Nehemiah 1:5-6 – God is great, awesome, and faithful

On hearing the reports of the plight of Jerusalem, Nehemiah was greatly affected. He could not remain uninterested in what was happening back home. Immediately, we are told that he was overtaken by a deep emotion. He sat down and mourned and wept for days. His response to what he heard reveals how earnest and passionate he was for Jerusalem. He could not let the city that God had chosen to bear His name remain in ruin. He could no longer sit idly by and not do a thing. So he went before the God of heaven in fasting and prayer for days. Nehemiah 1:5-11 describe his earnest prayer.

Verses 5-6 describe his invocation to God. He said, “I beseech You, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; I and my father’s house have sinned.”  

Firstly, Nehemiah describes the God of heaven as the great and awesome God. And truly He is. There is simply no one like Him. And there are simply not enough words to describe His greatness.  This God has no equal. He is the source of divine greatness and is simply awesome. Secondly, Nehemiah tells us that God is also faithful. He keeps His word and preserves the covenant He has made with His people. In other words, He never forgets His promise. Thirdly, He is also merciful, and He keeps His promises, especially to those who keep His word. From praise, Nehemiah then transited into a petition. He knew that God would hear his petition. So he asked the faithful God to be attentive to his prayer on the behalf of his people. Here Nehemiah also identified with the sin of the people and confessed them not only for the nation but also for himself.

God’s love must not be taken for granted. It must be reciprocated. His lovingkindness must elicit from us a willing response to the overtures of His love. No matter how trying the circumstances we face may be, we can always turn to God.  He is not only great and awesome but also faithful. He will hear the prayers we bring before Him in contrition. What Nehemiah did reminds us of what Paul tells us to do in Philippians 4:6. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” No matter what our struggles may be today, why don’t we turn to the great and awesome, and faithful God? He will hear the answer prayers of those who keep His Word.