Nehemiah Prays For His People

Topic: Prayer
Passage: Nehemiah 1:1–11

January 5, 2020

Commentary

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:

  1. His humble and reverent address to God (v. 5) – He expresses how God is “awesome.”
  2. His request for the acceptance of all the prayers and confessions he now makes to God (v. 6) – “Let thine ear now be attentive and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear thy servant.”
  3. The confession of his sin and of the people (v. 6) – “I and my father’s house have sinned.”
  4. He pleads for mercy for the people of Israel (vv 8-9)
  5. He praises God for the great things He has done for them (v. 10)

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 (NET)

1 These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah:

2 Hanani, who was one of my relatives, along with some of the men from Judah, came to me, and I asked them about the Jews who had escaped and had survived the exile, and about Jerusalem.

3 They said to me, “The remnant that remains from the exile there in the province are experiencing considerable adversity and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem lies breached, and its gates have been burned down!”

4 When I heard these things I sat down abruptly, crying and mourning for several days. I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said, “Please, O Lord God of heaven, great and awesome God, who keeps his loving covenant with those who love him and obey his commandments, 6 may your ear be attentive and your eyes be open to hear the prayer of your servant that I am praying to you today throughout both day and night on behalf of your servants the Israelites. I am confessing the sins of the Israelites that we have committed against you—both I myself and my family have sinned. 7 We have behaved corruptly against you, not obeying the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Please recall the word you commanded your servant Moses: ‘If you act unfaithfully, I will scatter you among the nations. 9 But if you repent and obey my commandments and do them, then even if your dispersed people are in the most remote location, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen for my name to reside.’ 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your mighty strength and by your powerful hand. 11 Please, Lord, listen attentively to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who take pleasure in showing respect to your name. Grant your servant success today and show compassion to me in the presence of this man.” Now I was cupbearer for the king.