Nehemiah: God's Invitation to RebuildSample

Nehemiah’s Prayer

Have you ever been simply going about your daily routine when you were unexpectedly hit with some devastating news? That’s how Nehemiah must have felt. He expected a situation report and got a gut punch! Things were even worse than he could have imagined.

What was his first response? Prayer (vs. 4) – not just brief or surface-y prayers, but weeping and mourning for DAYS! What is our first response to tragic news? Panic? Gossip? Or extended prayer and fasting? We can learn a lot from the elements included in Nehemiah’s prayer.

Firstly, Nehemiah was communicating with a God whom he knew personally. He knew this God’s love (vs. 5) and expectantly asked to be heard (vs. 6). This was not a get-acquainted session but a conversation between old, familiar friends, even though one is clearly in authority over the other.

Secondly, he openly and contritely confessed the sins of his people Israel, covering nothing up (vs. 6b and 7). He acknowledged their blatant and repeated disobedience. And then he followed his confession by claiming the promises God had previously made to them (vs. 8-10), both the disciplinary ones and the “good” ones, which included redemption and a return to the land if/when they returned to God and his law.

Finally, there were concrete, specific requests for help and success (vs. 11) included in Nehemiah’s prayer. I wonder, is this our pattern? Sometimes we skip some of the steps outlined in Nehemiah’s prayer and go straight to the plea for help and success.

Prayer: Father, teach me to pray like Nehemiah and to show proper contrition and acknowledgment of you. Thank you for the ability to communicate with you and hear from you.

Bonus Reading: Daniel 9:3-19 (similar prayer for sinful Israel by a godly leader)