In the fullness of time ∙∙
But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. – Galatians 4:4
Nehemiah 1:1-3
1 These are the memoirs of Nehemiah. In late autumn, in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was at the fortress of Susa [Persia].
2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem.
3 They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”
4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days, I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.
Over the years, there have been countless absurd claims about the impact of planetary alignments, ranging from causing natural disasters to even suggesting the end of the world. However, it’s important to clarify that such claims are not based on scientific evidence. Planets in our solar system are too far away to significantly affect Earth in the ways that have been suggested.
In the 21st century, stories circulated that the world would end on or about December 21, 2012, due to a supposed planetary alignment. This was merely a rumor, as no such alignment occurred in 2012, and we have a high degree of certainty that the world did not end because we are still here.
The term “planetary alignment” refers to a somewhat rare event when planets appear to line up from our perspective on Earth. When at least two celestial bodies align in the sky, it is called a conjunction. In comparison, a configuration involving three or more celestial bodies aligning is referred to as a syzygy (SIZ-eh-gee).
Syzygy is most commonly associated with solar and lunar eclipses. During a solar eclipse, the moon moves between the Earth and the sun, blocking the sun’s light. Conversely, a lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves between the sun and the moon, creating a shadow on the moon.
In simplistic depictions, planetary orbits are often shown as two-dimensional and roughly concentric around the sun, as commonly illustrated in children’s science books. But in reality, our solar system is a complex, three-dimensional structure with numerous celestial bodies needing to align and function harmoniously.
There are times in human history when the Father enters the space-time continuum to actively set the stage for the realization of His will on Earth. It was so at the first coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatians 4:4 But when the appropriate time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
The Father sent His Son at the perfect moment in history. He prepared and orchestrated events, peoples, and nations for the most significant event in human history. Several non-coincidental factors paved the way.
The Romans established the Pax Romana, a period of relative peace and stability. Koine Greek, spread by Alexander the Great, became the common language of the time and was used to write the New Testament. Jewish scholars translated the Hebrew Old Testament into the Greek Septuagint around 250 BC. People of the Jewish faith established synagogues throughout the known world. Rome built sturdy roads and bridges across the Empire, creating a safe and efficient means of travel. This unprecedented connectivity in the ancient Western world during the first century AD made the rapid spread of the gospel message and the writings of the New Testament possible.
REFLECT & PRAY
God is never in a hurry, but He is always on time!
Father, Your timing is always perfect. Teach me to pray effectively according to Your will and timeline.
INSIGHT
Nehemiah, a prophet after the Babylonian exile, was familiar with the prophecies of Jeremiah and Daniel regarding the first coming of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. In 444 BC, he received distressing news about Jerusalem’s dilapidated condition and its broken walls, which moved him to tears.
Nehemiah 1:4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days, I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.
Nehemiah was a good, righteous, and godly man. He stood with integrity before the Father in heaven and King Artaxerxes of Persia. He knew that God’s plan included rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall, prompting him to pray earnestly. His prayers began in the Hebrew month of Kislev (November/December), and he prayed diligently, according to the will of God.
What happened? Initially, absolutely nothing!
Nehemiah prayed persistently for five months. Eventually, in the month of Nisan (March/April) the following year, the King of Kings moved the heart of King Artaxerxes, and Nehemiah’s prayer was answered.
Nehemiah 2:1-8
1 Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence.
2 So the king asked me, “Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.” Then, I was terrified,
3 but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”
4 The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?” With a prayer to the God of heaven,
5 I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”
6 The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request.
8 . . . And the king granted these requests because the gracious hand of God was on me.
Why did God delay in answering Nehemiah’s prayer?
Effective prayer is always about praying the Father’s will into existence. We pray that His will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven. But His plans unfold within a specific timeframe, which He fixed before the foundation of the earth.
Daniel the prophet had predicted circa 540 BC that a countdown to the first coming of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, would begin when a Persian king issued a decree to rebuild the city of Jerusalem and its wall.
Daniel 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt on March 29, 33 AD, precisely 483 prophetic years or just over 476 modern years after Artaxerxes issued Nehemiah’s decree. This countdown began in Nisan, 444 BC, concluding in Nisan, 33 AD.
Nehemiah’s prayer could not be fulfilled UNTIL the precise time arrived to start the countdown. The Father could not act sooner, as countless details needed perfect alignment. Nehemiah’s delayed answer highlights effective prayer: when we pray according to God’s will, He answers in His time, not ours.
If the Father has called you to pray His will into existence for someone, a family member, or your nation, do not lose hope. The answer will arrive in the fullness of time.
His will be done on earth as it is in heaven!
¯\_(ツ)_/¯12-13-2
© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 