Continuing in Nehemiah we see the earnestness of Nehemiah’s Prayer. Nehemiah didn’t just pray once – he prayed for four months I can see elements of ACTS type prayer in what he prays, there is Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication in what he does. Salvationists know about William Booth’s tenet of Knee Drill, to get down on one’s knees and pray with real passion before God. I for one know I need to be doing much more of this type of prayer
Nehemiah 1 vs. 5-11 – Nehemiah’s Prayer
Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love
with those who love him and obey his commands, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open
Nehemiah understood the need to acknowledge his great and awesome God who is in heaven above
He didn’t start his prayer like a shopping list, rather he started with adoration, to God he was open
He knew that God was faithful to those who show themselves faithful, and keeps his covenant of love
with those who love him and obey his commands, he asked, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open
To hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel.
I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you.
From adoration Nehemiah moved to confession Nehemiah knew the sins and failings of the people of Israel
He also was prepared to admit his own failings, Nehemiah knew that before God he needed to be true
And like an arrow that is true to the target, Nehemiah was true to God and prepared to intercede for Israel,
He said “I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you.”
We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave
Your servant Moses. “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful,
Nehemiah knew the Israelites had not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws that God to Moses gave
Nehemiah understood the consequences of the wickedness and was confessing that he was also unfaithful
We can easily lose sight of the consequence of sin, and need to repent even though Jesus did us save
Nehemiah knew of the instructions God gave to Moses and knew the consequences of being unfaithful
I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled
people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen
Nehemiah asked God to remember his promise if the people returned to him they would be re-domiciled
As Isaiah 30v15 puts it “In repentance and rest is your salvation” we too need to towards God not be frozen
Rather prepared to turn away from that which is wrong and to accept God’s rebuke, to him be reconciled
For God desires to be in full relationship with his people and will bring them to the place that he has chosen
As a dwelling for my name, they are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength
and your mighty hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant
Nehemiah combines thanksgiving with supplication as he acknowledges God’s faithfulness and his strength
And asks humbly, gets down on his knees and asks be attentive to the prayer of your servant
Nehemiah didn’t spend just a few minutes with God but his time in prayer was four months in length
He knew the importance of prayer and was prepared to take time out to be God’s servant
And to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today
By granting him favour in the presence of this man, I was cupbearer to the king.
Nehemiah was held in esteem by King Artaxerxes, but he needed the King’s favour to carry the day
Artaxerxes could have ordered Nehemiah’s death if he didn’t please the king
And Nehemiah needed to be sure that he had heard God right and had to be careful in what he did say
But he trusted God that he would give him favour in front of an earthly king
When we are prepared to seek the Lord our God with all we are, like Nehemiah we will know God’s way
And be able to trust him in the choices we make we, and his praises sing
Mark Maffey, January 2009
(NIV )
See below for some worthwhile links on Nehemiah:
http://www.teal.org.uk/vl/nehemiah.htm
http://www.urbana.org/_articles.cfm?RecordId=175%20
http://wellspring1.wordpress.com/2008/11/24/nehemiahs-prayer/