1. Néhémie 2:8 (NEG79)
  2. Applications

The sovereign hand of the Lord upon his creation

Néhémie 2:8 (NEG79)

8 et une lettre pour Asaph, garde de la forêt du roi, afin qu'il me fournisse du bois de charpente pour les portes de la citadelle près de la maison, pour la muraille de la ville, et pour la maison que j'occuperai. Le roi me donna ces lettres, car la bonne main de mon Dieu était sur moi.

Vital to this passage is the closing line in Nehemiah 2:8: For the good hand of my God was upon me. Nehemiah knows God as the God of heaven who is great and awesome (Nehemiah 1:4–5). Artaxerxes may be the supreme ruler of the world’s superpower of the day, but the heart of this king is malleable in the hands of the Lord so that he can turn the king’s heart any direction he chooses (Proverbs 21:1; Ezra 6:22).

As a result of his triumph on the cross, all authority in heaven and on earth was given to Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18) so that Scripture acknowledges him to be King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 17:14; Revelation 19:16; contrast with Ezra 7:12).

In close connection with the above point, it has pleased the Lord to give people dominion over the works of his hands (Genesis 1:26–27; Psalm 8:6) so that his redeemed people are fellow workers with Christ (1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 6:1). This cooperation includes prayer, a resource Christ has promised would be effective (Matthew 7:7; John 15:7; James 5:16–17). So the Lord has also given his people instruction that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high position (1 Timothy 2:1–2). In response to their prayers, the Lord God even today moves the hearts of kings in ways that advance his kingdom. This is an enormous incentive for Christians to abound in ongoing prayer for those in our time entrusted with much authority and influence.