Nehemiah 1:11 KJV
O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.
For I was the king's cupbearer.
I am always struck by this sentence because it seems to come out of nowhere. But it is filled with meaning.
That a Jew had become the king's cupbearer is a remarkable thing and demonstrates the favor they God gave them - though a captured people - God placed many of them in places where their influence was sure to be felt.
Being a cupbearer was a lowly task
But the lowliest of tasks becomes significant if it is performed for the right audience. Can you imagine, for instance, having the duty of emptying the trash in the Whitehouse? The housekeeper in such a place is a pretty prominent job.
The cupbearer's task was a place of connection
He rubbed shoulders with the king and queen daily and very likely several times a day. He met leaders from around the state and probably around the known world of his day.
Being the cupbearer was a place of opportunity
It afforded him the chance to make such a request for Jerusalem. Nehemiah, the king's cupbearer not only led in the repair of the wall, but became the governor of Jerusalem.
O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.
For I was the king's cupbearer.
I am always struck by this sentence because it seems to come out of nowhere. But it is filled with meaning.
That a Jew had become the king's cupbearer is a remarkable thing and demonstrates the favor they God gave them - though a captured people - God placed many of them in places where their influence was sure to be felt.
Being a cupbearer was a lowly task
But the lowliest of tasks becomes significant if it is performed for the right audience. Can you imagine, for instance, having the duty of emptying the trash in the Whitehouse? The housekeeper in such a place is a pretty prominent job.
The cupbearer's task was a place of connection
He rubbed shoulders with the king and queen daily and very likely several times a day. He met leaders from around the state and probably around the known world of his day.
Being the cupbearer was a place of opportunity
It afforded him the chance to make such a request for Jerusalem. Nehemiah, the king's cupbearer not only led in the repair of the wall, but became the governor of Jerusalem.
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