Nehemiah 1:7-11 – The challenge to participate in Kingdom building

In his prayer, Nehemiah began by invoking God and acknowledging Him as the great, awesome, and faithful God. He was confident that He, the preserver of covenant and lovingkindness to those who  would love and keep His commandments would hear HIs prayer. Nehemiah further invoked that He be attentive to the prayer that he was bro9nging before Him day and night. Turing from invocation to petition, Nehemiah first identified with the sin of the nation. He did not only confess the sin of his forefathers but also those he could identify with himself.  

In Nehemiah 1:7-11, he confessed on the behalf of the nation for their corruption.  He confessed that they did not keep the commandment or the ordinances that God had commanded through His servant Moses. He recalled that in the commandments, God had specified that if they, his people would become unfaithful, He would banish and scatter them from the land. And when they returned to Him and keep and obey His commandments, even if they scattered into the remotest parts of the world, He would gather and bring them back to Jerusalem. For this was the place that God Himself had chosen to make HIs name to dwell.  

In verse 10, Nehemiah called God’s attention to His people, the Jews in Jerusalem. He reminded God that they were His servants and people He had redeemed by His great power and mighty hand. Turning to pray for himself in verse 11, he voiced his personal and the people of Israel’s desire for God. Their one delight was to revere His name. Nehemiah asked for God to grant him, and His people favor with Artaxerxes whom he was serving as a cupbearer. And in his  position as cupbearer, he needed the king’s understanding and compassion so that he could do something for God’s beloved city.   Remember Artaxerxes in Ezra 4 was the king whom the opposers of Israel had written a letter to complain about their rebuilding program in Jerusalem. It was therefore needful that Nehemiah and his people receive his approval to restore the ruin of Jerusalem.  

From the life of Nehemiah, we learn that sin and disobedience against God will always bring dire consequences. However, we have a great, awesome, and faithful God who would hear the petition of His repentant people. We learn also that no matter our position in life, like Nehemiah we can decide to help in kingdom building.  All it takes is a heart of passion for God and a willingness to be involved. We also learn that prayer must be offered to God if we want to be effective participants in the Kingdom’s work. The urgency we bring to pray for the work of God may require us to fast as well.  Are we serious about advancing God’s Kingdom? Let’s adopt Nehemiah’s attitude and concern for God’s name and Kingdom.