SPIRITUAL GEMS: Week of July 24 to 30, 2023, Nehemiah 1 to 2, Answers.

SPIRITUAL GEMS: July 24-30-2023, Nehemiah 1 to 2, Answers.

Spiritual Gems (10 min.)

Ne 2:4. Was this prayer a desperate act at the last moment, and what does this teach us? (w86 2/15 25).

It was not a desperate act, since for a long time Nehemiah had been praying "Day and night" over the City of Jerusalem. It was not something that he left to chance or into oblivion or later, as the context shows that he had been praying for a long time, even fasting day and night about the situation of the City of Jerusalem and his countrymen. This teaches us that when we are facing weighty situations, we must persevere, which is to persevere, it is to insist, not stop praying and work in harmony with Jehovah's guidance and take advantage of all the help that we have around us or within our reach to fulfill our assignment or resolve the situation in question.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Although Nehemiah's prayer was short and quick, it was not a sudden prayer due to his desperation. Since he had been praying on this matter day and night for some time as shown in Nehemiah 1:4-6. This teaches me that Nehemiah sought Jehovah's direction and that we, too, when faced with weighty decisions, must persevere in prayer and act in harmony with Jehovah's guidance.

Here we see that Nehemiah, when conversing with the king and presenting him with the opportunity to obtain a favorable response, wanted to have Jehovah's help and wise words in his mouth when making the request. Nowadays, there are also times when we have to decide quickly on some matter. This is where this example teaches us that immediacy is not an excuse for not taking Jehovah into account and seeking his guidance and direction when facing weighty decisions.

The text of Nehemiah 24 shows that it was not a desperate act at the last moment, but the result of an attitude of constant communication with God. And we say this because for a period of time, Nehemiah had been praying persistently for the plight of Jerusalem and the rebuilding of its walls.

The lesson we can learn from this is the importance of seeking Jehovah's guidance through prayer, especially at crucial moments in our lives or when facing weighty decisions. Nehemiah shows us the value of perseverance in prayer and how we can maintain a constant connection with God, expressing our concerns, requests, desires, and seeking his guidance and will.

Today we face challenges and decisions that can have a significant impact on our lives and the lives of others. Like Nehemiah, we must seek Jehovah's direction in prayer, listening to his voice through his word, meetings or the advice of mature brothers.

What spiritual pearls have you found about Jehovah, the ministry, and other topics in this week's Bible reading?

Nehemiah 1:1. The name Nehemiah means: "Jehovah comforts", without a doubt, Nehemiah acted according to his name, he had a mission, a purpose to encourage, lead spiritual matters, he allowed himself to be used by Jehovah, which is undoubtedly a good example for each of us.

Nehemiah 2:19. This text tells us that in our ministry many people will try to impede our preaching and make fun of us. But we must be determined not to give in to this system, rather we must continue to defend our teaching and bring the Good News despite the opposition.

Nehemiah 2:18. This text tells us that we must have the determination to be willing to cooperate in any field of construction, whether in the assembly hall or Kingdom Halls.

Nehemiah 1:10. This text shows us the great honor that all of us who are part of God's people have, we are privileged because Jehovah is our great God And that is the greatest guarantee we have.

Nehemiah 1:7. This text shows us the consequences of ignoring Jehovah's regulations, so that we must try at all times to remain alert so as not to disobey Jehovah and his just laws.

Nehemiah 1:5. This verse shows us that Jehovah is a God of trustworthy promises, that what he proposes he fulfills. He did it with the restoration of Jerusalem in the past and will soon fulfill his promise to make all things new.

Nehemiah 1:4. This text motivates us to address Jehovah at all times through prayer, when we have problems we can be sure that Jehovah will hear our prayers.

Nehemiah 1:3. In this reading we note that the condition that the people of God had was humiliating, but even so Jehovah would fulfill his purpose in these circumstances, he used the faithful and zealous to carry out his divine will. This motivates us to have the same determination as Nehemiah to achieve zeal to continue bringing the good news.

Nehemiah 2:18. Nehemiah shares how God has been with him and blessed him in his mission. When we share our experiences of how God has blessed us in serving him in our lives, it can be a source of inspiration and encouragement to others by strengthening their faith and trust in God.

Nehemiah 2:18. This same text in another application leaves us a great lesson for the brothers who take the lead in the congregation. Since Nehemiah was not alone in his work, he motivated and encouraged others to join him. In the Christian life, working as a team and fostering unity among brothers is essential to achieve great things and overcome many obstacles.

Nehemiah 2:4. Nehemiah shows us an example of how to recognize our dependence on God at all times, even in important and difficult situations. Prayer is a way of showing that we trust God and that we seek his direction and support in all that we do.

Nehemiah 2:4. This text in another application demonstrates that when faced with momentous decisions, such as defending our faith in court or facing significant challenges, Prayer helps us to seek Divine wisdom and guidance. It is a way of asking God to enlighten us in our actions and help us make fair and correct decisions.

Nehemiah 1:9. This text also reveals that Jehovah is a God who forgives and shows mercy to those who sincerely repent of his mistakes. No matter how serious the sins may be, God is willing to forgive those who turn to him with repentant hearts. 

Nehemiah 1:6. In this text we also see that nehemiah not only prays for himself, but also intercedes on behalf of his people, the Israelites. This text teaches us that we must be willing to pray for our brothers and sisters in times of difficulty, asking God to strengthen us and help us in their struggles.

Nehemiah 1:9. This text highlights the forgiving nature of Jehovah. In this passage, God promises that if his people repent of his sins, return to him, and obey his commandments, he will forgive him and gather us together again, even if they have been scattered throughout the earth. This promise reflects the merciful and compassionate character of God.

Nehemiah 1:6. We can also give this text another application. For example: this text teaches us to identify how important it is to be persistent in our prayers, even when the answers are not immediate. Reason why God calls us to persevere in prayer and trust in his wisdom and perfect timing.

Nehemiah 1:9. We can apply this text in another field. For example: In the text we see that the promise of forgiveness is conditional on genuine repentance and obedience to God's commandments. This teaches us the importance of acknowledging our sins and confessing, we must also change our behavior and live in accordance with God's will. 

Nehemiah 1:6. Nehemiah shows an example of how he addresses God in prayer and leaves us a great lesson, he constantly prayed day and night, on behalf of his people. That is why we should not miss out on this privilege that Jehovah has given us, since prayer is a powerful way to communicate with God and express our concerns, requests and confessions.

Nehemiah 1:4. The text shows how Nehemiah is deeply affected by the plight of his people. If Nehemiah, as an imperfect human being, felt that for Jehovah's people, how much more so does Jehovah feel sadness when he sees his servants go through calamities and difficulties.

Nehemiah 2:2-4. This text also teaches us that something that can help us give a good answer if we are asked about our beliefs unexpectedly is to pray to Jehovah to put wise words in our mouths and the courage to answer correctly.

Nehemiah 2:2-4. It shows that Nehemiah prayed to Jehovah before giving the king an answer. This teaches me that before answering important or compromising questions and before making decisions we should pray to Jehovah and not later, when we are already suffering the consequences for our hasty way of acting. 

Nehemiah 2:18. It shows how Nehemiah wisely uses his words to encourage and strengthen the people to rebuild Jerusalem. This teaches me that our words have a lot of power. Hence, we must always use our words in a positive, encouraging and uplifting way and not only in order to strengthen the brothers, but also to contribute to Jehovah's purpose.

Nehemiah 2:18. We also see that Nehemiah and the Jews encouraged each other to do the good work of rebuilding. Similarly, we must be a source of support and encouragement to our brothers and sisters in the faith, especially when they face challenges or difficult times.

Nehemiah 1:9. It shows that Jehovah with his great power gathered the scattered again in the place he had chosen for them. This teaches me that in the same way when the time comes, Jehovah will gather all his servants scattered throughout the world and repair all the damage we have suffered, so that we can finally enjoy the fulfillment of his promises in the new world.

Nehemiah 2:1:8. It shows how King Artaxerxes granted Nehemiah permission to return to Jerusalem in order to rebuild the city walls and gates. This teaches me that Jehovah will always do what he has to do in order to fulfill his purposes. Even using people who do not adore him, authorities, rulers and other people of power.

Nehemiah 2:7. It shows how Nehemiah made a silent prayer to Jehovah and gathered courage to ask the king to send him to rebuild Jerusalem. This teaches me that when we face situations where we have to stand up for our beliefs and stand firm on certain issues, just like Nehemiah, we must pray to Jehovah, be courageous, and absolutely trust that Jehovah is behind us.

Nehemiah 2:4-8. He shows that Nehemiah prayed for Jehovah to shape the king's decision. It also shows how Jehovah answers prayer and how Nehemiah credits Jehovah for the King's favorable response. This teaches me that I should not only take time to pray, but also to see how Jehovah answers my prayers and to thank him for the favors granted.

Nehemiah 2:4. He shows that at the King's question, Nehemiah instantly prayed Jehovah since the king expected an immediate answer. This teaches me that for a prayer to be meaningful and come from the heart, it doesn't always have to be long or very thoughtful. Jehovah also hears and answers prayers that, under certain conditions or circumstances, do not arise quickly. We know this because Jehovah answered Nehemiah's prayer immediately. Of course, on these rare occasions, the right thing to do is to spend enough time in prayer.

Nehemiah 2:1-6. He shows that with the arrival of Nehemiah in Jerusalem to restore and build the city, the period of 70 weeks that would mark the arrival of the promised messiah came into effect. This teaches me that although sometimes it seems that Jehovah does not answer prayers or that he is slow to fulfill his promises, this is not the case. Rather, Jehovah has everything under his control so that his word may be fulfilled at the proper time and according to his purposes. From there, that we all have patience.

Nehemiah 2:1-8. It teaches us that like Nehemiah, we should pray to Jehovah for help and guidance regarding our problems, things of interest to us, or matters that concern us. He also teaches us that we must trust that he will hear and answer us as long as we are obedient and our prayers are in accordance with his purpose.

Nehemiah 1:8-10. We can also give this text another application, since we see that Jehovah, instead of being bothered by what Nehemiah told him, if not quite the opposite, Jehovah listened to him and later it is shown how he responds. This teaches me that it is not wrong to ask Jehovah in prayer to remember his Kingdom promises, because this is only showing that we trust them and look forward to his future fulfillment.

Nehemiah 1:4. It shows that Nehemiah sat down, wept, and mourned for days of fasting and prayer, showing that his reaction went beyond immediate emotion. Sometimes we also worry when bad things happen to our godbrothers, but that worry passes quickly and we leave them alone to deal with their problems. This example of Nehemiah teaches me that in these situations, we should not stop looking out for our brothers or stop supporting them, until their problems are resolved.

Nehemiah 1:4. This text also shows that upon learning of the situation of the Israelites and Jerusalem, Nehemiah felt bad to tears, but he did not complain or deny Jehovah. Rather, he did what he knew he should do when you have a problem. He sought Jehovah in prayer and cast off his burden trusting in his help.

Nehemiah 1:8-10. He shows how Nehemiah in his prayer to Jehovah tells him to please remember what he said to his servant Moses. With this, he asks her to remember his promises and keep them. Then to quote from Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 30. Which shows that Jehovah has an infinite and perfect memory. And besides, he doesn't need anyone to remind him of anything, but in this case, Nehemiah was showing faith and trust in divine promises and their fulfillment. This teaches me that it is not wrong to include these types of requests in our prayers.

Nehemiah 1:3-4. He shows that when Nehemiah found out that those who survived the captivity were in a humiliating situation because the walls of Jerusalem were destroyed and its gates burned, for this reason he began to cry. This is not surprising, because in ancient times a city without walls was prey to many dangers. This teaches me that just as Nehemiah was moved to tears, he must also show compassion when a brother suffers a calamity and this compassion must motivate us to act on his behalf.

Nehemiah 1:1-3. He shows that although Nehemiah lives in the Palace of the King of Persia his heart and interest were in Jerusalem. He wanted to know about those who had returned and the situation in the city because his heart was on the things of Jehovah. This teaches me that I should also worry about the brothers who suffer calamities in other countries, no matter how far away we are and we don't know each other personally, since what unites us is the love we feel for Jehovah.

Nehemiah 1:6. He shows that Nehemiah confesses his own sins and the sins of the people before Jehovah. He acknowledges that they have disobeyed his commandments and that they have been unfaithful. This teaches me and encourages me to acknowledge my sins and mistakes before Jehovah to seek his forgiveness and his mercy.

Nehemiah 1:1-7. It shows Nehemiah's concern for the welfare of others. He was concerned about the people of Israel and the state of Jerusalem. This attitude teaches me to be attentive to the needs of others and to respond with compassion, but also to act to help.

Nehemiah 1:6 . It shows how Nehemiah asks Jehovah to hear his prayer. In it he confesses the sins that the people of Israel have committed. This verse teaches me the importance of prayer and recognizing our dependence on Jehovah in every circumstance of our lives.

Nehemiah 1:4. Sometimes we go through difficult situations and moments or important decisions, or perhaps it is happening to someone in our family, or brothers in faith, when this happens we must persevere in prayer and follow the theocratic direction that Jehovah gives us through his organization.

Nehemiah 1:4. Sometimes we go through difficult situations and moments or important decisions, or perhaps it is happening to someone in our family, or brothers in faith, when this happens we must persevere in prayer and follow the theocratic direction that Jehovah gives us through his organization.

Nehemiah 1:6,7. We can perceive the humility of heart with which Nehemiah prayed to God, he really was a spiritual man who recognized his faults, instead of justifying himself, we see that he recognized and was making an effort. No doubt Nehemiah is a good role model.

Nehemiah 1:11. Nehemiah was the king's cupbearer, the person who did this job was not a simple servant. In fact, the cupbearer was a high-ranking official. The cupbearer had to be a man whom the monarch trusted completely, since before the wine was served to the king, he had to taste it to check that he was not poisoned. Undoubtedly, Artaxerxes valued his cupbearer highly and did not want to do without his services for long.

Nehemiah 1:11. This text also teaches us that Jehovah answers the sincere prayers of his servants.

Nehemiah 1:11. We can also see that what brought Nehemiah the most joy was not his prestige or position as cupbearer to the King, but promoting pure worship. Which helps us to meditate on what should be the Worship of Jehovah, our main objective of interest and reason for joy.

Nehemiah 1:11. We also see that Nehemiah asked Jehovah to make the day go well for him, this teaches us how important it is to start the day praying, and encourages us that before leaving home we must pray and entrust ourselves to Jehovah so that everything goes well.

Nehemiah 2:2. It teaches us about being observant, the countenance, the eyes of people can reveal how they are, but we will only know if we learn to be observant, this can help us to encourage those who are sad or discouraged in the congregation.

Nehemiah 2:4. It teaches us that sometimes Jehovah answers our prayers immediately, since the king expected an immediate answer, Nehemiah could not spend much time in that prayer. But we can be sure that the prayer was meaningful and came from the heart, because Jehovah answered it immediately.

Nehemiah 2:4-8. Jehovah caused Artaxerxes to grant permission to Nehemiah to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the wall. This does not Remember what Proverbs 21 says: 1 the heart of a king is like streams of water in the hand of Jehovah to wherever he wants God to delight in doing it, he turns it.

Nehemiah 2:10. It teaches us about being persevering and not allowing anything or anyone to prevent us from carrying out our assignment, despite the fact that Nehemiah went in good faith to help, there were those who were upset, they did not welcome him. This teaches us that sometimes we will find people who will treat us like this, perhaps out of envy, jealousy, but Nehemiah went with a purpose and so we must do too.

Nehemiah 2:12-19. Sometimes it is better to keep silent, be discreet, when commenting on all our plans, since there are people who are envious, or secretly wish evil on others, that is why it is better not to comment on anything and be careful, I no longer know about our plans and they will try to discourage us.