Nehemiah chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
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,
The book is introduced as the words of Nehemiah, son of Hachaliah. The story begins in the month Chislev in the 20th year of the reign of Persian king Artaxerxes Artaxerxes began to reign in 465 BC. Ezra brought his group of exiles back to Judah in the 7th year of the king Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:1,8). It was 13 years from the time Ezra brought his group of exiles to Judah till the time Nehemiah’s story began in 445 BC . Nehemiah served in Shushan, the palace of the king Artaxerxes .
(2-3) 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 was interested in the welfare of his people, the Jews. 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. The Jews were in distress. The Jews were in great affliction and reproach. These would be recent problems. The hatred for the Jews were expressed in the breaking down of the Jerusalem walls and the gate thereof were burned with fire.
(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,
How did Nehemiah reacted when he learned of the suffering of his people ? He wept for his people. He mourned for them for certain days . And he fasted. These are the actions that a sinner would take when he wanted to repent from his sins. Nehemiah wanted to approach the Lord the right way so that God will hear his prayers. Then Nehemiah prayed before the God of heaven.
(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 asked earnestly. He beseech the Lord for mercy. Nehemiah acknowledged that the Lord is a great and awesome God. Nehemiah recognized that the Lord keeps covenant . God is faithful in His promise. The Lord will have mercy for them that love Him and keep His commandments. Nehemiah was reverent toward the Lord. Nehemiah was humble when he approach the Lord for help.
(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 prayed earnestly to the Lord to hear his intercession for the children of Israel, who were the servants of God. Nehemiah confessed that "Lord, we have sinned against you."
(7-9) 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. Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: 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.
The Lord remembered his word. The Lord is faithful. They could trust in the Lord to be faithful. Nehemiah knew how to claim God's promise.
(10) Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.
The children of Israel were redeemed from Egypt. And now they are redeemed from Babylon.
(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 knew that he needed to ask for help from this man ,who was the most powerful king in the world. But Nehemiah also recognized that God is in control of all the affairs of the world. Every action needs God's approval before it can happen. Nehemiah knew that God has granted this man to be the king. Nehemiah knew ultimately that help was coming from God. With the help of God, the followers of God can turn the tide of evil and defeat the evil. Nehemiah asked the Lord to grant His servant mercy in the sight of this man. This man was Artxerxes. The Lord is almighty who can even shape and control the path of the mightiest king . It was the Lord who placed Nehemiah in the position as the king's cupbearer. Prayers with God will prepare us for our dealings with men. The Lord said, My yoke is easy and burden is light.(Matt 11:28-30) Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden , and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart ; and you shall find rest for your souls for My yoke is easy , and my load is light. When we give our concerns to the Lord, our mind are set free. Trust in the Lord. God will make the difficulties vanish. If the affair is hurtful, the Lord can easily remove it. If the affair is good for us, the Lord can easily forward it.
Nehemiah
chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13