Nehemiah 1:1-11
Today we start a 3 week journey through the Book of Nehemiah. We'll also be starting a 3 week series on Back to the Bible on Monday called Nehemiah: Effective Leadership for the 21st Century. So plan to join Dr. Kroll and me on Monday because there's a lot to learn from Nehemiah.
Nehemiah 1 introduces us to the man Nehemiah, a Jew living in captivity with the job of cupbearer to the king. As we start out, Nehemiah has just received disturbing news about the Jews who remained in Jerusalem and the run down condition of the city. Nehemiah's heart is heavy, so he does the only thing he is able to do at this point--he prays. And what a tender, sincere prayer it is.
So what did you see in Nehemiah's prayer that you might put into practice with your own prayers? Was there a particular action by Nehemiah or an element of his prayer that caught your attention today? Tami W.
When we humble ourselves and confess our sin as Nehemiah and recognize God is Almighty, we can rest our heavy heart and be assured that God hears our prayer and is mindful of our desire to return to Him. He knows the immediate important needs that only He can meet. Thank you God for convicting me of sin and helping me, through time with YOU and wise counsel like BTTB. Accomplish Your Will in our lives.
The part that really spoke to me was vs 9 "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.". Some times I feel like that, like I have been exiled. But it is great to know that if I am willing to humble myself, repent for my sins and obey Him, He will bring me back to the place of honor that He has chosen for me. The repenting I am good at, its the obeying that I need a LOT of help with.
Nehemiah was standing in the gap on behalf of his fellow Israelites. We can do that too for our families, neighborhoods, churches, nation....etc.
While I was reading this, it struck me that God scattered the nation of Israel every time they wandered away from God. That started prior to Jesus opening up the way for all nations and people to be His children. In our day, we have many nations being scattered to other places (like to Canada and the U.S.)due to wars, etc. Could this be the same type of thing - God reminding the nations/ people to turn back to Him?
HI TAMI
A GOD BLESSED SABBATH TO YOU AND THE TEAM.
I SAW SEVERAL THINGS IN NEHEMIAH'S PRAYER THAT I COULD PUT INTO PRACTICE IMMEDIATELY.
(1) NEHEMIAH WEPT AND MOURNED FOR ISRAEL AND ITS PEOPLE LITERALLY CLEANSING HIS HEART SO THAT HE COULD GO BEFORE THE LORD WITH A CLEAN HEART.
(2) HE CONTINUED HIS CLEANSING BY FASTING AND THEN PRAYING UNCEASINGLY.
(3) IN COMMENCING HIS PRAYER HE ACKNOWLEDGED GOD'S MIGHT, POWER AND LOVE FOR ISRAEL.
(4) HE CONFESSED HIS SINS, THE SINS OF HIS FATHER'S HOUSE AND ISRAEL.
(5) HE REMINDED GOD OF HIS PROMISE TO MOSES THAT HE WOULD "SCATTER THE UNFAITHFUL BUT GATHER THOSE WHO KEPT HIS COMMANDS AND DID THEM".
THE ASPECT OF NEHEMIAH'S PRAYER THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION WAS HIS CRYING AND MOURNING WHICH CAME FROM A BROKEN HEART AND HIS CONFESSION OF SINS. THESE THINGS OCCURRED ALTHOUGH THEY DID NOT RELATE TO NEHEMIAH'S DIRECT CIRCUMSTANCES BUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF ISRAEL AND ITS PEOPLE.
COULD WE BE SO BROKEN AND REMORSEFUL FOR OUR FELLOWMEN? CAN WE PRAY THE PRAYER OF NEHEMIAH?
REGARDS IN CHRIST
CECIL
I think we have a lot to learn from Nehemiah's prayer in that Nehemiah might not have sinned against God but He went down on his knees praying not only for the sins of his people but for his sins and the sins of his family. He was humbling himself to God. We must be humble when we pray even if we do not know of any known sin we have committed. When others around us sin it affects us also. We are all God's children and we must lift each other up in prayer. Yes it is good to pray for ourselves, our family and friends but we must also pray for our neighbours and for the people of other nations - people we do not know. Our Father has been awesome to us and we must share the good news. If we keep it to ourselves it stays there but when we share with others they too will want to serve Him. Our God must be praised daily, every moment because there is no other like Him.
Nehemiah saw his and God's peoples sin and he confessed them. He was willing to kneal before God and ask forgiveness and guideance. We all need to do the same. As a young Christian I thought oh my I am not suppose to sin even unintentionaly. But as I grow I see it is human nature and knealing before God as Nehemiah did and seeking His will for me and even others is a privilege of all Christians. Blessings!
I was struck by how utterly distraught Nehemiah was when he heard of the devastation of Jerusalem. So completely overcome with emotion. Not only that, but his piety and complete devotion to God; he submits to God and confesses the sins of his family and those of the Jewish people in exile as well. Just so inspiring, his total devotion and humility to God. What an incredible example for us to follow.