Standing in the Gap - 1

I love Nehemiah. He's very real and a guiding light.

Nehemiah 1

1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
3 They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire."
4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept.

So, Nehemiah weeps. I think this is the same kind of 'weeping' that Jesus does when Lazarus dies. That is, a wailing, emotional outpouring. Why? Jesus is mourning a friend. A friend so close that when Mary and Martha call for Jesus to come to Lazarus they don't even use him name (John 11:3 "Lord, the one who you Love is sick") So what is Nehemiah so worked up about.

Well, he knows what this means. The old testament is all about God's promises. Some of the most ridiculous promises, if you ask me (especially Abraham.) Promises of chosen people, and generation after generation. So imagine seeing those promises in ruins. In this case, quite literally.

I love what he does next. He takes it to God. He hangs out with God. He tells it like it is and then he steps up to the plate...