Prayer for a Broken City

Introduction: Our hearts should be moved with compassion upon knowing that God’s people are suffering persecution and the place of God is in ruins. Nehemiah, the principle character of this book, is so moved by His people’s concerns that he leaves his comfortable government position to pray, and plan to rebuild the walls of a broken city.

History of the Text:

This is the second of a two-part historical book, which was originally combined with the book of Ezra. Both books take place at the return of the Jewish people in three waves to the land of Israel after they return from Babylon to rebuild the temple and city. Nehemiah’s name means, Jehovah Comforts. This first-person narrative proves that God uses unusual people, including those who are not religious, and providence to accomplish His will, even in difficult circumstances.

Problems in the City (1:1-3)

The Context Is Provided (1:1) - “1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: During the month of Chislev in the twentieth year, when I was in the fortress city of Susa,”

Note: “Chislev” is the third month of the Hebrew year, which is about the dates of mid-November to mid-December.

The Update On the Conditions is Presented (1:2-3) - “2 Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah, and I questioned them about Jerusalem and the Jewish remnant that had returned from exile. 3 They said to me, "The survivors in the province, who returned from the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem's wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned down.”

Note: The report comes from the Ezra chapter 4, where there was opposition to the work of rebuilding God’s Temple. The opposition was disguised as support (Ezra 4:1-2), and it was effective at discouraging God’s people (Ezra 4:4-5). The people were left morally bankrupt by their intermarrying with Gentiles, and their greater concern for their personal desires, than for the house of God. The city walls being left in ruin, left them defenseless and without protection from further invasion.

Ezra 4:1-2 (HCSB) - "1 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, 2 they approached Zerubbabel and the leaders of the families and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we also worship your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time King Esar-haddon of Assyria; 2 Kg 19:37 ; Isa 37:38 brought us here."

The state of family life, communities, nation, and western society, is left morally bankrupt and broken, just like the city of Jerusalem during the return from the exile. We understand the significance of walls being torn down (Joshua 6:1-27).

Prayer of Reflection and Repentance (1:4-8)

Reflection in Prayer (1:4-5) - “4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 I said, Lord God of heaven, the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps His gracious covenant with those who love Him and keep His commands, 6 let Your eyes be open and Your ears be attentive to hear Your servant's prayer that I now pray to You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins we have committed against You. Both I and my father's house have sinned. 7 We have acted corruptly toward You and have not kept the commands, statutes, and ordinances You gave Your servant Moses.”

Prayers in Grief (1:4) - “When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”

Note: Nehemiah’s response to the news about Jerusalem was to fast and pray for five months. It is clear to understand that his success was based upon a sincere devotion to God and reliance upon His power for great challenges. He was heartbroken overwhelmed about the condition of the Lord’s covenant people and their dwelling place.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (KJV) - “16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Note: Nehemiah is a great and high ranking official in the secular world, and he knew that only King Artexerxes was able to help in this instance, so he decided to ask the King of Kings to move on their behalf.”

Daniel 9:2-3 (HCSB) - “2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the books according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet that the number of years for the desolation of Jerusalem would be 70. 3 So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petitions, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.”

Matthew 23:37-39 (HCSB) - “37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem! The city who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, yet you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will never see Me again until you say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Prayers on God’s Greatness (1:5) - “I said, Lord God of heaven, the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps His gracious covenant with those who love Him and keep His commands.”

Note: Nehemiah speaks favorably of God’s character, conduct and covenant-keeping with the people, whom he demonstrably loves. God is awesome, despite the awful appearance of the “City of God.” This faithful prayer of praise and adoration rehearses the amazing grace and power that God displays.

Exodus 20:5-6 (HCSB) - “5 You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers' sin, to the third and fourth [generations] of those who hate Me, 6 but showing faithful love to a thousand [generations] of those who love Me and keep My commands.”

Exodus 30:6-7 (HCSB) - “6 Then the Lord passed in front of him and proclaimed: Yahweh-Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth, 7 maintaining faithful love to a thousand [generations], forgiving wrongdoing, rebellion, and sin. But He will not leave [the guilty] unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers' wrongdoing on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.”

Repentance in Prayer (1:6-8) - “6 let Your eyes be open and Your ears be attentive to hear Your servant's prayer that I now pray to You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins we have committed against You. Both I and my father's house have sinned. 7 We have acted corruptly toward You and have not kept the commands, statutes, and ordinances You gave Your servant Moses.

Note: That before making requests, we should first clear the slate of our sins. Nehemiah acknowledged the condition of Jerusalem and her people, were justly deserved because of their previous rebellion and apostasy. Repentance should be a regular part of our prayers because we are always guilty of transgressing against God’s Holy word. We cannot claim to be victims, when there is clear evidence that our challenges are the by-product of our rebellious attitude and actions.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) - “14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Psalm 37:5-6 (HCSB) - “3 Trust in the Lord and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart's desires. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act, 6 making your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday.”

Psalm 88:1-2 (HCSB) - “1 Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out before You day and night. 2 May my prayer reach Your presence; listen to my cry.”

Prayer of Request (1:8-11)

Request for God to Remember His Promises (1:8-9) - “8 Please remember what You commanded Your servant Moses: "[If] you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples. 9 But if you return to Me and carefully observe My commands, even though your exiles were banished to the ends of the earth, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I chose to have My name dwell."

Deuteronomy 4:25-27 (HCSB) - “25 "When you have children and grandchildren and have been in the land a long time, and if you act corruptly, make an idol in the form of anything, and do what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, provoking Him to anger, 26 I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that you will quickly perish from the land you are about to cross the Jordan to possess. You will not live long there, but you will certainly be destroyed. 27 The Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be reduced to a few survivors among the nations where the Lord your God will drive you.

Request for God to Render His Blessing (1:10-11) - “10 They are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed [them] by Your great power and strong hand. 11 Please, Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and to that of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success today, and have compassion on him in the presence of this man. [At the time,] I was the king's cupbearer.”

Deuteronomy 9:29 (HCSB) - “29 But they are Your people, Your inheritance, whom You brought out by Your great power and outstretched arm.”

Romans 8:28 (HCSB) - “28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.”