So often, we ask, “What can I do?  I am only one person.  What difference can I make?”  Perhaps a bit of confession along with petition is in order.

We have not served thee as we ought;

alas! the duties left undone,

the work with little fervor wrought,

the battles lost or scarcely won!

Lord, give the zeal and give the might,

for thee to toil, for thee to fight.   --Thomas Benson Pollock (1889)