Nehemiah’s Prayer: A Model for Faithful Calling (Neh 1:5-11)

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 your servants, the people of Israel, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Both my family and I have sinned. 7 We have offended you deeply, failing to keep the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, ‘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 under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place at which I have chosen to establish my name.’ 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great power and 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 in revering your name. Give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man!”

Occasionally, God calls us to do unexpected things—perhaps life-changing, perhaps just altering a daily course. But rather than dive right into action, the right thing might be to spend time in serious, open prayer, like Nehemiah.

Background

The book begins as a first-person narrative by Nehemiah, who is a cup-bearer to the king—that is, he brought wine to the king. But it meant more than that. He would have often been close to the king and his harem, and were often eunuchs, though there is no indication that Nehemiah was one. He may have served as the king’s wine-taster, bearer of the signet ring, and his financial advisor. As such, he would have had direct access to the king, which will play an important role later when he approaches the king with his wishes to help his people.