Continuing with Nehemiah – a layman, remember? – we pick up some important lessons on prayer. If you do the calendar math from chapter 1 to chapter 2, you see that his season of prayer, beginning with confession, lasted about four months (from Kislev (Nehemiah 1.1) to Nisan (Nehemiah 2.1)). He takes wine in to the king (his job), and he’s sad, which got the king’s attention:

It was the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king. At the hour for serving wine I brought it in and gave it to the king. I had never been hangdog in his presence before, so he asked me, “Why the long face? You’re not sick are you? Or are you depressed?” That made me all the more agitated. (Nehemiah 2.1, 2, MSG)

Nehemiah tells the king he’s sad because Jerusalem is a mess.

The king then asked me, “So what do you want?”

Praying under my breath to the God-of-Heaven, I said, “If it please the king, and if the king thinks well of me, send me to Judah, to the city where my family is buried, so that I can rebuild it.” (Nehemiah 2.4, 5, MSG)

And here we have some simple lessons on prayer:

• Prayer is for everyone, not just priests
• Prayer isn’t long and formal
• Prayer is for everywhere, even a king’s court

He was praying for his life among other things! You weren’t allowed to be sad in the king’s presence.

He had planned so he knew how long he needed and what provisions he needed. Also, unlike Ezra, he accepted cavalry escort.

Then I said, “If it please the king, provide me with letters to the governors across the Euphrates that authorize my travel through to Judah; and also an order to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, to supply me with timber for the beams of The Temple fortress, the wall of the city, and the house where I’ll be living.”

The generous hand of my God was with me in this and the king gave them to me. When I met the governors across The River (the Euphrates) I showed them the king’s letters. The king even sent along a cavalry escort. (Nehemiah 2.7 – 9, MSG)

Nehemiah travels to Jerusalem, surveys the situation firsthand and calls them to action:

Then I gave them my report: “Face it: we’re in a bad way here. Jerusalem is a wreck; its gates are burned up. Come—let’s build the wall of Jerusalem and not live with this disgrace any longer.” I told them how God was supporting me and how the king was backing me up.

They said, “We’re with you. Let’s get started.” They rolled up their sleeves, ready for the good work. (Nehemiah 2.17, 18, MSG)

And we’re off!

I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling. (1 Timothy 2.8, ESV)

…praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. (Ephesians 6.18, ESV)