America is a nation in crisis economically, politically, and morally. All you have to do is look around and you will see that our country is in trouble. In the Bible we read of a country whose people were in “great trouble” (Nehemiah 1:3).
The people of Judah had been taken into Babylonian captivity. In time, Cyrus, king of Persia, overthrew Babylon and allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem, although not all the exiles returned,and those who did return did not return all at the same time. One of the Jewish exiles, a man named Nehemiah, was the cupbearer to the king. One day Nehemiah’s brother and some other men visited and Nehemiah “asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem” (Nehemiah 1:2). They told Nehemiah that “the remnant…is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire” (Nehemiah 1:3). As soon as Nehemiah heard their report he “sat down and wept and mourned for days,” and he “continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4). Their report was not good. Without walls and gates the city could not defend itself against enemy attacks and the residents were at risk.
After hearing the report, Nehemiah grieved for his people. His heart broke for the situation his people found themselves in. He was so heartbroken and concerned that he wept and mourned for days.
No doubt we all recall the events of 9/11 that left us all feeling vulnerable. We grieved for young children who lost their moms or dads, for spouses who lost their mates, for moms and dads who lost their children, and for other family members. We grieved as a nation for the loss and pain inflicted on so many. Similarly, Nehemiah grieved for the pain and shame his people were experiencing.
Nehemiah also fasted. Fasting is a way for us to draw nearer to God so that we may get to know Him deeper. Nehemiah’s grief led him to fast, to go without food, in order to seek God and discern His will.
Nehemiah also prayed a moving prayer of adoration, confession, and intercession (Nehemiah 1:5-10). In his prayer he acknowledges God’s greatness and faithfulness. Nehemiah also acknowledges and confesses his and his people’s sinfulness, specifically, the way they had acted and their disobedience to God’s word.
Jerusalem was in a crisis and Nehemiah knew that God was their only hope. In the same way, God is America’s only hope. Not a politician, party or even policies. America needs God. Our nation is living in blatant sin before God. Like the people of Judah, we have acted corruptly. Our nation desperately needs to turn from her sin and turn to God. In light of this, as Christians, we can follow Nehemiah’s example:
1. We need to grieve for our nation. Our hearts ought to break over the decisions that our leaders and justices are making and the direction our country is headed. Our hearts ought to break over the blatant sin that is rampant in our society.
2. We can fast before God on behalf of our nation. We can go without some meals and use that time to draw near to God and seek His face. The psalmist Asaph wrote, “In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord…” (Psalm 77:2).
3. We must pray to God for our nation. We need to acknowledge His greatness and faithfulness. We need to confess our sins and the sins of our nation. We need to plead for God’s mercy. We need to pray for our fellow citizens to come to the realization of the truth found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to pray for our leaders. Paul gave this instruction: First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way (1 Timothy 2:1-2). We also need to ask God to raise up godly leaders.
God is the only hope for a nation in crisis. Realizing that, we need to respond to our nation’s crisis as Nehemiah did: grieving, fasting, and praying.
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