Nehemiah is a historical book and by this point in Israel’s history two prior waves had returned — Zerubabbel led one to rebuild the temple and Ezra led another to reteach the people. Nehemiah records for us the return of the third wave.
What comes out of this man when he hears troubling news?
(A) Feeling our prayers (Neh 1:4)
We read of how Nehemiah received a troubling report from Jerusalem — Jerusalem and its walls are in ruin (Neh 1:3). This caused him great grief and distress. Perhaps he even knew some of those that had gone back! The people that had returned faced challenges and the progress of rebuilding God’s city was not moving along as they had originally imagined or planned.
What is the significance of a wallless city? It poses a physical danger, exposing them to enemies and animals. This city is defenceless, at the mercy of the nations around them. At the same time, there is also a sense of spiritual poverty and shame. Was God with them? Had God abandoned them? The ruins reminded them of a broken relationship with their God and not right.
What is the extent of Nehemiah’s grief (Neh 1:4)? Nehemiah was consumed by it and it was not a passing sadness. He had a single-minded focus and sat down, wept and mourned for days. He did not just move on quickly with his life but also continued fasting and praying before God. In fasting, he chose to forsake food and drink and devote that time to prayer.
Nehemiah had a job too but did not bury himself in his work. He identified himself as one of God’s people who is affected by the city in ruins.
Nehemiah was also a cupbearer to the king (Neh 1:11c). It is a high risk job, as he would have been the first person to be affected if someone chose to poison the king. It also offers him close proximity to the king, but also subjects him to close scrutiny. But note how he is not a prophet and priest, yet he had a deep desire for God’s people to be in His land.
Nehemiah had plenty to worry about at work. In our jobs, are we consumed by the complexity, stresses, our own ambitions, to the point that we have little care for the growth of the gospel? Yes, we are called to honour our employers and be witnesses to the gospel, but are we consumed by our jobs to the point that we have no room to care for God’s people and the glory of His name? This is not just for those who work in the church, but it is really for all of us!
Do we pour out our cares to God with its full range of expression? We feel our prayers because we are deeply moved. Psalm 62:8 calls us to pour out our hearts!
(B Confessing our sin (Neh 1:5-7)
Nehemiah prays to God and appeals to God’s character. God is “the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love” (Neh 1:6). This is similar to what Moses said in Deuteronomy 7:9. In Deuteronomy, Moses is preparing God’s people before they enter the land and he repeats the law to them again. Nehemiah appeals to God’s covenant-keeping nature based on His own word.
Nehemiah knew God’s word! Though in exile, he knew God’s law and also God’s consistent character. He knew that this is the same God that his forefathers covenanted with. God did not choose them because they were great, but it was wholly God’s choice and pleasure.
But, in Jeremiah 30:3, the prophet speaks of a day when God will bring them back to the land He gave. Nehemiah knows of the prophecy and how it is being partially fulfilled when the people return. Note that God has also swayed the heart of the Persian king and allowed the people to return. Yet, in reality, it is not coming true. There is a tension here between what is being experienced and what is being promised.
Thus, Nehemiah comes to the conclusion that the people are in this state because they have sinned.
In his prayer in Nehemiah 1:6, we see Nehemiah’s understanding of God. God is not a distant being but is personal. Though he does not actually have eyes and ears, Nehemiah knows that God is all-knowing, all-seeing, all-hearing and willing to hear his prayer. It is informed by Psalm 116:1-2! Nehemiah sees God as personal God, receptive and willing to hear our prayers. God desires for us to relate to Him and pour out our soul to Him.
How does Nehemiah address himself and Israel in relation to God (Neh 1:6b)? Nehemiah admits that they are servants. God is their true master and they owe Him their lives. They are ultimately answerable to Him! How he sees God and himself are important foundations of confession! We will not confess to a God who is not our master.
In his prayer, Nehemiah confesses that the offenders are the people and himself (Neh 1:6b) — both corporate and personal. These are against God! The people have transgressed against God by living corruptly and immorally against God. An example is in Ezra 9, where the people of God that have returned have intermarried with the other nations of different faiths. God desired for their wholehearted devotion and obedience and by intermarrying, they would be tempted to follow other gods. Nehemiah knew that sin was against God and he began his prayer by confessing sins.
He also confessed how they have not kept the commandments (10 Commandments), statutes (civil law) and the rules (guidelines for conduct) that God had commanded Moses (Neh 1:7). In Deuteronomy 4:5-9, we see it state clearly what they are to obey. They were told to also make these known to their children and children’s children — meant to be taught and adhered from one generation to the next.
Deuteronomy 4:6-8 also tells us what is at stake. The nations are meant to marvel at God’s rules and then ultimately, God. They are meant to display God’s glory and wisdom and by not obeying, they miss out this chance to do so, to be a blessing to the nations around them. God’s presence is also no longer among them as a result.
When we confess our sins, we also confess the glory that we have robbed from God when we are not a people that we should be. God is not a tyrannical God! As Psalm 51:17 tells us, He desires a broken and contrite heart and will not despise that. Psalm 51:18-19 goes on to show how restoration with God involves the building of the walls of Jerusalem so that God’s people can return to worship Him again.
Confession of sin is the first step in the restoration of a right relationship with God and therefore a flourishing city.
Do we see how our personal sins have an impact also on God’s people
(C) Interceding for restoration (Neh 1:8-11)
Next, Nehemiah makes his appeal and moves from confession to petition. He uses the word “remember” (Neh 1:8). Now, God does not forget, so why does he use it? In a way, it activates the promises of God for His people. Here, Nehemiah calls to mind the promise that God will gather those He has scattered to the uttermost parts of heaven if they return to Him to be with Him (Neh 1:8-9). He promises His holy presence with His people in His place under His rule. This is when all things are made right.
Nehemiah also recalls how God’s people know Him as one who redeems by His great power and by His strong hand (Neh 1:10). This is what He has done in the past and He can do the same now. He will not forsake them
How should this shape our prayers? Nehemiah is praying God’s promises back to Him and asking that He will fulfil what He has promised. May we also know God’s word and our hearts be moved to desire God’s promised outcomes. We need to know what God has promised and also see that it is good. In doing so Nehemiah also desires that God be glorified through His people.
Nehemiah also intercedes and prays on behalf of God’s people, though he is not a prophet. Confessing sin and petitioning for a restoration is what he also does for the people. What are we praying about? Is it always about our desires? Do we consider the needs of God’s people around us — the struggling saints, those struggling in sin? Are we concerned that the church be built up and strengthened? Do we desire that the lost around us also come to saving knowledge of Christ? Friends, lay people can also pray prayers on behalf of God’s people.
Only at the end, in Nehemiah 1:11, did Nehemiah ask for a practical thing — for favour and mercy before the king when he asked to return. Nehemiah was willing to risk his life for the good of God’s people.
There is one who not only risked His life, but also gave it up to restore and bring God’s people, scattered to the uttermost, back to God. His restoration is lasting and eternal. Before He died, Jesus prayed an intercession for His people in John 17. In John 17:6-11, we see how Jesus prayed to the Father and ask that He keeps us. This is a great encouragement for Christians even today! This is a glimpse of the prayer that Jesus is offering for us right now.
But if you are not a believer today, this passage calls us to repent from our sins and to turn to Christ.
Nehemiah, in his time of distress, prays a prayer of confession and intercession for himself and for God’s people based on the unchanging nature and promises of God.
How might we pray more earnestly for the needs of the church around us? What about the nature of God in today's text helps you in your personal confession of sin?