1 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 citadel, 2 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. 3 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.”
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. 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, 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. 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. 8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 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.’ 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 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.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
It was somewhere between mid-November and mid-December, 444 BC in Susa, the capital city of the Persian Empire, the site of king Artaxerxes Longimanus’ winter palace. Nehemiah was the king’s cupbearer. Nehemiah was a Jew who had chosen to remain in prominent service of the king even though the Jews had been allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city. Nehemiah’s brother, Hanani, brought men from Judah who gave a report about the shocking state of the city of Jerusalem. Nehemiah would have known that the city’s walls had been destroyed and the gates burned back in 586 BC, but the Jews who had returned had been there for almost ten years, so perhaps he had thought that some progress would have been made in its restoration. But the city was lying exposed and in trouble and no progress was being made on its restoration.
Nehemiah was so distraught about the news that he mourned, fasted, and prayed for days. His prayer is a beautiful example of intercessory prayer. He prayed for his country. He prayed for the sins of his fellow countrymen, including himself, even though he was clearly an upright and faithful follower of God. He reminded God that even though He had promised to send Israel into exile if they disobeyed Him, He had also promised that if they humbled themselves before Him, He would bring them back from wherever they had scattered to the promised land. Nehemiah didn’t just pray, he decided to do something about it.
As you look at your generation, your city, your school, your area, your peers, your world, are you burdened? Are you concerned enough by the godlessness that has become so pervasive that it drives you to prayer? Are you so concerned that you are willing to stand up and do something about it? God in His sovereignty has always chosen to do His work through ordinary people. God will work through you if you are willing to step up and commit to doing whatever it is He would have you do. It all begins with prayer. What will you pray today?