The Cupbearer's Prayer

A servant pours wine for the most powerful king on earth. His hands are steady. But his face gives him away. The king looks up and asks, why are you so sad? And the servant has about one breath to pray.

Nehemiah is a Jew, born in exile, living far from Jerusalem in Susa, one of the royal cities of the Persian empire. He has an important job. He is cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. He serves the king his wine, and he is trusted to stand close to him every day. It is the month of Kislev, in early winter. Some men arrive from Judah, and one of them is Nehemiah's own brother, Hanani. Nehemiah asks them eagerly: how are our people who survived the exile? And how is Jerusalem? The answer breaks his heart. The people there are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.

When Nehemiah hears this, he sits down and weeps. For days he mourns. He fasts and he prays before the God of heaven. And we have his prayer. LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant and his steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commands. Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer your servant is praying, day and night. Then he confesses. We have sinned against you. I and my father's family have sinned. He does not blame others. He includes himself. And then he reminds God of his own promise to Moses. If your people are unfaithful, I will scatter them. But if they return to me, even from the farthest horizon, I will gather them and bring them to the place I have chosen. Lord, he prays, give your servant success today. Grant him mercy in the presence of this man. This man is the king. For I was the king's cupbearer.

Months pass. Kislev turns to the month of Nisan, in spring. Nehemiah has been praying all that time. One day, he brings wine to the king. And for the first time ever, he looks sad in the king's presence. The king notices. Why does your face look sad, when you are not ill? This can only be sadness of heart. Nehemiah writes: I was very much afraid. A servant was supposed to look cheerful before the king. But he answers honestly. May the king live for ever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire? Then the king asks the question Nehemiah has been praying about for months. What is it you want? And Nehemiah writes one short line. So I prayed to the God of heaven.

A silent prayer, in the blink of an eye. Then he speaks. If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favour with you, send me to Judah, to the city where my ancestors are buried, so that I can rebuild it. The queen is sitting beside the king. The king asks: how long will your journey take, and when will you come back? It pleases the king to send him, and Nehemiah sets a time. Then Nehemiah, who has clearly thought this through, asks for more. Letters to the governors beyond the river Euphrates, so they will let him travel safely to Judah. And a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king's forest, so he will give timber for the gates of the fortress by the temple, for the city wall, and for the house where Nehemiah will live. And the king granted my requests, Nehemiah writes, because the good hand of my God was on me.

A royal cupbearer in Persia was no ordinary servant. The Greek historian Herodotus tells of a Persian nobleman named Prexaspes, whose son served as cupbearer to King Cambyses, and he calls it no small honour. The cupbearer stood close to the king every day, was trusted with his life, and could sometimes speak to him when others could not.

The cupbearer's prayer. You'll find this story in Nehemiah chapter one, and chapter two, verses one to eight. Months of praying in secret, one quick prayer at the moment that counted, and a king who said yes. So here is a question to carry with you. What breaks your heart, and have you prayed about it before you act?