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Nehemiah is caught in the tension of living between two worlds. He needs an answer from God as to how to resolve the dilemma.
1:4 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.
1:5 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,
1:6 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.
1:7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.
1:8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples,
1:9 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.’
1:10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.
1:11 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.
1:5 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,
1:6 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.
1:7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.
1:8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples,
1:9 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.’
1:10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.
1:11 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.
Study Questions
- In 1:4, Nehemiah responds to the news about the exiles in 4 ways. What’s the difference between them? Why would he decide to include all 4?
- What are the main points of the prayer in chapter 1?
- Why do you think Nehemiah addressed God in this particular way? (vs. 5-6)
- Why does Nehemiah describe the people of Israel as he does in vs. 6-7?
- Nehemiah quotes the Old Testament in vs. 8-9. (Lev. 26:33; Deut 30:1-3) Why do you think he quoted these passages?
- Given the content of this prayer, why do you think Nehemiah finishes with the simple request in vs. 10-11?
What traits in Nehemiah’s prayer life (as seen in Chapter 1), would you like to see in your prayer life?
For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.
Next: 03 Nehemiah 2:1-20 How to speak boldly
Previous: 01 Nehemiah 1:1-3 Introduction
Series: Nehemiah: Restoration & Redemption
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