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More Nehemiah commentaries
Nehemiah 1:1-11
Nehemiah prays for his people
Nehemiah 2:1-8
Nehemiah was fearful of what others may think
Nehemiah 2:9-20
Nehemiah determines to rebuild the wall
Nehemiah 3:1-14
Delegation of the work load
Nehemiah 3:15-32
Helping everyone to feel a part of the objective
Nehemiah 4:1-6
Ridicule and Criticism comes to Nehemiah
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Nehemiah prays for his people
Nehemiah 1:1–11
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
During our seminary days, my wife and I had a dear lady in our home church by the name of Aunt Mae. She was in touch with us regularly to ask us what our needs were. And she would say, “Now you’re accountable to me. I’m praying for you. And I need to know how you’re doing.&q … More
As chapter one begins we are told that Nehemiah is in Shusan serving in the winter palace of Artaxerxes the king (v. 1). The brother of Nehemiah came to visit him and told of the difficulties the people who had returned with Jerubbabel and Ezra were having in Jerusalem. Nehemiah was greatly concerned because Jerusalem was blessed with God’s special presence in the temple. He loved his homeland even though he had lived his whole life in Babylon.
Nehemiah lived at ease and in honor in the palace but he could not shake off the thoughts of his brethren in distress (vv 2-4). He broke down and wept when he heard that Jerusalem’s walls still had not been rebuilt. After his initial grief, he prayed, pouring his heart out to God, and then he looked for ways to improve the situation (vv. 5-11).
In verses 5-11 we have Nehemiah’s prayer. We may observe in this prayer:
Application
Just as Nehemiah used his place as the King’s trusted servant to pray for his people, I can use my present position to pray to God.
Nehemiah 1:1-11 (English Standard Version)
The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the capital, that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, "The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire." As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said, "O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.' They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." Now I was cupbearer to the king.
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