Nehemiah 1:1-11

Quick Review:

God’s chosen people

Rebelled over and over for hundreds of years

taken into captivity - “exile” in Babylon.

Babylon conquered by Persia

Persian Emperor sent a small remnant back to the promise land

This remnant rebuilt the temple

The Persian emperor sent Ezra, a scribe and a group of scribes and priests back to strengthen the worship of the true God and to teach and implement the full law of God

Who is Nehemiah?

We're going to get a fuller picture of who Nehemiah is as we go, but we get some very bare bones description of him.

Nehemiah 1:1 ESV

1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.

A Jewish man with credentials.

Nate Klier, Son of Jim and Darcy Klier, Grandson of Jim Sheffield

Nehemiah 1:11 ESV

11 ...Now I was cupbearer to the king.

Cup bearer?

If you're not familiar with the term, A cup bearer Is a person who tasted the kings food and drink before he ate them to keep him safe from being poisoned.

The position was not just a dude who checked for poison though. A cup of bearer took care of the king and acted as an advisor or was at least present for and trusted with extremely sensitive and Significant information

God consistently placed his Faithful men in positions of influence, even in exile. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshack and abendigo, Mordecai, Ezra and now Nehemiah

Nehemiah opens with a problem

The Problem

Nehemiah 1:1–11 ESV

1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”

You can feel some hope in Nehemiah's question.

Some of the exiles had returned, the temple had been rebuilt

News travels slowly So maybe the last thing that he heard was about this great temple dedication service or the safe arrival of Ezra and the establishment of God's law.

But the picture he now hears is pretty dismal.

Yes, the people are there, but their situation is dire. They can be wiped out at any time. They have no geopolitical clout. They have no respect in the region. They're barely surviving and certainly not thriving. They are not experiencing shalom. They are experiencing fear danger and shame.

Nehemiah 1:4 ESV

4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Why mourn and fast and pray? Why not just do something? Later, we're gonna find out that this went on for months.

Does God already know about this problem?

Why pray about it?

The Act of prayer reminds us of our position: God is on the throne - His will and and way are best

Psalm 119:149 ESV

149 Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O Lord, according to your justice give me life.

The Act of prayer reminds us of our situation: We are fully dependent on God for salvation and blessing - grace and Mercy

Psalm 50:15 ESV

15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

The Prayer

Nehemiah 1:5–11 ESV

5 And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,

An acknowledgment of who God is and what he has done and will do

The result of seeing God’s judgement on sin is to call him awesome and a promise keeper

He does not whine about the circumstances, he confesses the sin he knows caused the circumstances

Nehemiah 1:5–11 ESV

6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.

A Confession of Corporate and Personal Sin

We think that confession will cause people (and God) to look down on us AND that it will get us into trouble.

In reality, Confession

Removes shame

brings hope

Approach God with humility

We are sinners

We are a part of a sinful family/culture/and wear bear the consequences, and regrets for those sins.

Approach God with confidence

1 John 5:14-15

Heb 4:16

Nehemiah 1:8–10 ESV

8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.

An Appeal to the Covenant Promises

Nehemiah could pray well because he knew God well

The Plan

Nehemiah 1:1–11 ESV

11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.

Be ready.

Wait on God.

1 Thessalonians 2:18 ESV

18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.

So What?

This Week, Pray Like Nehemiah

Praise God for who He is and for what He is doing in your life, even the parts that you don’t like and can’t understand

Approach with humility, confess your sin

Call on him to act according to his steadfast love and justice