Praying Like NehemiahNehemiah 1

Jeff Gissing | Lloyd Presbyterian Church | November 10, 2013

Outline:

1. The situation (1:1-4a)a. Nehemiah’s brother Hanani returns from Jerusalem (Judah) b. When questioned about the Jewish remnant, his report is

bleak:i. Those who returned from exile are in troubleii. Jerusalem isn’t defensible (the walls and gates are

compromised)iii. The city is a disgrace

c. Application: this situation calls into question the promise of God to Israel—did he give them the Promised Land only to let it be taken again?

2. The response (1:4b-5a)a. His first response is grief—“I sat down and wept” (1:4a)b. His second response is mourning—“For some days I

mourned and fasted before the God of heaven” (1:4b)c. His third response is prayer—“Then I said [to God]…”

3. The prayer (1:5b-11)a. Remembers: Nehemiah reminds himself that God is

i. Powerful: “God of heaven, the great and awesome God” (5)

ii. Faithfull: “[He] keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commandments…” (5)

b. Requests that God hear his prayer… “let your ear be attentive and your eye open to hear the prayer…” (6)

c. Repents on behalf of the whole nation.i. Acknowledges that God’s people have sinned (“We

have acted very wickedly toward you…”)ii. Confesses that they have not observed the law (“We

have not obeyed the commands, decrees, and laws you gave your servant Moses.”)

d. Recites the promise that God made to Moses: i. “Remember the instruction you gave your servant

Moses saying, ‘…if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them…’”

ii. God’s ingathering is for his own glory (9)

e. Repeats his request that God listen to and respond to his prayer: “…let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name.”

i. Makes a specific request, “Give your servant success”—we’ll find out in chapter 2 that Nehemiah has a plan to reconstruct Jerusalem, but he needs the support and resources of the king to make it happen.

4.