Day 251: Nehemiah 1- Prayer and Crisis

​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.”
 
Nehemiah's Prayer
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. 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, 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. 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. 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.
 
Meditation
We are wise to deepen Divine dependence with our first step in crisis response being prayer. Before developing plans to connect people, ideas, and resources for redemptive restoration we must pray. When our first step in crisis response and restoration is prayer then we are more likely to walk by faith in our life and labor.
 
Nehemiah worked in the royal office of Persia as cupbearer to the King (11) @ 446 BC. The news of the “trouble and shame” of his homeland and people launched Nehemiah into lament and prayer.   
 
Nehemiah wept and fasted for days, praying to “The God of Heaven” (4) after receiving word of the ruined walls of Jerusalem (1-3). When was the last time the brokenness of others or a city broke you or me? Nehemiah was touched in his soul by the brokenness of Jerusalem and poured his heart out in prayer. The substance of his prayer should shape ours:
 
Nehemiah focuses on the character of God who is faithful to keep His covenant, showing steadfast love by not abandoning His people (5). Nehemiah confesses sin, unfaithfulness and rebellion, numbering himself with his countrymen who need to confess (6-7). Nehemiah claims the promises of God who will restore (8-9) before he petitions for God’s mercy to bless his steps of faith to participate in God’s work of redemptive restoration (9-10).
 
Prayer is an essential first step in responding to crisis. Deepening Divine dependency will develop more faithful and fruitful participation in God’s work of redemptive restoration.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you feel the pain and brokenness of others and the city you live in? Why or why not?
 
-How does a first step of prayer empower us to walk in faith? Why are we hesitant to pray?
 
-I encourage you to take a moment to follow Nehemiah’s pattern of prayer to enhance your prayers. You will see how beginning with a focus on the Character of God and moving to celebrating His covenant faithfulness, confessing your sin, claiming His promises, and petitioning for mercy will deepen your Divine dependency! Be sure to ask the Lord to use you for His work of redemptive restoration.
 
Key Verse
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.