Nehemiah’s Prayer

And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: [6] Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned. [7] We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. Nehemiah 1:5-7

Nehemiah starts to pray. He recognizes Who God is, the God of Heaven (vs. 4). He cries to God (beseech – Heb 577 means oh now!) and praises Him for being a great and terrible (Heb 410 – to fear) God. He is a God that keeps His covenant (compact) and mercy (kindness) to those that love him and observe (take heed to) his commandments. Nehemiah reminds God of His word and His promises.

Then, Nehemiah prays, listen Lord and open your eyes to the prayer of your servant (he recognizes his stand before God). I am praying day and night for your servants. He does not stop there but continues by confessing the sins of Israel as well as the sins of him and his family. He then goes on to confess the sins by name: 1) corrupted your word; 2) not kept your law; 3) appointments; 4) divine law.

In a nut shell, Nehemiah is saying, God we have dealt wrong and have not obeyed You.

I usually get convicted when I read the prayers of Nehemiah. He was a humbled man who wanted to do right no matter what. Join me the next time to hear more of Nehemiah’s prayer.

Have a blessed day,
Donna