21 And it came about in the month Nisan , in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes , that wine was before him, and I took up the wine and gave it to the king . Now I had not been sad in his presence . 2 So the king said to me, "Why is your face sad though you are not sick ? This is nothing but sadness of heart ." Then I was very much afraid . 3 I said to the king , " Let the king live forever . Why should my face not be sad when the city , the place of my fathers' tombs , lies desolate and its gates have been consumed by fire ?" 4 Then the king said to me, "What would you request ?" So I prayed to the God of heaven . 5 I said to the king , "If it please the king , and if your servant has found favor before you, send me to Judah , to the city of my fathers' tombs , that I may rebuild it." 6 Then the king said to me, the queen sitting beside him, "How long e will your journey be, and when will you return ?" So it pleased the king to send me, and I gave him a definite time . 7 And I said to the king , "If it please the king , let letters be given me for the governors of the provinces beyond the River , that they may allow me to pass through until e I come to Judah , 8 and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest , that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress which is by the temple , for the wall of the city and for the house to which I will go ." And the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God was on me.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Nehemiah 2:1-8
Commentary on Nehemiah 2:1-8
(Read Nehemiah 2:1-8)
Our prayers must be seconded with serious endeavours, else we mock God. We are not limited to certain moments in our addresses to the King of kings, but have liberty to go to him at all times; approaches to the throne of grace are never out of season. But the sense of God's displeasure and the afflictions of his people, are causes of sorrow to the children of God, under which no earthly delights can comfort. The king encouraged Nehemiah to tell his mind. This gave him boldness to speak; much more may the invitation Christ has given us to pray, and the promise that we shall speed, encourage us to come boldly to the throne of grace. Nehemiah prayed to the God of heaven, as infinitely above even this mighty monarch. He lifted up his heart to that God who understands the language of the heart. Nor should we ever engage in any pursuit in which it would be wrong for us thus to seek and expect the Divine direction, assistance, and blessing. There was an immediate answer to his prayer; for the seed of Jacob never sought the God of Jacob in vain.