Not-So-Secret Agents (A Reflective Entry on Nehemiah 03)

In accounting, we have a theory called "Agency Theory".  This theory is related to the legal term "Agent", which basically means "representative".  In Agency Theory, specifically, you have two parties: a principal and an agent.  The principal grants the agent the right to make decisions and perform actions on their behalf.  Like any other mutual relationship, the fact that you have two human beings with their own mind, will, and emotions, can cause conflicts.  Agency theory sets up guidelines on how to deal with these conflicts.  

It's not hard to see where thinkers in the past came up with this idea.   After all, when we are working with God to make His plans happen, we are agents of Him.  His Word, the Bible, is our guidelines on how to deal with conflict when we want to do something that may not align with His plan.  (See this idea here.)

Where we see an agency in Nehemiah

This week, we learned how God-centered prayer (communication) produces God-centered plans (action), and that God-centered plans succeed. Nehemiah gave us an example in this passage of how he was granted rights to make decisions and start a movement toward rebuilding the walls of his ancestor's city.  God was his principal, and Nehemiah was the agent.  But there is another principal in this story.  Rather, a psudo-principal.  King Artaxerxes played this role.  WorkTalk is an international workplace consulting website that I believe explains this relationship best:  

Don’t miss the symmetry here – every day Nehemiah went to work, the King also trusted his life into his hands – perhaps three times per day. The King had the power of life and death over all his subjects, but Nehemiah held the King’s life in his cup all the time. (WorkTalk)

Wow!  Talk about an agency.  There was a mutual dependence on each other to protect and look out for the well being of each other.  With this relationship, it seems hard to understand how Nehemiah could have any failure with his request.  However, the King was human too, and was subject to emotions and bad decision making just like any one of us. Nehemiah knew this and took time to plan and prepare for the possibility that the King would grant his request.

Sometimes, when an agent is representing a principal, they have to make decisions on how to act without consulting with the principal in real-time.  This is why there is such an emphasis on a good relationship.  This is also the situation Nehemiah found himself in when the King abruptly asks "What do you want?".  He has little time to consult his real Principal (God), and so offers up a quick prayer.  Nehemiah acted with tact and laid out his plans.  Wesley's Explanatory Notes tells us that the fact that the queen was present may have been to Nehemiah's advantage.  According to the commentary, " commonly, the kings of Persia dined alone, and perhaps because the queen expressed some kindness to him, [this] promoted his request."

Trista noted two very important things about the King's relationship with Nehemiah:

• The King may have been more compliant because of the Persian government's way of quickly adopting the customs, religions, and economies of a conquered nation.
• Clean running water wasn't as prevalent as it is today, and probably was not something that the King drank as frequently as we drink water.  This being the case, the King would have needed a pretty constant cup-bearer by his side.  This may not always have been Nehemiah, as a king could have more than one cup-bearer  but it stands to reason that Nehemiah was not just present only at meal times.

Manipulation

Some really good conversation was sparked by the quote that Nehemiah was wise in knowing how to "get the king's sympathy" before he presented his request.  This choice of words almost implies that Nehemiah was manipulative.  The historian Herodotus tells us that the Persians buried their fathers, and thus the appeal to the King was not to be misunderstood as manipulative, but it was personal. 

If I am speaking to a child, I may not effectively teach them about an economy by talking economics.  Rather, I would need to talk to them about addition and subtraction with use of toys or treats.  When communicating, our choice of subject matter depends on the audience, not just on the jargon of the subject.  Nehemiah was speaking on a subject the King understood; not to deceive, but to inform.   The King would understand that a city where Nehemiah's father's were buried was sacred, as this was the Persian custom as well.

Just like any situation we deal with, our words can be manipulative or we can stick to the truth.  Nehemiah showed he was not trying to be manipulative by the very fact that he answered the King honestly.  This sad countenance was punishable by death!  His honesty with the King, and the King's acceptance of Nehemiah as a confidant, not just a servant, showed the great respect the King had for him.  Nehemiah had proven himself through years of service: he demonstrated respect to the King, and the King was being respectful back to Nehemiah. However, the King still had the choice to sentence Nehemiah to death because of his countenance.  I like how this commentary puts it: "Nehemiah understood it was not his place to change the king’s heart. He prayed and left it up to the LORD, instead of dropping hints and trying to manipulate the situation. Then one day, four months later, the king’s heart was different. Are we making the mistake of trying to change someone else’s heart, instead of leaving it up to the LORD to do it?" 

Four months is a short time to pray for something.  Trista reminded us of this truth.  Historically, people would pray for years for an answer before God answered their prayers. Sometimes this is true for us as well. While Nehemiah prayed for only four months, generations before him had been praying for Israel's deliverance.  In the context of King Artaxerxes, four months was a relatively short time for a heart to be changed.  As much as we want to be molded into righteousness, even Christians have a hard time with heart-change.  This is our human condition, and why we are constantly depending on God for His power to change our hearts.

Why the Letters were Important

Nehemiah knew this same King had ordered earlier to not allow Jews back into Jerusalem to rebuild the city.  Ezra 4 (read it HERE - it really helps understand the severity of the situation!) explains this situation to us, and we see in verse 21 where it records the King's command to have the work stopped except at his express command. This is why Nehemiah needed the letters! It wasn't just to let him through the route to get to Jerusalem, it was his proof to any opposition that he was authorized to do the work.  It was his Agent's orders.  

Why the date given was important

Pastor David Guzik shares a neat relationship with the date quoted in Nehemiah and earlier Bible prophecy 

The date is also important, because it establishes the date given to restore Jerusalem and its walls. Daniel 9:25 says that exactly 173,880 days from this day - which was March 14, 445 B.C. - Messiah the prince would be presented to Israel. Sir Robert Anderson, the eminent British astronomer and mathematician, makes a strong case that Jesus fulfilled this prophecy exactly, to the day, entering Jerusalem on April 6, 32 A.D., precisely 173,880 days from Nehemiah 2:1.

The account of Nehemiah in this week's study kept bringing us back to the truth that we are all agents of Christ to see His kingdom established here on earth.  Our work and our efforts are not thwarted  by corrupt leaders or bad economic situations, because even our leaders are set in place by God (Daniel 2:20-23).  On the same note, we serve those in authority out of respect for God (Colossians 3:23). Our attitudes at work, toward our parents, pastors, community or government leaders are all truly our attitudes toward God.  (Gulp)  Yep.  It's a tough pill to swallow, but it's truth.  And truth always fertilizes the soil of our hearts to grow new, incredible things.  

Questions for Reflection

• What decisions have you made in haste that were good ideas, but should have been restrained because the timing was off?
• Nehemiah prayed and prepared fervently for four months.  What thing have you been praying and preparing for - for a long time - that you're still praying and preparing for?  
• Can you recall a time when you made a successful appeal to someone in authority over you? Did you give yourself credit for being persuasive or for making a good case for what you wanted? Did you see God at work in your situation? (From Bible.org)
• What dream have you had in the past that you have literally burned or buried in your heart?  Was it a God-dream? If so, what would it take to resurrect that dream?

Nehemiah Bible Study

If you want to join my friends and I and dive into this FREE Bible study, click here!  You can do it solo or start a group.  The study is posted online each week along with a companion study guide. And if you do decide to jump into the fun, please email me with your thoughts on the lessons.  I hope to hear form you!

Special thanks for the practical application of all the ladies in attendance this week!  You’re stories and thoughts are a blessing!