Nehemiah Chapter 1

These are the memoirs of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In late autumn, in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was at the fortress of Susa. 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. (Nehemiah 1:1-2 NLT)

These are the "memoirs"of Nehemiah. As I stated in the last blog, the book of Nehemiah is really his diary, or as the New Living Translation puts it, his memoirs. He is literally recording the step by step process he took (or God took) in restoring Jerusalem. Nehemiah was serving the Persian King Artaxerxes and living as an exile in the Persian capital of Susa. After getting a visit from his brother, Nehemiah inquired about his homeland, Jerusalem.

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.” When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. (Nehemiah 1:3-4 NLT)

The walls represented the strength and peace of Jerusalem. They were broken down and the gates were burned. Nehemiah was deeply troubled by this news. The Word tells us he wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed for Jerusalem. I find it interesting that he didn't do what most of us would have done and go into fits of rage and lash out. He didn't "shoot the messenger" so to speak. He went to the Father with his grief.

Then I said, “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses. “Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’ “The people you rescued by your great power and strong hand are your servants. O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.” In those days I was the king’s cup-bearer. (Nehemiah 1:5-11 NLT)

Within his prayer, Nehemiah first praised God. Next, he confessed sin that he and his family committed (better known as repentance). He removed any possible barrier between him and God. When we choose not to repent of sin, that will act as a barrier to our prayers reaching the Father. Last, Nehemiah made a specific request to God, "use me" (my paraphrase). Nehemiah was the King's cup-bearer. Therefore, he had a unique relationship with the King.

We can learn a lot from the prayer of Nehemiah. He poured himself out to God. Is there something in your life you need to cry out to God for? Nehemiah gives us a model, praise, repent, and make a request. It is great to know we have a loving Father who will embrace us in our time of need.