A Time To Be Silent

SCRIPTURE: Neh. 2:11-18
¹¹ I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days ¹² I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.

¹³ By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. ¹⁴ Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; ¹⁵ so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. ¹⁶ The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.

¹⁷ Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” ¹⁸ I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me.

OBSERVATION: Nehemiah had received letters from the king authorizing him to rebuild Jerusalem and even to be given the supplies to do the job. But he does not ride into town and immediately tell everyone what he is there to do. He examines what needs to be done in secret. It is not until he personally has a firm grasp of the situation that he goes to his people and explains his task and informs the people that he has secured the king's blessing as well. Immediately he faces opposition from the enemies of God's people.

APPLICATION: There is a time to talk and a time to keep silent. I often do not get this right. I need to learn from this passage to pray about timing. Even when God speaks something to me, or gives me instruction for a task, I need to wait before blurting it out to others. Timing is important. Just like Nehemiah, I think I have sometimes let myself in for trouble by speaking up too soon. I can remember times of sharing a vision I know the Lord gave me and having others mock it because I had not waited and prayed that God would prepare them to hear it, or I had not waited for God to reveal the plan of how and when to carry it out. Jesus was also sometimes completely silent, especially in the presence of his enemies. It's a good lesson to keep in mind.

PRAYER: Father, teach me to be patient and wise. I want to learn from my errors and not repeat them. Teach me when to keep my mouth shut and wait upon you and when to speak. There is a time for both. Help me to get it right. In Jesus' Name, Amen.