Nehemiah handout #2

Comparison of the dates mentioned in the opening verses of chapters 1 & 2 shows that at least three and possibly five months pass by and that the praying mentioned here as covering this entire period.

Before Nehemiah did anything else, he spent from three to five months praying about it. Prayer is his action.

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged:

We should never be discouraged:

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

(What a Friend We have in Jesus)

WAIT ON THE LORD

Nehemiah continued praying for several months, patiently waiting on God’s timing and God’s insight.

is a reflection of the general terms in which he prayed throughout these months, then each day we hear him repeat the “today” (v11)—a plea that on the face of it demands instant response, but one that was repeated as many as 150 times, as each day ended without an answer to the prayer.

From Nehemiah we can learn what it means to wait patiently on the Lord.

We are often impatient when it comes to prayer.

Is anyone willing to admit that they are impatient in prayer?

We think it essential for God to respond immediately, and we sometimes engage in blaming and accusations when he does not. But God’s timetable is different from ours. We live according to a schedule that we can see and perceive, often a faulty one, but God sees things from the perspective of eternity.

How does shed some light on this?

God’s timing is perfect. He is never early or late. All things fall out according to the execution of a perfect decree from the mind of a loving God who wants the very best for us and all his people.

God’s power

“I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God” (v5).

Nehemiah does not proceed to the other elements of his prayer until he has reminded himself of what he is doing and the greatness and character of the God to whom he is directing his prayer.

Let’s do little things (like prayer) as though they were great, because of the majesty of Jesus Christ who works in us.

And do the greatest and biggest things as though they were little and easy because of Christ omnipotence.

Look up the following verses and think of them in relation to prayer (the little thing you do).

,

Have you been a good and faithful servant in prayer and Scripture reading (“few things”)?

; ,

Have you been “faithful” in the “least” or very little (“prayer”) or “unjust” in your prayer life?

[optional] ; ;

It’s our great and awesome God that we get to commune with and be built up by!

What encouragement do we draw from these verses: , ; ?

In Nehemiah’s prayer, what promise does he lay hold of and bring it back to God (v8,9)? and even asks God to “Remember” (v8).

Look up and .

What is God able to do?

Romans 4:21 NKJV

and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

2.

Because God is Praise worthy: hear prayer (v5-6a)

The Patience toward God in prayer (v6) “the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night”

The Pollution towards God that leads to prayer (v6) “confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You”

The Promises of God in prayer (8-10)

Because of the Power of God: grant mercy (v11).

is one of the great prayers of the Bible, whether we think of its solemn summons of God in his majesty, or its no-holds-barred admission of the people’s sin and need for repentance, or its moving appeal to God’s covenant promise for the penitent, or its passionate plea for God as Redeemer to come and help them in their hour of need. One of the ways in which we can learn to pray with greater power is to study prayers such as this one and utilize what we find in our own praying. “Learn to pray like this” seems to be written the undertone of this chapter.