Let Us Pray
A Meditation from Fakhri Yacoub
In Psalm 11:3, David ponders, "When foundations crumble, what can the righteous do?" Yet, he assures us to turn to God, the observer of all, for comfort and strength.
Amidst the distressing news from the Holy Land, we question our position as Christians and how to respond. Nehemiah's reaction to Jerusalem's plight teaches us the power of mourning, fasting, and fervent prayer before God. Moreover, recalling Jesus' extraordinary response amidst enmity between the Jews and Samaritans, we find inspiration. His unique approach challenges us to reconsider our reactions to contemporary conflicts.
Through the lens of Nehemiah and the example of Christ, we seek to discover our stance and discern how best to confront the challenges of our time as followers of Christ.
Nehemiah 1:1–4
1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:
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 had 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. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.