21 And it cometh to pass, in the month of Nisan, the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, wine 'is' before him, and I lift up the wine, and give to the king, and I had not been sad before him; 2 and the king saith to me, 'Wherefore 'is' thy face sad, and thou not sick? this is nothing except sadness of heart;' and I fear very much, 3 and say to the king, 'Let the king to the age live! wherefore should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of the graves of my fathers, 'is' a waste, and its gates have been consumed with fire?' 4 And the king saith to me, 'For what art thou seeking?' and I pray unto the God of the heavens, 5 and say to the king, 'If to the king 'it be' good, and if thy servant be pleasing before thee, that thou send me unto Judah, unto the city of the graves of my fathers, and I built it.' 6 And the king saith to me (and the queen is sitting near him), 'How long is thy journey? and when dost thou return?' and it is good before the king, and he sendeth me away, and I set to him a time. 7 And I say to the king, 'If to the king 'it be' good, letters let be given to me for the governors beyond the River, that they let me pass over till that I come in unto Judah: 8 and a letter unto Asaph, keeper of the paradise that the king hath, that he give to me trees for beams 'for' the gates of the palace that the house hath, and for the wall of the city, and for the house into which I enter;' and the king giveth to me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.
9 And I come in unto the governors beyond the River, and give to them the letters of the king; and the king sendeth with me heads of a force, and horsemen;
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Nehemiah 2:1-9
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.
Commentary on Nehemiah 2:9-18
(Read Nehemiah 2:9-18)
When Nehemiah had considered the matter, he told the Jews that God had put it into his heart to build the wall of Jerusalem. He does not undertake to do it without them. By stirring up ourselves and one another to that which is good, we strengthen ourselves and one another for it. We are weak in our duty, when we are cold and careless.