“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven” – Nehemiah 1:4 (NIV)

There are always days, weeks, months in our lives where it is Struggle Street.  When life doesn’t go according to plan, where do we turn?  If you are anything like me, you tend to forget to turn to God with all your frustrations, your upsets and your joy as well.

Chapter Overview

At this time, Nehemiah is living in Susa, the capital city of the Persian Empire. One of his brothers, Hanani, has returned from Judah to see Nehemiah and bring him news about the surviving Jewish remnant and Jerusalem. Unfortunately, the news is upsetting; Nehemiah hears that the walls and gates of Jerusalem are still in ruins, and that the remnant Jews are in great distress and the neighbouring nations disapprove of them. Burdened by this news, Nehemiah weeps and mourns, praying to God.

Context

The chapter opens in the month of Kislev, the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign. It picks up twelve years after the end of the book of Ezra.  By then, the first two waves of exiled Jews had returned to Judah. They had rebuilt the temple and worship had been reestablished. The Jews who remained in Persia, whether by choice or circumstance, were hoping to hear that Jerusalem was thriving and had been rebuilt in all its previous splendour. However, hearing that this was not the case, Nehemiah was discouraged.

Nehemiah held an important and trusted position as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. Yet despite his position in the Persian court, God placed a deep concern on his heart for God’s people and Jerusalem. In this role, Nehemiah could not simply leave; in verse 11, he requests God to intervene and grant him success.

Interesting Fact

King Artaxerxes was the third son of Xerxes, the king who married Esther in the bible,

What Nehemiah 1 Teaches Us

As we read through Nehemiah 1, you will note that Nehemiah takes his burdens directly to God. 

In prayer, Nehemiah:

• First remembers who God is by praising His greatness and faithfulness;
• Then confesses his and Israel’s sin;
• Brings God’s promises back to Him; and
• Only then does Nehemiah bring his petitions before God.

The order of Nehemiah’s prayer reorients his focus towards God’s character and promises and away from his immediate burdens.

When life feels overwhelming, let us be encouraged to turn our focus to God first by remembering who He is, holding on to His promises, confessing what needs to be confessed, and then bringing our requests before Him. 

Nehemiah reminds us that prayer begins not with the size of our problem, but with the greatness of our God.