Nehemiah - Chapter 1

Nehemiah 1.1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, Nehemiah 1.2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. Nehemiah 1.3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. Nehemiah 1.4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, Nehemiah 1.5 And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: Nehemiah 1.6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned. Nehemiah 1.7 We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. Nehemiah 1.8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: Nehemiah 1.9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. Nehemiah 1.10 Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand. Nehemiah 1.11 O LORD, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.

Nehemiah : Chapter 1

Nehemiah's Mission: A Call to Compassion and Intercession

Chapter 1 of the book of Nehemiah introduces us to the mission of this great leader. What arouses such passion in him? As the king's cupbearer in Persia, Nehemiah receives alarming news about the plight of Jerusalem. This passage highlights Nehemiah's deep compassion and his fervent response through prayer and fasting. Nehemiah 1 reveals the heart of a leader who identifies with the suffering of his people and seeks divine intervention. This chapter thus lays the foundation for a narrative of rebuilding that will follow.

Let's reflect together on five biblical passages that illuminate the themes of compassion and intercession present in this foundational chapter.

1. Daniel 9:3

"I turned to the Lord God with prayer and supplication, fasting, wearing sackcloth, and covered with ashes." This verse reflects Nehemiah's attitude in Nehemiah 1:4, illustrating a model of godly response in the face of national distress.

2. Psalms 137:5-6

"If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill! My tongue will cleave to my taste if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem as my greatest joy!" These verses echo Nehemiah's love and concern for Jerusalem, as expressed in Nehemiah 1:3-4.

3. 2 Chronicles 7:14

"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 forgive their sins and heal their land." This promise reflects the hope underlying Nehemiah's prayer in Nehemiah 1:5-11.

4. Ezra 9:6-7

"Oh my God! I am too ashamed and humbled to lift up my face before you, my God, for our sins cover our heads and our guilt reaches to heaven. From the days of our ancestors until now, our guilt has been great." This confession from Ezra is similar to Nehemiah's prayer of confession in Nehemiah 1:6-7.

5. Isaiah 62:6-7

"On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen who will not keep silent day or night. You who cry to the Lord, do not rest, nor allow him to rest, until he restores Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth." This prophetic call to intercession for Jerusalem reflects Nehemiah's attitude in Nehemiah 1.

Meditating on these passages, we are invited to adopt a posture of compassion and intercession, like Nehemiah, for our community and our world. May our hearts be attentive to the suffering of others and may our prayer be a powerful instrument of transformation.